UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE TO

Tender Offer Statement under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

(Name of Subject Company)

 

 

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

(Offeror – Name of Filing Person)

Ordinary Shares, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

B38564108

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Ludovic Saverys

Chief Financial Officer

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

De Gerlachekaai 20

2000 Antwerp Belgium

Telephone: +32 3 247 59 11

(Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

 

 

With a Copy to:

Robert E. Lustrin, Esq.

Reed Smith LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022-7650

Telephone: (212) 521-5400

 

 

 

☐ 

Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

Amount Previously Paid:  None      Filing Party:  Not applicable
Form of Registration No.: Not applicable      Date Filed:   Not applicable

 

☐ 

Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

 

  ☒ 

third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1

  ☐ 

issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4

  ☐ 

going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3

  ☐ 

amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer. ☐

If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:

 

  ☐ 

Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

  ☒ 

Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)

 

 

 


This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (which, together with any amendments and supplements hereto, collectively constitute this “Schedule TO”) is filed by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”), to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), beneficially owned by U.S. Holders (as defined below) for $12.66 per share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated October 23, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Offer”).

The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are filed with this Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B) hereto, respectively, is incorporated by reference in answers to Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO and is supplemented by the information specifically provided in this Schedule TO.

Item 1. Summary Term Sheet

Regulation M-A Item 1001

The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase entitled “Summary Term Sheet” is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Subject Company Information

Regulation M-A Item 1002

(a) The name of the subject company and the issuer of securities to which this Schedule TO relates is CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”). The Company’s principal executive offices are located at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, and its telephone number is +32-3-247-44-11. The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) This Schedule TO relates to the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company. As of September 30, 2024, there were 194,216,835 Ordinary Shares outstanding, excluding 25,807,878 Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury. The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase entitled “Introduction” is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) The Ordinary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and on Euronext Brussels under the symbol “CMBT.” The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 6. “Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3. Identity and Background of Filing Person

Regulation M-A Item 1003

(a) – (c) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 9. “Certain Information About the Offeror,” and Annex A “Information Concerning Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Officers of CMB” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. Terms of the Transaction

Regulation M-A Item 1004

(a) The information set forth in the “Summary Term Sheet,” “Questions & Answers About the Offers,” The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer”; —Section 2. “Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares”; —Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares”; —Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights”; —Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer”; and —Section 14. “Conditions of the U.S. Offer” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(a)(1)(ix), (a)(1)(x) and (a)(1)(xi) and (a)(2) are not applicable.


Item 5. Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

Regulation M-A Item 1005

(a) and (b) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements” and —Section 12. “Related Party Transactions; Certain Transactions Between CMB and Its Affiliates and the Company” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6. Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals

Regulation M-A Item 1006

(a) and (c)(1)-(7) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 6. “Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends,” —Section 7. “Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer”; —Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements”; and —Section 11. “Purpose of the Offers; Plans for the Company,” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

Regulation M-A Item 1007

(a), (b) and (d) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 13. “Source and Amount of Funds” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8. Interest in Securities of the Subject Company

Regulation M-A Item 1008

The information set forth in the “Introduction;” The U.S. Offer — Section 9. “Certain Information About the Offeror;” —Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements,” and Annex A “Information Concerning Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Officers of CMB” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Persons/Assets, Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used

Regulation M-A Item 1009

(a) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 16. “Fees and Expenses” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 10. Financial Statements

Regulation M-A Item 1010

Not applicable.

Item 11. Additional Information

Regulation M-A Item 1011

(a)(1) Except as disclosed in Items 1 through 9 above and the Exhibits to this Schedule TO, which are incorporated herein by reference, there are no present or proposed material agreements, arrangements, understandings or relationships between (i) the Offeror or any of its respective executive officers, directors, controlling persons or subsidiaries and (ii) the Company or any of its executive officers, directors, controlling persons or subsidiaries.

(a)(2)—(4) The information set forth in The U.S. Offer—Section 7. “Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer”; —Section 14. “Conditions of the U.S. Offer,” and —Section 15. “Certain Legal Matters” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(a)(5) Not applicable.

(c) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively, to the extent not otherwise incorporated herein by reference, is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 12. Exhibits

Regulation M-A Item 1016

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Document

(a)(1)(A)*   Offer to Purchase, dated October 23, 2024.
(a)(1)(B)*   Form of Letter of Transmittal (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-9).
(a)(1)(C)*   Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(D)*   Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(E)*   Summary Advertisement published in The New York Times on October 23, 2024.
(a)(5)(A)   Communication in accordance with article 8, §1 of the Royal Decree of 27 April 2007 on public takeover bids under Belgian law dated October 9, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2024).
(a)(5)(B)*   Press Release issued by the Offeror announcing the commencement of the Offers dated October 23, 2024.
(b)(1)*   Amendment and Restatement Agreement among CMB NV and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KBC Bank NV, and Société Générale and the other lenders thereunder dated October 16, 2024 related to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement.
(c)   Not applicable.
(d)(1)   Share Purchase Agreement dated October 9, 2023, by and between CMB NV and Famatown Finance Limited and Frontline plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit L to the Schedule 13D filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(d)(2)   Share Purchase Agreement dated December 22, 2023, by and between CMB NV and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 6-K (File No. 001-3610) filed on December 22, 2023).
(g)   Not applicable.
(h)   Not applicable.
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

*

Filed herewith.

Item 13. Information Required by Schedule 13e-3

Not applicable.

[Remainder of the page is intentionally left blank]


SIGNATURES

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: October 23, 2024     COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV
    By:  

/s/ Ludovic Saverys

    Name:    Ludovic Saverys
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Document

(a)(1)(A)*   Offer to Purchase, dated October 23, 2024.
(a)(1)(B)*   Form of Letter of Transmittal (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-9).
(a)(1)(C)*   Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(D)*   Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees.
(a)(1)(E)*   Summary Advertisement published in The New York Times on October 23, 2024.
(a)(5)(A)   Communication in accordance with article 8, §1 of the Royal Decree of 27  April 2007 on public takeover bids under Belgian law dated October  9, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2024).
(a)(5)(B)*   Press Release issued by the Offeror announcing the commencement of the Offers dated October 23, 2024.
(b)(1)*   Amendment and Restatement Agreement among CMB NV and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KBC Bank NV, and Société Générale and the other lenders thereunder dated October 16, 2024 related to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement.
(c)   Not applicable.
(d)(1)   Share Purchase Agreement dated October  9, 2023, by and between CMB NV and Famatown Finance Limited and Frontline plc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit L to the Schedule 13D filed by the Offeror with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2023).
(d)(2)   Share Purchase Agreement dated December  22, 2023, by and between CMB NV and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 6-K (File No.  001-3610) filed on December 22, 2023).
(g)   Not applicable.
(h)   Not applicable.
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

*

Filed herewith.

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Exhibit (a)(1)(A)

 

OFFER TO PURCHASE

ALL OUTSTANDING ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY U.S. HOLDERS

OF

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

FOR

$12.66 PER SHARE IN CASH

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

BY

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV

 

THE U.S. OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 10:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024, UNLESS THE U.S. OFFER IS EXTENDED.

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) is offering to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), beneficially owned by U.S. Holders (as defined below) for $12.66 per Share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements hereto and thereto, collectively constitute the “U.S. Offer”). All payments to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be rounded to the nearest whole cent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024 the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. Non-U.S. Holders may not rely on the disclosure in this Offer to Purchase or the Letter of Transmittal under any circumstances. If a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares wishes to participate in the Offers, such holder must participate in the Belgian Offer on the terms and conditions set forth in the Belgian Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement (each as defined below). U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.


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The Ordinary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the regulated market of Euronext Brussels SA/NV (“Euronext Brussels”) and trade on both exchanges under the symbol “CMBT.” On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of this Offer to Purchase, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on the NYSE was $16.21 per Share. On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of the Belgian Prospectus Supplement, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on Euronext Brussels was €14.79 per Share (or $15.99 based upon the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for U.S. Dollars per Euro as of such time).

THE OFFER PRICE IS LOWER THAN THE CLOSING PRICE OF THE ORDINARY SHARES ON THE NYSE ON OCTOBER 21, 2024 BY APPROXIMATELY 21.90 PERCENT. YOU ARE URGED TO OBTAIN CURRENT MARKET QUOTATIONS FOR THE ORDINARY SHARES BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER YOUR ORDINARY SHARES IN THE U.S. OFFER. You should discuss with your broker or other financial, legal or tax advisors whether to tender your Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers.

Under U.S. law, within ten business days after the commencement of the U.S. Offer, the Company is required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and distribute to its shareholders a statement indicating whether it recommends in favor of the U.S. Offer, recommends against the U.S. Offer, expresses no position and remains neutral in connection with the U.S. Offer or expresses that it is unable to take a position regarding the U.S. Offer. In each case the Company’s board of directors is required to explain the reasons for its position. This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal and the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Schedule 14D-9”) to be filed by the Company within ten days from the date of this U.S. Offer to Purchase with the SEC contain important information and should be read carefully and in their entirety before any decision is made with respect to the U.S. Offer.

The Offeror intends to conduct the U.S. Offer in compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements in the United States, including the applicable requirements of the U.S. tender offer rules in Regulations 14D and 14E under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Offeror is relying on the “Tier II” exemption under the Exchange Act in respect of the U.S. Offer. The “Tier II” exemption provides partial relief from the applicability of Exchange Act rules governing third-party tender offers involving the securities of a foreign private issuer if greater than 10% but no more than 40% of the subject class of securities are held by U.S. Holders. In determining that the “Tier II” exemption is available in respect of the U.S. Offer, the Offeror determined the percentage of outstanding shares held by U.S. Holders in accordance with Instruction 2 to Rules 14d-1(c) and (d) under the Exchange Act. Under the “Tier II” exemption, compliance with the requirements of the home jurisdiction law or practice (in this case, Belgium) will satisfy the requirements of certain of the rules applicable to third-party tender offers under the Exchange Act, including, but not limited to, rules relating to prompt payment and withdrawal rights. The Offeror has structured the U.S. Offer based on a determination that Tier II relief from the U.S. tender rules is available in respect of the U.S. Offer.

A summary of the principal terms of the U.S. Offer appears in the “Summary Term Sheet” beginning on page 1 of this Offer to Purchase. You should read this entire document carefully before deciding whether to tender your Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer.

THE U.S. OFFER HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE U.S. OFFER OR UPON THE ACCURACY OR


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ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE OR THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL AND A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to Georgeson LLC, the information agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Information Agent”), at the telephone number and addresses set forth below and on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase. You may request additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials from the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and email address set forth below and on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase. Shareholders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the U.S. Offer.

The date of this Offer to Purchase is October 23, 2024.

The information agent for the U.S. Offer is:

 

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free:

1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada:

+1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@georgeson.com


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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We are not making the U.S. Offer to and will not accept any tendered Ordinary Shares from or on behalf of, holders of Ordinary Shares residing in any jurisdiction in which the making of the U.S. Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. However, we may, at our discretion, take any actions necessary for us to make the U.S. Offer to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares in any such jurisdiction.

Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares desiring to tender all or any portion of the Ordinary Shares owned by such U.S. Holder can accept the U.S. Offer by (1) completing and signing the Letter of Transmittal (or a copy thereof, provided the signature is original) in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal and mail or deliver it and all other required documents to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”), at the address on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase, or (2) tendering such Ordinary Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.” Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares whose Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if such U.S. Holder desires to tender their Ordinary Shares.

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, you must allow sufficient time to tender your Shares by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date will be disregarded and of no effect.

If you do not complete and sign the IRS Form W-9 that is included in the Letter of Transmittal, you may be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax (at a rate of 24%) on the gross proceeds payable to you pursuant to the U.S. Offer. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability. See The U.S. Offer — Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer” for more information regarding the material U.S. and Belgian tax consequences of the U.S. Offer to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares.

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers.

The Company is required by law to file with the SEC and provide to shareholders, within ten business days from the date of this Offer to Purchase, a Schedule 14D-9 to advise shareholders of its position on the U.S. Offer. The Schedule 14D-9, which also contains other important information, will be transmitted to The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant who holds your beneficial ownership position or mailed to you together with this Offer to Purchase. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares should review the Schedule 14D-9 when it is filed by the Company with the SEC and furnished to shareholders of the Company in connection with the U.S. Offer.

Copies of this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and any other tender offer materials must not be mailed to or otherwise distributed or sent in, into or from any country where such distribution or offering would require any additional measures to be taken or that would be in conflict with any law or regulation of such country or any political subdivision thereof. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such laws or regulations. This Offer to Purchase may not be used for, or in connection with, any offer to, or solicitation by, anyone in any jurisdiction or under any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.

Questions and requests for assistance including information on how holders of Ordinary Shares who are not U.S. Holders may tender their Ordinary Shares or to obtain a copy of the Belgian Offer documents are directed to

 

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the U.S. Information Agent, at the telephone number on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other U.S. Offer documents may be obtained free of charge from the U.S. Information Agent or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees.

All references to “U.S. Dollars” and “$” are to the currency which is currently legal tender in the United States of America and all references to “Euros,” “EUR,” and “€” are to the currency which is currently legal tender in Belgium.

As used in this Offer to Purchase, the term “outstanding Ordinary Shares” refers to all issued Ordinary Shares of the Company, excluding treasury shares.

All references to the Company’s website address (cmb.tech) are inactive text references and are not intended to be actual links to the Company’s website. The information contained in, accessible from or connected to the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into or otherwise a part of this Offer to Purchase.

We have not authorized any person to make any recommendation on our behalf as to whether you should tender or refrain from tendering your Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer. You should rely only on the information contained in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal to which we have referred you.

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information or to make any representation in connection with the U.S. Offer other than those contained in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. If anyone makes any recommendation or gives any information or representation regarding the U.S. Offer, you must not rely upon that recommendation, information or representation as having been authorized by the Offeror, the U.S. Tender Agent, or the U.S. Information Agent. You should not assume that the information provided in this Offer to Purchase is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Offer to Purchase.

The distribution of this Offer to Purchase may, in some jurisdictions, be restricted by law. This Offer to Purchase is not an offer to purchase securities and it is not a solicitation of an offer to sell securities, nor shall there be any sale or purchase of securities pursuant hereto, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted or would be unlawful.

Subject to applicable law (including Rule 14d-4 under the Exchange Act, which requires that material changes be promptly disseminated to security holders in a manner reasonably designed to inform them of such changes), delivery of this Offer to Purchase shall not under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Offer to Purchase is correct as of any time after the date of this Offer to Purchase or the respective dates of the documents incorporated herein by reference or that there has been no change in the information included or incorporated by reference herein or in the affairs of CMB or the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates since the date hereof or the respective dates of the documents incorporated herein by reference.

* * *

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Offer to Purchase contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including plans, strategies and expectations for the future, statements regarding the expected timing of the completion of the Offers, the future strategy for the Company, the Company’s integration of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH (as defined below), and diversification and decarbonization of the Company’s fleet, or any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Statements made in the future tense, and words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “continue,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “potential,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “seek,” “assume,” “will,” “may,” “should,” and similar expressions are intended to qualify as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the Offeror that are believed to be reasonable, although estimates and assumptions are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the following:

 

   

the Offeror may not succeed in executing its decarbonization strategy for the Company;

 

   

the businesses that the Company acquired as part of its purchase of CMB’s subsidiary, then named “CMB.TECH” (“Pre-Acqusition CMB.TECH”) may not be successfully integrated into the Company’s business, and the benefits of the Company’s acquisition of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH may not be realized;

 

   

the global clean energy transition may not accelerate as expected, including in the shipping industry;

 

   

governmental and regulatory focus on a zero-carbon future in accordance with current target dates may be delayed, changed or abandoned;

 

   

the shipping industry may not adopt hydrogen and ammonia as a primary fuel source for ocean-going vessels or any adoption may take longer than expected;

 

   

the obsolescence and scrapping of older vessels that are powered by traditional fuels that emit carbon and their replacement may not occur as expected or at all;

 

   

the Company’s hydrogen and ammonia engine and fuel technology may not be successfully applied in longer haul routes;

 

   

the delivery of the Company’s vessels on order may not occur as expected or without unanticipated costs;

 

   

charters at attractive or expected rates may not be available for the Company’s vessels upon expiration of current charters or upon delivery of newbuildings on order;

 

   

the Company may not complete as expected various hydrogen and ammonia projects upon which the Company’s strategy is based around the world both at sea and ashore;

 

   

continuing demand for transportation of crude oil may not sustain charter rates for VLCCs and Suezmax tankers and the expected reduction in supply of such vessels due to scrapping or obsolescence may not occur;

 

   

improving supply and demand dynamics over the next several years in the dry bulk shipping sector of the shipping industry may not occur as expected;

 

   

a recovery and growth over the next several years in the chemical tanker sector of the shipping industry may not occur as expected;

 

   

demand for eco-friendly container vessels may not increase or may decline;

 

   

continued increases in demand for service vessels in the offshore wind industry may not occur as expected;

 

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the impact of general economic and geopolitical factors may impact the shipping industry, including the war in Ukraine and the on-going conflicts in the Middle East;

 

   

uncertainty as to the number of Ordinary Shares that will be tendered in the Offers and the impact on the continued listing of the Ordinary Shares on the NYSE or Euronext Brussels, which is primarily dependent upon the trading price continuing to exceed the Offer Price;

 

   

the liquidity of the trading markets for the Ordinary Shares after completion of the Offers may be limited;

 

   

the Company’s future dividend policy will be determined in the discretion of the Supervisory Board, on an ad hoc basis, and dividends may be limited or eliminated in the future;

 

   

the Offeror, as the Company’s majority shareholder, controls the outcome of substantially all matters on which holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to vote, including the election of members of the Company’s Supervisory Board and changes to the Company’s articles of association, and may have interests that differ from other shareholders;

 

   

the Enterprise Court Claim (as defined below) may be decided against the Company, CMB and/or the other defendants which may have a material adverse effect on the Company; and

 

   

the Offers and other factors may negatively affect the trading price for the Ordinary Shares.

While the list of factors presented here is representative, no list should be considered a statement of all potential risks, uncertainties or assumptions that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The foregoing factors should be read in conjunction with the risks and cautionary statements discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC made by the Company, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”) and its other SEC filings.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Offer to Purchase speak only as of the date of this Offer to Purchase. Neither the Offeror nor the Company undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of the forward-looking statement, unless required by law.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY TERM SHEET

     1  

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFERS

     3  

INTRODUCTION

     12  

THE U.S. OFFER

     14  

1.

  

Terms of the U.S. Offer

     14  

2.

  

Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares

     17  

3.

  

Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares

     18  

4.

  

Withdrawal Rights

     20  

5.

  

Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer

     21  

6.

  

Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends

     26  

7.

  

Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer

     28  

8.

  

Certain Information About the Company

     29  

9.

  

Certain Information About the Offeror

     34  

10.

  

Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

     36  

11.

  

Purpose of the Offers; Plans for the Company

     51  

12.

  

Related Party Transactions; Certain Transactions Between CMB and its Affiliates and the Company

     52  

13.

  

Source and Amount of Funds

     54  

14.

  

Conditions of the U.S. Offer

     56  

15.

  

Certain Legal Matters

     56  

16.

  

Fees and Expenses

     58  

17.

  

Miscellaneous

     58  

ANNEX A - INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CMB

     A-1  

 

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SUMMARY TERM SHEET

This summary term sheet highlights selected information from this Offer to Purchase and may not contain all the information that is important to you and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed descriptions and explanations contained in this Offer to Purchase and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal. You should read this Offer to Purchase and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal carefully and in their entirety. Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent at its telephone number and addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase. Unless otherwise indicated in this Offer to Purchase or the context otherwise requires, all references in this Offer to Purchase to “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to the Offeror.

 

Offeror    Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”). See The U.S. Offer — Section 9. “Certain Information About the Offeror.”
U.S. Offer    The offer by the Offeror to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (the “Ordinary Shares” or “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), which are beneficially owned by U.S. Holders. See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.”
Price Offered Per Share    $12.66 per Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”). See The U.S. Offer — Section 2. “Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares.”
Dual Offer Structure    Concurrently with the U.S. Offer and to comply with the FSMA Order, CMB is making an offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the equivalent price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.”
Repositioning of Shares    To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders holding Ordinary Shares that are reflected in the Company’s Belgian Share Register (as defined below) and eligible for trading on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels SA/NV (“Euronext Brussels”) must first reposition their Shares to be reflected on the Company’s U.S. Share Register (as defined below) and eligible for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company.” If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not reflected

 

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   on the U.S. Share Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. See The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company.”
Expiration Date of U.S. Offer    10:00 A.M., New York City time (4:00 P.M., Brussels, Belgium time), on November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”). See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.”
Recommendation of the Company’s Supervisory Board    The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board advises each shareholder to make its own decision regarding the Offers based on all available information, including the adequacy of the Offer Price in light of the shareholder’s own investment objectives, the current market price for the Ordinary Shares, the shareholder’s views as to the Company’s prospects and outlook, the factors considered by the Supervisory Board as described in the Tender Offer Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “Schedule 14D-9”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any other factors that the shareholder deems relevant to its investment decision. The Supervisory Board also advises each shareholder to consult with its financial and tax advisors regarding the Offers. A more complete description of the Supervisory Board’s recommendation is set forth in the Schedule 14D-9 filed by the Company with the SEC and furnished to shareholders of the Company in connection with the U.S. Offer.

 

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFERS

The following are some questions that you, as a shareholder of the Company, may have and answers to those questions.

Who is offering to buy my Ordinary Shares of CMB.TECH (formerly Euronav) pursuant to the U.S. Offer?

The Offers are being made by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”). CMB is a diversified shipping and cleantech group based in Antwerp, Belgium. CMB is also active in certain other businesses, including real estate. CMB is wholly owned by Saverco NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“Saverco”), which is an investment holding company. Alexander Saverys, Ludovic Saverys, and Michael Saverys, each own approximately 33.33% of the issued shares of Saverco. As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, CMB and Saverco together own 177,171,699 Ordinary Shares representing 91.22% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company and CMB is the controlling shareholder of the Company. See The U.S. Offer — Section 9. “Certain Information About the Offeror.”

What happened to Euronav?

CMB.TECH is the same company as Euronav. On October 1, 2024, the Company’s name was officially changed from “Euronav” to “CMB.TECH”. The trading symbol under which the Ordinary Shares trade on both the NYSE and Euronext Brussels was also changed from “EURN” to “CMBT” as of July 15, 2024.

Why did CMB make a public takeover bid for the Company’s Ordinary Shares in February 2024?

On November 22, 2023 CMB purchased 57,479,744 Ordinary Shares, representing 28.47% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares, from Famatown Finance Limited (“Famatown”) and Frontline plc (“Frontline” and, together with Famatown, the “Sellers”), together, the Company’s then largest shareholder, for a purchase price of $18.43 per share (the “Share Purchase”). After the consummation of the Share Purchase, CMB and Saverco together owned 53.45% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company and CMB became the controlling shareholder of the Company. The purpose of effecting this change of control of the Company through the Share Purchase was to resolve the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company that existed prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase and to enable CMB to implement its medium to long-term strategy of transforming the Company into a Europe-based leading company in the field of maritime and industrial cleantech by gradually diversifying its fleet away from pure crude oil transportation and focusing on diversification and decarbonization of the fleet, as described further in The U.S. Offer — Section 11. “Purpose of the Offers; Plans for the Company.”

As a result of the Share Purchase described above, CMB became obligated under Belgian law to make a mandatory unconditional public takeover bid on the remaining Ordinary Shares of the Company that were not already then owned by CMB or its affiliates. On February 14, 2024, CMB commenced a mandatory public takeover bid for all Ordinary Shares of the Company not already owned by CMB or persons affiliated with CMB (the “Completed Bid”). The Offeror’s sole purpose in making the Completed Bid was to comply with its legal obligation to launch a public takeover bid in accordance with Belgian law.

Is the Completed Bid closed?

Yes, the Completed Bid acceptance period expired at 10:00 A.M., New York City time (4:00 P.M., Brussels, Belgium time), on March 15, 2024 and closed on April 3, 2024. A total of 69,241,955 Ordinary Shares were tendered in the Offers and accepted for payment by the Offeror, increasing its ownership of the Company from 53.37% to 87.60% as of the closing of the Completed Bid.

 

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Why is CMB making another bid for the remaining Ordinary Shares?

On October 7, 2024 the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen the Completed Bid, which was consummated on April 3, 2024, in accordance with Belgian Law (the “FSMA Order”). CMB is conducting Offers to comply with the FSMA Order.

How much are you offering to pay for the Ordinary Shares and what is the form of payment?

The Offeror is offering to pay $12.66 for each Ordinary Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the settlement date of the Offers.

The Offer Price in the U.S. Offer will be paid in U.S. Dollars. Shareholders tendering Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive an equivalent amount of the Offer Price in Euros calculated using the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for Euros per U.S. Dollar at 5:00 P.M., Central European Time, on the date of the announcement of the results of the Acceptance Period. See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.”

Is the bid price in the Offers the same as the bid price in the Completed Bid?

No. The bid price of the Completed Bid was based upon the purchase price in the Share Purchase of $18.43 per Ordinary Share (the “Original Reference Price”) and the adjusted bid price in the Offers is based on an increase in the Original Reference Price of $0.52 per share as described in The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements — The Transaction — Determination of the purchase price for the Share Purchase and the Offer Price in the Mandatory Bid.” The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023.

Why did the Original Reference Price increase?

On February 29, 2024, certain funds managed by FourWorld Capital Management, LLC (“FourWorld”) filed a complaint with the Market Court in Belgium (the “Market Court”) in connection with the Completed Bid. FourWorld’s application sought, among other things, to challenge the Original Reference Price, alleging that the Original Reference Price did not reflect certain purported special benefits that FourWorld claimed to have been granted to Frontline in addition to the price paid by CMB in the Share Purchase. FourWorld also requested that the Market Court order CMB to adjust the Original Reference Price to account for these alleged special benefits.

In its ruling dated September 6, 2024, the Market Court dismissed some of FourWorld’s claims as inadmissible and/or unfounded. However, the Market Court found that the price at which certain vessels were sold by the Company to Frontline as part of the solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company implied certain indirect special benefits to Frontline. The Court calculated these indirect special benefits to be $0.52 per Ordinary Share. The Market Court ordered the FSMA to assess whether, in view of its finding that indirect special benefits were granted to Frontline amounting to $0.52 per share, the original bid price should be modified. On October 7, 2024, the FSMA decided to effectively require an increase in the original bid price of $18.43 of $0.52 per Ordinary Share and ordered CMB, more specifically, to (i) pay $0.52 per share to all shareholders whose Ordinary Shares were validly tendered in the Completed Bid and (ii) reopen the Completed Bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the Original Reference Price, of $0.52 per share. Taking into account the Original Reference Price, increased by $0.52 in accordance with the FSMA Order, and decreased by $6.29 (the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company to its shareholders since the announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023), this results in an offer price per Share of $12.66 (the “Offer Price”) in the Offers.

 

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How was the Offer Price determined?

As ordered by the FSMA in the FSMA Order, the Offeror has reopened the Belgian Offer (and commenced the U.S. Offer) at an offer price of $12.66 per Ordinary Share. In accordance with the FSMA Order, the Original Reference Price has been increased by $0.52, from $18.43 per Ordinary Share to $18.95 per Ordinary Share. The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023.

The Offer Price may be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any additional distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date of the Offers.

Shareholders who tender Belgian Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the Offer Price in Euro, calculated using the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for Euros per U.S. dollar at 5:00 p.m. CET on the date of the announcement of the results of the Acceptance Period of the Belgian Offer.

For more information on the determination of the Offer Price, see The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements — The FSMA Order and Determination of the Offer Price.”

Does CMB intend to take the Company private?

No, CMB is making the Offers solely to comply with the FSMA Order and does not intend to take the Company private. The Offeror does not intend to delist the Ordinary Shares from trading on the NYSE or Euronext Brussels and expects that the Ordinary Shares will continue to trade on these exchanges after consummation of the Offers. The most recent closing price of the Ordinary Shares on the NYSE on October 21, 2024 was $16.21 per share. The Offer Price is lower than the NYSE closing price on October, 21, 2024 by approximately 21.90 percent. However, in the event that the trading price of the Ordinary Shares suffers a significant decline resulting in the Offer Price reflecting a premium to the price available to shareholders on the NYSE and/or Euronext Brussels and a significant number of Ordinary Shares are tendered into the Offers, the number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held may be significantly reduced because of the Offers, and the liquidity of the public markets for the Ordinary Shares may also be significantly reduced. It is also possible that the Company may fail to meet the criteria for continued listing on the NYSE. If this were to happen, the Ordinary Shares could be delisted from the NYSE by action taken by the NYSE. See The U.S. Offer —Section 7. “Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer.”

What benefits does the Offeror expect for shareholders from the Offers?

The Offeror does not expect shareholders to benefit from the Offers because the Offer Price is, as of the date of this Offer to Purchase, significantly lower than the market price which could be realized if a holder sold its Shares on the NYSE or Euronext Brussels. However, in the event that the trading price of the Ordinary Shares suffers a significant decline resulting in the Offer Price reflecting a premium to the price available to shareholders on the NYSE and/or Euronext Brussels, the benefit of the Offers for shareholders is the opportunity to sell their Ordinary Shares to the Offeror at the Offer Price.

How does the Offers affect me if I tendered Shares in the Completed Bid?

The Completed Bid closed on April 3, 2024 and withdrawal rights terminated on March 15, 2024. Therefore, the Offers do not affect your tender of, or payment that you have received from the Offeror for, the Shares you tendered in the Completed Bid. However, in accordance with the FSMA Order, CMB will pay to all shareholders whose Ordinary Shares were validly tendered in the Completed Bid an additional $0.52 per Ordinary Share (the “Subsequent Payment”). CMB expects to make this Subsequent Payment on October 31, 2024. Shareholders who are entitled to the Subsequent Payment will not need to do anything to receive the Subsequent Payment. The Payment will be made in the same manner that the payment for your tendered Shares was made in the Completed Bid.

 

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Have the Offers been recommended by the Company’s Supervisory Board?

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board reached the conclusion to recommend the Company’s shareholders reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers because the Offer Price is substantially below the historical trading price of the Ordinary Shares and in view of the Company’s new strategy, which aims to make the Company the reference platform for sustainable shipping based on diversification, decarbonization and optimization of the Company’s fleet. While the Supervisory Board unanimously recommends that shareholders reject the Offers and stay invested in the Company, the Supervisory Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers. Under U.S. law, within ten business days after the commencement of the U.S. Offer, the Company is required to file with the SEC and distribute to its shareholders a Tender Offer Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Schedule 14D-9”) stating whether it recommends in favor of the U.S. Offer, recommends against the U.S. Offer, expresses no position and remains neutral in connection with the U.S. Offer or expresses that it is unable to take a position regarding the U.S. Offer. In each case, the Company is required to explain the reasons for its position. The reasons for the Supervisory Board’s recommendation will be set forth in the Schedule 14D-9 that will be filed with the SEC and transmitted to the DTC participant who holds your beneficial ownership position or mailed to you together with this Offer to Purchase. You should carefully read the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9, including the information set forth in Item 4 thereof under subheading (b) “Background and Reasons for the Supervisory Board’s Position.”

What was the Supervisory Board’s recommendation with respect to the Completed Bid?

The Supervisory Board at the time of the Completed Bid expressed no opinion regarding the offers to holders of Ordinary Shares in the Completed Bid and remained neutral with respect to those offers. The Supervisory Board reached the conclusion to remain neutral with respect to the offers in the Completed Bid because it determined, after consideration of the factors and reasons described in the Tender Offer Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 relating to the Completed Bid that the Company filed with the SEC, that the decision of a holder of Ordinary Shares with respect to the offers in the Completed Bid will substantially depend on its view of the new strategy of the Company. The Supervisory Board expressed unanimously that holders of Ordinary Shares who are aligned with the Company’s new strategy should not tender their Ordinary Shares in the offers in the Completed Bid, and that holders of Ordinary Shares who do not support the Company’s new strategy should tender their Ordinary Shares in the offers in the Completed Bid. In that Schedule 14D-9, the Company noted the Supervisory Board’s belief that a shareholder’s decision whether or not to tender its Ordinary Shares in the offers in the Completed Bid and, if so, the number of Ordinary Shares to tender, was a personal investment decision based upon each individual shareholder’s particular circumstances. The Supervisory Board urged each shareholder to make its own decision regarding the offers in the Completed Bid based on all available information, including the adequacy of the offer price in light of the shareholder’s own investment objectives, the shareholder’s views as to the Company’s prospects and outlook, particularly in light of its new strategy, the factors considered by the Supervisory Board as described in the Schedule 14D-9 and any other factors that the shareholder deemed relevant to its investment decision.

What is the Belgian Offer?

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, CMB is reopening the prior Belgian offer pursuant to which CMB offered to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company, from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, which was made on the basis of a Belgian prospectus dated February 13, 2024 (the “Belgian Prospectus”). The Belgian Offer provides equivalent consideration for the Ordinary Shares tendered as the U.S. Offer, and the Belgian Offer is being made on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer, except as further described herein. See The U.S. Offer —Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.” Non-U.S. Holders of

 

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Ordinary Shares may not use this Offer to Purchase or the related Letter of Transmittal and may only tender their Ordinary Shares into the Belgian Offer. A separate prospectus supplement for use by holders of Ordinary Shares, wherever located, is being published concurrently in Belgium after having been approved by the FSMA as required under Belgian law (including any related Belgian Offer documents, the “Belgian Prospectus Supplement”). Such approval does not imply an assessment of the merits or the quality of the Belgian Offer nor of the position of the Offeror.

Who can participate in the U.S. Offer?

All U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares may tender their Ordinary Shares into either the U.S. Offer or the Belgian Offer. Non-U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares may not tender their Ordinary Shares into the U.S. Offer. See The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.”

Who can participate in the Belgian Offer?

Holders of Ordinary Shares, wherever located, may tender their Ordinary Shares into the Belgian Offer. Questions and requests for assistance including information on how U.S. Holders may tender their Ordinary Shares into the Belgian Offer, or to obtain a copy of the Belgian Prospectus Supplement and the Belgian Prospectus, may be directed to Georgeson LLC, the information agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Information Agent”), at the telephone number and addresses on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

What is the market value of the Ordinary Shares as of a recent date?

On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of this Offer to Purchase, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on the NYSE was $ 16.21 per Ordinary Share and the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on Euronext Brussels was € 14.79 per Ordinary Share (or $15.99 based upon the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for U.S. Dollars per Euro as of such time). See The U.S. Offer — Section 6. “Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends.”

Will you have the financial resources to pay for all of the Ordinary Shares that are tendered in the Offers?

Yes. The consummation of the Offers is not subject to any financing condition. The Offeror estimates that the maximum amount of funds required to consummate the Offers is approximately $216 million. CMB is the borrower under an amended and restated bridge facilities agreement with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KBC Bank NV, and Société Générale (the “Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement”) pursuant to which these banks and the other banks party to the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement have committed irrevocably to make unconditionally available the funds necessary to finance the purchase of all the outstanding Ordinary Shares that are the subject of the Offers. See The U.S. Offer — Section 13. “Source and Amount of Funds.”

Will I have to pay any fees or commissions?

If your Ordinary Shares are registered in your name and you tender your shares in the U.S. Offer directly to the U.S. Tender Agent, you will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes on the purchase of Ordinary Shares by the Offeror pursuant to the U.S. Offer. If you hold your Ordinary Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should check with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee as to whether they charge any service fees.

Is there a minimum number of Ordinary Shares that must be tendered for you to purchase any Ordinary Shares?

No. The Offers are for any and all outstanding Ordinary Shares not already owned by the Offeror and its affiliates.

 

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Are there any conditions to the consummation of the Offers?

No. There are no conditions to the consummation of the Offers. The Offeror is obligated to accept for payment and to pay for, on the Settlement Date, all Ordinary Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

How long do I have to decide whether to tender my Ordinary Shares in the Offers?

You will have until 10:00 A.M., New York City time (4:00 P.M., Brussels, Belgium time), on the Expiration Date to tender your Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The term “Expiration Date” means November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. Offer is extended to a subsequent date in accordance with U.S. and Belgian law, in which case the term “Expiration Date” means the latest date to which the U.S. Offer is extended (the period of time from commencement of the U.S. Offer through 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the “Acceptance Period”). U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares, wherever located, tendering their Ordinary Shares during the Acceptance Period will have withdrawal rights during the Acceptance Period with respect to such tendered Ordinary Shares. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees may set an earlier deadline for communication by holders of Ordinary Shares in order to permit such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to communicate acceptances to the U.S. Tender Agent in a timely manner. Accordingly, U.S. Holders holding Ordinary Shares through any such securities intermediary should comply with the dates communicated by such securities intermediary, as such dates may differ from the dates and times noted in this Offer to Purchase. See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer” and — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.”

Can the Offers be extended and under what circumstances?

Yes. If the Offeror makes a material change to this Offer to Purchase or any other information published or sent or given to shareholders in respect to the U.S. Offer, the Offeror may be required under U.S. law to extend the U.S. Offer by up to ten U.S. Business Days. In such case, the Offeror would also extend the Belgian Offer. Any extension of the Offers would be made by public announcement thereof, which will be made no later than 9:00 A.M., New York City time (3:00 P.M., Brussels, Belgium time), on the next U.S. Business Day (as defined below) after the previously scheduled expiration date. If the U.S. Offer is extended in accordance with U.S. law, the Offeror currently intends to extend the Belgian Offer so that it will expire on the same day as, and simultaneously with, the U.S. Offer. See The U.S. Offer — Section 1. “Terms of the U.S. Offer.”

Will there be any Subsequent Offering Periods?

No, the Offeror is not required under Belgian law to provide for a mandatory subsequent offering period in connection with the Offers.

If I do not tender my Ordinary Shares and the Offers are consummated, will the Offeror launch a “Squeeze-Out” offer?

No. Even if the Offeror, following the expiration of the Acceptance Period, holds at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, the Offeror is not obligated under Belgian law to launch a Squeeze-Out offer and does not have any intention of doing so.

If, following the expiration of the Acceptance Period, the Offeror holds, as a result of the Offers, at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, any holder of Ordinary Shares that has not tendered such Ordinary Shares can obligate the Offeror to acquire such Ordinary Shares at the Offer Price (the “Sell-Out”). You can exercise your Sell-Out right by requesting payment from the Offeror for such Ordinary Shares within three (3) months following the end of the Acceptance Period, by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt. If you exercise your Sell-Out right, the Offeror will inform the FSMA of such request, the purchases the Offeror makes as a result of the Sell-Out and the price it pays for such purchases.

 

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If I do not tender my Ordinary Shares and the Offers are consummated, what will happen to my Ordinary Shares?

If you decide not to tender, you will continue as a shareholder of the Company. Because the Offeror does not intend to launch a Squeeze-Out, the Offeror believes that the Company will continue to have public shareholders in addition to CMB and its affiliates. Continuing shareholders will continue to participate in the future performance of the Company through stock appreciation and dividends, if any.

The Offeror does not intend to delist the Ordinary Shares from trading on the NYSE or Euronext Brussels and expects that the Ordinary Shares will continue to trade on these exchanges after consummation of the Offers. The number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held were significantly reduced as a result of the Completed Bid and certain open market repurchases of Ordinary Shares effected by the Company thereafter in accordance with its share buyback program. In the event that the trading price of the Ordinary Shares significantly declines resulting in the Offer Price reflecting a premium to the price available to shareholders on the NYSE and/or Euronext Brussels, the number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held may be further reduced because of the Offers, and the liquidity of the public markets for the Ordinary Shares may also be significantly reduced. It is also possible that the Company may fail to meet the criteria for continued listing on the NYSE. If this were to happen, the Ordinary Shares could be delisted from the NYSE by action taken by the NYSE.

A delisting of the Ordinary Shares would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by the Company to holders of Ordinary Shares, and certain provisions of the Exchange Act, Belgian securities laws, NYSE listed company rules, Euronext Brussels listing rules and Belgian corporate law would no longer apply to the Company. To the extent that the Ordinary Shares are delisted after the consummation of the Offers, the absence of an active trading market in the U.S. or Belgium, as the case may be, will reduce the liquidity and market value of your Ordinary Shares. Under certain of the Company’s financing agreements, the delisting of the Company’s Ordinary Shares from both the NYSE and Euronext Brussels may constitute an event of default.

If the Ordinary Shares remain listed on an exchange, shareholders that do not tender their Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer may be able to sell their Ordinary Shares in the future on the NYSE or Euronext Brussels or otherwise, at a net price higher or lower than the Offer Price, however, the Offeror can give no assurance as to the price at which a shareholder may be able to sell Ordinary Shares in the future. See The U.S. Offer —Section 7. “Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer.”

Do I need to reposition my Belgian Shares to the U.S. Share Register to accept the U.S. Offer?

Yes. The Ordinary Shares are listed on two exchanges: NYSE and Euronext Brussels. The Company’s share register is divided into two components: the U.S. component which is maintained by Computershare (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent) (the “U.S. Share Register”) and the Belgian component which is maintained by Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) (the “Belgian Share Register”). When Ordinary Shares are eligible to be traded on the NYSE, they are reflected on the U.S. Share Register and held in custody through DTC, and when they are eligible to be traded through the facilities of Euronext Brussels, they are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium. The Ordinary Shares are entitled to identical voting and economic rights. However, the Ordinary Shares tradable on the NYSE identified by CUSIP B38564 108 (referred to as the “U.S. Shares” for this purpose) are denominated in U.S. Dollars and are eligible to receive dividends and other distributions in U.S. Dollars, and the Ordinary Shares tradable on Euronext Brussels identified by ISIN BE0003816338 (referred to as the “Belgian Shares” for this purpose) are denominated in Euros and are eligible to receive dividends and other distributions in Euros.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company.” The

 

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procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that your repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five (5) business days prior to the last day of the Acceptance Period, or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not currently reflected on the U.S. Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible.

Holders of Ordinary Shares may reposition their Shares from the Belgian Share Register to the U.S. Share Register by contacting their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent). Shareholders should inquire with their financial intermediary or custodian for any fees that may be charged by such parties for the repositioning of their Shares from the Belgian Share Register to the U.S. Share Register and are responsible for paying these fees. For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

How do I tender my Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer?

To tender your Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer, you must deliver your Ordinary Shares, together with a completed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents to the U.S. Tender Agent not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

If your Ordinary Shares are held in the name of your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and give instructions to tender your Ordinary Shares. Your Ordinary Shares can be tendered by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee through DTC via an Agent’s Message (as defined below) upon your instructions. The Agent’s Message will be your confirmation that you accept the terms and conditions of the Letter of Transmittal, and no physical delivery of the Letter of Transmittal will be required.

If your Ordinary Shares are held by you in an account at Computershare, as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent, in its direct registration system (“DRS”), you should complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal according to its instructions and physically deliver the original signed copy, together with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the U.S. Tender Agent, at the address on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, you must allow sufficient time to tender your Shares by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date will be disregarded and of no effect. See The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.”

If I accept the U.S. Offer, when and how will I get paid?

If we accept your validly tendered Ordinary Shares for payment in the U.S. Offer, payment will be made by deposit of the aggregate Offer Price for the Ordinary Shares accepted in the U.S. Offer with the U.S. Tender Agent. The U.S. Tender Agent will act as agent for tendering U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares for the purpose of receiving payments from the Offeror and transmitting payments to such holders. Unless the Offers are extended, the Offeror expects that holders will receive payment for Shares that we accept for payment within four (4) U.S. Business Days following the expiration of the Acceptance Period. See The U.S. Offer — Section 2. “Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares.”

 

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Until what time may I withdraw previously tendered Ordinary Shares from the U.S. Offer?

You may withdraw the Ordinary Shares that you tendered in the U.S. Offer at any time before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. If you hold your Ordinary Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should be aware that such securities intermediaries may establish their own earlier cutoff times and dates for receipt of instructions to tender (or to submit a notice of withdrawal on your behalf, as applicable) to ensure that those instructions will be timely received by the U.S. Tender Agent. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares are responsible for determining and complying with any such cut-off times and dates. Your previously tendered Ordinary Shares may only be validly withdrawn by the timely delivery of a written notice of withdrawal with the required information to the U.S. Tender Agent in accordance with the instructions contained in this Offer to Purchase.

In addition, pursuant to Section 14(d)(5) of the Exchange Act, Ordinary Shares may be withdrawn at any time after December 22, 2024, which is the 60th day after the date of the commencement of the U.S. Offer, unless prior to that date the Offeror has accepted for payment the Ordinary Shares validly tendered in the U.S. Offer. Once the Offeror accepts your Ordinary Shares for payment upon the expiration of the U.S. Offer, you will no longer be able to withdraw them. See The U.S. Offer — Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights.”

What are the material U.S. Federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of tendering Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Offers?

Generally, if you are a U.S. Person (as defined below), who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares, the receipt of cash in exchange for your Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. Holders will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between (a) the sum of the cash received by such U.S. Holder in the U.S. Offer and (b) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares surrendered in connection with the U.S. Offer.

We urge you to consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences to you of tendering Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer (including the application and effect of any U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income and other tax laws). See The U.S. Offer — Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer.”

Will I have appraisal rights in connection with the U.S. Offer?

No appraisal rights will be available to you in connection with the U.S. Offer. Belgian corporation law does not provide for statutory appraisal rights in the case of a tender offer.

Whom should I contact if I have questions about the U.S. Offer?

You may contact the U.S. Information Agent, toll free at 1 (888) 815-4069 or by email at CMB.TECH@georgeson.com. See the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase for additional contact information.

 

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TO ALL U.S. HOLDERS OF ORDINARY SHARES:

INTRODUCTION

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”), is offering to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), from U.S. holders of Ordinary Shares (“U.S. Holders”) (within the meaning of Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.

The Company is a Belgian company with Ordinary Shares listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels SA/NV (“Euronext Brussels”) and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the Offeror is offering to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares that the Offeror and its affiliates do not already own in two separate, but concurrent and related offers, one in the U.S. (the “U.S. Offer”) and one in Belgium (the “Belgian Offer”). The U.S. Offer and the Belgian Offer are referred to collectively as the “Offers.” Each of the Offers provides the equivalent consideration for Ordinary Shares tendered, and each of the Offers is being made on substantially the same terms.

The U.S. Offer is open to all U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares. Shareholders that are not U.S. Holders may not use this Offer to Purchase and may only tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer. A separate Belgian prospectus supplement, for use by holders of Ordinary Shares, wherever located, is being published concurrently in Belgium, as required under Belgian law (the “Belgian Prospectus Supplement”).

The Offeror is offering to pay $12.66 for each Ordinary Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the “Offer Price”). The term “Settlement Date” means the date on which the Offer Price is paid to U.S. Holders who have validly tendered their Shares in the U.S. Offer and on which title to such Shares is transferred to the Offeror. The Offer Price in the U.S. Offer will be paid in U.S. Dollars. The Offer Price in the Belgian Offer will be paid in Euros. All payments to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be rounded to the nearest whole cent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders.

On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of this Offer to Purchase, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on the NYSE was $16.21 per Share. On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of the Belgian Prospectus Supplement, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on Euronext Brussels was €14.79 per Share (or $15.99 based upon the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for U.S. Dollars per Euro as of such time).

THE OFFER PRICE IS LOWER THAN THE CLOSING PRICE OF THE ORDINARY SHARES ON THE NYSE ON OCTOBER 21, 2024 BY APPROXIMATELY 21.90 PERCENT. YOU ARE URGED TO OBTAIN CURRENT MARKET QUOTATIONS FOR THE ORDINARY SHARES BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER YOUR ORDINARY SHARES IN THE U.S. OFFER.

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers. The Company is required by

 

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law to file with the SEC and provide to shareholders, within ten business days from the date of this Offer to Purchase, a Schedule 14D-9 to advise shareholders of its position on the Offer. U.S. Holders should carefully read the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9, including the information set forth in Item 4 under subheading (b) “Background and Reasons for the Supervisory Board’s Position.”

The U.S. Offer qualifies as a “Tier II” cross border offer in accordance with Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act and is, as a result, exempt from certain provisions of otherwise applicable United States statutes and rules relating to tender offers.

THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. OFFER.

 

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THE U.S. OFFER

1. Terms of the U.S. Offer.

General

The Offeror is offering to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company which are beneficially owned by U.S. Holders for the Offer Price, which is $12.66 per Ordinary Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.

Dual Offer Structure

The Offeror has commenced two tender offers: (i) the U.S. Offer, which is open to all U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares and (ii) the Belgian Offer, which is open to all holders of Ordinary Shares wherever located.

On October 7, 2024 the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account an increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per Share by $0.52 per Share, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order. The Belgian Offer is a mandatory unconditional takeover bid made by the Offeror in accordance with the Act of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids (the “Takeover Act”) and Chapter II of the Royal Decree of 27 April 2007 on public takeover bids (the “Takeover RD”). The Belgian Offer is open to all holders of Ordinary Shares wherever located. In accordance with Rule 14d-1 under the Exchange Act, the Offeror must permit U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares to participate in the transaction on terms at least as favorable as those offered in Belgium. After calculating U.S. ownership of Ordinary Shares as of August 22, 2024, which date is between sixty (60) days prior to and thirty (30) days after the public announcement of the U.S. Offer, the Offeror and the Company determined that U.S. Holders held at such time more than 10% but less than 40% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares. Therefore, the U.S. Offer is eligible for certain Tier II exemptions under Rule 14d-1(d) of the Exchange Act, including the commencement of a separate tender offer in the U.S. for U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares. For purposes of the Belgian Offer, a “Belgian Business Day” is any day on which Belgian banks are open to the public, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, and otherwise as defined in Article 3, §1, 27° of the Takeover Act, and a “U.S. Business Day” is any day, other than Saturday, Sunday or a federal holiday in the United States (or other day when the NYSE is closed for trading).

The U.S. Offer is open to all holders of Ordinary Shares that are beneficially owned by U.S. Holders. Holders of Ordinary Shares that are not U.S. Holders may not tender their Ordinary Shares into the U.S. Offer but may tender their Ordinary Shares into the Belgian Offer. For additional information on how to tender into the Belgian Offer, please contact the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and email address set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

The price per Ordinary Share offered pursuant to the Belgian Offer is equivalent to the price per Share offered in the U.S. Offer pursuant to this Offer to Purchase.

Terms of the U.S. Offer

General

In this Offer to Purchase, we are offering to pay $12.66 per Ordinary Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any

 

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distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. The Offer Price is equivalent to the price per Ordinary Share payable by Offeror to all holders of Ordinary Shares tendering their Shares into the Belgian Offer. All payments to tendering U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to this Offer to Purchase will be rounded to the nearest whole cent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders.

The U.S. Offer commenced on October 23, 2024 and will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, the Expiration Date. The term “Expiration Date” means November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. Offer is extended in accordance with U.S. law, in which case the term “Expiration Date” means the latest date to which the U.S. Offer is extended. The U.S. Offer may be extended as described in this Offer to Purchase. The Offeror will accept for payment Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders that are validly tendered and not withdrawn before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. If you hold your Ordinary Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee you should be aware that such securities intermediaries may establish their own earlier cut-off times and dates for receipt of instructions to tender (or to submit a notice of withdrawal on your behalf, as applicable) to ensure that those instructions will be timely received the U.S. Tender Agent with respect to Ordinary Shares. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares are responsible for determining and complying with any applicable cut-off times and dates.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company.” The procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the last day of the Acceptance Period, or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. Holders of Ordinary Shares may reposition their Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent). For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

The Belgian Offer is currently scheduled to expire at 4:00 P.M., Brussels Belgium time (10:00 A.M., New York City time), on the Expiration Date.

If we make a material change in the terms of the U.S. Offer, subject to applicable law, we will extend the U.S. Offer and disseminate additional tender offer materials to the extent required by Rules 14d-4(d)(1), 14d-6(c) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which an offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the U.S. Offer, other than a change in price, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the materiality of the changes. A minimum ten (10) business day period from the date of such change is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination of new information to shareholders in connection with a change in the offer price. The requirement to extend the U.S. Offer will not apply if the number of business days remaining until the then-scheduled expiration date equals or exceeds the minimum extension period that would be required because of such amendment.

 

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Any extension, delay, termination, waiver or amendment of the U.S. Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof, and such announcement in the case of an extension will be made no later than 9:00 A.M., New York City time (3:00 P.M., Brussels, Belgium time), on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make any public announcement, subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(d) and 14e-1(d) under the Exchange Act, which require that material changes be promptly disseminated to holders in a manner reasonably designed to inform such holders of such change), we intend to make announcements regarding the U.S. Offer by issuing a press release.

If we extend the U.S. Offer, delay our acceptance for payment of Ordinary Shares, or we are unable to accept for payment Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer, for any reason, then, without prejudice to our rights under the U.S. Offer, the U.S. Tender Agent may nevertheless, on our behalf, retain tendered Ordinary Shares, and such Ordinary Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering shareholders exercise withdrawal rights as described in The U.S. Offer — Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights” prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date or as otherwise required by Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act.

If, on or before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date (or a later expiration date), the Offeror increases the consideration being paid for Ordinary Shares accepted for payment in the U.S. Offer, such increased consideration will be paid to all shareholders whose Shares are purchased in the U.S. Offer, whether or not such Ordinary Shares were tendered before the announcement of the increase in consideration.

Subsequent Offering Periods and Squeeze-Out

The Offeror is conducting the Offers solely to comply with the FSMA Order and is not required by Belgian law to provide for a mandatory subsequent offering period.

Under Belgian law if, following the expiration of the Acceptance Period, the Offeror holds as a result of the Offers, at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, the Offeror may proceed with a squeeze out (the “Squeeze-Out”), organized as an additional offering period, during which shareholders would be able to tender Ordinary Shares not previously tendered into the Offers at the Offer Price.

THE OFFEROR DOES NOT INTEND TO CONDUCT A SQUEEZE-OUT, EVEN IF AVAILABLE UNDER BELGIAN LAW.

If (i) as a result of the Offers, the Offeror and its affiliates hold at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, and (ii) the Offeror does not launch a Squeeze-Out, then each shareholder may request the Offeror to purchase its Ordinary Shares, under the terms of the Offers, in accordance with Belgian law. Shareholders wishing to exercise this sell-out right must submit their request to the Offeror within three (3) months following the end of the prior offering period by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

Withdrawal Rights

The U.S. Offer provides for withdrawal rights as required by U.S. securities laws. Therefore, you will be able to withdraw any tendered Ordinary Shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights” before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. After this time on the Expiration Date, your withdrawal rights will be suspended and, subsequently upon the Offeror’s acceptance of your Ordinary Shares for payment, your withdrawal rights will terminate. Therefore, you may not have an opportunity after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date to exercise your withdrawal rights prior to their termination. For more information on withdrawal rights, see The U.S. Offer — Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights.”

 

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2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares.

The Offeror is offering to pay the Offer Price, which is $12.66 per Ordinary Share, in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date, upon the terms set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. Under no circumstances will interest be paid by the Offeror on the Offer Price for Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer, regardless of any delay in making such payments. All payments to tendering U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to this Offer to Purchase will be rounded to the nearest whole cent.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal, the Offeror will accept for payment all Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders validly tendered, and not properly withdrawn, before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, and will pay for such Ordinary Shares within ten (10) Belgian Business Days following the publication of the results of the Offers following the Expiration Date (which publication will occur within five (5) Belgian Business Days following the end of the Acceptance Period). The Offeror expects to issue a press release announcing the results of the Offers within two (2) U.S. Business Days following the Expiration Date, and to make payment for properly tendered Ordinary Shares within four (4) U.S. Business Days following the Expiration Date. In all cases, payment for Ordinary Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be made only after timely receipt of the required documents by the U.S. Tender Agent in accordance with the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.”

The Offeror expressly reserves the right to delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for, the Ordinary Shares to comply, in whole or in part, with any applicable laws or regulations. Any such delays will be effected in compliance with Section 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which obligates a bidder to pay for or return tendered securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of such bidder’s offer.

In the U.S. Offer, the U.S. Tender Agent will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving payments from the Offeror for your tendered Ordinary Shares. If you hold Ordinary Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, the U.S. Tender Agent will credit DTC, for allocation by DTC to your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, with an amount equal to the aggregate Offer Price of your tendered Ordinary Shares that the Offeror has accepted for payment. If you hold Ordinary Shares in DRS, the U.S. Tender Agent, will credit your account held at Computershare, as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent, with an amount equal to the Offer Price of your tendered Ordinary Shares that the Offeror has accepted for payment. For purposes of the U.S. Offer, the Offeror will be deemed to have accepted for payment and thereby purchased Ordinary Shares validly tendered, and not properly withdrawn, prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date if and when the Offeror gives oral or written notice to the U.S. Tender Agent and DTC of its acceptance for payment of such Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

Upon the terms of the U.S. Offer, payment for Ordinary Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be made by deposit of the Offer Price therefor with the U.S. Tender Agent, which will act as agent for the tendering U.S. Holders for purposes of receiving payments from the Offeror and transmitting such payments to the tendering shareholders. Accordingly, upon the Offeror’s deposit of the aggregate purchase price with the U.S. Tender Agent, the Offeror’s obligation to make payment for the Ordinary Shares will be satisfied, and holders that tender Ordinary Shares must thereafter look solely to the U.S. Tender Agent for payment of net amounts owed to them by reason of the acceptance of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

If any Ordinary Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the U.S. Offer for any reason, such Ordinary Shares will be credited to the account of the tendering party with DTC (or, if such Ordinary Shares are held in DRS, with Computershare, as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent) without expense to the tendering holder of Ordinary Shares, as promptly as practicable following the expiration of the U.S. Offer.

 

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3. Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.

The Offeror has appointed Computershare Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”), to act as tender agent for U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares in connection with the U.S. Offer.

Valid Tender of Ordinary Shares

Except as set forth below, to validly tender Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal in accordance with the instructions of the Letter of Transmittal, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message (as defined below) in connection with a book-entry delivery of Ordinary Shares, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the U.S. Tender Agent at its address on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date and such Ordinary Shares must be properly delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below and a confirmation of such delivery received by the U.S. Tender Agent (which confirmation must include an Agent’s Message if the tendering shareholder has not delivered a Letter of Transmittal), in each case, prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The term “Agent’s Message” means a message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the U.S. Tender Agent and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined below), which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Ordinary Shares that are the subject of such Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and that Offeror may enforce such agreement against the participant.

DTC Book-Entry Transfer

The U.S. Tender Agent will take steps to establish and maintain an account with respect to the Ordinary Shares at DTC for purposes of U.S. Holders tendering Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s systems may effect a book-entry transfer of Ordinary Shares by causing DTC to transfer the Ordinary Shares into the U.S. Tender Agent’s account in accordance with DTC’s procedures for the transfer. However, although delivery of Ordinary Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer, either the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal, and any other required documents, must, in any case, be transmitted to and received by the U.S. Tender Agent at its address on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Ordinary Shares into the U.S. Tender Agent’s account at DTC as described above is referred to herein as a “Book-Entry Confirmation.”

Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures does not constitute delivery to the U.S. Tender Agent.

DRS Book-Entry Transfer

If you hold the Ordinary Shares that you are tendering in DRS in an account at Computershare, as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent (which is a book-entry position at the transfer agent), you must complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal according to the instructions therein and deliver it, together with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the U.S. Tender Agent at its address on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

Signature Guarantees

Except as otherwise provided below, all signatures on a Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that

 

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is a member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including any of the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or an “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (each, an “Eligible Institution”). Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed (a) if the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) (which term, for purposes of this section, includes any participant in any of DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Ordinary Shares) of Ordinary Shares tendered therewith and such registered owner has not completed the section entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or the section entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Ordinary Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.

No Guaranteed Delivery

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed prior to the expiration of the Acceptance Period. To participate in the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders must tender their Ordinary Shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after 10:00 A.M. New York time on the Expiration Date of the U.S. Offer will be disregarded and of no effect.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF ORDINARY SHARES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER. DELIVERY OF ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE U.S. TENDER AGENT (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION). IF THIS DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED OR BY GUARANTEED OVERNIGHT COURIER. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

Binding Agreement

The Offeror’s acceptance for payment of Ordinary Shares tendered pursuant to one of the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering U.S. Holder and the Offeror upon the terms and subject to the conditions to the U.S. Offer and the Letter of Transmittal.

Appointment as Proxy

By executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal as set forth above (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, by delivery of an Agent’s Message in lieu of a Letter of Transmittal), the tendering shareholder irrevocably appoints the Offeror and its designees as such shareholder’s proxies, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such shareholder’s rights with respect to the Ordinary Shares tendered by such shareholder and accepted for payment by the Offeror and with respect to any and all other Ordinary Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Ordinary Shares. All such proxies and powers of attorney will be considered coupled with an interest in the tendered Ordinary Shares. Such appointment is effective when, and only to the extent that, the Offeror accepts for payment Ordinary Shares tendered by such shareholder as provided herein. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by such shareholder will be revoked, and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies and consents may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). The Offeror and its designees will, with respect to the Ordinary Shares or other securities and rights for which the appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of such shareholder as they, in their sole discretion, may deem proper at any annual,

 

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special, adjourned or postponed meeting of the shareholders of the Company or otherwise. The Offeror reserves the right to require that, for Ordinary Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon its payment for such Ordinary Shares, it must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights to the extent permitted under applicable law with respect to such Ordinary Shares and other securities, including voting at any meeting of shareholders concerning any matter.

Determination of Validity

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Ordinary Shares will be determined by the Offeror, in the Offeror’s sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties, subject to the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares to challenge such determination with respect to their Ordinary Shares in a court of competent jurisdiction and any subsequent judgment of any such court. The Offeror reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders that the Offeror determines are not in appropriate form or the acceptance for payment of, or payment for which may, in the opinion of the Offeror’s counsel, be unlawful. The Offeror also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Ordinary Shares of any particular shareholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other shareholders. No tender of Ordinary Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived to the Offeror’s satisfaction. None of the Offeror, the U.S. Tender Agent, or the U.S. Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give any notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

Backup Withholding

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, payments made to shareholders pursuant to the U.S. Offer may be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 24%). To avoid backup withholding, a shareholder that is a “U.S. person” (as defined in the instructions to the IRS Form W-9 provided with the Letter of Transmittal) surrendering Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer must, unless an exemption applies, provide the U.S. Tender Agent with such shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) on an IRS Form W-9, certify under penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct and provide certain other certifications. If a U.S. Holder does not provide such shareholder’s correct TIN or fails to provide the required certifications, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) may impose a penalty on such shareholder, and payment of cash to such shareholder pursuant to the U.S. Offer may be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate. All shareholders that are U.S. persons surrendering Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer should complete and sign the IRS Form W-9 included as part of the Letter of Transmittal to provide the information and certification necessary to avoid backup withholding (unless an applicable exemption exists and is proved in a manner satisfactory to the Offeror and the U.S. Tender Agent).

Information reporting to the IRS may also apply to payments made to shareholders pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

4. Withdrawal Rights.

Tenders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer are irrevocable except as otherwise provided in this Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights.” However, a shareholder may withdraw Ordinary Shares tendered pursuant to the U.S. Offer at any time prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date as explained below. Further, if the Offeror has not accepted Ordinary Shares for payment by December 22, 2024, tendered Ordinary Shares may be withdrawn at any time prior to our acceptance for payment after that date.

The Offeror expects to accept all Ordinary Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. You may withdraw your tender of Ordinary Shares at any time before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

 

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For a withdrawal of Ordinary Shares to be effective, you must (i) have previously validly tendered your Ordinary Shares and (ii) deliver a properly completed notice of withdrawal (or instruct your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to deliver the same on your behalf) to the U.S. Tender Agent in accordance with the instructions contained in this Offer to Purchase.

The notice of withdrawal must be received before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, or such earlier cut-off time and date as your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may specify, if applicable. The signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such Ordinary Shares have been tendered for the account of any Eligible Institution.

Any notice of withdrawal must specify:

 

   

the name of the person who tendered Ordinary Shares to be withdrawn;

 

   

the number of Ordinary Shares to be withdrawn; and

 

   

the name of the registered holder of the Ordinary Shares to be withdrawn, if different from that of the person who tendered such Ordinary Shares.

If you are a beneficial holder of Ordinary Shares and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee has tendered Ordinary Shares on your behalf through DTC, as set forth in Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares,” the notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Ordinary Shares.

You may not rescind a notice of withdrawal and withdrawn Ordinary Shares will not be validly tendered for purposes of the U.S. Offer. However, you may re-tender withdrawn Ordinary Shares at any time before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date by following the procedures for tendering described above in Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares.” After this time on the Expiration Date, your withdrawal rights will be suspended and, subsequently upon the Offeror’s acceptance of your Ordinary Shares for payment, your withdrawal rights will terminate. Therefore, you may not have an opportunity after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date to exercise your withdrawal rights prior to their termination.

If we extend the U.S. Offer, delay our acceptance for payment of Ordinary Shares, or we are unable to accept for payment Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer, for any reason, then, without prejudice to our rights under the U.S. Offer, the U.S. Tender Agent may nevertheless, on our behalf, retain tendered Ordinary Shares, and such Ordinary Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering shareholders exercise withdrawal rights as described in this Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights” prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date or as otherwise required by Rule  14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act.

5. Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer.

The information set out below does not constitute legal or tax advice or recommendations. Holders of Ordinary Shares are advised to consult with their tax advisors on the tax implications of accepting the U.S. Offer, as it applies to such holder.

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer

The following is a summary of the anticipated U.S. federal income tax consequences of the tender of Shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) pursuant to the U.S. Offer. This summary is based on the existing tax law under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and court decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof, and any of which may be repealed, revoked or modified (possibly with retroactive effect) so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.

 

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This summary is limited to U.S. Holders holding Shares as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes). This summary is not a complete description of all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the tender of Shares, and in particular, may not address U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to persons subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, including, for example, brokers, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for securities holdings, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), insurance companies, banks, thrifts and other financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, persons liable for an alternative minimum tax, persons that hold an interest in an entity that holds Shares, persons that own, or have owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more (by vote or value) of the Company’s equity, persons that hold Shares as part of a hedge, wash sale, straddle, constructive sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and holders of interests therein, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar, persons required to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than the fiscal year in which such income is included on an “applicable financial institution,” persons subject to the “base erosion and anti-avoidance” and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. In addition, this summary does not discuss any aspect of any non-U.S., state, local or estate or gift taxation or the Medicare contribution tax on certain net investment income. Each holder of Shares is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of the tender of Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of Shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership that is the beneficial owner of Shares should consult the partner’s tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment to such partner of the tender of Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

For purposes of this discussion in this Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer,” a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (2) a corporation, or entity treated as a corporation, organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (3) a trust that (i) is subject to (a) the primary supervision of a court within the United States and (b) the authority of one or more U.S. persons to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person or (4) an estate that is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its income regardless of its source.

Tender of Shares Pursuant to the U.S. Offer

A U.S. Holder that tenders Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer generally will recognize capital gain or loss, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount received in the U.S. Offer and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Shares exchanged therefor.

U.S. Holders of Shares must calculate gain or loss separately for each block of Shares exchanged (that is, Shares acquired at the same cost in a single transaction). A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Share generally will equal the amount paid therefor. In the case of a Share purchased for foreign currency, the cost of such Share to a U.S. Holder will be the U.S. Dollar value of the purchase price in such foreign currency on the date of purchase. In the case of a Share that is traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. Holder (and, if it so elects, an accrual basis U.S. Holder) determines the U.S. Dollar value of the cost of such Share by translating the amount paid at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the purchase.

Subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, any gain or loss on the tender of Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the

 

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Shares for more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders generally are eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

A U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax rules in respect of a disposition of Shares pursuant to the Offers if the Company were classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which such U.S. Holder has held Shares and did not have certain elections in effect. In general, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which (1) 75% or more of its gross income constitutes “passive income” or (2) 50% or more of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, “passive income.” For this purpose, “passive income” is defined to include income of the kind which would be foreign personal holding company income under Section 954(c) of the Code, and generally includes interest, dividends, rents, royalties and certain gains. If a foreign corporation owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.

The Company does not believe that it was a PFIC for the 2023 taxable year, nor does it expect to be a PFIC for the 2024 taxable year, based upon the value of its assets, including goodwill, and the composition of its income and assets. However, because PFIC status depends upon the composition of a company’s income and assets and the market value of its assets from time to time, which may be determined in large part by reference to the market value of its Shares, and due to uncertainties in the application of the PFIC rules, including uncertainties as to the valuation and proper characterization of certain of the Company’s assets as passive or active, there can be no assurance that the Company is not considered to be a PFIC for any taxable year.

If the Company were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held Shares, certain adverse consequences could apply to the U.S. Holder, unless certain elections that may mitigate such adverse consequences have been made (including a mark-to-market election).

Specifically, gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on the tender of its Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the exchange and to any year before the Company was a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income in the current year. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for such taxable year and an interest charge would be imposed on the amount allocated to the taxable year. These rules would apply to a U.S. Holder that held Shares during any year in which the Company was a PFIC, even if the Company was not a PFIC in the year in which the U.S. Holder tendered the Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding (i) the tax consequences that would arise if the Company were treated as a PFIC for any year, (ii) any applicable information reporting requirements and (iii) the availability of any elections (including the mark-to-market election mentioned above) that may help mitigate the tax consequences to a U.S. Holder if the Company were a PFIC.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments made to U.S. Holders pursuant to the U.S. Offer generally will be subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%). To avoid backup withholding, U.S. Holders that do not otherwise establish an exemption should complete and return a U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable substitute form) certifying that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code, the taxpayer identification number provided is correct and such holder is not subject to backup withholding. Certain holders (including corporations) generally are exempt from backup withholding provided that they appropriately establish an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided that the required information is correctly and timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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Belgian Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer

This summary contains a summary of certain Belgian tax considerations applicable as of the date of this Offer to Purchase, under the tax laws of Belgium, to the transfer of the Shares in the U.S. Offer and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to tender the Shares in the U.S. Offer. This summary does not address specific rules, such as Belgian federal or regional estate and gift tax considerations or tax rules that may apply to special classes of holders of financial instruments, and this summary is therefore limited to the matters specifically discussed herein.

This summary is based on the laws, regulations and applicable tax treaties as in effect in Belgium on the date of this Offer to Purchase, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. This summary does not discuss or take into account tax laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction other than Belgium, nor does it take into account individual circumstances of a shareholder, nor does it describe the tax treatment of shareholders that are subject to special rules, such as banks, insurance companies, undertakings for collective investment, brokers in securities or currencies or persons that hold Shares as a position in a straddle. The summary below is not intended as and should not be construed to be tax advice. As to individual consequences, including cross-border consequences, each shareholder should consult its own tax advisor.

In addition, a summary of taxation on securities accounts (“taks op effectenrekeningen”) is not addressed herein. Holders of Shares must consult their own tax advisors with respect to the specific consequences, if any, of the application of this tax on their tax position.

This summary does not address the Belgian tax regime applicable to Shares held by Belgian tax residents. U.S. Holders who wish to participate in the Belgian Offer should refer to the Belgian Prospectus for a discussion of the Belgian tax treatment of the Belgian Offer under Belgian tax law. To obtain a copy of the Belgian Prospectus, contact the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.

This summary only addresses the Belgian tax regime applicable to Shares held by Belgian tax non-residents.

General Definitions

For purposes of this summary, (i) a “Belgian resident individual” means an individual subject to Belgian personal income tax (“personenbelasting”) (i.e., a resident of Belgium who is domiciled in Belgium or has his seat of wealth in Belgium or a person assimilated to a resident for purposes of Belgian tax law), (ii) a “Belgian resident company” means a company subject to Belgian corporate income tax (“vennootschapsbelasting”) (i.e., a corporate entity that has its statutory seat (subject to proof to the contrary and if it is proved that the tax residence of the company is in a State other than Belgium, according to the tax legislation of this other State), its main establishment, its administrative seat or seat of management in Belgium and that is not excluded from the scope of the Belgian corporate income tax), (iii) a “Belgian resident Organization for Financing Pensions” means an organization for financing pensions subject to Belgian corporate income tax (i.e., a Belgian pension fund incorporated under the form of an Organization for Financing Pensions within the meaning of Article 8 of the Belgian Law of 27 October 2006), or (iv) a “Belgian resident legal entity” means a legal entity subject to Belgian income tax on legal entities (“rechtspersonenbelasting”) (i.e., a legal entity other than a company subject to Belgian corporate income tax, that has its main establishment, its administrative seat or seat of management in Belgium). An “individual, a company or a legal entity non-resident” means an individual, a company or a legal entity which does not belong to any of the four previous categories.

Taxation in Belgium for Belgian tax non-residents upon transfer of the Shares in the U.S. Offer

Non-resident individuals. Non-resident individuals are, in principle, not subject to Belgian income tax on capital gains realized upon the disposal of the Shares, unless the Shares are held as part of a business conducted

 

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in Belgium through a fixed base or a permanent establishment in Belgium. In such case, the same principles apply as described with regard to Belgian resident individuals holding the Shares for professional purposes. Belgian resident individuals who hold the Shares for professional purposes are taxable at the ordinary progressive personal income tax rates ranging from 25% to 50% (plus local surcharges) on any capital gains realized upon the disposal of the Shares. The applicable rate is reduced to 16.5% (plus local surcharges) if the Shares have been held for more than five years. Subject to certain conditions, a 10% rate (plus local surcharges) may also be available if the capital gain is realized in the framework of a full and final cessation of activity. The capital losses realized upon such disposal are, in principle, tax deductible.

Non-resident individuals who do not use the Shares for professional purposes and who have their fiscal residence in a country with which Belgium has not concluded a tax treaty or with which Belgium has concluded a tax treaty that confers the authority to tax capital gains on the Shares to Belgium, may however in the following cases be subject to capital gain tax in Belgium if such capital gains are obtained or received in Belgium and:

 

  (i)

the gains are deemed to have a speculative character or are deemed to be realized outside the scope of the normal management of the individual’s private estate. The applicable tax rate is 33% (plus local surcharges of 7%);

 

  (ii)

under certain circumstances, the non-resident individual has held a “Substantial Participation” in the Company (i.e., the non-resident individual has owned directly or indirectly, alone or with his/her spouse or with certain relatives, a substantial shareholding in the Company (i.e., a shareholding of more than 25% in the Company)) at any time during the five years preceding the disposal. The applicable rate is 16.5% (plus local surcharges of 7%).

Such non-resident individuals may therefore be obliged to file a Belgian tax return and should consult their own tax advisor.

Belgium has concluded tax treaties with over 95 countries which generally do not grant the taxing authority to Belgium on such gains realized by non-resident individuals.

Capital losses are, as a rule, not tax deductible.

Non-resident companies. Non-resident companies are, in principle, not subject to Belgian income tax on capital gains realized upon disposal of the Shares, unless the Shares are held as part of a business conducted in Belgium through a fixed base or a permanent establishment in Belgium. In such case, the same principles generally apply as described below with respect to Belgian resident companies.

Capital gains realized by Belgian resident companies upon the disposal of Shares are tax exempt provided that: (i) the Belgian resident company held Shares representing at least 10% of the Company’s share capital or a participation in the Company with an acquisition value of at least EUR 2,500,000; and (ii) the Shares have been held in full legal ownership for an uninterrupted period of at least one year; and (iii) the conditions relating to the taxation of the underlying distributed income, as described in Article 203 of the Belgian Income Tax Code (“BITC”), are met.

For the purpose of this summary, the aforementioned three conditions are referred to as the “Conditions for the Application of the Dividend Received Deduction Regime.” If one of the Conditions for the Application of the Dividend Received Deduction Regime is not met, the capital gains realized upon the transfer of the Shares will be taxable at the standard corporate income tax rate of 25%. If the Belgian resident company however qualifies as a small company within the meaning of Article 1:24, §1 – §6 of the Belgian Code on Companies and Associations (“BCCA”) and if certain other conditions are met, a reduced rate of 20% may apply (on the first bracket of EUR 100,000 of taxable income). Such rates are applicable as from assessment year 2021 for taxable periods starting at the earliest on January 1, 2020.

 

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Capital losses on Shares incurred by Belgian resident companies under the Belgian Offer are as a general rule not tax deductible.

Such non-resident companies should consult their own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of participating in the U.S. Offer.

Non-resident legal entities. Non-resident legal entities are, in principle, not subject to Belgian income tax on capital gains realized upon disposal of the Shares, unless the Shares are held as part of a business conducted in Belgium through a fixed base or a permanent establishment in Belgium. In such case, the same principles generally apply as described with respect to Belgian resident legal entities subject to Belgian legal entities tax. Capital gains realized upon the disposal of the Shares by Belgian resident legal entities subject to Belgian legal entities tax are in principle tax exempt. However, capital gains realized upon disposal of (part of) a Substantial Participation in the Company may under certain circumstances give rise to a 16.5% tax. Capital losses on Shares incurred by Belgian resident legal entities are not tax deductible.

Such non-resident legal entities should consult their own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of participating in the U.S. Offer.

Belgian Tax on Stock Market Transactions

The purchase and sale and any other acquisition or transfer for consideration of Shares within the framework of the U.S. Offer (secondary market transactions) will give rise to tax on stock exchange transactions (“taks op de beursverrichtingen”) if (i) it is carried out in Belgium through a professional intermediary, or (ii) deemed to be executed in Belgium, which is the case if the order is directly or indirectly made to a professional intermediary established outside of Belgium, either by private individuals with habitual residence in Belgium, or legal entities for the account of their seat or establishment in Belgium.

The applicable rate for secondary sales and purchases of Shares is 0.35% of the purchase price, capped at EUR 1,600 per transaction and per party.

A separate tax is due by each party to the transaction, and both taxes are collected by the professional intermediary. However, if the intermediary is established outside of Belgium, the tax will in principle be due by the Belgian investor, unless the investor can demonstrate that the tax has already been paid. Professional intermediaries established outside of Belgium can, subject to certain conditions and formalities, appoint a Stock Exchange Tax Representative, which will be liable for the tax on stock exchange transactions in respect of the transactions executed through the professional intermediary. If such a Stock Exchange Tax Representative would have paid the tax on stock exchange transactions due, the Belgian investor will, as per the above, no longer be the debtor of the tax on stock exchange transactions.

No tax on stock exchange transactions is due on transactions entered into by the following parties, provided they are acting for their own account: (i) professional intermediaries described in Articles 2, 9° and 10° of the Belgian law of 2 August 2002 on the supervision of the financial sector and financial services, as amended; (ii) insurance companies described in Article 6 of the Belgian law of 13 March 2016 on the status and supervision of insurance and reinsurance undertakings; (iii) professional retirement institutions referred to in Article 2, 1° of the Belgian law of 27 October 2006 concerning the supervision on institutions for occupational pension; (iv) collective investment institutions; (v) regulated real estate companies and (vi) Belgian non-residents who deliver a certificate to their financial intermediary in Belgium, confirming their non-resident status. In the context of the Offers, the Belgian tax on stock exchange transactions with respect to the Shares tendered into the Offers shall be borne by the Offeror.

6. Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends.

The Ordinary Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE and Euronext Brussels under the symbol “CMBT”. The trading symbol was changed as of July 15, 2024 from “EURN” to “CMBT”. All shares on the NYSE trade in

 

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U.S. Dollars and all shares traded on Euronext Brussels trade in Euros. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices per share of the Ordinary Shares on the NYSE, the principal market in which the Company’s Ordinary Shares are traded.

 

     High      Low  

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023:

     

First Quarter

   $ 19.18      $ 12.94  

Second Quarter

     18.41        14.71  

Third Quarter

     18.50        14.74  

Fourth Quarter

     18.20        14.45  

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024:

     

First Quarter

   $ 17.85      $ 14.69  

Second Quarter

     21.08        15.09  

Third Quarter

     18.37        14.73  

Fourth Quarter (through October 21, 2024)

     17.58        15.93  

On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of this Offer to Purchase, the last reported closing prices of the Shares on the NYSE and Euronext Brussels during normal trading hours were $16.21 and €14.79 (or $15.99 based upon the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for U.S. Dollars per Euro as of such time) per Ordinary Share, respectively. Shareholders are urged to obtain current market quotations for the Ordinary Shares before deciding whether to tender your Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

The following table sets forth the dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares in the periods indicated:

 

     Dividend Amount  

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023:

  

First Quarter

   $ 0.03  

Second Quarter

     1.80  

Third Quarter

     0.80  

Fourth Quarter

     0.57  

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024:

  

First Quarter

   $ --  

Second Quarter

     4.57  

Third Quarter

     1.15  

Fourth Quarter (through October 22, 2024)

     --  

According to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Form 20-F”), in general, under the terms of the Company’s debt agreements, the Company is not permitted to pay dividends if there is or will be as a result of the dividend a default or a breach of a loan covenant. The Company’s credit facilities also contain restrictions and undertakings which may limit its and its subsidiaries’ ability to declare and pay dividends (for instance, with respect to each of its joint ventures, no dividend may be distributed before its loan agreement, as applicable, is repaid in full). Belgian law generally prohibits the payment of dividends unless net assets on the closing date of the last financial year do not fall beneath the amount of the registered capital and, before the dividend is paid out, 5% of the net profit is allocated to the legal reserve until this legal reserve amounts to 10% of the share capital. No distributions may occur if, as a result of such distribution, the Company’s net assets would fall below the sum of (i) the amount of its registered capital, (ii) the amount of such aforementioned legal reserves, and (iii) other reserves which may be required by the Company’s Coordinated Articles of Association or by laws, such as the reserves not available for distribution in the event the Company holds treasury shares. The Company may not have sufficient surplus in the future to pay dividends and its subsidiaries may not have sufficient funds or surplus to make distributions to the Company.

 

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The corporate law of jurisdictions in which the Company’s subsidiaries are organized may impose restrictions on the payment or source of dividends under certain circumstances.

7. Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer.

The Offeror and its affiliates own an aggregate of 177,171,699 Ordinary Shares, or approximately 91.22%, of the outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the date of this Offer to Purchase. The Offers are for any and all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company not already owned by the Offeror and its affiliates, and it is not possible to predict the number of Ordinary Shares that will be validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Offers and therefore we cannot determine the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares that will be owned by the Offeror and its affiliates after consummation of the Offers. On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of this Offer to Purchase, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on the NYSE was $16.21 per Share. On October 21, 2024, the most recent practicable trading day before publication of the Belgian Prospectus Supplement, the closing price of Ordinary Shares reported on Euronext Brussels was €14.79 per Share (or $15.99 based upon the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for U.S. Dollars per Euro as of such time). Given that the Offer Price is lower than the current market price and because the Offeror does not intend to undertake a Squeeze-Out, the Offeror believes that the Company will continue to have public shareholders in addition to the Offeror and its affiliates following consummation of the Offers. There can be no assurance that the Offer Price will remain below the current market price during the Acceptance Period.

Market for Ordinary Shares

If you do not tender your Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer or the Belgian Offer, you will remain a holder of Ordinary Shares. Continuing shareholders will continue to participate in the future performance of the Company through stock appreciation and dividends, if any. The purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Offers, if any, will reduce the number of holders of Ordinary Shares and the number of Ordinary Shares that might otherwise trade publicly, which could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Ordinary Shares held by persons other than the Offeror and its affiliates. The Offeror cannot predict whether the potential reduction in the number of Ordinary Shares that might otherwise trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price for, or marketability of, the Ordinary Shares or whether such reduction would cause future market prices to be greater or less than the price offered for such Ordinary Shares in the Offers.

NYSE Listing

The Offeror does not intend to delist the Ordinary Shares from trading on the NYSE and expects that the Ordinary Shares will continue to trade on the NYSE after consummation of the Offers. While the Offeror believes that the unaffiliated public float of the Ordinary Shares will remain sufficient, in particular given that the Offer Price is lower than the closing price of the Ordinary Shares on NYSE on October 21, 2024 by approximately 21.90 percent, the number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held and the liquidity of the public markets for the Ordinary Shares may be significantly reduced because of the Offers. It is possible that the Company may fail to meet the criteria for continued listing on the NYSE. If this were to happen, the NYSE would normally give consideration to the prompt initiation of suspension and delisting procedures when (a) the number of total stockholders (including beneficial owners held in the name of a NYSE member organization) is less than 400, or (b) the number of total stockholders (including beneficial owners held in the name of a NYSE member organization) (i) is less than 1,200 and (ii) the average monthly trading volume is less than 100,000 shares (for the most recent 12 months) or (c) the number of publicly held shares (less shares held by directors, officers, or their immediate families and other concentrated holdings of 10% or more) is less than 600,000. The Company must also continue to satisfy the continued listing requirements which provides that a listed company will be considered to be below compliance if its average global market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading-day period is less than $50,000,000 and, at the same time stockholders’ equity is less than $50,000,000. Under certain of the Company’s financing agreements, the delisting of the Company’s Ordinary Shares from both the NYSE and Euronext Brussels may constitute an event of default. If the Company’s Ordinary Shares

 

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were delisted by the NYSE, it could make it more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate quotations for the price of, the Ordinary Shares. If the Company’s Ordinary Shares were delisted by the NYSE, the Company’s obligation to file reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act would be suspended.

Euronext Brussels Listing

The Offeror does not intend to delist the Ordinary Shares from trading on Euronext Brussels and expects that the Ordinary Shares will continue to trade on Euronext Brussels after consummation of the Offers. While the Offeror believes that the unaffiliated public float of the Ordinary Shares will remain sufficient, in particular given that the Offer Price is lower than the closing price of the ordinary shares on Euronext Brussels on October 21, 2024 by approximately 20.83 percent, the number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held and the liquidity of the public markets for the Ordinary Shares may be significantly reduced because of the Offers. It is possible that the Company may fail to meet the criteria for continued listing on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Brussels may take action to delist the Ordinary Shares. In accordance with Belgian law, Euronext Brussels may delist the securities if (i) it considers that, due to exceptional circumstances, a normal and regular market can no longer be maintained for these securities, or (ii) these securities would fail to comply with the rules of the regulated market, except if such a measure is likely to significantly harm investors’ interests or to impair the proper functioning of the market. Euronext Brussels must inform the FSMA of any proposed delisting. The FSMA may, in consultation with Euronext Brussels, oppose the proposed delisting in the interest of investor protection.

Margin Regulations

The Ordinary Shares are currently “margin securities” under the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of the Ordinary Shares. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding market quotations, it is possible that, following completion of the U.S. Offer, the underlying Ordinary Shares would no longer constitute “margin securities” for the purpose of the margin regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.

Exchange Act Registration

The Ordinary Shares are currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. After the U.S. Offer is completed, the registration of Ordinary Shares with the SEC may be terminated by the Company upon application to the SEC if the U.S. average daily trading volume of Ordinary Shares has been no more than 5% of the average daily trading volume of Ordinary Shares on a worldwide basis for a recent 12-month period, or if Ordinary Shares are held by fewer than 300 persons resident in the U.S., determined based upon a look-through analysis.

Alternatively, the Company may qualify for suspension of its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act if its Ordinary Shares are held by fewer than 300 persons worldwide, determined without a look-through analysis. Termination of registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by the Company to its security holders and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to the Company, such as the requirement of furnishing an annual report on Form 20-F to security holders. If registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act were terminated, the Ordinary Shares would no longer be eligible for listing on the NYSE. The Offeror has no intention of seeking to cause the Company to terminate the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act.

8. Certain Information About the Company.

Except as specifically set forth herein, the information concerning the Company contained in this Offer to Purchase is based upon publicly available documents available from the SEC and other public sources. The

 

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summary information set forth below is qualified in its entirety by the 2023 Form 20-F, and the Company’s other public filings with the SEC (which may be obtained and inspected as described below under “Available Information”) and should be considered in conjunction with the financial and other information contained in such reports. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 220,024,713 Ordinary Shares issued, of which 25,807,878 were treasury shares and 194,216,835 were outstanding.

General

The Company was incorporated under the laws of Belgium on June 26, 2003. The Company is a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law. The address of the Company’s principal executive offices is De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium and its telephone number is +32 3 247 44 11. The Company changed its name from Euronav to CMB.TECH effective October 1, 2024.

The Company is a diversified and futureproof shipping company that builds, owns, operates, and designs large marine and industrial applications that run on dual-fuel or monofuel (diesel-)hydrogen and (diesel-) ammonia engines. The Company offers hydrogen and ammonia fuel to its customers, either through its own production or by sourcing it from third party producers. The Company is active throughout the full value chain through its different divisions: (i) Marine, (ii) Technology & Development Center, (iii) Industry, and (iv) H2 Infra. The company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices across Europe and Asia. The term “future-proof” as used in this Offer to Purchase refers to efficient low-carbon emitting ships and/or ships powered by hydrogen or ammonia.

Marine Division

The largest division in the Company is the marine division. It builds, owns, operates and designs a wide range of low and zero-carbon ships powered by dual-fuel or monofuel (diesel-)hydrogen and (diesel-) ammonia engines: dry bulk vessels, container vessels, chemical tankers, oil and product tankers, offshore wind support vessels, and others (tugboats, ferries). The integration of the drivetrain, the storage and the bunkering of hydrogen and ammonia, is implemented with a diverse and experienced in-house engineering team in partnership with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and shipyards.

Technology & Development Division

The Company’s Technology & Development Centre holds an impressive 15-year legacy in hydrogen (H2) technology, earning recognition from multiple OEMs. Led by a team of highly skilled engineers specialized in H2 systems, this center serves as a cornerstone of innovation and excellence for both the industry and marine divisions.

Industry Division

The Company’s Industry division develops hydrogen powered heavy industrial applications. The advanced technology allows the conversion of existing diesel engines into dual-fuel and monofuel engines, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The engines include high-speed options for smaller-scale applications, as well as medium-speed engines for marine and heavy-duty applications.

H2 Infra Division

The Company’s H2 infra division offers hydrogen and ammonia fuel to its customers, either through its own production or by sourcing it from third party producers. Within H2 infra, the necessary technology and infrastructure is designed, developed and operated to produce and distribute green hydrogen and ammonia. A particular focus on hydrogen and ammonia storage completes the entire value chain to deliver the clean fuels of the future.

 

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For more information on the divisions within the Company and the Company’s fleet, see the 2023 Form 20-F and the other reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

Background of Prior Transactions with the Offeror

The Company, CMB and Frontline plc (“Frontline”) and Famatown Finance Limited (“Famatown”), entered into the following transactions in 2023:

 

   

Share Purchase by CMB. CMB’s acquired Frontline’s and Famatown’s combined 26.12% stake in the Company for $18.43 per share in cash, totaling $1.1 billion;

 

   

Vessel Sale to Frontline. Frontline’s acquired 24 VLCC tankers from the Company for $2.35 billion in cash; and

 

   

Termination of Arbitration with Frontline. The Company’s pending arbitration action against Frontline and affiliates was terminated.

See The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements” for a more detailed discussion of these transactions.

CMB.TECH Transaction

On December 22, 2023, CMB entered into a share purchase agreement with the Company for the sale of 100% of the shares in CMB’s subsidiary, then named CMB.TECH NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze venootschap”) under Belgian law (“Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH”), to the Company for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.15 billion (the “CMB.TECH Transaction”). The CMB.TECH Transaction closed on February 8, 2024. See The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.”

For more information on the divisions that the Company acquired in the CMB.TECH Transaction, see the 2023 Form 20-F and the other reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

CMB Mandatory Public Takeover Bid

As a result of the Share Purchase described above, CMB became obligated under Belgian law at that time to make a mandatory unconditional public takeover bid on the remaining Ordinary Shares of the Company that were not already then owned by CMB or its affiliates. On February 14, 2024, CMB commenced a mandatory public takeover bid for all Ordinary Shares of the Company not already owned by CMB or persons affiliated with CMB (the “Completed Bid”). The bid price was $17.86 per share in cash. The Completed Bid expired on March 15, 2024, and closed on April 3, 2024. During the acceptance period, 69,241,955 Shares, were validly tendered and accepted for payment. Upon the closing of the Completed Bid, CMB and persons affiliated with CMB owned a total of 177,171,699 Ordinary Shares, representing 87.60% of the then outstanding Shares.

On October 7, 2024, the FSMA decided to effectively require an increase in the original bid price of $18.43 (the “Original Reference Price”) of $0.52 per Ordinary Share and ordered CMB, more specifically, to (i) pay $0.52 per share to all shareholders whose Ordinary Shares were validly tendered in the Completed Bid and (ii) reopen the Completed Bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the Original Reference Price, increased by $0.52 per share. Taking into account the Original Reference Price, increased by $0.52, in accordance with the FSMA Order, and decreased by $6.29 (the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company to its shareholders since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023), results in an offer price per Share of $12.66 (the “Offer Price”).

See The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements — The FSMA Order and Determination of the Offer Price.

 

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Repurchase of Outstanding Shares by the Company

The Supervisory Board of the Company authorized the Management Board to repurchase up to 10 million Ordinary Shares at a maximum purchase price per share of $17.86 (less any dividend or other distribution paid as of the ex-dividend date) during the period from March 21, 2024 to June 28, 2024. The Company has repurchased 8,017,162 Ordinary Shares under the program.

Additional Information about the Ordinary Shares

The information contained in The U.S. Offer — Section 6. “Price Range of Ordinary Shares; Dividends” is incorporated herein by reference.

Available Information

The Ordinary Shares are registered under the Exchange Act and, accordingly, the Company is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers and in accordance therewith is obligated to file reports and other information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. The Company’s filings are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company also maintains a website at cmb.tech.

The Company Share Register Structure

The Ordinary Shares are listed on both Euronext Brussels and the NYSE. The Company’s share register is divided into two components: one which is kept in electronic form by Euroclear Belgium (as defined below) (the “Belgian Share Register”), and one which is kept by Computershare (as defined below) (the “U.S. Share Register”). When Ordinary Shares are traded on the NYSE, they are reflected on the U.S. Share Register, and when they are traded on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels, they are reflected on the Belgian Share Register.

When we refer to “U.S. Shares”, we are referring to Ordinary Shares that are reflected in the U.S. Share Register which are held in custody at DTC. The U.S. Shares are identified by CUSIP B38564 108 and formatted for trading on the NYSE. When we refer to “Belgian Shares”, we are referring to Ordinary Shares that are reflected in the Belgian Share Register which are held in custody through Euroclear Belgium (as defined below). The Belgian Shares are identified by ISIN BE0003816338 and formatted for trading on Euronext Brussels. The U.S. Share Register is maintained by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent and registrar (“Computershare”), and the Belgian Share Register is maintained by De Interprofessionele Effectendeposito- en Girokas (CIK) NV (acting under the commercial name Euroclear Belgium), as agent for the Company (“Euroclear Belgium”).

All Ordinary Shares are entitled to identical voting and economic rights. However, the U.S. Shares are denominated in U.S. Dollars and are eligible to receive dividends and other distributions to shareholders in U.S. Dollars, and the Belgian Shares are denominated in Euros, and are eligible to receive dividends and other distributions to shareholders in Euros.

Holders of Ordinary Shares are permitted to reposition their Ordinary Shares from one component of the share register to the other through a repositioning procedure with Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent). The repositioning procedure should normally be completed within three trading days but may take longer. In case of a corporate event (including, but not limited to the payment of dividends or shareholders’ meetings), settlement institutions may suspend the repositioning of shares for a period of time. In such case, a notification is sent through the securities settlement systems, DTC and Euroclear Belgium, as applicable and the Company informs its shareholders about such event on its website. In the repositioning procedure, the repositioned shares are debited from the Belgian Share Register or the U.S. Share Register, or vice versa, as applicable, and cancelled from the relevant securities

 

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account in the Euroclear Belgium system or the DTC system, as applicable, and are at the same time credited in the U.S. Share Register or the Belgian Share Register, as applicable, and deposited onto the holder’s securities account in the DTC system or the Euroclear Belgium system, as applicable.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process. The procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that your repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five (5) business days prior to the last day of the Acceptance Period, or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not currently reflected on the U.S. Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. Holders of Ordinary Shares may reposition their Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent). Shareholders should inquire with their financial intermediary or custodian for any fees that may be charged by such parties for repositioning their Ordinary Shares and are responsible for paying such fees. For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) or contact the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase.

Ordinary Shares are in registered or dematerialized form. Pursuant to Article 91 of the Belgian code of private international law, the legal title to securities is governed by the law of the jurisdiction where the register is kept, i.e., the U.S. or Belgium.

The U.S. Shares are issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global share certificates deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Accordingly, U.S. Shares are registered in the U.S. Share Register in the name of Cede & Co, as nominee of DTC. Transactions involving securities under the DTC system must be made by or through DTC participants (i.e., brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations), which will receive a debit or credit (as applicable) for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual beneficial owner is in turn recorded or deleted (as applicable) on the direct and indirect DTC participants’ records, as are expected to be reflected in transaction confirmations and periodic statements (e.g., brokerage account statements) delivered to beneficial owners by their direct or indirect participant institutions acting on their behalf. Under the laws of the United States, the shareholders who are beneficial owners that hold their shares in the DTC system are recognized as the owners of those shares, even when the shares are registered in the share register in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

U.S. Shares may also be held in an account at Computershare, as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent, in book-entry form in its direct registration system (“DRS”). U.S. Shares held in DRS are registered in the U.S. share register in the name of a registered holder.

A dematerialized share in accordance with Belgian law is a share that is represented by a book-entry in the name of the owner or holder with an approved account holder or a settlement agency in the Euroclear system. A share entered on the account will be transferred by a transfer of such entry from account to account. The number of dematerialized shares in circulation at any given time is registered in the Belgian Share Register in the name of Euroclear Belgium. Under the laws of Belgium, the shareholders who are beneficial owners that hold their shares in the Euroclear system are recognized as the owners of those shares, even when the shares are registered in the share register in the name of Euroclear Belgium.

 

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9. Certain Information About the Offeror.

The Offeror is Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law, with its registered office at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp. Its telephone number is +32 3 247 59 11. CMB is a subsidiary of Saverco, an investment holding company. Saverco and CMB are privately held companies. Saverco owns 100% of the outstanding shares of CMB. Alexander Saverys, Ludovic Saverys and Michael Saverys each own approximately 33.33% of the issued shares of Saverco. None of these individuals own any shares of CMB directly. The Offeror is the largest shareholder of the Company. As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the Offeror owns 177,147,299 Ordinary Shares or approximately 91.21% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares and Saverco owns 24,400 Shares or approximately 0.01% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares. The Offeror has three representatives on the Company’s Supervisory Board, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Offeror are also the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, respectively. See Annex A to this Offer to Purchase for more information on the Board of Directors and executive officers of the Offeror.

CMB Group Business Overview

The CMB Group is a shipping group headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium.

As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the CMB Group consists of five divisions: Bocimar, Delphis, Bochem, the Company and MCA and includes the following companies:

 

Name

   Country    Shareholding  

Aframax Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Aragats Investments (Pty) Ltd.

   Namibia      50

Bear Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

Black Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Bochem Hong Kong Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Bocimar Hong Kong Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Bocimar International NV

   Belgium      100

Bocimar Singapore Pte Ltd.

   Singapore      100

Bohandymar Ltd.

   Hong Kong      100

Bull Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

Capesize Chartering Ltd.

   Bermuda      33

Carmine Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

CMB Japan Limited.

   Japan      100

CMB.TECH NV

   Belgium      91.21 %* 

CMB.TECH Enterprises NV

   Belgium      100

Crimson Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Cuckoo Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Delphis HK Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Delphis Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

Emerald Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Fair Hope Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Harrier Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

Hawk Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Hobby Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Indigo Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Las Tapas NV.

   Belgium      100

MCA Facilities NV

   Belgium      100

MCA Horeca BV

   Belgium      100

Mongoose Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

 

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Name

   Country    Shareholding  

Polar Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Sakura International KK

   Japan      100

Savybel BV

   Belgium      50

Savynam Investments (Pty) Ltd.

   Namibia      50

Savynam Operations (Pty) Ltd.

   Namibia      50

Spring Hunter Limited.

   Hong Kong      20

Tankers (UK) Agencies Ltd.

   United Kingdom      50

Tankers International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

   Singapore      50

Tankers International LLC

   Marshall Islands      50

Tankers International Ltd.

   United Kingdom      50

Violet Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

Yellow Dolphin Shipping Limited.

   Hong Kong      100

 

*

Excludes treasury shares

Bocimar – dry bulk. Bocimar owns and operates a fleet of approximately 24 dry bulk vessels across various segments: Newcastlemax, Capesize, Panamax and Ultramax. The Bocimar fleet is chartered out on long-term contracts or traded on the spot market.

Delphis – containers. Delphis owns 10 medium-sized container vessels between 1,000 and 4,000 TEU and is focused on regional trades. Delphis is specialized in the operation of ice-class vessels. The Delphis fleet is chartered out on medium to long-term contracts.

Bochem – chemical tankers. Bochem owns 10 full stainless steel parcel chemical tankers ranging between 19,900 and 33,000 DWT. The Bochem fleet is chartered out on long-term contracts or traded on the spot market.

MCA – Maritime Campus Antwerp. MCA is the real estate division of CMB. MCA’s main assets are office buildings in Antwerp.

The Company. For information about the Company, see —Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company.”

CMB Directors and Officers

The name, business address, citizenship, current principal occupation or employment, and five-year employment history of each director and executive officer of the Offeror and certain other information is set forth in Annex A to this Offer to Purchase.

During the last five years, neither the Offeror or, to the best knowledge of the Offeror, any of the persons listed in Annex A to this Offer to Purchase (i) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) was a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of such laws.

Ownership of Equity Securities of the Company and Relationships with the Company

Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase, (i) neither the Offeror or, to the knowledge of the Offeror after reasonable inquiry, any of the persons listed in Annex A, beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any Ordinary Shares or any other equity securities of the Company and (ii) during the 60 days prior to the date of this Offer to Purchase, neither the Offeror or, to the knowledge of the Offeror after reasonable inquiry, any of the persons listed in Annex A has effected any transaction in the Ordinary Shares or any other equity securities of the Company.

 

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Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase, (i) neither the Offeror or, to the knowledge of the Offeror after reasonable inquiry, any of the persons listed in Annex A, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of the Company and (ii) during the two years prior to the date of this Offer to Purchase, there have been no transactions that would require reporting under the rules and regulations of the SEC between the Offeror or, to the knowledge of the Offeror after reasonable inquiry, any of the persons listed in Annex A, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its executive officers, directors and/or affiliates, on the other hand.

Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase including under —Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements,” during the two years prior to the date of this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between the Offeror or, to the knowledge of Offeror after reasonable inquiry, any of the persons listed in Annex A, on the one hand, and the Company or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, a tender offer or other acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets.

Available Information

Pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, we have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the “Schedule TO”), of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part, and exhibits to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO and the exhibits thereto, as well as other information filed by Offeror with the SEC, is available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

10. Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.

The following chronology summarizes the key meetings and events between representatives of CMB and representatives of the Company that led to the Completed Bid and the Offers and certain other matters. The following chronology does not purport to describe every meeting or conversation between the representatives of CMB and representatives of the Company. The information set forth below regarding the Company not involving representatives of CMB was provided by the Company. For additional information about the Company’s activities related to the Offers, see the Company’s Schedule 14D-9 being transmitted to the DTC participants that hold beneficial ownership positions of U.S. Holders or mailed to U.S. Holders with this Offer to Purchase.

On July 11, 2022, the Company and Frontline issued a joint press release announcing that they entered into a combination agreement (the “Combination Agreement”) for a stock-for-stock combination based on an exchange ratio of 1.45 Frontline shares for every 1.0 Company share (the “Proposed Combination”). The press release further stated that the transaction is structured as a voluntary conditional exchange offer and is conditioned upon Frontline owning post-exchange offer at least 50% + 1 of all outstanding Ordinary Shares, the relocation of the combined company to Cyprus, and the receipt of required regulatory approvals, among other customary conditions.

On July 12, 2022, CMB issued a press release announcing that CMB does not support the Proposed Combination for the reasons stated in its 2023 press release, including, among other things, CMB does not believe the Proposed Combination will create additional value for the Company’s stakeholders, and CMB believes there is a risk that the Proposed Combination will be dilutive to the Company’s shareholders. CMB stated that it continued to believe that the Company should pursue a different strategy that would diversify the Company’s asset types and focus on decarbonization.

On September 2, 2022, a meeting was held between Messrs. Alexander Saverys and Ludovic Saverys, on behalf of CMB, Messrs. Gunnar Eliassen and Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, and Mr. Hugo De Stoop and Mrs. Grace Reksten Skaugen on behalf of the Company, to explore alternatives to the Proposed Combination within the framework of the Combination Agreement. There was discussion of a possible transaction structure whereby the Company would sell an unspecified number of vessels to Frontline and CMB would purchase an

 

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unspecified number of Frontline/Famatown Ordinary Shares in the Company at an unspecified price, but it was determined that there was no support among the parties for such a transaction. In that meeting, Mr. De Stoop indicated that the Company was unwilling to entertain any further discussions, other than to proceed with the Proposed Combination.

On December 13, 2022, CMB delivered a letter addressed to the Company’s Supervisory Board inviting the Supervisory Board to terminate the Combination Agreement and engage in a constructive dialogue with CMB concerning the future strategy of the Company. In that letter, CMB noted that it and Saverco together owned 25% the voting rights in respect of the Ordinary Shares (taking into account the suspension of voting rights relating to 18,241,181 treasury shares); that a legal merger between the companies following the proposed exchange offer cannot be realized without the approval of at least 75% of the Company’s shareholders; and that CMB believes a combination where the Company and Frontline remain separate entities after the effectuation of the proposed exchange offer would lead to conflicts of interest and complex governance issues, making such combination effectively unworkable and value-destructive for both the Company’s and Frontline’s shareholders.

On January 9, 2023, Frontline announced that it would no longer pursue the Proposed Combination, that it had terminated the Combination Agreement and that, as a result, Frontline would not make the proposed exchange offer. After that announcement, between January 10, 2023, and January 16, 2023, there were informal contacts between Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline. The purpose of these contacts was to inform Frontline about CMB’s request to convene a special general meeting of the Company with the proposal to appoint new members to the Company’s Supervisory Board.

On January 10, 2023, CMB issued a press statement to the effect that CMB intended to constructively engage in a dialogue with the Company’s Supervisory Board to discuss the future strategy of the Company and a change in the composition of the Company’s Supervisory Board. On January 12, 2023, in response to such press statement, Mrs. Skaugen, on behalf of the Supervisory Board of the Company, sent a letter to CMB with a request for further information on CMB’s views with respect to the changes it proposes in the Company’s strategy.

On January 16, 2023, CMB delivered a letter to the Company in accordance with Article 7:126 of the BCCA and Article 31 of the Company’s Coordinated Articles of Association, making a written request to call a special general meeting of the Company’s shareholders as soon as possible for the purpose of, among other things, removing the five directors comprising its Supervisory Board and calling for the appointment of five new directors to the Company’s Supervisory Board: Mr. Marc Saverys; Mr. Patrick De Brabandere (a director of CMB); Mrs. Julie De Nul; Mrs. Catherina Scheers; and Mr. Patrick Molis.

On January 20, 2023, Mrs. Skaugen, on behalf of the Supervisory Board of the Company, sent a letter to CMB with a detailed request for further information from CMB, including specific questions about CMB’s strategy and plans for the Company and certain related matters, including as to whether CMB was acting in concert with any other shareholders of the Company.

On January 24, 2023, Messrs. Alexander and Ludovic Saverys, on behalf of CMB, sent a letter to the Company’s Supervisory Board responding to its letter of January 20, 2023, disputing certain facts contained in press releases issued by the Company on January 11 and January 18, 2023, setting forth further information concerning CMB’s views on the future strategy and governance of the Company, and answering certain questions contained in the letter of January 20, 2023, particularly that CMB was not acting in concert with any other shareholders of the Company.

In response, on January 28, 2023, Mrs. Skaugen, as Chair of the Company’s Supervisory Board, sent a letter to the Board of Directors of CMB to the effect that (i) it will convene the shareholders’ meeting requested by CMB, (ii) requesting that CMB engage with the Company’s Supervisory Board concerning CMB’s proposed changes to the Company’s strategy, (iii) requesting to meet with CMB’s nominees for director and asking for other information to facilitate a recommendation by the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee,

 

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(iv) noting that certain FDI/change of control issues are the responsibility of CMB, and (v) addressing certain statements made by CMB regarding the Combination Agreement.

On February 4, 2023, by letter to CMB, the Company requested that CMB consider a change to the Company’s Supervisory Board to include four (4) of the current five (5) independent members, two (2) newly appointed non-independent members nominated by CMB (being Messrs. Marc Saverys and Patrick De Brabandere) and two (2) newly appointed non-independent members to be nominated by Famatown.

On February 6, 2023, the Company posted to its internet website the Convening Notice for its special general meeting of shareholders to be held on March 23, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. The convening notice included the agenda items requested by CMB to remove the five (5) directors comprising the Company’s Supervisory Board and to appoint five (5) new directors: Mr. Marc Saverys; Mr. Patrick De Brabandere; Mrs. Julie De Nul; Mrs. Catherina Scheers; and Mr. Patrick Molis. The Convening Notice was revised to include agenda items requested by Famatown to appoint Mr. John Fredriksen and Mr. Cato Stonex as new directors.

On February 9, 2023, CMB issued a press statement summarizing CMB’s reasons for proposing to replace its Supervisory Board with five nominees for director at the special general meeting and its view on the Company’s strategy. On February 15, 2023, CMB held a video/telephonic conference call to discuss CMB’s press release of February 9, 2023.

On March 23, 2023, the Company held the special general meeting of its shareholders and reported that two of the five directors (Mrs. Anne-Hélène Monsellato and Mr. Steven Smith) serving on its Supervisory Board were removed by vote of the shareholders, and that the following four new directors were appointed by vote of the shareholders to serve on the Company’s Supervisory Board: Mr. Marc Saverys and Mr. Patrick De Brabandere, whose appointment to the Company’s Supervisory Board had been called for by CMB, and Mr. John Fredriksen and Mr. Cato H. Stonex, whose appointment to the Company’s Supervisory Board had been called for by Famatown. The remaining persons whose appointment to the Company’s Supervisory Board had been called for by CMB, Mrs. Julie De Nul, Mrs. Catherine Scheers and Mr. Patrick Molis, were not appointed by the shareholders at the special general meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

On March 24, 2023, exploratory discussions between Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, commenced with a view to finding a solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company.

On April 10, 2023, Argo Law BV (“Argo”), Belgian counsel to CMB, prepared and delivered to Allen & Overy LLP (“Allen & Overy”), counsel to Frontline/Famatown, a discussion paper which provided a high level overview of the possible solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company, consisting of (i) a sale of vessels representing approximately 50% of the Company’s NAV to Frontline and (ii) a sale of the Company ordinary shares held by Frontline/Famatown in a voluntary and conditional public takeover offer by CMB at net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

On April 18, 2023, Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, met with Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline. At the meeting, they decided to search further for a possible solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company.

On May 15 and 16, 2023, Messrs. Alexander Saverys and Ludovic Saverys, on behalf of CMB, met with Mr. Lars Barstad on behalf of Frontline. At the meetings, the above transaction structure, as well as the “NAV for NAV” valuation principle, was confirmed. The parties also discussed determining the NAV based on a valuation of the ships by independent shipping brokers.

On May 17, 2023, the Company held its Annual General Meeting. At the meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved the appointment of Mrs. Julie De Nul and Mr. Ole Henrik Bjørge as independent members of the Company’s Supervisory Board and acknowledged the expiry of the term of office of Mrs. Anita Odedra and Mr. Carl Trowell as independent members of the Company’s Supervisory Board.

 

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In June 2023, Frontline and CMB exchanged successive non-binding draft versions of a term sheet regarding a transaction structure for a possible solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within Euronav, consisting of a possible (i) purchase/sale of approximately 40% of the fleet by the Company to Frontline or an affiliate of Frontline and (ii) voluntary and conditional public takeover bid by CMB for all Ordinary Shares in the Company not already owned by CMB or its affiliates, supported by a tender commitment by Frontline/Famatown (the “Voluntary Bid Structure”).

In July and August 2023, CMB, Frontline, Argo and Allen & Overy exchanged various preliminary and non-binding draft versions of the transaction documents under the Voluntary Bid Structure, including drafts of a framework agreement and a tender commitment. In addition, CMB, Frontline, Argo, Allen & Overy and Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm, counsel to Frontline, exchanged various non-binding draft versions of a heads of agreement, a template shipping management agreement and a template memorandum of agreement. Several commercial issues, including the fleet sale price and the bid price, were still open.

On July 26, 2023, Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, presented to the Company’s Supervisory Board the Voluntary Bid Structure as a possible solution to the deadlock.

In late August 2023, Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, discussed a possible change of the original transaction structure to (i) a purchase/sale of approximately 40% of the Company’s fleet (the “Vessel Sale”), and (ii) an acquisition by CMB of all Ordinary Shares in the Company held by Frontline/Famatown (the “Share Purchase”), followed by a mandatory public takeover bid by CMB for all Ordinary Shares in the Company not already held by CMB or its affiliates (the “Mandatory Bid”) (the Share Purchase and the Mandatory Bid, collectively, the “Mandatory Bid Structure”). The Vessel Sale and the Mandatory Bid are referred to as the “Transaction.”

On August 29, 2023, Mr. Alexander Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, provided an update to the Company’s Supervisory Board regarding the possible change of the transaction structure to a Mandatory Bid Structure.

From August 30, 2023 through September 27, 2023, a series of further discussions occurred between representatives of CMB and Frontline regarding the Vessel Sale and the possible change of the transaction structure from a Voluntary Bid Structure to a Mandatory Bid Structure.

On September 28, 2023, Mr. Ludovic Saverys, on behalf of CMB, and Mr. Lars Barstad, on behalf of Frontline, provided an update to the Company’s Supervisory Board regarding the potential Transaction, noting (i) with respect to the Vessel Sale, the proposed sale price had been determined to be $2.525 billion (based on the valuation of the independent shipping brokers) and (ii) with respect to the Share Purchase and the Mandatory Bid, the proposed price per Ordinary Share had been determined to be $18.43.

On October 3, 2023, CMB and Frontline discussed changing the number of vessels to be sold by the Company to Frontline in the Vessel Sale from 26 vessels to 24 vessels and to adjust the price from $2.525 billion to $2.350 billion. CMB and Frontline also discussed and agreed upon the final fleet list for the Vessel Sale.

On October 5, 2023, the Company announced by press release that Frontline and CMB were in discussions on an integrated solution to the strategic and structural deadlock in the Company, and on October 6, 2023, CMB’s board of directors met to discuss and approve, among other things, the Share Purchase.

On October 8, 2023, the Company’s Supervisory Board convened to: (i) determine compliance with the related party procedure provided for under Belgian law, (ii) deliberate on the recommendation of the committee of independent members of the Company’s Supervisory Board and (iii) approve the Vessel Sale and the termination of the arbitration proceedings between the Company and Frontline in connection with the Transaction.

 

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On October 9, 2023, (i) with respect to the Share Purchase, CMB entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) with Frontline and Famatown (together with Frontline, the “Sellers”) pursuant to which the Sellers agreed to sell to CMB and CMB agreed to purchase from the Sellers an aggregate of 57,479,744 Ordinary Shares, representing 28.47% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares for a purchase price of $18.43 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,059,351,682 in cash; (ii) with respect to the Vessel Sale, the Company and Frontline entered into a Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement”), together with certain other related agreements, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell 24 vessels to Frontline for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.35 billion; and (iii) the Company and Frontline and certain other parties entered into an agreement pursuant to which they agreed to terminate the arbitration proceedings between the Company and Frontline in respect of the Combination Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”).

On October 9, 2023, CMB issued a press release announcing the signing of the Transaction.

On October 20, 2023, the Company posted to its internet website the Convening Notice for a special general meeting its of shareholders held on November 21, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. The convening notice included agenda items relating to conditions precedent of the Framework Agreement and the Settlement Agreement.

On November 20, 2023, CMB entered into a bridge facilities agreement (the “Facilities Agreement”) among CMB and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KBC Bank NV, and Société Générale (collectively, the “Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers”), Belfius Bank NV/SA, DNB (UK) Limited, ING Belgium SA/NV and Nordea Bank Abp filial i Norge (collectively, the “Mandated Lead Arrangers”) and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (the “Lead Arranger” and together with the Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Mandated Lead Arrangers, the “Arrangers”).

On November 21, 2023, the Company announced the formal approval of all the resolutions relating to conditions precedent of the Framework Agreement and the Settlement Agreement at the special general meeting of the Company’s shareholders, which approval were condition precedents to the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement.

On November 22, 2023, the Share Purchase was consummated, resulting in an increase of CMB’s and its affiliates beneficial ownership of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares to 53.45% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares. On the same date, pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, Messrs. John Fredriksen and Cato H. Stonex resigned from the Company’s Supervisory Board.

On November 22, 2023, the Company announced that Mrs. Skaugen and Mr. Ole Henrik Bjorge also resigned from the Supervisory Board and that the Company’s Supervisory Board filled the vacancies created by the resignations of Mr. Fredriksen, Mr. Stonex, Mrs. Skaugen and Mr. Bjorge with the appointment of Mrs. Catharina Scheers, Mr. Bjarte Bøe and Mr. Patrick Molis.

Also, on November 22, 2023, Mr. Alexander Saverys was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company; Mr. Ludovic Saverys was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company; Mr. Michael Saverys was appointed Chief Chartering Officer of the Company; Mr. Maxime Van Eecke was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of the Company; and Mr. Benoit Timmermans was appointed Chief Strategy Officer of the Company.

On November 28, 2023, Messrs. Alexander Saverys and Ludovic Saverys proposed to the Supervisory Board of the Company that they consider the acquisition of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH.

From November 20, 2023 through December 22, 2023, a series of meetings took place between Mr. Ludovic Saverys, Ms. Sofie Lemljin, the Company’s general counsel, the Company’s committee of independent directors and Linklaters LLP, counsel to the independent committee, relating to the potential acquisition of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH.

 

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On December 1, 2023, CMB and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement relating to the potential acquisition of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH.

Between December 5 and December 21, 2023, CMB granted access to a virtual data room containing information in relation to Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH and its subsidiaries (“Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH Group”) to the Company and its advisors for purposes of conducting a due diligence investigation of the Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH Group.

On December 6, 2023, Argo, on behalf of CMB, provided a first draft of the share purchase agreement relating to the CMB.TECH Transaction to the Company and its advisors. Between December 6 and December 21, 2023, CMB and the Company exchanged various versions of the share purchase agreement.

On December 22, 2023, the Company and CMB announced in a joint press release that the Company has agreed to purchase Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH in the CMB.TECH Transaction, and that the CMB.TECH Transaction was expected to close in February 2024. In connection with the CMB.TECH Transaction, CMB and the Company entered into a share purchase agreement dated December 22, 2023 (the “CMB.TECH Share Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which CMB agreed to sell to the Company and the Company agreed to purchase from CMB all the issued shares of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH for $1,150,000,000 in cash (the “CMB.TECH Purchase Price”).

On February 8, 2024, the Company and CMB consummated the CMB.TECH Transaction.

On February 14, 2024 CMB commenced the Completed Bid.

On April 3, 2024 the Completed Bid closed and CMB and its affiliates increased their ownership in the Company from 53.37% to 87.60%.

On October 9, 2024 the Offeror announced that it would, in accordance with the FSMA Order, (i) pay the Subsequent Payment no later than October 31, 2024; and (ii) reopen the Completed Bid at the Offer Price.

On October 16, 2024 the Facilities Agreement was amended and restated to provide for, among other things, the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility (as defined below).

On October 23, 2024 CMB commenced the Offers.

Background of the Prior Transactions

Background of the structural and strategic deadlock at the Company’s Supervisory Board

Prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase, the Company had two reference shareholders, Famatown Finance Limited/Frontline plc (“Frontline) and CMB (“CMB” and together with Frontline, the “Reference Shareholders), each of which held approximately 25% of the Ordinary Shares. The fundamental difference in view on the medium- to long-term strategy of the Company between the two Reference Shareholders led to a strategic deadlock within the Company. The strategic deadlock was reinforced by a structural deadlock resulting from the fact that each Reference Shareholder had a blocking minority on structural decisions and the existence of various factions within the Company’s Supervisory Board.

The Structural Deadlock at the Shareholder Level. Each of the Reference Shareholders controlled voting rights of approximately 25% as of June 5, 2023. Under the BCCA this provides shareholders with a blocking minority on certain significant structural decisions (such as changing the articles of association, effecting a merger, approving capital increases and effecting a liquidation of the Company).

 

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The Structural Deadlock at the Supervisory Board Level. Pursuant to Article 14 of the Company’s coordinated articles of association, the Supervisory Board is composed of at least five and maximum of ten members. Prior to the consummation of the Share Purchase, the Supervisory Board was composed of seven members as follows: three independent directors; two directors appointed by Frontline; and two directors appointed by CMB. In the absence of a consensus within the Supervisory Board, decisions could only be made by majority of the Supervisory Board members. The Independent Committee Report noted that “[A]ssuming that directors vote along with the other directors proposed by the same shareholder, this would imply that decisions require support from two of the three groups of directors to be adopted. The structural deadlock with varying majorities within the Supervisory Board depending on the topic made the outcome of decision-making at the Supervisory Board less certain and predictable.”

The Reference Shareholders had diverging views on the capital allocation for the reinvestment of the returns of the Company.

 

  (a)

The then current strategy of the Company centered around its identity as a tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil, relying on a modern fleet to operate at the top end of the crude oil transportation and storage market. In line with this strategy, the then current ambition was to further consolidate in that market, allowing to further show leadership to drive sustainability and innovation based on an integrated platform.

 

  (b)

Since the end of 2021, CMB had expressed an alternative strategic view for the Company, aimed at a diversification into different shipping segments to decrease the dependency on the transportation of crude oil. This strategy would be accompanied by an intensified decarbonization of the fleet and by deploying capital towards the development of low carbon engines and fuel supply systems and to the production of low-carbon fuels.

 

  (c)

Frontline’s strategy for the Company was one of a large, diverse fleet of modern tankers with young and energy efficient vessels. Compared with the Company’s current integrated full-service platform with a focus on innovation, the Independent Committee believed Frontline stood for a different, “lean-and-mean” approach whereby services are outsourced to external providers (such as ship management, fuel and fleet optimization services).

The Independent Committee noted that these conflicting views on strategy made aligned decision-making within the Supervisory Board uncertain and challenging, particularly with respect to long-term planning and capital allocation and therefore negatively impacted the Company’s competitive position.

Expected impact of a lasting deadlock on the Company’s future

The Independent Committee believed that the deadlock, as described above, may adversely impact the Company’s ability to adapt to customer expectations and market evolutions, which it expected to be value destructive in the longer term as a continuing deadlock could hinder reaching a consensus on crucial strategic decisions, such as, among other things, purchasing and disposing of vessels and making distributions to shareholders. Furthermore, the Independent Committee noted that it was difficult to manage the Company on the basis of varying majorities in the Supervisory Board without clear guidelines for the management board.

The Vessel Sale and the Settlement Agreement together with the Share Purchase, were proposed as an integrated solution to the structural and strategic deadlock then facing the Company.

Advice of the Independent Committee of the Company’s Supervisory Board

On September 15, 2023, the Supervisory Board of the Company requested the committee of independent members of the Supervisory Board (the “Independent Committee”) to issue written reasoned advice as referred to in Article 7:116 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations (“BCCA”) in connection with the Vessel

 

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Sale and the Settlement Agreement (the “Independent Committee Report”). Under Article 7:116 of the BCCA, the Independent Committee was required to frame the Vessel Sale and Settlement Agreement within the strategy pursued by the Company, and indicate whether, if the transaction is detrimental to the Company, it is offset by other elements in that strategy, or is manifestly unlawful. The Independent Committee Report concluded that it was of the view that “in light of the integrated long-term solution to the deadlock within the Company, the Vessel Sale and the Settlement Agreement are not manifestly unlawful in nature and that it is unlikely that the Vessel Sale and the Settlement Agreement would result in disadvantages to the Company that are not outweighed by benefits to the Company.” The Independent Committee therefore approved the proposed Vessel Sale and Settlement Agreement. The Independent Committee Report was posted to the Company’s website in connection with the Company’s Special General Meeting of Shareholders (“SGM”) held on November 21, 2023. The Company also filed a Current Report on Form 6-K with the SEC on March 1, 2024, directing the Company’s shareholders to certain pages on its website cmb.tech, where interested shareholders can view a complete copy of the Independent Committee Report as well as other documents related to the Transaction and the CMB.TECH Transaction.

Share Purchase by CMB. On October 9, 2023, the Offeror entered into the Share Purchase Agreement with Famatown and Frontline (the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Sellers agreed to sell to CMB and CMB agreed to purchase from the Sellers an aggregate of 57,479,744 Ordinary Shares (the “Famatown/Frontline Shares”), representing 28.47% of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares for a purchase price of $18.43 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,059,351,682 in cash. The Company was not a party to the Share Purchase Agreement. The Share Purchase was consummated on November 22, 2023.

As a result of the completion of the Share Purchase, the Offeror became obligated to conduct the Completed Bid. See “Mandatory takeover bid by the Offeror” below.

Vessel Sale by the Company to Frontline. On October 9, 2023, the Company and Frontline entered into a Framework Agreement, a Heads of Agreement, and corresponding Memoranda of Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell 24 very large crude carriers (“VLCCs”) to Frontline for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.35 billion. The Offeror was not a party to the Vessel Sale agreements.

The Vessel Sale became effective on November 22, 2023.

Settlement Agreement between the Company and Frontline. On October 9, 2023, the Company, Frontline, Famatown, Hemen Holding Limited and Geveran Trading Co. Limited entered into the Settlement Agreement relating to the termination of the arbitration action filed by the Company on January 28, 2023, following Frontline’s termination of the Combination Agreement. The arbitration action was formally terminated on November 22, 2023.

Both management of the Company and the Independent Committee retained experts to assess the value of the arbitration claim it had filed against Frontline for specific performance of the Proposed Combination. These experts assessed the net present value of the claim ranging between 0 and 600 million Euros representing the Company’s share of projected synergies of the Proposed Combination assuming that the Company prevailed in the arbitration and Frontline would accordingly be compelled to effect the Proposed Combination and the various conditions of the proposed exchange offer were met. The Independent Committee noted that Frontline had clearly expressed its unwillingness to proceed with the deadlock resolution if the Company would not waive the arbitration claim without compensation, thereby making the Arbitration Settlement a prerequisite for the deadlock resolution; that both CMB and Frontline/Famatown signaled that they would not give up their positions in the absence of the deadlock resolution; that the deadlock would therefore continue to exist – and could become even more impactful – in the absence of an integrated solution; and that the proposed transactions would give minority shareholders the opportunity by way of the Offers to either exit the Company at a premium to the Company’s stock price or remain a shareholder of the Company. The Independent Committee stated that it balanced the absence of compensation in terminating the arbitration against the benefit of resolving the deadlock.

 

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The Independent Committee also noted that the tanker market was then at a high level, and that while the impact might not be as visible, the expectation would be that, as the Company goes through the cycle with material sector challenges, agility and decisiveness were of the essence to generate shareholder value and that solving the deadlock situation could therefore outweigh the potential value of the arbitration. Following the recommendation by the Independent Committee, which was also reviewed by the Company’s statutory auditor, the Company’s Supervisory Board approved the transactions unanimously. The members of the Supervisory Board appointed by the Reference Shareholders abstained from the decision-making. On November 21, 2023, the shareholders of the Company approved the conditionality of the Vessel Sale and the Arbitration Settlement on the completion of the Share Purchase in accordance with Article 7:151 of the BCCA.

Mandatory takeover bid by the Offeror. As a result of the closing of the Share Purchase, the Offeror exceeded the threshold of 30% of securities with voting rights or giving access to voting rights in the Company. Consequently, in accordance with Article 5 of the Takeover Law and Article 50 of the Takeover Decree, the Offeror became obligated under Belgian law to make a mandatory unconditional public takeover bid (the “Mandatory Bid”) for all Ordinary Shares that were not already owned by CMB or its affiliates. The Completed Bid was made to satisfy CMB’s legal obligation under Belgian law to conduct the Mandatory Bid.

On October 9, 2023, the Offeror announced that it entered into the Share Purchase Agreement and that, in accordance with Article 8 of the Takeover Decree, it would conduct the Mandatory Bid at a per Share price of $18.43 in cash, which was the price per Share that it agreed to pay in the Share Purchase, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount per Share of any future cash dividends and other distributions by the Company to its shareholders with an ex-dividend date prior to the Settlement Date of the Mandatory Bid, and that the Mandatory Bid would be comprised of concurrent U.S. and Belgian offers. See “Determination of the purchase price for the Share Purchase and the Offer Price in the Mandatory Bid” below.

The Share Purchase was completed on November 22, 2023, and on November 24, 2023, the Offeror formally notified the FSMA of its intention to proceed with the Mandatory Bid in accordance with Article 5 of the Takeover Law and Article 50 of the Takeover Decree.

Determination of the purchase price for the Share Purchase and the Offer Price in the Mandatory Bid. The prior Transaction included the Share Purchase, the Vessel Sale and the Settlement Agreement and was designed to effect an integrated long-term solution to the strategic and structural deadlock within the Company as between CMB and Frontline/Famatown, the Company’s two largest shareholders with differing strategic plans for the Company. Both the purchase price for the Share Purchase and the Vessel Sale were the result of negotiated agreements between their respective parties based upon the NAV of the Company. In the shipping industry, NAV is the fair market value of a company’s total assets less its total liabilities. The NAV valuation is the most commonly used valuation methodology in the shipping industry given the shipping industry’s capital-intensive nature of operations and volatility of earnings.

CMB and Frontline/Famatown obtained fair market valuations of the vessels in the Company’s fleet as of August 31, 2023, from three independent third-party ship brokerage firms. The purchase price of $2.35 billion for the Vessel Sale reflects the average of the three valuations in respect of the 24 VLCCs that the Company sold to Frontline in the Vessel Sale (“Fleet A”). The independent committee of the Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Independent Committee”) separately obtained a fair market valuation from a fourth independent third-party ship brokerage firm that it selected. The Independent Committee noted that its valuation of Fleet A was in line with the average of the three brokers selected by CMB and Frontline/Famatown, and indicated that the purchase price in the Vessel Sale was reasonable on the basis of the asset value of Fleet A.

The negotiated price per share for the Share Purchase was determined based upon an adjusted NAV valuation of the Company as of September 30, 2023. The adjusted NAV valuation method was the methodology used to determine both the value of Fleet A and the $18.43 per share purchase price for the Share Purchase. The price per share in the Share Purchase was determined in relation to the entire the Company fleet, comprising both

 

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the value of Fleet A and the remaining vessels in the Company’s fleet that were not subject to the Vessel Sale (“Fleet B”). Because Fleet A was to be sold to Frontline on a cash and debt-free basis, the fair market value of Fleet A equaled the NAV of Fleet A. In determining the adjusted NAV of the entire the Company fleet, the fair market value of Fleet A was therefore considered as a cash component. The adjusted NAV valuation of the entire the Company fleet consisted of a sum-of-the-parts valuation including such cash component for Fleet A and the NAV of Fleet B (based upon the average of the three independent brokers valuations of the fair market value of the vessels in Fleet B).

The table below summarizes the valuation based on the adjusted NAV method as of the dated indicated. The fair market value of the Company’s fleet as of August 31, 2023, is derived as the sum of the average fair market value per vessel from the three independent third-party ship brokers. The adjusted NAV valuation contains transaction-specific deviations from this sum that were mutually agreed between the parties in the context of the Share Purchase and is therefore referred to as adjusted NAV. The adjustments, as were mutually agreed between the parties, are set forth below.

Overview of Adjusted Net Asset Value per Share calculation as of September 30, 2023

 

Vessel type

   # Vessels      Average
age(1)
(years)
     Adjusted broker
value
(millions of $, except share data)
 

VLCC

     19        11        1,305.0  

Suezmax

     26        8        1,478.2  

FSO

     2        21        280.0  

(i) Fair Market Value (“FMV”) Fleet B

           3,063.2  

FMV Fleet A

           2,350.0  

(ii) MTM TC out

           0.6  

Total FMV

           5,413.8  
        

 

 

 

(iii) FMV-to-NAV bridge

           (1,693.2
        

 

 

 

Working capital

           300.7  

Cash & cash equivalents

           164.5  

Debt

           (1,740.7

Remaining capex

           (321.8

Other transaction specific deal agreed adjustments

           (96.0
        

 

 

 

Total NAV Fleet A & B

           3,720.6  
        

 

 

 

(iv) Number of shares outstanding

           201,912,942  

NAV per Share

         $ 18.43  

Implied Bid Price premium (discount) ($18.43)

           —   

 

(1)

The average lifespan is 20 years for VLCC, 20 years for Suezmax and 30 years for FSO vessels.

Notes:

 

(i)

Determination of FMV of Fleet B vessels

 

  A.

VLCC. The VLCC fleet contains one newbuilding VLCC, TK-300K-1, which would be fully owned by the Company upon delivery. The parties to the Share Purchase retained one independent broker’s valuation of $120 million which was included in the FMV valuation of Fleet B. The remaining Capex payments related to this newbuilding VLCC between June 30, 2023, and the expected delivery in 2026 was taken into account in the FMV-to-NAV bridge. The VLCC Nautica was sold by the Company effectively on July 11, 2023 and was consequently not included in the FMV. The sale of Nautica was considered in the FMV-to-NAV bridge. The VLCC fleet also comprises three bareboat chartered vessels, Nectar, Newton and Noble, for which the average FMV of the aforementioned brokers was retained. The associated lease cost of these chartered vessels was included in the Company’s reported long-term debt.

 

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  B.

Suezmax. The Suezmax fleet contains four newbuilding vessels that would be fully owned by the Company upon delivery and that were valued based on the average of the brokers’ estimated FMV. The remaining Capex payments between June 30, 2023, and their delivery was taken into account in the FMV-to-NAV bridge. The four Suezmax newbuilding vessels were the following: Brest, Bristol, Crocus and Clematis. Brugge was a recent newbuilding that was delivered on July 11, 2023. The associated remaining Capex payments between June 30, 2023, and delivery were also taken into account in the FMV-to-NAV bridge. The Suezmax fleet also comprises two vessels that were leased by the Company, Marlin Sardinia and Marlin Somerset, for which no FMV is retained.

 

  C.

FSO. The parties to the Share Purchase retained an estimated sale price of $140.0 million per vessel for FSO Africa and FSO Asia in the FMV valuation.

 

(ii)

MTM TC out. These charters were compared to what the Offeror believed the Company could have received in the market as of June 30, 2023 for the remaining contract period (excluding options) on those vessels. A Net Present Value (“NPV”) on the difference was calculated and amounts to $600,000, which were added to the total FMV.

 

(iii)

Determination of FMV-to-NAV bridge

 

  A.

Working Capital. The level of working capital included in the FMV-to-NAV bridge was the result of a negotiated agreement between the parties to the Share Purchase and amounts to $300.7 million. The working capital was based on the reported amounts in the Company’s Form 6-K report furnished to the SEC on August 3, 2023 (the “2023 half-year report”), comprising of (i) bunker inventory ($43.3 million), (ii) trade and other receivables ($412.1 million), and (iii) trade and other payables ($155.0 million).

 

  B.

Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents considered in the FMV-to-NAV bridge amounted to $164.5 million as reported in the Company’s 2023 half-year report.

 

  C.

Debt. Long-term debt included in the FMV-to-NAV bridge amounts to $1,740.7 million and was the result of a negotiated agreement between the parties to the Share Purchase. The long-term debt was based on the reported amounts in the Company’s 2023 half-year report and comprises (i) total non-current liabilities ($1,548.8 million) and (ii) current liabilities excluding trade and other payables ($234.9 million). The reported long-term debt amounts were further adjusted to approximate the situation to September 30, 2023 (the “Reference Date”). The adjustments comprise the elimination of $62.7 million of debt related to bareboat vessels as the purchase prices included in the purchase options for these vessels were considered as debt-like item in the “Other transaction-specific agreed adjustments” and an increase of $17.5 million and $2.1 million to reflect the increasing face value of bank debt and bonds, respectively.

 

  D.

Remaining capex. For newbuilding vessels ordered before August 31, 2023, the remaining capex between June 30, 2023, and expected delivery amounting to $321.8 million was taken into account.

 

  E.

Other transaction-specific agreed adjustments. Other transaction-specific items included in the FMV-to-NAV bridge primarily related to adjustments to the amounts reported in the 2023 half-year report that were agreed between the parties to the Share Purchase to approximate the situation as at September 30, 2023. The major adjustments comprised in the other transaction-specific items related to (i) an estimate of EBITDA generated in the third quarter of 2023 to approximate the cash generation over the quarter ($133.8 million), (ii) cash generation following the sale of Nautica for which an adjustment of $27.5 million was retained, (iii) cash outflow related to a dividend of $0.80 per share with payment date September 19, 2023 and (iv) the purchase prices included in the purchase option for chartered bareboat vessels Nectar, Newton and Noble, which was recorded as a debt-like item amounting to $79.1 million.

 

(iv)

Number of shares outstanding. The total number of Company shares outstanding (excluding treasury shares) as of September 30, 2023, was used by the parties to the Share Purchase to translate the NAV into an acquisition price per share for Frontline and Famatown’s shares in the Company.

 

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As shown in the table above, the sum of the FMV of the vessels in Fleet B was $3,063.2 million. By adding the agreed price for the purchase of Fleet A in the Vessel Sale ($2,350.0 million), subtracting the FMV-to-NAV adjustments ($1,693.2 million) from this value, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding (201,912,942)), this resulted in a price per share of $18.43, which was the purchase price per share in the Share Purchase.

The Offeror calculated an indicative adjusted NAV of the Company as of January 31, 2024 of $19.47 (the “Indicative Adjusted NAV”) by applying a FMV-to-NAV bridge using the same methodology as the parties to the Share Purchase used (where NAV as of September 30, 2023 was determined), and based upon an update of the fleet valuations as of January 31, 2024 and adjustments that reflected the Company’s financial results (unaudited) as of December 31, 2023, as reported by the Company in its 2023 half-year report. The Indicative Adjusted NAV was higher than the adjusted NAV used by the parties in the Share Purchase (the “Initial Adjusted NAV”). The increase was primarily due to (i) an increase in the FMV of the Company’s fleet reflected in the updated fleet valuations (which take into account, among other things, higher vessel time charter rates) and (ii) cash that the Company generated from operations in the fourth quarter of 2023 that was not distributed in full to shareholders. Although the calculation of the Indicative Adjusted NAV per Share follows the same methodology as for the Initial Adjusted NAV per Share (determining the FMV of the fleet and considering the corresponding balance sheet items in formulating the FMV-to-NAV bridge), there are no transaction-specific adjustments included in the calculation of the Indicative Adjusted NAV and that the Indicative Adjusted NAV was a combination of the updated FMV as of January 31, 2024 and the FMV-to-NAV bridge as of December 31, 2023 (while the Initial Adjusted NAV was a combination of the FMV as of August 31, 2023 and the FMV-to-NAV bridge as of September 30 2023). The FMV-to-NAV bridge used to calculate the Indicative Adjusted NAV also included $43.2 million of proceeds from the Company’s sale of the vessel Oceania that the Company received on January 15, 2024 that were not reflected in its balance sheet as of December 31, 2023.

Under Belgian law, CMB was required to offer all holders of Ordinary Shares (other than CMB and its affiliates) a Mandatory Bid price per share that is at least equal to the higher of (i) the highest price that CMB (or a person acting in concert with CMB) paid for an Ordinary Share during a period of 12 months before the announcement of the Mandatory Bid and (ii) the weighted average of the trading prices of the Ordinary Shares on the most liquid market (the NYSE) over the 30 calendar days before CMB’s obligation to launch the Mandatory Bid arose.

The highest per share price that CMB paid for Ordinary Shares during the 12 months before the announcement of the Mandatory Bid on October 9, 2023 (the “Reference Period”) exceeded $18.43 per share, however, the FSMA granted CMB a derogation from Belgian law to allow CMB to reduce the highest per share price that CMB paid for Ordinary Shares in the Reference Period by dividends and other distributions made by the Company to shareholders during that period. The FSMA also granted CMB a derogation from Belgian law to allow CMB to use the date of the initial announcement of the Completed Bid, which was October 9, 2023, as the reference date in calculating the 30-day weighted average market price described above, rather than the closing date for the Share Purchase. The weighted average trading price of the Ordinary Shares on the NYSE for the 30 calendar days before October 9, 2023, was $16.25 per share. While CMB initially announced that the per Share offer price in the Mandatory Bid would be $18.43, as a result of the dividend of $0.57 per Share paid by the Company on December 20, 2023, to holders of record of Ordinary Shares on December 13, 2023, the Offer Price for the Completed Bid was reduced to $17.86 per Share in cash.

The Independent Committee concluded in the Independent Committee Report that the Offer Price is in line with the Company’s NAV, representing the Company’s intrinsic value. The Independent Committee based this conclusion on the following: (i) at that time, based on the last available “normal trading reference” of the Ordinary Shares on September 28, 2023, the trading price of the Ordinary Shares was trading close to the Company’s NAV; (ii) the Offer Price represents a substantial premium compared to the trading price of the Ordinary Shares on October 5, 2023 (immediately prior to a press release issued by the Company in response to media reports and the temporary suspension of trading of the Ordinary Shares on Euronext Brussels), (iii) the premium of the Offer Price over the 30 and 90 day VWAP of the Ordinary Shares was modest; and (iv) the Offers were to be made by CMB, which at the time of the launch of the Offers would already hold a controlling

 

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stake in the Company such that a control premium would not be applicable. The Independent Committee noted that compared to similar crude oil tanker transactions, the Independent Committee’s financial advisor, Lazard, typically observes a discount to NAV with transactions at NAV at the higher end of the range and that stock exchange listed peer companies also trade at a discount to NAV, with the exception of Frontline which almost consistently trades above NAV. On this basis, the Independent Committee concluded that the Offer Price in the Completed Bid appeared to reflect the Company’s intrinsic value and therefore would provide the Company’s shareholders the opportunity to sell their Ordinary Shares in the Completed Bid at a reasonable price.

Selection of the Vessel Valuation Firms.

In August 2023, CMB and the parties to the Share Purchase obtained fair market valuations of the vessels (the “Independent Vessel Valuations”) in the Company’s fleet from three independent third-party ship brokerage firms: Arrow Valuations Ltd. (“Arrow”), Fearnleys AS (“Fearnleys”) and VesselsValue Ltd. (“VesselsValue”). The parties agreed that CMB, the Sellers, and the Company would each select an independent third-party ship brokerage firm to conduct the vessel valuations. CMB selected VesselsValue, the Sellers selected Fearnleys, and the Company selected Arrow.

The Independent Committee separately obtained a fair market valuation of the vessels in the Company’s fleet as of August 31, 2023 from a fourth independent third-party ship brokerage firm, Braemar Plc (“Braemar” and, together with Arrow, Fearnleys and VesselsValue, the “Valuation Firms”) as part of its review of the transactions and approval of the Vessel Sale under the Framework Agreement and the termination of the arbitration against Frontline in connection with the Combination Agreement under the Settlement Agreement, as described in the Independent Committee Report referred to above.

All of the vessel valuations were conducted by the Valuation Firms as of August 31, 2023 (except for the Arrow valuations which were conducted as of August 30, 2023). Each of the Valuation Firms are internationally recognized for their vessel valuation services in the crude oil tanker sector of the shipping industry.

As is common in the shipping industry, the Independent Vessel Valuations are “desk appraisals” and are not based on an actual inspection of the vessels. Desk appraisals generally assume that the vessels are in sound seagoing condition, class maintained, undamaged, fully equipped, freely salable, debt free and charter free, and are based on a number of factors including an examination of information available in public databases regarding a vessel, precedential purchase and sale transactions as well as a general analysis of VLCC resale market conditions.

The Vessel Valuations used in the Vessel Sale.

The purchase price of $2.350 billion for the Vessel Sale reflects the arithmetic mean average of the Independent Vessel Valuations of the 24 VLCCs that the Company sold to Frontline in the Vessel Sale as follows ($ in millions):

 

Arrow

  

Fearnleys

  

VesselsValue

  

Average

  

Braemar

$2,449

   $ 2,286    $ 2,314    $ 2,350    $ 2,417

The Independent Committee concluded in the Independent Committee Report that the FMV of these 24 VLCCs as determined by Braemar ($2.417 billion) was 2.9% higher than the average of the FMV as determined by the other three Valuation Firms ($2.350 billion), indicating that such purchase price was reasonable on the basis of the asset value. The Independent Committee also appointed Lazard as its financial advisor in connection with the Vessel Sale. The Independent Committee took note in the Independent Committee Report of an explanation and analysis that Lazard provided to it regarding the financial terms of the Vessel Sale. The Independent Committee noted that on the basis of a comparison of the Independent Vessel Valuations, Lazard’s analysis concluded on a valuation range of between $2.286 billion and $2.449 billion and that the aggregate

 

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purchase price for the Vessel Sale of $2.350 billion is within this range. The Independent Committee also noted that Lazard’s analysis considered the Price/NAV ratios of selected precedent transactions, concluding on an average Price/NAV ratio of 0.9x and a median of 1.0x, which was in line with the ratio applied for the Vessel Sale.

The Vessel Valuations used in the Share Purchase.

The per Share purchase price of $18.43 in the Share Purchase was the result of a negotiated agreement between CMB and the Sellers of the adjusted NAV of the Company’s fleet as of September 30, 2023, the calculation of which was based upon the arithmetic mean average of the Independent Vessel Valuations as of August 2023 of the remaining vessels in the Company’s fleet that were not sold to Frontline in the Vessel Sale as follows ($ in millions):

 

Arrow

  

Fearnleys

  

VesselsValue

  

Average

  

Braemar

$3,191

   $ 2,983    $ 3,011    $ 3,063    $ 3,142

The arithmetic mean average of $3.06 billion for these remaining vessels was added to the purchase price of $2.35 billion for the vessels in the Vessel Sale, which resulted in a total FMV for the Company’s fleet of $5.41 billion. This figure was adjusted for working capital, cash, debt, remaining capital expenditures and other transaction specific adjustments as agreed between CMB and Frontline to calculate an adjusted NAV of $3.72 billion, or $18.43 per Share.

For more information on the adjustments made to the total fleet FMV used by the parties to calculate the adjusted NAV, see THE U.S. OFFER — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements — The Transaction — Determination of the purchase price for the Share Purchase and the Offer Price in the Mandatory Bid.

CMB.TECH Transaction

On December 22, 2023, the Company and CMB entered into the CMB.TECH Share Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the CMB.TECH Share Purchase Agreement, CMB agreed to sell 100% of the issued shares of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH (the “Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH Shares”), and the Company agreed to purchase the CMB.TECH Shares for $1,150,000,000 in cash. The CMB.TECH Transaction closed on February 8, 2024.

A copy of which the CMB.TECH Share Purchase Agreement has been filed by the Offeror as Exhibit (d)(2) to the Schedule TO relating to the U.S. Offer and is incorporated by reference herein.

Four World Market Court Decision

On September 6, 2024, the Market Court in Belgium (the “Market Court”) issued its ruling which largely rejected the claims brought by certain funds managed by FourWorld Capital Management, LLC (“FourWorld”) in connection with the Completed Bid.

FourWorld’s application sought, among other things, to challenge the price paid in the Completed Bid, alleging that it did not reflect certain purported special benefits that were allegedly granted to Frontline in addition to the price paid by the Offeror for the shares of the Company owned by Frontline and Famatown in the Share Purchase. FourWorld also requested that the Market Court order the Company to adjust the bid price in the Completed Bid to account for these alleged special benefits. In its ruling dated September 6, 2024, the Market Court dismissed some of FourWorld’s claims as inadmissible and/or unfounded. However, the Market Court found that the pricing of certain vessels sold by the Company to Frontline in the Vessel Sale implied certain special benefits to Frontline. The Market Court calculated these benefits to be $0.52 per share. The Market Court

 

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did not order CMB or the FSMA to increase the bid price. The Market Court ordered the FSMA to assess whether, in view of its finding that indirect special benefits were granted to Frontline amounting to $0.52 per share in the Company, the bid price should be modified.

FSMA Order and Determination of Offer Price for the Offers

The FSMA Order. On October 7, 2024, the FSMA decided to effectively require an increase in the Original Reference Price of $0.52 per Ordinary Share and ordered CMB, more specifically, to (i) pay $0.52 per Share to all shareholders whose Ordinary Shares were validly tendered in the Completed Bid and (ii) reopen the Completed Bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the Original Reference Price, by $0.52 per share (the “Increased Reference Price”). Taking into account the Original Reference Price, increased by $0.52 per Share in accordance with the FSMA Order, and decreased by $6.29 per Share (the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company to its shareholders since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023), results in an offer price of $12.66 per Share.

CMB is conducting the Offers to comply with the FSMA Order. As ordered by the FSMA in the FSMA Order, the Offeror has reopened the Belgian Offer (and commenced the U.S. Offer) at an offer price of $12.66 per Ordinary Share.

Determination of the Offer Price. To determine the Offer Price, the Increased Reference Price was reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of the additional distributions made between the initial announcement date of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023, or $6.29 per Ordinary Share, resulting in the Offer Price of $12.66 per Ordinary Share.

An overview of these distributions is set forth in the table below.

 

Payment date

   December 20, 2023    May 31, 2024    July 18, 2024
  

 

  

 

  

 

Amount

   $0.57 (coupon 36)    $4.57(1)    $1.15(2)

 

(1)

Sum of the dividend of $0.27 (coupon 37) per share and the distribution of $4.30 (coupon 38 and 39) per Ordinary Share from the available issue premium, as approved by the Company’s annual general meeting of May 16, 2024.

(2)

Sum of the intermediary dividend of $0.27 (coupon 40) per Ordinary Share and the distribution of $0.88 (coupon 41 and 42) per Ordinary Share from the available issue premium, as approved by the Company’s special general meeting of July 2, 2024.

The Offer Price may be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any additional distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of this Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date.

THE OFFER PRICE IS LOWER THAN THE CLOSING PRICE OF THE ORDINARY SHARES ON THE NYSE ON OCTOBER 21, 2024 BY APPROXIMATELY 21.90 PERCENT. YOU ARE URGED TO OBTAIN CURRENT MARKET QUOTATIONS FOR THE ORDINARY SHARES BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER YOUR ORDINARY SHARES IN THE U.S. OFFER.

Subsequent Payment. As ordered by the FSMA in the FSMA Order, CMB will proceed with the Subsequent Payment on October 31, 2024. The (former) shareholders who validly tendered their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. offer of the Completed Bid will receive a payment of $0.52 per share; and the (former) shareholders who validly tendered their dematerialized shares in the Belgian offer of the Completed Bid will receive a payment of EUR 0.47 per share (the equivalent amount of the price increase in Euros calculated using the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for Euros per U.S. dollar at 5:00 p.m. Central European Time on the date of the order of the FSMA) in respect of the Ordinary Shares so tendered.

 

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11. Purpose of the Offers; Plans for the Company.

Purpose of the Offers

The Offeror’s sole purpose in making the Offers is to comply with the order of the FSMA to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at the Offer Price for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian Law. CMB does not intend to delist the Company from the NYSE or Euronext Brussels and, as such, CMB does not intend to undertake a Squeeze-Out offer after the expiration of the Acceptance Period and following consummation of the Offers.

Plans for the Company

Current Holdings. The Company is an approximately 91.21% owned subsidiary of CMB (excluding treasury shares) on the date of this Offer to Purchase.

Strategy. Following the closing of the Completed Bid, CMB continues to execute its strategy for the Company which aims to make the Company the reference platform for sustainable shipping and is based on three axes:

1. Diversification of the fleet. CMB intends to diversify the fleet of the Company into different shipping segments to decrease the dependence on the transportation of crude oil. This does not mean exiting the tanker business altogether, but rather a gradual decrease of the share of revenues coming from pure crude oil transportation by adding different shipping asset types to the Company portfolio. CMB believes that the expansion into other shipping segments will enable future-proof investments throughout the cycles of the various segments. CMB seeks to achieve this diversification through:

 

   

the acquisition of CMB’s subsidiary, then named CMB.TECH NV (“Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH”) which was completed on February 8, 2024;

 

   

the acquisition of second-hand future-proof vessels; and

 

   

the ordering of future-proof newbuildings.

2. Decarbonization of the fleet. CMB believes a key trend in shipping is offering low-emission ships to its customers given the global fuel transition. It will be crucially important to dedicate significant amounts of capital from the industry and shipping companies to the development of low-carbon engines, fuel supply systems and the production of low-carbon fuels. CMB envisions the Company playing a leading role in the decarbonization of the shipping industry and being the reference shipowner when it comes to green ships.

3. Optimization of the existing fleet. CMB believes that Euronav’s fleet standards have always been excellent. By divesting less efficient/older tankers and re-investing the proceeds in new buildings/modern second hand vessels or technical upgrades (e.g., energy saving devices), CMB seeks to optimize the Company’s large remaining fleet of tankers to continue offering the best fleet to its customers. The Company will endeavor to finance 65% of the acquisition price of such vessels with external funds (i.e., a leverage ratio of 65%).

Dividend Policy. As a strategic and long-term investor, CMB’s investment in the Company is not driven by set expectations regarding an annual dividend or other form of return to shareholders. Shareholders should not assume that the Company’s return to shareholders policy of the recent past will continue in the future. The Company’s future dividend policy will be determined in the discretion of the Supervisory Board, on an ad hoc basis, in light of possible future investments (in particular taking into account CMB’s strategic plans for the Company as set forth above), profitability of the underlying assets, the leverage ratio of the Company, and CMB’s shareholding in the Company.

Stock Exchange Listings. CMB does not intend to delist the Ordinary Shares from the NYSE following completion of the Offers and therefore expects that the Company will continue to be subject to the reporting

 

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requirements of the Exchange Act. CMB also intends to maintain the Company’s listing on Euronext Brussels following completion of the Offers. While the Offeror believes that the unaffiliated public float of the Ordinary Shares will remain sufficient, in particular given that the Offer Price is lower than the closing price of the ordinary shares on NYSE on October 21, 2024 by approximately 21.90 percent, the number of Ordinary Shares that are publicly held may be significantly reduced because of the Offers, and the liquidity of the public markets for the Ordinary Shares may also be significantly reduced. It is also possible that the Company may fail to meet the criteria for continued listing on the NYSE. If this were to occur, the Ordinary Shares could be delisted from the NYSE by unilateral action taken by the NYSE. See The U.S. Offer — Section 7. “Certain Effects of the U.S. Offer.” Under certain of the Company’s financing agreements, the delisting of the Company’s Ordinary Shares from both the NYSE and Euronext Brussels may constitute an event of default.

Changes to the Company’s Supervisory Board. The Offeror has no current plans to change the present Supervisory Board.

Changes to the Company’s Management Board. The Offeror has no current plans to change the present Management Board.

Employees. The Offeror attaches great importance to the skills and expertise of the employees of the Company and their ongoing role in the continued success of the Company. The Offeror believes that the Company’s extensive and experienced employee base is a key strength of the Company, and that the knowhow of its people can be leveraged to execute the Company’s new diversification and decarbonization strategy. In particular, the Offeror believes that the Company has the in-house expertise required to capitalize on new opportunities across the various end markets and simultaneously realize the fuel transition of the fleet to ammonia and hydrogen.

Headquarters. The Company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, where it leases space from CMB in the ‘Belgica’ building at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium together with the other entities of the CMB Group. CMB intends to continue the presence of the Company in Antwerp.

Changes to the Company’s Charter and Bylaws. The Offeror has no current plans to change the articles of association of the Company or Bylaws.

Corporate Name Change. The Company changed its name to “CMB.TECH” effective October 1, 2024 and the trading symbol under which its shares are listed on the NYSE and on Euronext Brussels to “CMBT” effective July 15, 2024. The name “Euronav” has been retained as the brand name for its tanker division.

Other Extraordinary Transactions. Except as disclosed in this Offer to Purchase, CMB does not have any present plans or proposals that would result in an extraordinary corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

12. Related Party Transactions; Certain Transactions Between CMB and Its Affiliates and the Company.

The Company and certain of its affiliates, directors and executive officers have engaged in certain transactions and are parties to certain arrangements with CMB and certain of its affiliates. Further information regarding these transactions is set forth below, as well as in Item 7 “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions” of the 2023 Form 20-F.

The Company’s Sale of the vessels Statia and Sapphira to Bocimar

On September 25, 2024 the Supervisory Board of the Company approved the entry by the Company into two memoranda of agreement regarding the sale of two of its Suezmax tankers, the Statia and the Sapphira, and a

 

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short-term time charter party, with Bocimar International NV (“Bocimar”). Bocimar is a wholly owned subsidiary of CMB and therefore is a related party within the meaning of IAS 24. The transaction was subject to the procedure provided for in Article 7:116 BCCA, which applies to any decision or transaction made in execution of a decision of the Supervisory Board of a listed company relating to a related party.

A committee of three independent members of the Company’s Supervisory Board reviewed the terms and conditions of the transaction documents in accordance with the provisions of Article 7:116 BCCA and issued a written reasoned advice to the Supervisory Board. In its advice, the committee stated that it is of the view that the transaction is not manifestly unlawful in nature and that it is unlikely that the transaction would result in disadvantages to the Company that are not outweighed by benefits to the Company. The Committee therefore advised favorably on the transaction.

The CMB.TECH Sale Transaction

On December 22, 2023, the Company and CMB entered into the CMB.TECH Share Purchase Agreement. On February 8, 2023 the Company purchased all of the Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH Shares from CMB for the purchase price of $1.15 billion in cash. For a more detailed description of the CMB.TECH Transaction, see The U.S. Offer — Section 10. “Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.”

In connection with the CMB.TECH Transaction, CMB granted the Company (i) a royalty-free, worldwide license (the “License”) to use the trademarks and the tradenames “Bocimar”, “Bochem” and ”Delphis”, so that the Company can continue to commercially deploy dry bulk carriers, container vessels and chemical tankers under these trademarks; and (ii) a priority right with respect to charters with a term exceeding three months for those vessels of the Company that compete with CMB’s vessels (the “Priority Right”). The License became effective on February 8, 2024 and is valid for the duration of the relevant licensed intellectual property rights, but will expire when CMB no longer owns 25% of the Ordinary Shares. The Priority Right will remain in force until the earlier of (i) the date on which CMB is no longer solely controlling the Company (as determined by applicable antitrust law) or (ii) the tenth anniversary, automatically renewed with consecutive five-year periods unless either CMB or the Company terminates the Priority Right upon three-months’ notice.

In accordance with Article 7:116 of the BCCA, the committee of independent directors of the Company appointed Degroof Petercam Corporate Finance as an independent expert to advise on the fairness of the CMB.TECH Transaction. Upon its review of the terms and conditions of the CMB.TECH Transaction and the advice of the independent expert, the committee of independent directors of the Company advised favorably on the CMB.TECH Transaction. Following the recommendation by the committee of independent directors of the Company, which was also reviewed by the Company’s statutory auditor, the Company’s Supervisory Board approved the CMB.TECH Transaction, subject to the approval by the Company’s special general meeting. The Company’s special general meeting was held on February 7, 2024, and the Company’s shareholders approved the CMB.TECH Transaction in accordance with article 7:152 of the BCCA. The CMB.TECH Transaction was consummated on February,8 2024.

Properties

Both the Company and its subsidiary, Euronav Ship Management SAS (Antwerp Branch), lease office space in Antwerp from MCA Facilities NV (“MCA”), a 100% subsidiary of CMB, pursuant to a lease agreement dated September 1, 2021. This lease was due to expire on September 1, 2024, but has been extended. Under the lease, the Company makes monthly rental payments to MCA of 18,008 Euros in respect of a 1,120 square meter office space and 11 parking spots, and Euronav Ship Management SAS (Antwerp Branch) makes monthly rental payments to MCA of 6,626 Euros in respect of a 427 square meter office space and 3 parking spots. Both lessees are also required to pay to MCA separate service charges related to service-related costs incurred by MCA.

 

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Commercial Agreements

Since December 2019, the Company entered into several supply agreements with CMB to supply Residual Marine Fuel Oil (RMG380) with a maximum of 0.5% sulfur in Linggi, Malaysia. Since July 2020, similar supply agreements were also entered into with Bocimar Hong Kong Ltd and Bocimar International NV. The fuel is sold on exchange where CMB, Bocimar Hong Kong Ltd and Bocimar International NV return the purchased fuel back to the Company in other markets. The exchange is set to match volume and dollar amounts where any differences are settled at the end of the quarter.

Compensation as Management Board Members of the Company

Management companies owned by each of Alexander Saverys, Ludovic Saverys, Michael Saverys, Maxime Van Eecke and Benoit Timmermans, respectively, each of who is also a director and officer of CMB, is entitled to receive 250,000 Euros each per year, paid in monthly installments, in respect of their service as members of the Company’s Management Board.

Compensation as Supervisory Board Members of the Company

As members of the Company’s Supervisory Board, Mr. Marc Saverys, Mr. Bjarte Bøe and Mr. Patrick De Brabandere, also directors of CMB, received $45,953, $98,749 and $23,437, respectively, in respect of their attendance at meetings of the Supervisory Board and committees thereof since their election to the Supervisory Board in March 2023.

13. Source and Amount of Funds.

The Offeror estimates that the maximum amount of funds required to consummate the Offers is approximately $216 million. The consummation of the Offers is not subject to any financing condition.

The aggregate purchase price for Ordinary Shares validly tendered and accepted in the Offers will be funded with borrowings under the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility (as defined below), and the unconditional and irrevocable availability of funds necessary for the payment of the Offer Price for all Shares in the form of an irrevocable and unconditional credit facility made available by the Arrangers (as defined below) has been confirmed by KBC Bank NV to the FSMA in accordance with Belgian law. Because (i) the only consideration to be paid in the Offers is cash, (ii) the Offers are being made to purchase all issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares not already owned by the Offeror and its affiliates solely for cash, and (iii) there is no financing condition to the completion of the Offers, the Offeror believes the financial condition of CMB is not material to a decision by a U.S. Holder of the Ordinary Shares whether to participate in the Offers.

Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement

CMB is the borrower under the Facilities Agreement, which was entered into on November 20, 2023 and last amended and restated on October 16, 2024 (as so amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement provides for, among other things, a $216 million term loan bridge facility which will be used to fund payment for Ordinary Shares validly tendered and accepted in the Offers (the “Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility”). As of the date of this Offer to Purchase the outstanding principal balance of loans under the Amended Facility Agreement is $500 million.

The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement. The summary of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement, a copy of which has been filed by the Offeror as Exhibit (b)(1) to the Schedule TO relating to the U.S. Offer and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Term. The Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement has a term expiring on February 20, 2025 which, subject to certain conditions and at the option of CMB, may be extended for an additional six months. Such extension is subject to (i) no default having occurred and is then continuing or would occur as a result of the extension; (ii) all repeating representations made by CMB being correct in all material respects; and (iii) the payment of an extension fee. The principal amounts outstanding under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement must be repaid in full not later than its maturity date, subject to any extension. CMB may utilize the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement in one or several installments.

Prepayment. The Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement contains customary prepayment events (including but not limited to (i) where it becomes illegal for a lender to fund or maintain its participation, (ii) where a sanctions event occurs, (iii) where there is a change of control of CMB or if CMB no longer controls the Company, (iv) from certain disposal proceeds, (v) from proceeds received upon the issuance of certain debt obligations, or (v) from proceeds of a claims under an acquisition document). In addition, CMB is required to prepay loans under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement out of the net proceeds received from a permitted sale of Ordinary Shares of the Company, provided that CMB retains at least a 50% ownership interest in the Company (excluding treasury shares). CMB also has the ability to voluntarily cancel commitments or repay amounts outstanding under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement.

Interest Rates. Interest on amounts outstanding under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement is payable on the last day of each interest period (which interest period may be 1 week or 1 month) and is comprised of the applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement) and the compounded reference rate for that day (including any Bloomberg Credit Adjustment Spread). The Margin is determined in accordance with the following table:

 

Period

  

Margin (%
per annum)

From the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement to (but excluding) the date falling 6 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement    2.75
From the date falling 6 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement to (but excluding in case of an Extension (as defined in the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement)) the date falling 9 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement    3.25
Subject to the Extension being exercised, from the date falling 9 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement to (but excluding) the date falling 12 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement    3.75
Subject to the Extension being exercised, from the date falling 12 months after the date of the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement to the Termination Date (as defined in the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement)    4.50

Representations and warranties, undertakings and events of default. The Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement contains representations, warranties, undertakings and events of default that are customary for facilities of this type, with such adjustments as are necessary to reflect the transaction structure.

Security. CMB’s obligations under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement are secured by a pledge of all shares of the Company held by CMB (or to be acquired pursuant to the Offers). The borrowings under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement are also secured by any cash held in prepayment accounts into which funds from permitted sales of the pledged securities are required to be deposited.

Governing law. The Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement is governed by English law.

Refinancing Plans. CMB is required to prepay loans under the Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement with the proceeds from distributions by the Company. CMB intends to repay amounts outstanding under the

 

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Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement with, among other things, the proceeds of distributions from the Company.

14. Conditions of the U.S. Offer.

The Offers are unconditional. The Offeror is required to pay for all Ordinary Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offers.

15. Certain Legal Matters.

General

Except as otherwise set forth in this Offer to Purchase, the Offeror, after reasonable investigation, is not aware of any approval or other action by any governmental, administrative or regulatory agency or authority that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Ordinary Shares by CMB pursuant to the U.S. Offer. Should any such approval or other action be required, CMB currently expects that such approval or action would be sought or taken. There can be no assurance that any such approval or action, if needed, would be obtained or, if obtained, that it would be obtained without substantial conditions; and there can be no assurance that, in the event that such approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not taken, adverse consequences might not result to the Company’s business or that certain parts of the Company’s business might not have to be disposed of or held separate. In addition to any approval or action by governmental, administrative or regulatory agencies, certain existing significant contractual arrangements of the Company may be subject to the receipt of consents of counterparties in connection with the Offers. There can be no assurance that such consents, if needed, will be obtained.

U.S. Competition Laws

Under the HSR Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated until certain information and documentary material has been furnished for review by the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied and no orders have been issued prohibiting the transaction. These requirements applied to CMB by virtue of CMB’s acquisition of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement. CMB filed a Notification and Report Form with the FTC and the DOJ with respect to the purchase of Shares from Famatown and Frontline pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement and the required waiting period expired on November 9, 2023 without any orders being issued by the FTC or DOJ prohibiting the Share Purchase.

The FTC and the DOJ frequently scrutinize the legality under the U.S. antitrust laws of transactions, such as CMB’s acquisition of the Ordinary Shares in the Share Purchase, in the Completed Bid and in the Offers. Private parties as well as state attorneys general may also bring legal actions under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the acquisition of control of the Company on U.S. antitrust grounds will not be made or that, if such a challenge is made, CMB will prevail.

Statutory Exemption from Certain U.S. Tender Offer Requirements

The U.S. Offer qualifies as a “Tier II” cross border offer in accordance with Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act and is, as a result, exempt from certain provisions of otherwise applicable U.S. statutes and rules relating to tender offers. U.S. and Belgian law and practice relating to tender offers are inconsistent in a number of ways. We intend to rely on the Tier II exemption from Rule 14e-1(c) on prompt payment, Rule 14e-1(d) on the procedures for giving notices of any extensions of the length of the tender offer, where we will follow Belgian law and practice.

 

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Appraisal Rights

No appraisal rights will be available to shareholders in connection with the U.S. Offer. Belgian corporation law does not provide for statutory appraisal rights in case of a tender offer.

Certain Litigation

New York Complaint

On February 26, 2024, a complaint was filed with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP, Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund, LP, Corbin Hedged Equity Fund, L.P., Corbin ERISA Opportunity Fund, Ltd., Pinehurst Partners, L.P., FW Deep Value Opportunities Fund I, LLC, FourWorld Global Opportunities Fund, Ltd., and FourWorld Event Opportunities, LP v. Belgische Scheepvaartmaatschappij-Compagnie Maritime Belge SA, Case No. 24-1445 (theComplaint”).

The Complaint named the Offeror as defendant. The Complaint alleged, among other things, that the defendant violated Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act by disseminating materially false and misleading offering materials relating to the Completed Bid, including the Offer to Purchase used in connection with the Completed Bid and other documents disseminated pursuant to the Schedule TO of which that Offer to Purchase was a part, and the Belgian Prospectus (collectively, the “Offering Documents”). The Complaint sought, among other relief, (i) injunctive relief restraining the Offeror from completing the Completed Bid on the basis of such offering materials, (ii) compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount, and (iii) plaintiffs’ court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. The Complaint also sought a declaration that the Offering Documents are materially false and misleading and therefore violate Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and declaring the Offering Documents null and void.

On March 13, 2024, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York denied plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction and subsequently the plaintiffs withdrew the Complaint.

Market Court Complaint

On February 29, 2024, the same plaintiffs that filed the complaint with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, also filed a complaint in the Market Court of Belgium that requested the Market Court to (i) review the original bid price of $18.43 per Share, alleging that it did not reflect purported special benefits, which FourWorld claimed to have been granted to Frontline in addition to the price paid by CMB for its shares in the Company in the Share Purchase and (ii) order CMB to adjust the bid price to account for these alleged special benefits.

In its ruling dated September 6, 2024, the Market Court dismissed some of FourWorld’s claims as inadmissible and/or unfounded. However, the Market Court found that the pricing of certain vessels sold by the Company to Frontline implied certain special benefits to Frontline. The Market Court calculated these benefits to be $0.52 per Ordinary Share. The Market Court did not order CMB or the FSMA to increase the bid price. On October 7, 2024, the FSMA decided to effectively require an increase in the Original Reference Price of $0.52 per Ordinary Share and ordered CMB, more specifically, to (i) pay $0.52 per Share to all shareholders whose Ordinary Shares were validly tendered in the Completed Bid and (ii) reopen the Completed Bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the the $0.52 per Share increase of the Original Reference Price. Taking into account the Original Reference Price, increased by $0.52 in accordance with the FSMA Order, and decreased by $6.29 (the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company to its shareholders since the initial announcement of the Completed Bid on October 9, 2023), results in an adjusted bid price of $12.66 per Share.

Enterprise Court Claim

On April 8, 2024, FourWorld filed claims before the Enterprise Court in Antwerp, Belgium. These claims (collectively, the “Enterprise Court Claim”) concern the integrated solution for the strategic and structural

 

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deadlock within the Company announced on October 9, 2023, of which the Completed Bid formed the final piece, as well as the Company’s acquisition of Pre-Acquisition CMB.TECH. FourWorld requests that all decisions of the Company’s supervisory board and general meeting in relation to these transactions, as well as the transactions themselves, be declared null and void. In this regard, FourWorld has summoned all parties involved in these transactions, including the Company, CMB, Frontline, Famatown, Hemen Holding Limited and Geveran Trading Co. Limited. The Company and the Offeror have stated that they consider these claims to be without merit and is vigorously contesting them particularly in light of the decision of the Market Court on specific legal topics. Pleadings in this matter are currently scheduled to take place in the first half of 2026. The outcome of the matter described above cannot be predicted with certainty.

16. Fees and Expenses.

CMB has retained Georgeson LLC to act as the U.S. Information Agent and Computershare to act as the U.S. Tender Agent in connection with the U.S. Offer. As part of the services included in such retention, the U.S. Information Agent may contact U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares by telephone, mail, electronic mail and other methods of electronic communication and may request brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees to forward the materials relating to the U.S. Offer to beneficial holders of Ordinary Shares.

The U.S. Information Agent and the U.S. Tender Agent each will receive reasonable and customary compensation for their respective services in connection with the U.S. Offer, will be reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith, including certain liabilities under federal securities laws.

Except as set forth above, we will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders pursuant to the U.S. Offer. We will reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies upon request for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding the offering material to their customers. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will, upon request, be reimbursed by CMB for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers.

17. Miscellaneous.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. We are currently not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the U.S. Offer is restricted or prohibited by law. If we become aware of any such restriction or prohibition on the making of the U.S. Offer or the acceptance of the Ordinary Shares, we will make a good faith effort to comply or seek to have such prohibition or restriction declared inapplicable to the U.S. Offer. If, after a good faith effort, we cannot comply, we will not make the U.S. Offer to the holders of Ordinary Shares in that jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the U.S. Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the U.S. Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of CMB by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

No person has been authorized to give any information or make any representation on behalf of the Offeror not contained in this Offer to Purchase or in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized.

We have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO in connection with the U.S. Offer, together with all exhibits thereto, pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, furnishing certain additional information with respect to the U.S. Offer, and may file amendments to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO and any exhibits or amendments thereto may be obtained from the U.S. Information Agent or from your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee. Copies of these materials also are available to the public on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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Neither delivery of this Offer to Purchase nor any purchase pursuant to the U.S. Offer will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Offeror, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries since the date as of which information is furnished or the date of this Offer to Purchase.

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

October 23, 2024

 

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ANNEX A

INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CMB

The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for the past five years of each of the directors and executive officers of CMB are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each such director and executive officer is De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.

 

Name, Position

and Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment; Material
Occupations, Positions, Offices or Employments During the
Last Five Years; Citizenship

Alexander Saverys

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2027)

Chief Executive Officer

  

Mr. Alexander Saverys has served as a director of CMB since 2006 and has been the Chief Executive Officer of CMB since September 2014. Mr. Saverys has been a Director of Saverco since 2001. Mr. Saverys has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a member of the Company’s Sustainability Committee since November 22, 2023.

 

Mr. Saverys is a citizen of Belgium.

Ludovic Saverys

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2025)

Chief Financial Officer

  

Mr. Ludovic Saverys has served as a director of CMB since 2016 and has been the Chief Financial Officer of CMB since 2014. Mr. Saverys has been a Director of Saverco since 2009. Mr. Saverys has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since November 22, 2023. Mr. Saverys served as a member of the Company’s Supervisory Board from May 2015 until 2021 and was a member of the Company’s Remuneration Committee and a member of its Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Committee.

 

Mr. Saverys is a citizen of Belgium.

Michaël Saverys

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2025)

Chief Chartering Officer

  

Mr. Michaël Saverys has served as a director of CMB since 2013 and has been the Chartering Director of CMB since 2008. He has been a Director of Saverco since 2009. Mr. Saverys has served as the Chief Chartering Officer of the Company since November 22, 2023.

 

Mr. Saverys is a citizen of Belgium.

Benoit Timmermans

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2025)

Chief Strategy Officer

  

Mr. Timmermans has been a director of CMB since 2003 and the Chief Strategy Officer of CMB since 2021. Mr. Timmermans has served as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Company since November 22, 2023 and is a member of the Company’s Sustainability Committee.

 

Mr. Timmermans is a citizen of Belgium.

 

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Table of Contents

Name, Position

and Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment; Material
Occupations, Positions, Offices or Employments During the
Last Five Years; Citizenship

Mavecom BV, permanently represented by Maxime Van Eecke

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2027)

Chief Commercial Officer

  

Mr. Van Eecke has been a director of CMB since 2023 and has been the Chief Commercial Officer of CMB since 2021. Mr. Van Eecke has served as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company since November 22, 2023. He started his career as Legal Counsel for the CMB Group in 2005 and became Managing Director of Delphis, the container division of CMB, in 2014.

 

Mr. Van Eecke is a citizen of Belgium.

Debemar BV, permanently represented by Patrick De Brabandere

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2025)

  

Mr. De Brabandere has served as a director of CMB since 2002. Mr. De Brabandere has been a member of the Company’s Supervisory Board since March 2023 and he is the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee and of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee of the Company. Mr. De Brabandere started his career at the audit firm Arthur Andersen. In 1987, he joined Almabo, the former holding company of the Saverys family, as Project Controller. In 2003, following the partial demerger of Exmar NV from CMB, he became director and CFO of Exmar NV and then its COO. In 2020 he became CFO of Exmar NV again until June 2022.

 

Mr. De Brabandere is a citizen of Belgium.

Buchai NV, permanently represented by Marc Saverys

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2027)

  

Mr. Marc Saverys has been the Chairman of CMB since 2014. Mr. Saverys was re-appointed as a member of the Company’s Supervisory Board on November 22, 2023. He has been a Director of Saverco since 1986. During the period from 2003 through July 2014, Mr. Saverys served as the Chairman of Board of the Company. In 1976, Mr. Saverys joined the chartering department of Bocimar, the drybulk division of CMB. In 1985, Mr. Saverys established the drybulk division of Exmar and in 1991 he became Managing Director of CMB, a position that he held until September 2014 when he was appointed Chairman of CMB. Mr. Saverys has also served as the Chairman of Delphis NV since March 2004 and as a Board Member of Sibelco NV and Mediafin NV since June 2005 and October 2005, respectively.

 

Mr. Saverys is a citizen of Belgium.

 

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Name, Position

and Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment; Material
Occupations, Positions, Offices or Employments During the
Last Five Years; Citizenship

Jalcos NV, permanently represented by Ludwig Criel

Director (Term expires Annual General Meeting of 2027)

  

Mr. Criel is an independent consultant. Mr. Criel has been a director of CMB since 1991 and served as Chief Financial Officer of CMB from 1991 until 2016. Mr. Criel served on the Board of Directors of the Company from its incorporation in 2003 until 2016. Mr. Criel has been the Chair of DPG Media (formerly De Persgroep) since 1996. Since 1983, he has held various management functions within the Almabo/Exmar group. Mr. Criel was also a director of Exmar from 2003 until 2021. From 1999 through 2004 Mr. Criel was Managing Director of the Wah Kwong group in Hong Kong and remains a member of the board of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport.

 

Mr. Criel is a citizen of Belgium.

 

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Manually signed facsimiles of the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, will be accepted. The Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents should be sent by each U.S. Holder or such U.S. Holder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the U.S. Tender Agent as follows:

The U.S. Tender Agent for the U.S. Offer Is:

 

LOGO

 

If delivering by mail:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN

P.O. Box 43011

Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3011

  

If delivering by trackable mail,

including overnight delivery

or any other expedited service:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN

150 Royall Street, Suite V

Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses set forth below. Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the U.S. Offer.

The Information Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

 

 

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free:

1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada:

+1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@georgeson.com

Exhibit (a)(1)(B)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

TO

TENDER ORDINARY SHARES

OF

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

FOR

$12.66 PER SHARE IN CASH

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

BY

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV

 

 

THE U.S. OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 10:00 A.M., NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024, UNLESS THE U.S. OFFER IS EXTENDED.

 

The U.S. Tender Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

LOGO

Method of delivery of the certificate(s) is at the option and risk of the owner thereof. See Instruction 2. Mail or deliver this Letter of Transmittal, together with the certificate(s) representing your shares, to:

 

If delivering by mail:

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN
P.O. Box 43011
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3011

  

If delivering by trackable mail,
including overnight delivery
or any other expedited service:

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN
150 Royall Street, Suite V
Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Delivery will only be deemed valid if delivered in accordance with the above instructions.

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED

Name(s) and Address(es)

of Holder(s) of Record

(If blank, please fill in

exactly as name(s)

appear(s) on share

certificate(s)

 

Ordinary Shares Tendered

(attach additional list, if necessary)

    Certificated Shares**    DRS Shares
    Certificate No(s)*  

Total number of 

Shares Represented 

by Certificate(s)* 

  

Number of Shares

Tendered**

  

Number of Shares

Tendered***

       
 ACCOUNT NUMBER                
       
 MR A SAMPLE                
       
 DESIGNATION (IF ANY)                
       
 ADD 1                
       
 ADD 2                
       
 ADD 3                
       
 ADD 4                
       
 ADD 5                
       
 ADD 6                
       
TOT SHARES <<tot_shrs>>                  
                   
                   
    Total Shares:              

 

*

Need not be completed if Ordinary Shares are delivered by book-entry transfer by your broker to DTC.

**

Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Ordinary Shares represented by any certificates delivered to the U.S. Tender Agent are being tendered. See Instruction 4.

***

If your Ordinary Shares are held in the direct registration system (“DRS”) at Computershare Trust Company N.A., in its capacity as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent and registrar (the “U.S. Transfer Agent”), indicate the number of Ordinary Shares you are tendering in the column Number of Shares Tendered.

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE FOR THE U.S. TENDER AGENT WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY. YOU MUST SIGN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW, WITH A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE, IF REQUIRED, AND COMPLETE THE IRS FORM W-9 SET FORTH BELOW, IF REQUIRED.

ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE U.S. OFFER SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO GEORGESON LLC, THE U.S. INFORMATION AGENT, AT 1-888-815-4069 OR AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH ON THE BACK PAGE OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR ANY OF THE OTHER MATERIALS RELATED TO THE U.S. OFFER, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE U.S. INFORMATION AGENT AT 1-888-815-4069 OR AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH ON THE BACK PAGE OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


THE U.S. OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO (NOR WILL TENDERS BE ACCEPTED FROM OR ON BEHALF OF) HOLDERS OF ORDINARY SHARES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE MAKING OF THE U.S. OFFER OR ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS WHERE APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS REQUIRE THE U.S. OFFER TO BE MADE BY A LICENSED BROKER OR DEALER, THE U.S. OFFER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFEROR (AS DEFINED BELOW) BY ONE OR MORE REGISTERED BROKERS OR DEALERS LICENSED UNDER THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION TO BE DESIGNATED BY THE OFFEROR.

This Letter of Transmittal is being delivered to you in connection with the offer by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), which are beneficially owned by U.S. Holders (as that term is defined under instruction 2 to paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 14d-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (such holders collectively, “U.S. Holders” and each a “U.S. Holder”) for $12.66 per Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below), and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated October 23, 2024 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Offer to Purchase”), and this Letter of Transmittal (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, this “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitute the “U.S. Offer”). All payments to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be rounded to the nearest whole cent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid that was consummated on April 3, 2024 at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52 per Share, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. Non-U.S. Holders may not rely on the disclosure in the Offer to Purchase or this Letter of Transmittal under any circumstances. If you are a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares and you wish to participate in the Offers, you must participate in the Belgian Offer on the terms and conditions set forth in the Belgian Prospectus Supplement. U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase. The procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below), or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the Expiration Date. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. You may reposition your Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or the U.S. Transfer Agent. For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact Georgeson LLC, as information agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Information Agent”), at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address set forth below.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates for Ordinary Shares being tendered are being forwarded with this Letter of Transmittal or, unless an Agent’s Message (as defined below) is being used, if delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”), at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase. Delivery of documents to DTC will not constitute delivery to the U.S. Tender Agent.

Tendering shareholders must deliver either the certificates for, or timely confirmation of book-entry transfer in accordance with the procedures described in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase with respect to, their Ordinary Shares and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal to the U.S. Transfer Agent by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”).

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, you must allow sufficient time to tender your Ordinary Shares by 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Expiration Date. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Expiration Date will be disregarded and of no effect.

If any certificate representing any Ordinary Shares you are tendering with this Letter of Transmittal has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you should contact the U.S. Information Agent at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address set forth below regarding the requirements for replacement. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that such certificates may be subsequently recirculated. You are urged to contact the U.S. Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions, for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. See Instruction 10.

IF TENDERED ORDINARY SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE U.S. TRANSFER AGENT WITH DTC, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN DTC MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER):

 

Name of Tendering Institution:     
DTC Participant Number:     
Transaction Code Number:     

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) , the above-described Ordinary Shares, no par value (the “Ordinary Shares” or “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), for $12.66 per Share, in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below) and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated October 23, 2024 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Offer to Purchase”), and this Letter of Transmittal (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, this “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitute the “U.S. Offer”), and which the undersigned hereby acknowledges the undersigned has received.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid that was consummated on April 3, 2024 at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52 per Share, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order.

All payments to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be payable in U.S. dollars and rounded to the nearest whole cent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by a U.S. Holder.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. Non-U.S. Holders may not rely on the disclosure in the Offer to Purchase under any circumstances. If you are a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares and you wish to participate in the Offers, you must participate in the Belgian Offer on the terms and conditions set forth in the Belgian Prospectus Supplement. U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase. The procedure for repositioning from Euronext Brussels to the NYSE should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below), or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the Expiration Date. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. You may reposition your Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or the U.S. Transfer Agent. For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact the U.S. Information Agent at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address set forth below.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates for Ordinary Shares being tendered are being forwarded with this Letter of Transmittal or, unless an Agent’s Message (defined below) is being used, if delivery of Ordinary Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”), at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase. Delivery of documents to DTC will not constitute delivery to the U.S. Tender Agent.

Tendering shareholders must deliver either the certificates for, or timely confirmation of book-entry transfer, in accordance with the procedures described in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase with respect to, their Ordinary Shares and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal to the U.S. Transfer Agent by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, unless the U.S. Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”).

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, you must allow sufficient time to tender your Ordinary Shares by 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Expiration Date. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Expiration Date will be disregarded and of no effect.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the U.S. Offer (including, if the U.S. Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Ordinary Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Expiration Date in accordance with the terms of the U.S. Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Offeror, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Ordinary Shares being tendered hereby. In addition, subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Ordinary Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to 10:00 A.M. on the Expiration Date in accordance with the terms of the U.S. Offer, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints the Offeror and each of the designees of the Offeror as the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned with respect to such Ordinary Shares with full power of substitution (such proxies and power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest in the tendered Ordinary Shares), to the full extent of such shareholder’s rights with respect to such Ordinary Shares to (a) deliver certificates representing such Ordinary Shares (the “Share Certificates”) or transfer of ownership of such Ordinary Shares on the account books maintained by DTC, together, in either such case, with all accompanying evidence of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Offeror, (b) present such Ordinary Shares for transfer on the books of the Company, and (c) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Ordinary Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the U.S. Offer.

By executing this Letter of Transmittal (or taking action resulting in the delivery of an Agent’s Message (as defined below)), the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints the Offeror and each of the designees of the Offeror as the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such shareholder’s rights with respect to the Ordinary Shares tendered hereby and not validly withdrawn that have been accepted for payment by Offeror. The Offeror will, with respect to such Ordinary Shares, be empowered to exercise all voting and any other rights of such shareholder, as it, in its sole discretion,

 

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may deem proper at any annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of the Company’s shareholders, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise with respect to all Ordinary Shares. This proxy and power of attorney shall be irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Ordinary Shares. Such appointment is effective when, and only to the extent that, Offeror accepts the Ordinary Shares tendered with this Letter of Transmittal for payment pursuant to the U.S. Offer. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, without further action, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by the undersigned with respect to such Ordinary Shares (other than prior powers of attorney, proxies or consent given by the undersigned to the Offeror) will be revoked, and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations (other than powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations given to the Offeror) may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective).

The Offeror reserves the right to require that, in order for Ordinary Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Offeror’s acceptance for payment of such Ordinary Shares, the Offeror must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Ordinary Shares and other related securities or rights, including voting at any meeting of shareholders of the Company or executing a written consent concerning any matter.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer any and all of the Ordinary Shares tendered hereby and, when the same are accepted for payment by the Offeror, the Offeror will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that the same will not be subject to any adverse claims. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the holder of record of the Ordinary Shares, or the Share Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Ordinary Shares. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the U.S. Tender Agent, or by the Offeror to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of any and all of the Ordinary Shares tendered hereby.

It is understood that the undersigned will not receive payment for the Ordinary Shares unless and until the Ordinary Shares are accepted for payment and until the Share Certificate(s) owned by the undersigned are timely received by the U.S. Tender Agent at the address set forth above, together with such additional documents as the U.S. Tender Agent may require, or, in the case of Ordinary Shares held in book-entry form, ownership of Ordinary Shares is validly and timely transferred on the account books maintained by DTC, and until the same are processed for payment by the U.S. Tender Agent.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE ORDINARY SHARES, THE SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC) IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE UNDERSIGNED AND THAT THE RISK OF LOSS OF SUCH ORDINARY SHARES, SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS SHALL PASS ONLY AFTER THE U.S. TENDER AGENT HAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE ORDINARY SHARES OR SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION (AS DEFINED BELOW)). IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY PRIOR TO 10:00 A.M. NEW YORK CITY TIME ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the U.S. Offer, a tender pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal is irrevocable.

 

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The undersigned understands that the acceptance for payment by the Offeror of Ordinary Shares tendered pursuant to one of the procedures described in the U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Offeror upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the U.S. Offer and this Letter of Transmittal.

Unless otherwise indicated herein under “Special Payment Instructions,” please issue the check for the Offer Price in the name(s) of, and/or return any Share Certificates representing Ordinary Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment to, the holder(s) of record appearing under “Description of Shares Tendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the Offer Price and/or return any Share Certificates representing Ordinary Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the holder(s) of record appearing under “Description of Shares Tendered.” The undersigned recognizes that the Offeror has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions, to transfer any Ordinary Shares from the name(s) of the registered holder(s) thereof if Offeror does not accept for payment any of the Ordinary Shares so tendered.

In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the Offer Price and/or issue any Share Certificates representing Ordinary Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name of, and deliver such check and/or return such Share Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person or persons so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions,” please credit any Ordinary Shares validly tendered hereby or by an Agent’s Message and delivered by book-entry transfer, but which are not purchased, by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that the Offeror has no obligation pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions to transfer any Ordinary Shares from the name of the holder of record thereof if the Offeror does not accept for payment any of the Ordinary Shares so validly tendered.

 

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SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

 

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not validly tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the Offer Price for Ordinary Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

 

    Issue:   ☐ Check and/or    
   
      ☐ Share Certificates to:     
    Name:  

 

   
      (Please Print)    
    Address:  

 

   
      (Include Zip Code)    
     

 

   
      (Tax Identification or Social Security Number)    
         
         
         
         
         
             
   

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

 

To be completed ONLY if Share Certificate(s) not validly tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the Offer Price for Ordinary Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Ordinary Shares Tendered” above.

 

    
    Issue:   ☐ Check and/or    
   
      ☐ Share Certificates to:    
    Name:  

 

   
      (Please Print)    
    Address:  

 

   
    (Include Zip Code)    
         
         
         
         
         
             
 

 

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IMPORTANT—SIGN HERE

(U.S. Holders Please Also Complete the Enclosed IRS Form W-9)

 

   

   

  

(Signature(s) of Shareholder(s))

Dated:      , 2024

(Must be manually signed by holder(s) of record exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become holder(s) of record by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title and see Instruction 5. For information concerning signature guarantees, see Instruction 1.)

 

Name(s):     

(Please Print)

Capacity (full title):     
Address:     

(Include Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone Number:     
Tax Identification or Social Security No.:     

 

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GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)

(For use by Eligible Institutions only;

see Instructions 1 and 5)

 

Name of Firm:      
Address:      
(Include Zip Code)
Authorized Signature:      
Name:      
 
(Please Type or Print)
Area Code and Telephone Number:      
Dated:      , 2024   
 
Place medallion guarantee in space below:

 

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INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the U.S. Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures for Shares. No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the holder(s) of record (which term, for purposes of this Section 1, includes any participant in DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Ordinary Shares) of the Ordinary Shares tendered therewith, unless such holder or holders have completed either the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if the Ordinary Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each, an “Eligible Institution” and collectively, “Eligible Institutions”) (for example, the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program®, the New York Stock Exchange Inc. Medallion Signature ProgramSM and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program®). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Share Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by shareholders that are tendering Ordinary Shares represented by Share Certificates or held in book-entry form on the books of the U.S. Transfer Agent in DRS, or if the Ordinary Shares are being tendered pursuant to the procedures for DTC book-entry transfer as set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase unless, in the case of Ordinary Shares held or transferred in book-entry form or through DTC, an Agent’s Message is being delivered to the U.S. Tender Agent in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal. Payment for Ordinary Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the U.S. Offer will in all cases only be made after timely receipt by the U.S. Tender Agent of (i) to the extent the Ordinary Shares are not already held with the U.S. Tender Agent, Share Certificates or a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) of a book-entry transfer of such Ordinary Shares into the U.S. Tender Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase, (ii) this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer or a tender through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program, an Agent’s Message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal) and (iii) any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal or the U.S. Tender Agent, in each case prior to 10:00 A.M. New York City Time on the Expiration Date.

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted through electronic means by DTC in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC to, and received by, the U.S. Tender Agent and forming part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, that states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Ordinary Shares that are the subject of such Book-Entry Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of, this Letter of Transmittal, and that Offeror may enforce such agreement against such participant. The term “Agent’s Message” also includes any hard copy printout evidencing such message generated by a computer terminal maintained at the U.S. Tender Agent’s office.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE ORDINARY SHARES (OR SHARE CERTIFICATES), THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER. DELIVERY OF THE ORDINARY SHARES (OR SHARE CERTIFICATES), THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEEMED MADE, AND RISK OF LOSS THEREOF SHALL PASS, ONLY WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE U.S. TENDER AGENT (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER OF ORDINARY SHARES, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ORDINARY SHARES). IF SUCH DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ORDINARY SHARES (OR SHARE CERTIFICATES), THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND

 

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ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY PRIOR TO 10:00 A.M. NEW YORK CITY TIME ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Ordinary Shares will be purchased. All tendering shareholders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal, waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Ordinary Shares for payment.

3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided on the cover page to this Letter of Transmittal is inadequate, the certificate numbers and/or the number of Ordinary Shares should be listed on a separate schedule attached hereto and separately signed on each page thereof in the same manner as this Letter of Transmittal is signed.

4. Partial Tenders (Applicable to Certificate Shareholders Only). If fewer than all the Ordinary Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate delivered to the U.S. Tender Agent are to be tendered, shareholders should contact the U.S. Information Agent at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address set forth below to arrange to have such Share Certificate divided into separate Share Certificates representing the number of Ordinary Shares to be tendered and the number of Ordinary Shares to not be tendered. The shareholder should then tender the Share Certificate representing the number of Ordinary Shares to be tendered as set forth in this Letter of Transmittal. All Ordinary Shares represented by Share Certificates delivered to the U.S. Tender Agent will be deemed to have been tendered.

5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the holder(s) of record of the Ordinary Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificate(s) without alteration or any other change whatsoever.

If any Ordinary Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If any tendered Ordinary Shares are registered in the names of different holder(s), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Ordinary Shares.

If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to Offeror of their authority so to act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the holder(s) of record of the Ordinary Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made to, or Share Certificates representing Ordinary Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the holder(s) of record, in which case the Share Certificates representing the Ordinary Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the holder(s) of record appear(s) on the Share Certificates. Signatures on such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the holder(s) of record of the Ordinary Share(s) listed, the Share Certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by the appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name or names of the holder(s) of record appear(s) on the Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Share Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

6. Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, if your Ordinary Shares are registered in your name and you tender your shares in the U.S. Offer directly to the U.S. Tender Agent, you will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions transfer taxes on the purchase of Ordinary Shares by the Offeror

 

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pursuant to the U.S. Offer. If you hold your Ordinary Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should check with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee as to whether they charge any service fees. If payment of the Offer Price is to be made to, or (in the circumstances permitted hereby) if Share Certificates not validly tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person other than the holder(s) of record or if tendered Share Certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the holder(s) of record or such person) payable on account of the transfer to such person, will need to be paid by such holder unless such holder establishes to the satisfaction of the U.S. Tender Agent that such transfer taxes have been paid or are not required to be paid.

7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for payment of the Offer Price is to be issued, and/or Share Certificates representing Ordinary Shares not validly tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the signer(s) of this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Tendered” above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal should be completed.

8. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to Georgeson LLC (the “U.S. Information Agent”) at its address and telephone number set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the U.S. Offer may be obtained at no cost to shareholders from the U.S. Information Agent. Additionally, copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and any other materials related to the U.S. Offer are available free of charge at www.sec.gov. Shareholders may also contact their brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees for assistance.

9. U.S. Federal Backup Withholding. Under U.S. federal income tax laws, the U.S. Tender Agent will be required to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made to certain shareholders (or other payees) pursuant to the U.S. Offer, as applicable. To avoid backup withholding, each tendering shareholder (or other payee) that is or is treated as a United States person (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and that does not otherwise establish an exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding should complete and return the attached Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9, certifying that such shareholder (or other payee) is a United States person, that the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) provided is correct, and that such shareholder (or other payee) is not subject to backup withholding.

Certain shareholders and other payees (including, among others, corporations, non-resident foreign individuals and foreign entities) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. Exempt United States persons should indicate their exempt status on IRS Form W-9. The IRS Form W-9 is set forth below in this Letter of Transmittal or may be downloaded from the IRS website at the following address: www.irs.gov. Failure to complete the IRS Form W-9, by itself, will not cause Ordinary Shares to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the U.S. Tender Agent to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made of the Offer Price pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

Tendering shareholders (or other payees) should consult their tax advisors as to any qualification for exemption from backup withholding, and the procedure for obtaining the exemption.

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE IRS FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF A PORTION OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE U.S. OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE “IMPORTANT U.S. TAX INFORMATION” SECTION BELOW.

10. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Share Certificates. In the event that any Share Certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the holder’s delivery of an affidavit of loss to the U.S. Tender Agent (and, if required by the Offeror or the U.S. Tender Agent, the posting by such holder of a bond in customary amount and upon

 

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such terms as may be reasonably required by the Offeror or the U.S. Tender Agent as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it or the Company with respect to such Share Certificate), the Company shall cause the U.S. Tender Agent to deliver as consideration for the lost, stolen or destroyed Share Certificate the applicable right to receive the Offer Price from the Offeror payable in respect of the Ordinary Shares represented by such Share Certificate, without interest and less any applicable tax withholding. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, stolen or destroyed Share Certificates have been followed.

11. Determination of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Ordinary Shares will be determined by the Offeror, in the Offeror’s sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties, subject to the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares to challenge such determination with respect to their Ordinary Shares in a court of competent jurisdiction and any subsequent judgment of any such court. The Offeror reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by the Offeror not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of which may, in the Offeror’s opinion, be unlawful. The Offeror also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Ordinary Shares of any particular shareholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other shareholders. No tender of Ordinary Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived to the Offeror’s satisfaction. None of the Offeror, the U.S. Tender Agent, or the U.S. Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give any notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

IMPORTANT U.S. TAX INFORMATION

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a shareholder (or other payee) whose tendered Ordinary Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the U.S. Tender Agent (as payer) with such shareholder’s (or other payee’s) properly certified TIN and certain other information on an IRS Form W-9 or otherwise establish a basis for exemption from backup withholding. If such shareholder (or other payee) is a U.S. individual, the TIN is such shareholder’s (or other payee’s) social security number. If the U.S. Tender Agent is not provided with the correct TIN in the required manner or the shareholder (or other payee) does not otherwise establish its exemption from backup withholding (as described below), payments that are made to such shareholder (or other payee) with respect to Ordinary Shares purchased pursuant to the U.S. Offer may be subject to backup withholding.

If backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on payments for Ordinary Shares made in the U.S. Offer applies, the U.S. Tender Agent is required to withhold 24% of any payments of the Offer Price made to the shareholder (or other payee). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained from the IRS provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Exempt Shareholders

Certain shareholders and other payees (including, among others, corporations, non-resident foreign individuals and foreign entities) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. An exempt shareholder (or other exempt payee) that is a United States person should indicate its exempt status on IRS Form W-9 set forth below, in accordance with the instructions thereto. The appropriate IRS Form may be downloaded from the IRS’s website at the following address: www.irs.gov.

Please consult your tax advisor for further guidance regarding the completion of the IRS Form W-9, to claim exemption from backup withholding. Failure to complete the IRS Form W-9 will not, by itself, cause Ordinary Shares to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the U.S. Tender Agent to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments of the Offer Price pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

 

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LOGO

-cn, W-9 Request for Taxpayer e^f™^ .1 â– â– <;,â– w» ™in I dentine atlon N u mt>e r and Certification requester, do not DnDtt-tmar rt Bi Ikiv send to the IRS. mardr»hil»3oyii» â–º Go it m*w..’.r5ooi,.F?,7rW; ‘of Instructions and th-= latest Information. 1 MaTa fat n=*r an yoLf ncama™ ttLirVi hama sraqjrec on Itit wrx do ret kuva:is l^bar. 2 BjshectranivdlsrKardK erUlynamo. idro-oil rtor jbcva ^ 3 Quick npprDpfljt& box ly federal ~jh clasfitltajlori ol #w psnon itm4 noma Is ortored ori lint 1. Ctiack onkj in dc Uib I Ejxmptcns itDDEe Jppiy only w 3> IHtinmg sgwan bflnm. csrt*i amttaLrct krihfciiiai:™ a. hrtuclknDn pagg^L o IZ1 hclwiuDl’iota propialDr or IZ1 C Gwpontibn O 5 ConorxKTi O Pnmeratilp    O TnjBYaalab j “ *gtma*»HC Siamcr piysa c:-ii|f mr/i ^fl D UnMud Iflblny ™n»”¥. BitartubEdMallcaltfi p-Ccanxrtlan, 3-E onpyrBttTL P-rtrnmnnj t_ â–¡ E Nofec Chock Via iconifJldfl bQ£ ki Via Im DboB Ibrlia â– vlc-tajBtkBllon of Via Dhf^fl-nrnibv dwtw. did net Dtiack LSranptfcm hum FATUrecorlhG ^ “K LUC If mo LLC to ofaisIM bi b^iiHJa- LLC K fa .-UM-pOml tan ttumru irtaM Ut» owner of lha LLC a rrrtim„Ui t= -B sio4hvLljCLtidliiHto1vs9HTlad’tiMii1ha<mnarlorU^. laefcrti tnv pu-pran. othamba. * ttigto-maniLia’LLC Hid a™ln”‘K- _ ~ C dtVEOJVDGC frOT”    OVffWf 5t^OUkJ Cl~4Ck    aDOfOOTlJte DDK fctf LtW tUX OIHaflOJftOfl 3l Hi DWTlQT. E â–¡ Dinar pan mmjaanH t.__ pn^KriBi*MM***tf<i**Mt*uz Jo1 5- ^Mvc jiLrbflf diHL and uL sjIg pc.iSm r^-LDbons. FcqLadcf s lareand aacfrGGi iipHDna.1- s__ 5 City, stab n .’P :ode 7 l^noountiunDO^IUBkiplkni’i |^||    Taxpayer Identification Nurnbar (TIN) Enter your TIN In ma appfooilaite bo*. Tha TIN provided must match the name pwn or Ire” 1o avow I HapmanMity mar becKup wrtrfiddrig. Par Individuals, tf Is Is generally your social security number (S5W). However, for a I I I I I I I I I I I resldEnt alen. soIe proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the IretruclorrJlor Pari I, later. For olter — entitles. M la jolt employer IdEnllrlcallon number |EIM). 11 yrxi to not have a number, see Hew to oers- I I I I I I I I I I I TDM later. or Hots: if tre accouTt b In more man ona nama. sea me Instructions rrx line l. Also sea WiaC Name and I apmiarwuBi—m ratar number To Svb trie naqusster Tor gUdelries on wtnee lumber tD titer. Ug||    Cert ifi cation -n-:er :eri: ?; C p^r.rj-. i^rtA1 that 1. The nunbaf shown on this Torm l&myoorTecttaxpayef IrJentrncatlon nunosf (or I am witting Tor a number to ba Isaued to mej and 2.1 am ret aiUJecl to bacKus *ttrrcWriq because: (a) I am axampt Irbrn bachup rtlrhcidlng, of (bj I haua not been notrrled by the Internal Fievenue Sunlce D RS} 1rat I am auaject to bactup irtlrriciMlrg asa rasilt Dl a taJlu? 1d report al Interesl or dvldErris, or (cj the IRS nas ncHfled me mat I am no longer subject 1o tjachiup Hlthholdlng; and a. I am a u S. crtlian of other U 3. person (denned betow); and A. Tha MTCA codecs) Entered onltfelurm Dfarry) rdcadnpmat I am eotBmpt rram FATCAreportlrg la correcL CerHcatlDn InSiDctlBCi. You must cross out nam 2 above tl ycu have been nettled by He IPS that you are currently subject 1c- backup Mtntictdrig beoausa you tais railed to repcrl all rlEiesI and SvHerrfs cn your 1as relLm. For reel estala transajctkjna, Iten i ooes nol apply. For mortgage intErest paB, soqiisltlon or a^andcnTert or secured property. rancellaitlGn of dEtr, contributions 1c an hutvUual reHrernert arraraererr. pRA), and genemlly, ps?ne1s other ttiaii Interest and dhMands, you are not reqJred to sign the carttncatJon, bul yyou muat provide ycircaTBCtTIN. 3ea1t*lnsniJctJonsTorPHrtll, later. Slgratire ^l G© tl S YcA 111 StrUCt i O tl S * fom’1 oe*“av (dlinoenos, Ircrudhg those ItDrr slochs or mutual funds} Sffitlcn references are toine Internal ReveruECoda unlaaa otharmsa    . Rim lOi^sc f^arkiuB 1yp« of iTcorra. prtes. awards or oroaa Ttted- proceeds) Future fJBvetfmertB. For the latest irlbfTTLalton ataut derelopmarta , Fom] 1fleo^g fcjocn „- mutual Tural sates and cerMn Dinar relsled to =orra W-9 and Its Instructions, such ss- legsls.ttcn Enacted trareactlore by troHers’i aftBf mey were puMshed, go to WHW.n3.sot-tFormwa. _ ._ . _^ ^_ ‘ Form 1D6*-S Iproceeds rrora real estate Iranaactbrisi Purpose Of Form •Farm 10e*-KrmBrctiartrarrJ and mild partj nelworK transactions) rcl’nldjs -j emity.TcT    reqjss:sq *h: s Tequred :oflle an * Forni 1DS8nhoma mortgage IntereslJ, 1(sUjdant loan Interest), Irrrormatlm rEtun wtm Che IRS must obtain yxr correct taxpaysr n»a-T (kjiuont Idenuncatlon number fjlrifj Hrlcri may be your social seculrjf rumfcer < Form 1 DS*-C OcancelEd dadfi (SSN). IndMflual raspay^ dentrTcanon nuiiberimUfj. adoptlm racau^Taoandonmert^secured Dfooertvl 1at03ai|wUe7rtrncallonntniti^(ATi 1 Lw^fl (acquisruijn or aoanaonrnenr or aecLrea pfaoenyj (EIM}, to repcrt m an Irf brmaDon return the amount patd 10 you, or other Use Form W-9 inly n you are a U.S. peraon prdurJnB a rasldarr. amount leportable on an Information return. Examples of InfcrrnatlDn alien), to prouHe your HiTBCt TIN. rBtiTB hdude, bu: are not limned to, therollDwlng. ffycti db not rEfim Fomv w-S to mens|uastarw»f a TiN, ym srttgtt • Form 11BS-INTnnterBst earned orpatl) desubfect to tjactvp’ivtPtfd&nQ- Sob Wiet la bechup withholding, Her. CaL Ha. 1 DBB -omW-B |Hw. 1CL2Div

 

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KnnYV.-a pea. 10-h11bj 3y sibling ttieflled-oul form, you 1. Certify that Una TIN you ara grving Is correct |dt you ore uniting tor a number to be Issued]i 2. :eT“y Tia: you ne rotsjb.?” t- bac-^p Mtitadno. oa. Claim exemption Itom backup rttrticldng If you are a US. exampl payee. IT appllaatxe, you ara also cert(tying mat as a U.S parson, your aloceble share of any partnershf) Income Ircm a U.S. trade or business It not subject 1o the itfthholdng tax on foreign pertners’ share of effectively connected ncome, and 4. Certify trial FATCA codecs) entered on tris term (It any) ndfcatJnp, lhatycu areexempl from Ihe FATCA reporting, la correct See IWiatis FATCA raparUngi later, rcrfurthar InttHmaHon. HaHe: If you ore a U.S. person art a requester ghes you a form ottier than Form W-» to request jour TIN, you must use trie requester’s rami II It la substarrtlalry amiler tottls Form W-i. Definition ol h U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you am consxlared a U.S. person If you are: • An todrvldual who la a U.S. dfem or U.S. resident abo. • ^ partners rip, corporation, company, or association created or organized In tha Urlted Stater or under trie lews Dl the United States; • An estate puttier than a foreign estate); or • A domes-lie tAJSt ;as defried In RsgUatkms section aol.TTCt-Ty. Special rules tor paitnershtos Partnershps that conduct a trade or rjuahestrtlielMted Statea are generally req Jred to pay a wttiholc ng tan uxler section 1446 en any foreign partners.’ stare of stfecttuely â– roirectedlaxabe Irccns tr:n su;t zushsss. Put?” h ceraln cases wnere a Form W-9 has net been received, the ruea under section 1446 reqUrea partnership In presume mat a partner Is a foreloji person, and pay the section 1446 vrftrfioldng tax. Therefore, If you ara a U.S. person thatta pertnern a partnership conducting a trade or business n the United States, provide Form W-B to the partnersrlp to Eatabllsn yrjur U.S. status and avoid secdon 1446 withholding on your share of rjatnersnplrcome. n the cases bebw. therclloirtng person muat give Fcrm W-J to the partnersrlp for purposes d estaollsning Its U.S. status and avoiding irttrucking en Its allocable share or nel Income from the partnership ccndjctrig a trade or busness In the United States, • In the case of a Disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity; • In the case of a ojantnr trust with a U.S. grantee or ottier U 3. owner, generally, trie U.S. grartor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust are! not the trust arc • In the case of a U.S. mist (truer than a grantor tuafjt the U.S. Oust (ether than a grantor trust) and not the tjenflldarlBS of the trust Foreign person. If you ara a foreign parson or He U 3. 0011011 of a foreign tar* that has elected to be treated as a U.S. parson, do not use Form YY-*. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-a or Fcrm B233 (Sea Pun. 616, Yvtthholdng of Tax on NcnresKJenl Aliens and Foreign Emmas). Nonresident alien nHo becomes a resident alen. Generally, only a nonresldert alien ndrridual may use the terms of a tax treatylo reduce or Eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of ncome. However, most tax treatJaa contain a prevision Known as a “aavtig clause.” Exceprjcrrs speoltled In the saving clause may perm an exemption from tax to continue tor certain types of Income even after the payee has otherwise become aU.S. rasxlert alien tor lew purposes. If you are a U.S. resldert alien who Is relying on an exception contained In the sawing clause of a toe Treaty id clam aneKemptlor from U.S. tax on certain types of Income, you must attach a statement to Form W-6 that specifies the (allowing true Items. 1. Tna treaty courtry. Generally, Ihls must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from rex as a nonresident alen. 2. Tte featy article addressing Ihe Income. a. The article number (or loGanon) In the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and rbexcsprJona. a. The type and amount of Income that quallflas lor the exemption trcn :ax. 5. Suftlolenl facts, to Jusnry the axempnon from tax under the terms of ths treaty article. Bramp*. Article 20 of tha U.S.-CMna hcome tax treaty allows an exmptlin Ircm tax tor scholarship Income recetved by a Chinese student temporarily present In the United States. Urxler U.S. law, tt s student wll tjeoome a resMert alien for tax punocses If Ms or her stay n the United Stales exceeds 5- calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of :re nrs1 =T)to:o to Tie „.1.-Ct na Teat,1 ^date: Apll 1-1    a o*s the provisions cf Article 20 ta carOnija to apply ewan after the Cflnese student becomes anBldenl alien of the Unfiled States. A Crtneae student mo quaWles tor trte excepocn |under paragraph 2 of the nrat protocol} arxl Is retytig on this ewiptiontD claim an sxierrpoon from tax on his or her schoterstlp or fellows rip Irxxjme would attach to Form W-9 a statement that Includes the Information described above to support that exemption. 11 you btb a nonresident alien or a foreign ertrry, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form SSii. Backup Withholding What Is backup wttriKHdng? Persons making certain paymerta to you must urxler certain conditions withhold and pay 1o the IRS 24St cf such payments. This Is called â–‘bacKupwItttirjIdlrig.” Payments that may be subject to OacKup withholding Include Interest, tax-exempt Interest dlvxlends, broKerarxl berter exchangetransacttjns, rents, royalties, noneniployee pay, payments made In ssttlarnent of payment card and third party networti Iransactlona, and certain paymerta from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions ara net aubject to backup withheld ng. You wll nol be subject Id bachup wtthhoxllng on paymerta you receriva ff you grve tha requester your correct Til make the proper certfflcaroona, and report all your taxaixa Irterest and dividends or your :ai â– etLTi. Payments you raoehe will be subject la backup wthhold Ing It 1. You do not hrrteh your TIN to the requester, 2. You do not certtry your TIN when reqUred (see Ihe Instructions for Part II for details), a. The IPS tells the requester that you furnished an Incorrect TIN, 4. The IPS tells you that you are subject 10 backup wtthhoxllng becauaa you did rat report all your Interest and drvlderxls on your tax return (for reportable Interest and rJYldendsorly), or 6. You do not certtry tDlha requester that you ara rxit subject to backup wlrhholdng urxler 4 above (tor reportable Irterest arxl dividend accounts opened after 1963 amy). Certan payees and payments are exempt from backup wrtrticldng. See Bremer p^ee code, laler, arxl the separata Instructions rorthe F:eques1erof Form W-* tor mora Information Also sea Specs; rues rbr pajfrierstifoq ealler. What is FATCA Reporting? Tha Foreign Accourt Tax Compliant Act (FATCA) reqUres a participating Icxelgn nnandal InstrtuOcn to mocrt all United Stales account hoUera thai are apecrned Untted States persons. Certan payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See SwrxKlon Iron? FATCA reporting coda, later, and the nstructJons for the Requester of Fcrm W-fl for mora Irionnatbn. Updating Your Information You must provide updated rircrmatlon to any person to whom you clahied to be an exempt payee If you ara no longer an exempt payee and anticipate recalling reportable payments n the future from this perecn. Rx exampls, you may need to provide uxxlated nformatlon If you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporatkin, or If you no longer are tot exempt lnaddltJcn,you must lUmisri a naw Form W-a ir the name or TIN changes Tor the account; for example, If the rjantcf ol e grantor trust ties. Penalties F si lure to fu ml all TIN. If you tall to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penerry ol S501or each suet tallura urlEss your failure Is due to reascnabla cause and not to willful neglect. Chi penalty for false tolDrrnottan wltn respect to wtrihckHng. fyot make a false slatementirtth no reasoneHe basis that results ii no backup with hold ng, you are subject to a $600 penally.

 

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KnnYV-a pw. 10-m1bj Criminal penalty Tar falsifying Infarmadaii. Wllfulytalanylng certMcatJons or airminflona may subtest y:u to criminal peialt es nclLdlrg *nes s.-i-or t ins-inTe*””. MlauBe of TIHb. If ire requester discloses or uses TlNa In vitiation of lederal law, me requester may be subject tDclul and criminal penalties. Specific Instructions Una 1 You must enter ona rrf one fallowing on this lhe;do not leave this line blank. Tha name shoUd match trie name an your tax return. It trta Fnrm W-a Is-for a|clrt account (ottier than an acoouit maintained Qy a foreign financial Institution (r-Firj. IBt Tlrat and men clrle, me nartie or tine person or entity whose number you entered In Part I of Form W-e. 1 vim bib pnMdkig Form W-a to an IFFI to document a Joint account. Each holder of the account that ra a U.S. person rnus: provide a Form W-9. a. IndhHual.QanerBUy, enter the name shown on your 1a rerun. IJ you haw changed your last name without hrormlng the Social Security Aarnlrtstration (SSA) of tiie name change, enter you flrat name, the last name aa shown on you- social security card, and your new last name. Hate: [TIN appfcant Enter your Indnldual name aa ft was entered on your Farm W-7 application, line la. Thlg shcud also tie the same aa me name you entered on the Form 1040/1 D4CW104QEZ you filed wth yoir application. b. Sole proprietor or slnglrMiieniDHT LLC. Enter your Indlvtoual name aa shown on your 1040/1D4DA/1040EZ cn line 1. You may enter your bustiess, trade, or idofig business as” rpBAJ name on ne 2. c. Parmershlp, LLCtnal fciHM a saigta-memaer LLC, C corpnrartton, or S corporanMi. Enter the entity a name as shown on tha ertttyslm retun on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on Ina 2. d. Diner entities. Enter your name aa shown on required J.S. lederal -.3* cocments o “i I “is Ti^ nsns sh;Ld natM ns “ii“e ;-«” o- :te charter or other legal document oreatng the entity. You may enter any bustiess, trade, or DBA name an line 2. e. Dteregarded errttty. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that rs disregarded as an entity separate from Its owner Is Healed aa a ‘dsregarded entity.’ See HegUationa section 3U1.77i(H-2ft(3](jrj. Enter Via owners name an ne 1. Tne name of tie entity ertarsd on line 1 should neverbe a disregarded entry. The name online l should be the name shown on tha Income Tax return on which the Income should Oe reported. Forexample, If a foreign LLC mal Is treated sa a asregardarJ arioty for U.S. federal tax purposes has a angle owner Bui Is a U.S. person, tw U.S. owner’s name lsreqJredtDbeproirkladcnlhe1.tr tha drect ownar ofthe ertlty Is also a rJsr egarded entity, enter tha tlrat Conner that Is, not disregarded Tor lederal tax purpoaaa. Enter tne disregarded ertltysnameon llnei, “Business namerdlsregardBd entity name.” If the owner or tne disregarded ertlty la a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form VI-6 Instead of a Form W-9. Thb b the case even If the foreign person has a U.S. TIN. Line 2 If you have a business name, trade name, DBA nama, or disregarded entry name, you may enter ft on Ina 2. LineS Chech the appropriate cox on Ine 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification ol the person wnose name Is entered on line 1. Chech only one box on IHea. IF trie erntry.’pefson on line 1 te THEN check tie dok lof. .. °PI__ • DorporarJon CorpDratkin • Individual ircMduaJ^epcpdetor ors-nrJe- • Sole rJoorietorsHp, or member LLC • Single-member United lability company |LLC) owned by an IndMdual and disregarded for U.S. federal taj purposes. • UjClrBerrBdBaaparrnerarlpror umlted llatlirty company ard enter U.SLlWaralta purposes, trie appropriate tan .aa^callon. • LLC mat naa filed Form BSai or P- PartnemritJC C_ c oapmfbon; £5catDlMta*rtafflarjorporaloii, or S- S Daporanoni or < LLC mat Is disregarded asan entity separate from Its owner but the owner la another LLC that Is not disregarded for U.S. federal tax pLrpoaas. • PartneratUp PaTierst p • TTisWeetHtB TrusVEs:al? Line 4t Exemptions 11 you ere exempt from backup wtfiholdng and/or FATCA reporting, enter In die appropriatespace online 4any ccdefsj tna: may epply Id yoL. Exempt payee code. • Generaly, Individuals preluding scle proprtatora) are not exempt rrom bach up wimholclncj. ‘ Except as prodded below, corporations are exempt from bachup wtthhcldng for certain payments, Including Interest and dividends. < Corporations are not exempt from backup WlthcMIng for paymenta made n setilemert or payment card or third party network tranaactlona. â– Carporallona are not exempt from backup Wthhcldlng with respect to arnnrneys’ lees or gross proceeds paH to attorneys, and corpcraBona thai provide medical or health care services are net exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 109S-MI5C. fo cwrg co;ss Idsnliry i^yess :M1 i’e sjeTp: Itot Di-;kL: w-hhcldhg. Enter the appropriate code In tha space ti Ine 4. 1 —An ornandatlon exempt from tax under section 5D1 |aj, any IRA, or a cuslodal account urvler section 403|tfjf7;i n the account sat i’es t-i req Jrements of secdon 4Q1 (rj|3J 2—The Unrted States or any of Its agencies or Insburnentalttles 3—A state, one Dstricl of Columbia, a U.S. commorTweath or possession, or any of their pcllticel suboTvlslona or Inamxnentaltiaa 4-Ardrelgri government or any of rta political auSdlrtsloriE. agencies, or rnsrrumertaltrles E—AcorporalJan 6—A dealer In aecuntlea or commodtiea required to register In the Urtted Stales, the Dtetflct of Columbia, or a U.S. commoriwaalth or pessesalon 7—A ruljras commfeakm merchant registered Wth the Ccmmadty FLUrss Trading D:nnsi:n a—A real eatale Investment trusl e—An entry registered at al times dulng me tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940 10—A common trust fund operated by a bant anOer section SMfarj 11-ft financial Institution 12—A mUdtoman known n the mveatment community as a mntiea or custodian 12—A trust exempt from tax under section 684 or described n section 4447

 

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Fcm vk-o i^sv ic sate} ~te fol z*lr-g chan shows traes of payment thai may be Exempt man bsckjp wtthhoHlng. The chart applies 1o thE-ewernpl payees Hated afcove, 1 through 13. IF the parymenl fcsfor.THEN :he payment Is exempt Tot.... ntenesl and dN-dend paymerts    All sxeT payees except Tdf T Bioker transections Exempt payees 1 rjirrjugti 4 and 6 Tfnougri 11 and all c HiporBtiona. 5 c-:rp-:ra:t:ns mjs: rot e nsr an exempt payee coda because they are exempt orty for sales of rcrcrwered secultles acquired prior to 2012. Garter exchange IrarsacBons ard Exenpt payees 1 Ihrrxjgri 4 patronage dliWends Paymerts over lew required to be Generally, exam” payees reported and rJrecl sales over    1 mroughG* J6.0CO’ Paymanrta made n seHerent C Exempt :iyees 1 IhrrxjgjM paryment card Drttlrd party natwcrt bansactJons Sea Pom i Q9S-HSC, Miscellaneous Inccme, and lb Inamcflons. i However, the laio^ng payments made To a corporation and reporatue or =oti i Li&i-MISC are rot exeTpt Itot i^cKl: wtlttiddlng: medical arri heelth oare payments, attorneys’ lees, groaa proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section fiosSfl), and payments far services peld by a federal executive agency. Ezenpaan from fatca lepamng code. Tne following codes Identity peyees trot ane exempt Iron neportfig under FATCA These cedes apply to persons, rjbmtttlno ttlsrorm Per account maintained :utslde of the United States by certain foreign financial Institutions. Therefore, If you are only submitting mis form Tor an account you hold ti the United States, you may leave this Hew HarK Consult with the person requesting, tris form ir you are uncertain IT the financial Institution la surged to these raquremarts. A requester may Indicate that a rode la nal’reqLlre; oy otov ^r>3 o:u o:h a -on W-lirr t-:: Apo caoe’ (or any slmlar Indication) widen or printed on the ne For a FATCA exemption code. A-ATiagariizallcHi exempt from tax under section -;si.;a: or am IndlvlrJjel redrement plan as daflnad n section 77Di(Brj(a75 B—The United Stales or any of Its agencies or Ireiiurnerrtalttles C-Astate, tha District of Columbia, a ULS. conrnrnwealth or possession, or any of their pcimcal subdh/lslona or Inatrumentaltiea D— A corporation the stock ol whfchlsregLlerry traded on one or more established securttles markets, as described In Regulations section 1.1472-1fc))iyn, E—A corporation that la a member of tha same expanded afflleted grcupas acorporation described h Regulations section l. 147s-1:c;f1|(l| F—A dealar In securttles, commadrbaa, or dsHtvottuefriEnclBl Instruments fjncludlng notional prlncfKl contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that Is regjstered as such under the lews of the JrMed Slates or any state G—A real estate Investment 1rust H-AregJaled Investment company aa defined In section SS1 or an enU1y redstered el all trues during 1he true year under the Investment Comply A;t:‘1W I —A common trust fund as defined In section 684(a) J — A bar*: as defined In section 561 K-A broker L—A trust exempt from tax under section 6S4 cr described In section *w*OT M-A tax exempt trusl under a section J03fb) plan or section 457(g) plan Note: vou may wish bo conautt with the nnanclal Institution requesting this form to detsrmiTa whether the FATCA code andrtr exampt payee code should be completed. Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or SLlte mmber). TMs Is where the requester of this Form W-a wll mal your nformaUm returns If misaddress differs 1rom the one the requester already has or (lie, witte NEW at tha top. fl anew address Is provided, there la sDII a chance the old addresa will oa used until He payor changes your address In mar records. Line 6 Enter your city, scats, and ZIP code. Parti. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Ehtef your TIN hi the appropriate box. If you are a resttent alien and you da not revs end are not eligible tb get an SSN, your TIM b your IRS Individual taxpayer Identtncanon number fTTINj. Erter It In the social security number box. If you da not have an FIN, sae How to gaf a TIN below. If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter eltner yrjurSStlorEIN. If you area alngla-member Lie that la flsregarded as an entity separate Horn Its owner, enter the owners SSN |or EIN. If the owner ras one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC Is classified as a corporation or partnerstlp, erter the ertltys EIN. Note: See What Atone and ftumtter Tb GWe trie ABOUBater, later, for further darttlcabcn of name and TIN ctOTblnallona. Now to get a TIN. If you do not hove a TIN, apply for one Immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, AppHcaHcn for aSocMSecurly Card, from your local SSAomdeor gat trts form mine at mw.SSyfl.gov. Vou may also get dils forni by calling 1-800-772-121-1. Lisa Form W-7r Application for IPS Individual Taxpayer dentlf leaner Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form S3-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an 5 N. Vou can apply lor an EIN online by accessing me IRS website al wwvv.Jra.g^BusJnesses and clicking on Employer Idertrflcattm Number |EIN) under Starting a Euslross. Go tomw.Jrig™Rir7rElo view, download, or prin Form W-7 BfHVor Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.ts.gavKinSaRms1n place an order and have Form W-7 and/or SS-4 maladto you within 10 business days. If you btb asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply bra TIN and wnte ‘Applied For n the space for ma TIN, sign and date He form, and gtva It to the requester. For Irtanaat and dtvUand payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable Irstrjmenls. generalry you will nava 60 days to gat a TIN and give It to the requester before you are subject to baokua wIDnholdng on payments. The So-day rule drjes not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup wfrhhokllng on all such payments until you provide your TIN to me requester. Note: EnteringJ Appled For mearta that you have already appled for a TIN or tfat you Intend to apply for one soon. Carton: A flsregarded U.S. ertlty that has a foreign owner must Lse the approprtalH Form W-S. Part II. Certification To establish 1o the wfttiholdng agent biat you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-a. You mayberequeatEdto sign by the wtmholflng agent even If Item 1, 4, rx 5 below ndtatss othervdse. ForaJoH aosount, onlyms peraon whose TIN Is shown In Parti shodd sign (when requlrerJi. In tie case :Ja dlsregi-ded entity, the person tdantnied on lie 1 muatalgn. Exempt payees, see QHcptpaye? code, Earner. StgriatuTB requkwnerrta. CornplelB the cerUllcatkjn as Indicated In lte”“s “ t Tc-^g- ; hi™’

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


LOGO

KnnYV.-a pea. 10-M1B) 1. Interest, dNtrJend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker account* considered active durtng 1983. You mist give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign he certjflcatjon. 2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1963 and broker accounts, considers in act r.e during 1983L Ycu must sign the certification or backup wtm-c : rv: will apply, tf you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing you- correct TM to the requester, you must cross cut Item 2 In ms certlncatlon tetore ^tgrtng tre form. 3. Real estate toartsacttons. You must sign Die certfflcallori Ydu may cross out Item 2 of 1tie certification. *. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not nave to sign trie certification urieas you have been nodlled ttiat you nave previously given an Incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made In the course cf the requesters trade or business for -e-its    :iss. goods loiter man bills tor mercriand se), tk caJ and hearth osre sendees (Indudiig payments to corporations!., paymenls to a nonernptoyes for sarvtcas, payments mads In sstHament of paryment card and trlrd party network transactions, caymans to certHln flsHdng boat crew members and Itshermea and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (Inducing payments to corporatlonaj. 5. Mortgage Interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancelation or debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts [under section 529A), IRA. Coverdell esa, Archer hsa or hsa contJlbutkHB or distributions, and pension distributions. Yoj msl gke your correct TIN. but you do not have tD sign 1ns cartlflcittn. Par mis type ol account 14. Annul wai In Doportriont ot Aorlculbjic l“i One rams ot a pubtk priori poynwVi “j. Si-lof Ir.t:* ~t u-d;rlh& =cnr 1041 mgMKtec orIIhOpBn-Ql Farm 1D» F»ig WcOhkI ; jut flsgubttinEKciHi i.Fri-4jtj^vjyarj Give name and EIN of: ThspUflk: BfMlty 1 Lts-1 drst and crcte the name cf tie person wfnse number you Urrlsn. If only one person on ajdnt account has an 3SN, trait person’s number must be lurrtshBd. 1 Circle the minors name and rUmlsh the mrior’s SSN. 1 You must ahow your Individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on tie “Business nam&c sreganed entity” name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN [If you have one^ but the IRS encouraoes you to use your SSN. ‘ List drst snd encie tie name of tne trust, estate, or pension mist (Do not furnish te TIN or tie personal representative or trustee mess tie legal entity Itself Is net designated n the account Abe.) Also see .Specter rules Ibrparrnarsntjs, earlier. 1Mb: The grantor also muat provide a BDrm W-9 to trustee of trust Note: If no name Is circled whan mora than one name Is Isied, the nunber wtl be considered tc be that of 1he drat name Isted. What Name and Number To Ghre the R&quester Secure Your Ta]t Rewrds From |dentt1y Theft Fof this type of account: G Ive name and SEfl oft l.lndMduri Tf» LiotvUuDl £_ Twa cr mora hchwlinla p*h ThedctLHl onmor oTtho flonMTl or, If acDMtfi’TtirSf thiri jfi BQOOTit mm br-«scl pjrcb, tha M kndrrUml on rnaftTtnwdbyBi FF1 rh*«mrt1 4. TWO a ITHn U/L p«c4u Fjtrti rh-irtor rd ha nmr* rt (Joint ddg»jt1 iTiakrtSrfld by an FFTj J^CusbdU DOODuntDT â–¡ miner TT» mhcr1 lUrttrrm Gift to hnkurs Acq Dl â–¡. Tha usud rcwcaHa smmgn trust HwojimtIw-uT-bIiH1 -<cnrlor is is»:tstm^ h “ir ~iil~iirniit ir~‘irrl ttirrl i~ n~l TT>t orb Ail c-mt : l.^orJ : â– â– .: d    .-do-- “j-—. rw 6. Sob prjpftotmr-pof Aracpntod Tha-jMrior1 â– anbty ownod by or hdrvHiiaJ 7. Gnrtar oust ning undor Dptkmd    Tho-^nhD” Form 1 EM Ring Mathod 1 p« Ftor^Jrtcru moIcti 1 .flT1-4^^ WJ__ Fof this type of account: Give name and EIH tf: IZIsreo^rdod 4fittly rd cwmd by bji TTwonWinr rdrrrdua ft A nvnlc tnaL BslnJa. of parufcntutf L*agd BraV 10. Cc4porattn cr LLC daring nwcorpararJcin ocrporait 3±*±a on Farm -BB3£ or MB 11. Aleoc allori oIjd. ralpjtoLE. TTwonnriLLrior â– :JuMttn t+i, DdLESfecnDi, cr dVw tur.- ftvornpl rairiiirkri 12. Portnaririp cr murU-marnbar LLC    TT» palnanahip la Abnz^wr^sttf-Hdrcrrino*    Thai brokar cr ncmrwo Identity tiefl occurs when someone uses your persoraJ Intormaitlcn such as your name. SSN, or other Identifying Irvrrjrmall3n, without your permission, to commit mud or other crimes An Identity tier may use yo-r 5D :o oeta |o: â– :’ T^y “lea r;:Lrr jslrg >OLr 1o receive a refund. To reduce your rtsfc » Prated yc« SSN, • Ensure your employer Is fratsifrtg yaur SSN, and < Be careful wren choosing a La preparer. If ycurtax records are alTected by Identity tnaft and you receive a nodce from the IRS, respond right away to tne name am prone number printed on the RS notes or letter. 1 your tan records are net currently alfected by WentJry tiert but you trlrih you are at rlskdua boa lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact tie IRS Identity Theft HotJhe £11-60^906-4490 cr submit Form 14039. Formara Irrjorrnaton, see Pud. 6027, HanUty Theft Irlorrnatlonfor Taxpayers, vTctmsof Hentry theft iMto are eipenenclng eccnomlcharm or a systemic problem, or areseeKlng hep In resolving taa proHerie tjl have not been resolved through noma! channels, may be eligible tor “ajpiye’ Atthl3c=1eSErvt3E .TAS’i asslstice. Yol can reaci “AS by callng tie TAS ton-tree case ntaKellna Bt1-e77-777-t77eorTTY/TDO -I -buu-aje-4056. Protect yourself from auspicious emafc or pushing schemes. Flushing 19 tne creation snd use cf email and websites designed ta mime legtmate business emalla and websites. The most common act Issendhg an email tea user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise Inan attempt to scam the user Into surenJering private nformatcn that will be used for Hentrty theft

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


LOGO

Fom yv-fl f=av. 10.3315) The IRS does not inflate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, trio IRS does not request personal detailed hlcrnianon [trough email or ask taxpayers tor che PIN numbers., passwords, or similar secret access Information Tor flier erect cad, bank, or atnar financial accounts. ir you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be rrom the IRS, forward mfc massage 1d pftSfllngOfegof. You may also report misuse ofT? IF d r=T?. 10-30. or ~re- =IS :fo:*-’ t- :-e Trsisj’s’ lrs:e;tor General for Tax Almlrtstratlon (TIGTA) ait 1-eua-4G6-44S4. Yuu can forward auspicious emails 1d ma Federal Trade. Commission at spamOuDo.gDV dt report mem at www.nE.gor/txnnplstit You can contact Am FTC at wmr.tttLgavOaVstt or U77HDTHEFT [677-438-43381). If you tiaue-bean1ha ulctim c( Identityinert,aaemrw.aentxymaft.got and pub. &B3. vTstt wmv.Jrsgrw/lfaert1Ty7?isn 1n learn mora about Identity tnerft and now to reduce your itst Privacy Act Notice Section 4109 of the rrtemal Revenue Cede requires you 10 provide your correct TIN 1o persons [Including federal agencies} v*io are required to fie hfoimatlcn return irtth the IRS to report Merest, dividends, or certain other Income paid to you; mortgage Interest you paid; the Bcqulstflon or abandonment of secured property; me cancellation ol debt; or oonfllbuBons you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting 1nft Tarni uses flia Information on flie form to (lie imtxTTiaDon refljins with the IPS, reporting me above Irformaflon Routine uses ol tins Information Include Diving It to the Department ol Justice for dull am cilrnlneJ litigation and to cities, states, the District ol Columbia, and U.S. oommonweaHhs and possessions lor use h administering their laws. The hfoimaflon also may be rJsdcsed toother countries under a treaty, to federal and stele agencies to enforce civil and crliTlnal laws, or to federal law enforcement and Intelligence agencies 1o combal terrorism. You mus.1 provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return Under section 3406. payers muat generally withheld a percentage of taxabla Merest, dividend, and certain olner paymsnts to a payee wtn dees not give a UN 1d the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or traudiient IrncrmarJon.

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN


The U.S. Tender Agent for the U.S. Offer Is:

LOGO

 

If delivering by mail:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN
P.O. Box 43011
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3011
   If delivering by trackable mail,
including overnight delivery
or any other expedited service:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions; COY: EURN
150 Royall Street, Suite V
Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Delivery will only be deemed valid if delivered in accordance with the above instructions.

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone number and addresses set forth below. Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the U.S. Offer.

The Information Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free:

1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada:

+1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@georgeson.com

 

VOLUNTARY CORPORATE ACTIONS, COY: EURN

Exhibit (a)(1)(C)

OFFER TO PURCHASE

ALL OUTSTANDING ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY U.S. HOLDERS

OF

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

FOR

$12.66 PER SHARE IN CASH

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

BY

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV

 

THE U.S. OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 10:00 A.M., NEW YORK

CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024, UNLESS THE U.S. OFFER IS EXTENDED.

October 23, 2024

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees:

We have been engaged by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) to act as Information Agent (the “U.S. Information Agent”) in connection with the offer by the Offeror to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), beneficially owned by U.S. Holders (as that term is defined under instruction 2 to paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 14d-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (such holders collectively, “U.S. Holders” and each a “U.S. Holder”) for $12.66 per Share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated October 23, 2024 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Offer to Purchase”), and the related letter of transmittal (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Letter of Transmittal” which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitute the “U.S. Offer”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.

For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Ordinary Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, we are enclosing the following documents:

 

  1.

The Offer to Purchase;

 

  2.

The Letter of Transmittal (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-9);

 

  3.

A form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whom you hold Ordinary Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee;

 

  4.

The Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9; and

 

  5.

A return envelope addressed to you.

We urge you to contact your clients as promptly as possible. The U.S Offer will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, unless the U.S. Offer is extended (such date and time, as it may be extended, the “Expiration Date”).


The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. Therefore, your clients must allow sufficient time to tender their Ordinary Shares by the Expiration Date. Any tenders received by the U.S. Tender Agent after the Expiration Date will be disregarded and of no effect.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase. The procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the Expiration Date, or such earlier deadline as may be set by the U.S. Holder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that such Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the Expiration Date. If your client intends to accept the U.S. Offer and their Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, they should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. Holders of Ordinary Shares may reposition their Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting you or their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare Trust Company N.A., in its capacity as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent and registrar (the “Transfer Agent”). For further information on the repositioning process, please refer your clients to the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact Georgeson LLC, as information agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Information Agent”), at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address on set forth below.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52 per Share, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order. U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. If your client is a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares and wishes to participate in the Offers, it must participate in the Belgian Offer and may only rely on the disclosure in the Belgian Prospectus Supplement.

Payments made to U.S. Holders pursuant to the U.S. Offer generally will be subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding. To avoid backup withholding, U.S. Holders that do not otherwise establish an exemption should complete and return an IRS Form W-9 (or applicable substitute form) certifying that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code, the taxpayer identification number provided is correct and such holder is not subject to backup withholding. See The U.S. Offer — Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer —Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” of the Offer to Purchase for more information.

For Ordinary Shares to be properly tendered to the Offeror pursuant to the U.S. Offer, Computershare Trust Company N.A., in its capacity as the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”),

 

2


must be in timely receipt of (i) an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal or, in the case of Ordinary Shares held by your client at the Transfer Agent in DRS, the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and (ii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal or the U.S. Tender Agent, in each case prior to the Expiration Date.

The Offeror will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other person (other than to the U.S. Information Agent and the U.S. Tender Agent in connection with the U.S. Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees will, upon request, be reimbursed by the Offeror for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. See The U.S. Offer — Section 16. “Fees and Expenses” of the U.S. Offer to Purchase for more information. Tendering shareholders who are holders of record of their Ordinary Shares and who tender directly to the U.S. Tender Agent will not be obligated to pay transfer taxes on the purchase of Ordinary Shares by the Offeror pursuant to the U.S. Offer, except as otherwise provided in Section 6 of the Letter of Transmittal.

Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent at the address and telephone number listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the U.S. Offer may be obtained at no cost to holders of Ordinary Shares from the U.S. Information Agent. Copies of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and any other materials related to the U.S. Offer are also available free of charge at www.sec.gov.

Very truly yours,

GEORGESON LLC

Nothing contained herein or in the enclosed documents shall designate you, the U.S. Information Agent, the U.S. Tender Agent or any affiliate of any of them or authorize you or any other person to use any document or make any statement on behalf of any of them in connection with the U.S. Offer other than the enclosed documents and the statements contained therein.

 

3


The U.S. Information Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free:

1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada:

+1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@georgeson.com

Exhibit (a)(1)(D)

OFFER TO PURCHASE

ALL OUTSTANDING ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY U.S. HOLDERS

OF

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

FOR

$12.66 PER SHARE IN CASH

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

BY

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV

 

THE U.S. OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 10:00 A.M., NEW YORK

CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024, UNLESS THE U.S. OFFER IS EXTENDED.

October 23, 2024

To Our Clients:

Enclosed for your consideration are an offer to purchase, dated October 23, 2024 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Offer to Purchase”), and the related letter of transmittal (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Letter of Transmittal”) corresponding to the offer by Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) to purchase all outstanding ordinary shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”), beneficially owned by U.S. Holders (as that term is defined under instruction 2 to paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 14d-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (such holders collectively, “U.S. Holders” and each a “U.S. Holder”) for $12.66 per Share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal (which, together constitute the “U.S. Offer”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Offer to Purchase.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024 the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own in accordance with Belgian law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the

aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on

October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order. U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory

 


Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers.

WE ARE THE HOLDER OF RECORD (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) OF ORDINARY SHARES FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. A TENDER OF YOUR ORDINARY SHARES CAN BE MADE ONLY BY US OR OUR NOMINEES AS THE HOLDER OF RECORD AND PURSUANT TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER IS FURNISHED TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED BY YOU TO TENDER ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT.

We request instructions as to whether you wish to have us tender on your behalf any or all of the Ordinary Shares held by us for your account, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Letter of Transmittal.

Your attention is directed to the following:

 

  1.

The U.S. Offer commenced on October 23, 2024, and will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, unless the Offeror extends the U.S. Offer (such date and time, as it may be extended, the “Expiration Date”).

 

  2.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. If you are a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares and you wish to participate in the Offers, you must participate in the Belgian Offer and may only rely on the disclosure in the Belgian Prospectus.

 

  3.

The Offer is unconditional.

 

  4.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer — Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase. The procedure for repositioning from Euronext Brussels to the NYSE should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the Expiration Date, or such earlier deadline as may be set by your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that your Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the Expiration Date. If you intend to accept the U.S. Offer and your Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, you should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. You may reposition your Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare Trust Company N.A., in its capacity as the Company’s U.S. transfer agent and registrar (the “Transfer Agent”). For further information on the repositioning process, please consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact Georgeson LLC, as information agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Information Agent”), at 1-888-815-4069 or at the address on set forth below.

 

  5.

The Offeror will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other person (other than to the Georgeson LLC, the U.S. Information Agent and to Computershare Trust Company N.A. in its capacity as the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”), in connection with the U.S. Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will, upon request, be reimbursed by the Offeror for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. See The U.S. Offer — Section 16. “Fees and Expenses” of the U.S. Offer to Purchase for more information.

 

2


  6.

Payments made to U.S. Holders pursuant to the U.S. Offer generally will be subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding. To avoid backup withholding, U.S. Holders that do not otherwise establish an exemption should complete and return an IRS Form W-9 (or applicable substitute form) certifying that such holder is a U.S. person as defined under the Code, the taxpayer identification number provided is correct and such holder is not subject to backup withholding. See The U.S. Offer — Section 5. “Certain Income Tax Consequences of the U.S. Offer —Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” of the Offer to Purchase.

 

  7.

Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the Offer Price, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders.

 

  8.

Your Ordinary Shares can be tendered by us as your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee through DTC via an Agent’s Message upon your instructions. The Agent’s Message will be your confirmation that you accept the terms and conditions of the Letter of Transmittal.

 

  9.

If you hold Ordinary Shares in an account at the Transfer Agent in its direct registration system, you should complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal according to its instructions and physically deliver the original signed copy, together with any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the U.S. Tender Agent at the address appearing on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase. See The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Tendering Ordinary Shares” of the Offer to Purchase.

 

  10.

If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Ordinary Shares, please so instruct us by completing, executing, and returning to us the attached Instruction Form. An envelope to return your completed Instruction Form to us is enclosed. If you authorize us to tender of your Ordinary Shares, all such Ordinary Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the Instruction Form.

Your prompt action is requested. Your Instruction Form should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit the tender on your behalf before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

THE MATERIALS RELATING TO THE U.S. OFFER ARE BEING FORWARDED TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY US (OR OUR NOMINEE(S)) FOR YOUR ACCOUNT BUT NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME.

The U.S. Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the U.S. Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

Payment for Ordinary Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be made only after timely receipt of the required documents by the U.S. Tender Agent in accordance with the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer — Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Ordinary Shares” of the U.S. Offer to Purchase.

Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent at the address and telephone number listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the U.S. Offer may be obtained at no cost to holders of Ordinary Shares from the U.S. Information Agent. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the U.S. Offer. Copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the Offer are also available free of charge at www.sec.gov.

 

3


The U.S. Information Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free:

1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada:

+1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@georgeson.com

 


INSTRUCTION FORM WITH RESPECT TO

OFFER TO PURCHASE

ALL OUTSTANDING ORDINARY SHARES HELD BY U.S. HOLDERS

OF

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

FOR

$12.66 PER SHARE IN CASH

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

BY

COMPAGNIE MARITIME BELGE NV

The undersigned hereby instruct(s) you to tender the number of Ordinary Shares indicated below (and if no number is indicated, all Ordinary Shares) held by you for the account of the undersigned in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.

The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed materials referred to therein related to the U.S. Offer. The undersigned understand(s) and acknowledge(s) that all questions as to the form of documents and the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Ordinary Shares, including questions as to the proper completion or execution of any Letter of Transmittal, will be determined by the Offeror, in its sole discretion and that the Offeror reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in any tender of Ordinary Shares by any holder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders of Ordinary Shares.

Number of Ordinary Shares to be Tendered:

 

    SIGN HERE

                 Ordinary Shares*

   
    Signature(s)

Account Number:                

   
    Name(s)

Dated        , 2024

   
     
    Address(es)
     
    Area Code and Telephone Number

*   Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all

   

    Ordinary Shares held for the undersigned’s account are to be tendered.

     
    Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number

Exhibit (a)(1)(E)

 

This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Ordinary Shares (as defined below), and the provisions herein are subject in their entirety to the provisions of the U.S. Offer (as defined below). The U.S. Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase (as defined below), the Letter of Transmittal (as defined below) and any amendments or supplements thereto, and is being made to all U.S. Holders (as defined below) of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to holders of Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the U.S. Offer would not be in compliance with
the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where applicable laws or regulations require the U.S. Offer to be made by a licensed broker
or dealer, the U.S. Offer will be
deemed to be made on behalf of the Offeror (as defined below) by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

Notice of Offer to Purchase

All Outstanding Ordinary Shares Held by U.S. Holders

of

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV)

for

$12.66 Per Share In Cash

($18.95 per Share less distributions in the aggregate amount of $6.29)

by

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV, a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB” or the “Offeror”) is offering to purchase all outstanding shares, no par value (“Ordinary Shares” or the “Shares”), of CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV), a public limited liability company (“naamloze vennootschap”) under Belgian law (“CMB.TECH” or the “Company”) beneficially owned by U.S. holders (as that term is defined under instruction 2 to paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 14d-1 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (such holders collectively, “U.S. Holders” and each a “U.S. Holder”) for $12.66 per Share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by the Company to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling after the date of the Offer to Purchase dated October 23, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and before the Settlement Date (the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase and any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the “U.S. Offer”). All payments to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer will be rounded to the nearest whole cent.

 

THE U.S. OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 10:00 A.M., NEW YORK

CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024, UNLESS THE U.S. OFFER IS EXTENDED.

Concurrently with the U.S. Offer, the Offeror is reopening its offer in Belgium to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company from all holders (other than the Offeror and its affiliates), wherever located, for the same price and on substantially the same terms as the U.S. Offer (the “Belgian Offer” and together with the U.S. Offer, the “Offers”). On October 7, 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (the “FSMA”) ordered CMB to reopen its unconditional mandatory public takeover bid at an adjusted bid price which takes into account the increase of the reference price used in the original bid of $18.43 per share by $0.52, for all Ordinary Shares of the Company that CMB and its affiliates do not already own, in accordance with Belgian Law (the “FSMA Order”). The adjusted bid price also takes into account a decrease of $6.29 per Ordinary Share, the aggregate amount of distributions made by the Company since the initial announcement of the original bid on October 9, 2023. CMB is conducting the Offers at the Offer Price to comply with the FSMA Order.

The U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The U.S. Offer is not being made to non-U.S. Holders who beneficially own Ordinary Shares. Non-U.S. Holders may not rely on the disclosure in the Offer to Purchase or the Letter of Transmittal under any circumstances. If a non-U.S. Holder who beneficially owns Ordinary Shares wishes to participate in the Offers, such holder must participate in the Belgian Offer on the terms and conditions set forth in the Belgian Prospectus Supplement. U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares who tender their Ordinary Shares in the Belgian Offer will receive the equivalent price per Ordinary Share in Euros as holders who tender their Ordinary Shares in the U.S. Offer. The Offeror will pay the Offer Price in the U.S. Offer in U.S. Dollars.

The U.S. Offer commenced on October 23, 2024, and will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The term “Expiration Date” means November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the U.S. Offer is extended to a subsequent date in accordance with U.S. and Belgian law, in which case the term “Expiration Date” means the latest date to which the U.S. Offer is extended (the period of time from commencement of the U.S. Offer through 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the “Acceptance Period”). U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares tendering their Ordinary Shares during the Acceptance Period will have withdrawal rights during the Acceptance Period with respect to such tendered Ordinary Shares. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees may set an earlier deadline for communication by U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares in order to permit such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to communicate acceptances to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary and paying agent for the U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”) in a timely manner. Accordingly, U.S. Holders holding Ordinary Shares through a securities intermediary should comply with the dates communicated by such securities intermediary, as such dates may differ from the dates and times noted in the Offer to Purchase. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares are responsible for determining and complying with any applicable cut-off times and dates.

The Offeror is conducting the Offers solely to comply with the FSMA Order and is not required by Belgian law to provide for a mandatory subsequent offering period. Under Belgian law if, following the expiration of the Acceptance Period, the Offeror holds as a result of the Offers, at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, the Offeror may proceed with a squeeze out (the “Squeeze-Out”), organized as an additional offering period, during which shareholders would be able to tender Ordinary Shares not previously tendered into the Offers at the Offer Price. THE OFFEROR DOES NOT INTEND TO CONDUCT A SQUEEZE-OUT, EVEN IF AVAILABLE UNDER BELGIAN LAW.

If (i) as a result of the Offers, the Offeror and its affiliates hold at least 95% of the issued Ordinary Shares, and (ii) the Offeror does not launch a Squeeze-Out, then each shareholder may request the Offeror to purchase its Ordinary Shares, under the terms of the Offers, in accordance with Belgian law. U.S. Holders wishing to exercise this sell-out right must submit their request to the Offeror within three (3) months following the end of the Acceptance Period by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The Company’s Supervisory Board (the “Supervisory Board”) unanimously recommends that holders of Ordinary Shares reject the Offers and NOT tender their Ordinary Shares in the Offers. The Supervisory Board advises shareholders to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors and make such other investigations concerning the Offers, including obtaining a current market price for the Ordinary Shares, as they deem necessary in order to make an informed decision with respect to the Offers.

Descriptions of the reasons for the Supervisory Board’s recommendation are set forth in the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Schedule 14D-9”), which is being mailed to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares together with the U.S. Offer materials (including the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal). Shareholders should carefully read the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9, including the information set forth in Item 4 thereof under sub-heading (b) “Background and Reasons for the Supervisory Board’s Position.” Subject to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, the Offeror reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders that the Offeror determines are not in appropriate form or the acceptance for payment of, or payment for which may, in the opinion of the Offeror’s counsel, be unlawful. The Offeror also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Ordinary Shares of any particular shareholder whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of any other shareholder.

In the U.S. Offer, the U.S. Tender Agent will act as agent for the purpose of receiving payments from the Offeror for Ordinary Shares tendered by U.S. Holders. The U.S. Tender Agent will act as agent for tendering U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares for the purpose of receiving payments from the Offeror and transmitting payments to such holders. Unless the Offers are extended, the Offeror expects that holders will receive payment for Ordinary Shares that the Offeror accepts for payment within four (4) U.S. Business Days following the expiration of the Acceptance Period. Under no circumstances will the Offeror pay interest on the Offer Price for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders, regardless of any extension of the U.S. Offer or any delay in making payment for the Ordinary Shares held by U.S. Holders.

To accept the U.S. Offer, U.S. Holders whose Ordinary Shares are reflected on the Belgian Share Register and traded on Euronext Brussels and held in custody through Euroclear Belgium must first reposition their Ordinary Shares to the U.S. Share Register for trading on the NYSE and to be held in custody by DTC through the repositioning process described in The U.S. Offer—Section 8. “Certain Information About the Company” of the Offer to Purchase. The procedure for repositioning Ordinary Shares reflected on the Belgian Share Register onto the U.S. Share Register or vice versa should normally be completed within three trading days, but neither the Company nor the Offeror can guarantee the timing. The Offeror strongly recommends that a repositioning instruction be submitted no later than five business days prior to the last day of the Acceptance Period, or such earlier deadline as may be set by a U.S. Holder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to ensure that such Ordinary Shares are repositioned onto the U.S. Share Register prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period. If a U.S. Holder intends to accept the U.S. Offer and such U.S. Holder’s Ordinary Shares are not reflected on the U.S. Share Register, such U.S. Holder should begin the repositioning process as soon as possible. Holders of Ordinary Shares may reposition their Ordinary Shares from one share register to the other by contacting their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, who should in turn contact Euroclear Belgium (the Company’s Belgian transfer agent) or Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Company’s U.S. transfer agent). For further information on the repositioning process, shareholders should consult the instructions for repositioning on the Company’s website (cmb.tech) under the tab “Investors” or contact Georgeson LLC (the “U.S. Information Agent”) at the telephone number and addresses set forth below and on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase.

Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares desiring to tender all or any portion of the Ordinary Shares owned by such U.S. Holder can accept the U.S. Offer by (1) completing and signing the Letter of Transmittal (or a copy thereof, provided the signature is original) in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal and mail or deliver it and all other required documents to the U.S. Tender Agent, at the address on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase or (2) tendering such Ordinary Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in The U.S. Offer—Section 3. “Procedures for Accepting the U.S. Offer and Tendering Shares” of the Offer to Purchase. Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares whose Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if such U.S. Holder desires to tender its Ordinary Shares.

The U.S. Offer provides for withdrawal rights as required by U.S. securities laws. Therefore, U.S. Holders will be able to withdraw any tendered Ordinary Shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in The U.S. Offer—Section 4. “Withdrawal Rights” of the Offer to Purchase before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. After this time on the Expiration Date, withdrawal rights will be suspended and, subsequently upon the Offeror’s acceptance of tendered Ordinary Shares for payment, withdrawal rights will terminate. Therefore, U.S. Holders may not have an opportunity after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date to exercise withdrawal rights prior to their termination.

The information required to be disclosed by paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 14d-6 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Offeror has retained Georgeson LLC to act as the U.S. Information Agent and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to act as the U.S. Tender Agent in connection with the U.S. Offer. As part of the services included in such retention, the U.S. Information Agent may contact U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares by telephone, mail, electronic mail and other methods of electronic communication and may request brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees to forward the materials relating to the U.S. Offer to beneficial holders of Ordinary Shares.

Each holder of Ordinary Shares is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of tendering Ordinary Shares pursuant to the U.S. Offer.

THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. OFFER.

Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the U.S. Information Agent, at the telephone numbers and address set forth below and on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase. U.S. Holders may request copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials from the U.S. Information Agent at the telephone numbers and email address set forth below and on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase. U.S. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the U.S. Offer.

The Information Agent for the U.S. Offer is:

 

 

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, New York 10104

Shareholders, Banks and Brokers

Call Toll Free: 1 (888) 815-4069

Outside U.S. and Canada: +1 (781) 896-6948

Email: CMB.TECH@Georgeson.com

October 23, 2024

Exhibit (a)(5)(B)

 

LOGO

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ITS PUBLICATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

CMB NV launches the reopening of its public takeover bid and concurrent new U.S. offer on CMB.TECH NV

 

Antwerp, October 23, 2024, 7:30 a.m. – CMB NV (“CMB” or the “Bidder”) announced that the acceptance period of the reopening of its public takeover bid on all shares in CMB.TECH NV1 (“CMB.TECH” or the “Target”) not already owned by CMB or persons affiliated with it will open on October 23, 2024.

On October 7, 2024, the FSMA ordered CMB, in light of the Market Court ruling of September 6, 2024, to reopen its mandatory public takeover bid on all shares in CMB.TECH that expired on March 15, 2024 (the “Bid”) on the basis of a supplement to the prospectus dated February 13, 2024 (together with the New U.S. Offer (as defined below), the “Reopening”). The FSMA approved such supplement on October 22, 2024.

The acceptance period of the Reopening opens on October 23, 2024 and closes on November 21, 2024 at 4 p.m. (Belgian time) (10 a.m. New York City time) (the “Acceptance Period of the Reopening”). Shareholders are not obliged to participate in the Reopening. During the acceptance period, shareholders may choose to either tender, or to not tender, their shares to the Bidder.

The bid price of the Reopening amounts to USD 12.66 per share (the “Bid Price”), to be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by CMB.TECH to its shareholders with a payment date falling before the settlement date of the Reopening. The Bidder notes that on October 21, 2024, the most recent trading day before the approval of the supplement by the FSMA, the closing price of the Target’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) was USD 16.21 and therefore exceeds the Bid Price of USD 12.66 per share. The Bid Price consequently represents a discount of USD 3.55 (i.e. approximately 21.90%) as compared to the closing price of the Target’s share on the NYSE. Shareholders should therefore take into account that the Bid Price of the reopened Bid may be lower than the price against which shareholders can sell their shares on Euronext Brussels or the NYSE.

In a supplement to its response memorandum, CMB.TECH’s supervisory board unanimously recommends that shareholders do not tender their shares in the Reopening. More information relating to the recommendation of CMB.TECH’s supervisory board can be found in the press release by CMB.TECH of October 23, 2024.

The reopened Bid is made in accordance with applicable Belgian law and is addressed to all shareholders regardless of their location. Concurrently with the reopened Bid, CMB is making a new U.S. offer in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws (the “New U.S. Offer”), addressed to U.S. shareholders within the meaning of Rule 14d-1(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“U.S. Holders”).

 

1 

Formerly named Euronav NV and renamed CMB.TECH NV as of 1 October 2024.


Shareholders holding U.S. shares (i.e. shares formatted for trading on the NYSE and reflected on the U.S. component of CMB.TECH’s share register) who wish to tender their shares into the reopened Bid are required to first reposition such U.S. shares to Belgian shares (i.e. shares formatted for trading on Euronext Brussels and reflected on the Belgian component of CMB.TECH’s share register) and are therefore urged to contact their financial intermediary or custodian to ensure that such repositioning takes place prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening (see Acceptance and repositioning below).

Main features of the Reopening

 

Acceptance Period of the Reopening    From Wednesday October 23, 2024 to Thursday November 21, 2024 at 4 p.m. (Belgian time) (10 a.m. New York City time)
Bid Price   

USD 12.66 in cash per Share, i.e. USD 18.43 per share, increased by USD 0.52 in accordance with the order by the FSMA and decreased by USD 6.29, the aggregate amount of distributions made by CMB.TECH since the initial announcement of the Bid on October 9, 2023.

 

The Bid Price will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the gross amount of any distributions by CMB.TECH to its shareholders (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) with a payment date falling before the settlement date of the Reopening.

Announcement of the results of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening    The results of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening shall be announced within five (5) business days after the closing of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening. The announcement is currently scheduled for November 25, 2024.
Settlement date and payment   

The Bidder shall pay the Bid Price to shareholders who have validly tendered their shares during the Acceptance Period of the Reopening within ten (10) business days following the announcement of the results of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening. Payment of the Bid Price is currently scheduled for November 27, 2024.

 

Shareholders tendering Belgian shares in the reopened Bid will receive an equivalent amount of the Bid Price in euros calculated using the WM/Reuters spot exchange rate for euros per U.S. dollar at 5:00 p.m. CET on the date of the announcement of the results of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening.

(Supplement to the) prospectus, (supplement to the) response memorandum and acceptance forms   

The prospectus and the response memorandum to the Bid were approved by the FSMA on February 13, 2024. The supplement to the prospectus and the supplement to the response memorandum of the Reopening were approved by the FSMA on October 22, 2024. These approvals do not imply an assessment of the merits or the quality of the (reopened) Bid, nor of the position of CMB and/or CMB.TECH.

 

The supplement to the prospectus has been published in Belgium in Dutch, which is the official version, and forms an integral part of the prospectus.

 

The prospectus, the supplement to the prospectus and the acceptance forms of the Reopening may be obtained free of charge at the counters of KBC Bank NV, or by telephoning KBC Bank NV on +32 78 152 153 (KBC Live). The prospectus, the supplement to the prospectus and the acceptance forms of the reopening are also available on the following websites: CMB and KBC. The supplement to the response memorandum is attached to the supplement to the prospectus.


   An English and French translation of the supplement to the prospectus is made available in electronic form on the abovementioned websites. In case of any inconsistency between the English and/or French translation of the supplement to the prospectus on the one hand and the official Dutch version on the other hand, the Dutch version shall prevail. The Bidder has reviewed the respective versions and is responsible for the consistency between all versions.
Acceptance and repositioning   

CMB.TECH’s shares are listed for trading on both Euronext Brussels and the NYSE. The share register of CMB.TECH is divided into two components: one which is kept in electronic form by Euroclear in Belgium (the “Belgian Share Register”), and one which is kept by Computershare in the United States (the “U.S. Share Register”). “U.S. Shares” are shares in CMB.TECH that are reflected in the U.S. Share Register. “Belgian Shares” are shares in CMB.TECH that are reflected in the Belgian Share Register.

 

Shareholders holding U.S. Shares who wish to tender their Shares into the reopened Bid are required to first reposition such U.S. Shares to Belgian Shares and are therefore urged to contact their financial intermediary or custodian to ensure that such repositioning takes place prior to the closing of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening. Shareholders should inquire with their financial intermediary or custodian for any fees that may be charged by such parties for repositioning and are responsible for paying such fees. Further information on the repositioning process is available in section 7.9.1 of the prospectus, section 5.4 of the supplement to the prospectus and on CMB.TECH’s website (cmb.tech). The procedure for tendering shares in the New U.S. Offer for U.S. Holders is described in the U.S. Offer to Purchase and the related U.S. offer documents.

 

Shareholders may tender their Belgian Shares (as the case may be after repositioning in accordance with the foregoing) in the reopened Bid by duly completing, signing and submitting the applicable acceptance form of the Reopening in accordance with the instructions set out in the form no later than at 4 p.m. (Belgian time) on the last day of the Acceptance Period of the Reopening, or such earlier deadline as may be set by the relevant Shareholder’s financial intermediary or custodian.

 

Shareholders who register their acceptance with a financial intermediary must inform themselves of any additional fees that may be charged by such parties and are responsible for the payment of such additional fees. All financial intermediaries must, where applicable, comply with the procedures described in the supplement to the prospectus and the acceptance form of the Reopening. In particular, such financial intermediaries are responsible for collecting all information requested in the acceptance form of the Reopening and submitting this information with the Centralizing Agent within the deadline(s) set out in the supplement to the prospectus.

 

Shareholders who hold shares in dematerialized form and who wish to tender their shares in the reopened Bid, should instruct the financial intermediary where such dematerialized shares are held to (i) if applicable, have the tendered shares repositioned in accordance with the foregoing and (ii) to transfer the tendered shares directly from their securities account to (the Centralizing Agent on behalf of) the Bidder and to provide the Centralizing Agent with all information requested in the acceptance form of the Reopening.


  

Shareholders who hold registered shares will receive a letter from the Target (including a copy of the relevant page of the share register) indicating the procedure to be followed by shareholders to (i) if applicable, have their shares repositioned in accordance with section 7.9.1 of the prospectus and section 5.4 of the supplement to the prospectus and (ii) to tender their registered shares in the Bid, as well as the information they are required to provide to the Target.

 

Shareholders holding both registered shares and dematerialized shares must complete two separate acceptance forms: (i) a form for the registered shares to be submitted to the Target and (ii) a form for the dematerialized shares to be submitted to the financial intermediary where such dematerialized shares are held.

Taxes    The Bidder shall bear the tax on stock market transactions (reference is made to section 8.2 of the prospectus for further information).
Centralizing Agent    LOGO

About CMB

CMB (Compagnie Maritime Belge) is a diversified shipping group based in Antwerp, Belgium. CMB is the majority shareholder of CMB.TECH.

More information can be found at www.cmb.be.

About CMB.TECH

CMB.TECH (all capitals) is a diversified and future-proof maritime group that is a pioneer in decarbonising shipping. We own and operate more than 160 vessels: crude oil tankers, dry bulk vessels, container ships, chemical tankers, offshore wind ships, tugs and ferries. We also offer hydrogen and ammonia fuel to customers, through own production or third-party producers. The company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices across Europe, Asia and Africa.

CMB.TECH is listed on Euronext Brussels and the NYSE under the ticker symbol CMBT.

More information can be found at https://cmb.tech

Disclaimer

This press release is also published in Dutch. If ambiguities should arise from the different language versions, the Dutch version will prevail.

This notice does not constitute a takeover bid to purchase securities of CMB.TECH nor a solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction with respect to CMB.TECH. The public takeover bid is only reopened on the basis of the supplement to the prospectus approved by the FSMA. Neither this notice nor any other information in respect of the matters contained herein may be supplied in any jurisdiction where a registration, qualification or any other obligation is in force or would be with regard to the content hereof or thereof. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the financial laws and regulations in such jurisdictions. CMB and its affiliates explicitly decline any liability for breach of these restrictions by any person.


Additional Information for U.S. Holders

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any ordinary shares, no par value, of CMB.TECH (“Ordinary Shares”) or any other securities.

The New U.S. Offer is only being made to U.S. Holders who are the beneficial owners of Ordinary Shares. The New U.S. Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, which are included in CMB’s Schedule TO filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The New U.S. Offer commences on October 23, 2024, and will expire at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on November 21, 2024, unless the expiration of the New U.S. Offer is extended to a subsequent date in accordance with U.S. and Belgian law. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares tendering their Ordinary Shares will have withdrawal rights during this period as required by U.S. securities laws. U.S. Holders holding Ordinary Shares through a securities intermediary should comply with the dates communicated by such securities intermediary, as such dates may differ from the dates and times noted in the U.S. Offer to Purchase. U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares are responsible for determining and complying with any applicable cut-off times and dates. Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares desiring to tender all or any portion of the Ordinary Shares owned by such U.S. Holder can accept the New U.S. Offer by (1) completing and signing a letter of transmittal (or a copy thereof, provided the signature is original) in accordance with the instructions in the letter of transmittal and mail or deliver it and all other required documents to the U.S. Tender Agent (as defined below), at the address on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase or (2) tendering such Ordinary Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Any U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if such U.S. Holder desires to tender such Ordinary Shares.

CMB has retained Georgeson LLC to act as information agent for the New U.S. Offer and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., to act as depositary and paying agent for the New U.S. Offer (the “U.S. Tender Agent”).

Each Shareholder that is a U.S. Holder is urged to consult with his or her independent professional adviser regarding any acceptance of the New U.S. Offer including, without limitation, to consider the tax consequences associated with such Shareholder’s election to participate in the New U.S. Offer. No offer to acquire securities has been made, or will be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means of instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States or any other country in which such offer may not be made other than (i) in accordance with the requirements of Regulations 14D and 14E under the Exchange Act or the securities laws of such other country, as the case may be or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from such requirements. THE U.S. OFFER TO PURCHASE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SEC OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE NEW U.S. OFFER OR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE U.S. OFFER TO PURCHASE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL AND A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


Shareholders that are U.S. Holders who wish to participate in the New U.S. Offer, are urged to read the tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase, related letter of transmittal and certain other offer documents) that will be filed with the SEC by CMB and the related solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 that will be filed with the SEC by CMB.TECH relating to the New U.S. Offer because such documents will contain important information that U.S. Holders should consider before making any decision with respect to the New U.S. Offer. U.S. Holders may obtain a free copy of these documents after they have been filed with the SEC, and other documents filed by CMB and CMB.TECH with the SEC, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by contacting Georgeson LLC, the information agent for the New U.S. Offer via telephone by calling +1 (888) 815-4069 for U.S. Holders or via +1 (781) 896-6948 for shareholders outside the US, or via email to CMB.TECH@georgeson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the reopening of the Bid. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “should,” “would” and “will” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on CMB’s expectations as of the date they were first made and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, potential legal actions by parties relating to the Market Court’s decision, the outcome of the proceedings pending before the Enterprise Court in Antwerp and the proposed timing related to the Reopening. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. Unless as otherwise stated or required by applicable law, CMB undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Exhibit (b)(1)

Execution version

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

DATED 16 OCTOBER 2024

FOR

CMB NV

as the Borrower

with

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK

KBC BANK NV

SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE

as Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arranger

and

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV

DNB (UK) LIMITED

ING BELGIUM NV/SA

NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE

as Mandated Lead Arranger

and

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)

as Lead Arranger

and

KBC BANK NV

acting as Coordinator

and

KBC BANK NV

acting as Agent and Security Agent

relating to a bridge facilities agreement originally

dated 20 November 2023, as amended and restated on 28 June 2024


CONTENTS

 

Clause        Page  

1.

  Interpretation      1  

2.

  Second Effective Date      2  

3.

  Amendment and Restatement      2  

4.

  Representations      2  

5.

  Security      3  

6.

  Costs      3  

7.

  Miscellaneous      3  

8.

  Governing Law      4  

9.

  Enforcement      4  

Schedule

  

1.

  Conditions Precedent      5  

2.

  Form of Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement      7  


THIS AGREEMENT is dated 16 October 2024

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CMB NV (Belgische Scheepvaartmaatschappij – Compagnie Maritime Belge), a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap/société anonyme) with its statutory seat at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0404.535.431, Business Court of Antwerp (division Antwerp) (the Borrower);

 

(2)

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, KBC BANK NV and SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE as bookrunning mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arranger);

 

(3)

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV, DNB (UK) LIMITED, ING BELGIUM NV/SA and NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the Mandated Lead Arranger);

 

(4)

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL) as lead arranger (the Lead Arranger, and whether acting individually or together with the Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Mandated Lead Arranger, the Arranger);

 

(5)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) of the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement (as defined below) as lenders (the Lenders);

 

(6)

KBC BANK NV as issuing bank (in this capacity, the Issuing Bank);

 

(7)

KBC BANK NV as coordinator (the Coordinator);

 

(8)

KBC BANK NV as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Agent); and

 

(9)

KBC BANK NV as security agent for the Finance Parties (the Security Agent).

BACKGROUND

This Agreement is supplemental to and amends and restates a USD 3,200,000,000 bridge facilities agreement originally dated 20 November 2023 between among others, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent and KBC Bank NV as Security Agent, as further amended and restated on 28 June 2024 (the Bridge Facilities Agreement).

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.

INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

Definitions

 

(a)

In this Agreement:

Bridge Facilities Agreement has the meaning given to that term in the recital above.

Party means a party to this Agreement.

 

1


Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement means the Bridge Facilities Agreement in its amended and restated form as set out in Schedule 2 (Form of Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement).

Second Effective Date means the date on which the Agent gives notice to the Borrower and the Lenders in accordance with paragraph (a) of Clause 2 (Second Effective Date).

 

(b)

Capitalised terms defined in the Bridge Facilities Agreement (or the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement as the context shall require) have, unless expressly defined in this Agreement, the same meaning in this Agreement.

 

1.2

Construction

The principles of construction and the terms set out in clauses 1.2 (Construction), 1.3 (Belgian terms) and 1.4 (Third Party Rights) of the Bridge Facilities Agreement will have effect as if set out in this Agreement, except that references to the Bridge Facilities Agreement shall be construed as references to this Agreement.

 

2.

SECOND EFFECTIVE DATE

 

(a)

The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that it has received all of the documents set out in Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

(b)

Other than to the extent that the Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (a) above, the Lenders authorise the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

3.

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

The Bridge Facilities Agreement will be automatically amended on the Second Effective Date so that it reads as if it were restated in the form set out in Schedule 2 (Form of Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement).

 

4.

REPRESENTATIONS

 

(a)

The Borrower confirms to the Agent (for and on behalf of each Finance Party) that, by reference to the facts and circumstances existing on the date of this Agreement and on the Second Effective Date, the Repeating Representations as well as the representations and warranties set out in clause 19.7 (Deduction of Tax), clause 19.8 (No filing or stamp taxes), paragraph (a) to and including (f) of clause 19.10 (No misleading information) and clause 19.20 (No outstanding tax debt) of the Bridge Facilities Agreement:

 

  (i)

are true; and

 

  (ii)

would also be true if references to the Bridge Facilities Agreement are construed as references to the Bridge Facilities Agreement as amended and restated by this Agreement;

it being understood that:

 

  (A)

a reference therein to the Information Package, Financial Information Package and Overview of Share Transactions will include such information and documents as delivered pursuant to paragraphs 4 (d) and (e) of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent) respectively; and

 

2


  (B)

references therein to the Bid, the Bid Acquisition and the Bid Closing Date in clause 19.5 (Validity and admissibility in evidence), clause 19.9 (No default) and clause 19.10 (No misleading information) of the Bridge Facilities Agreement will include the Reopening, the Reopening Acquisition and the Reopening Closing Date respectively.

 

5.

SECURITY

 

(a)

The Borrower confirms that the existing Transaction Security:

 

  (i)

continues in full force and effect on the terms of the respective existing Transaction Security Documents;

 

  (ii)

will to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law be preserved for the benefit of the Security Agent, the Lenders and the remaining Finance Parties; and

 

  (iii)

will continue to secure its obligations under the Finance Documents (including the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement) and will extend to the obligations of the Borrower to the Finance Parties under the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility.

 

(b)

This Agreement shall not constitute a novation under any applicable law. However, for the purposes of Article 5.247 of the Belgian Civil Code and any similar provisions under any other applicable law, to the extent found applicable, and without prejudice to this Clause, the Parties hereby expressly agree to the preservation of all Transaction Security existing on the date hereof and such Transaction Security shall continue to secure the obligations expressed to be secured under the Transaction Security Documents following the amendment to the Bridge Facilities Agreement pursuant to this Agreement on the Second Effective Date.

 

6.

COSTS

The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent and the other Finance Parties all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement and any other document referred to in this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Second Effective Date has occurred.

 

7.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)

This Agreement and the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement are each a Finance Document.

 

(b)

The Finance Documents will remain in full force and effect and, from the Second Effective Date, the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement and this Agreement will be read and construed as one document.

 

(c)

Each Finance Party expressly reserves all its rights and remedies in respect of any breach of or Default under the Finance Documents.

 

(d)

Delay in exercising or non-exercising by a Finance Party of any right under the Finance Documents is not a waiver of that right.

 

3


(e)

The provisions of clause 37 (Counterparts), clause 38 (Bail-in) and clause 41 (Service of Process) of the Bridge Facilities Agreement apply to this Agreement.

 

8.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

9.

ENFORCEMENT

 

(a)

The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity, or termination of this Agreement) or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (a Dispute).

 

(b)

The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

4


SCHEDULE 1

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

1.

The Borrower

 

(a)

A copy of the constitutional documents of the Borrower.

 

(b)

A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower:

 

  (i)

approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party;

 

  (ii)

authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf; and

 

  (iii)

authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party.

 

(c)

A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above.

 

(d)

A certificate of the Borrower (signed by an authorised signatory) confirming and certifying that:

 

  (i)

borrowing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, securing or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded; and

 

  (ii)

each copy document relating to it specified in this Schedule 1 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

2.

Finance Documents

 

(a)

This Agreement executed by all Parties.

 

(b)

The second upfront fee letter as referred to under clause 13.2 (Second upfront fee) of the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement, executed by all parties thereto.

 

(c)

A coordination fee letter executed by all parties thereto.

 

(d)

An agency fee letter executed by all parties thereto.

 

3.

Legal Opinions

The following legal opinions, each addressed to the Agent, the Security Agent and the Lenders:

 

  (a)

a legal opinion of Argo Law, legal advisers to the Borrower as to Belgian law matters on capacity substantially in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to the signing of this Agreement;

 

5


  (b)

a legal opinion of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling (Belgium) LLP, legal advisers to the Agent and the Lenders as to Belgian law matters on enforceability in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to the signing of this Agreement; and

 

  (c)

a legal opinion of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP, legal advisers to the Agent and the Lenders as to English law matters on enforceability in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to the signing of this Agreement.

 

4.

Other documents and evidence

 

(a)

A copy of the Reopening FSMA Letter.

 

(b)

A high level timeline titled “Helios Reopening – High level timeline” prepared by the Borrower (the High Level Timeline).

 

(c)

A memo on the impact of the ruling of the Market Court on the Enterprise Court proceedings prepared by Argo (the Argo Memo).

 

(d)

A copy of the updated Financial Information Package, including:

 

  (i)

the Excel file titled “BS Projection CMB 30092024”;

 

  (ii)

the Excel file titled “CF CMB CONV. 2024-2025 30092024”;

 

  (iii)

the Excel file titled “CMB CMBT action plan repayment Bridge Facility”;

 

  (iv)

the Excel file titled “CMBT CF 2024 -2025 30092024”; and

 

  (v)

the Excel file titled “CMBT P&L 2024-2025 30092024”,

(the Financial Information Package, and together with the High Level Timeline and the Argo Memo, the Information Package).

 

(e)

A confirmation of the Borrower (signed by an authorised signatory) that the Overview of Share Transactions as updated during the previous amendment and restatement agreement dated 28 June 2024 is still up to date on the date of this Agreement.

 

(f)

A copy of the Borrower’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2024.

 

(g)

Evidence that all fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrower under this Agreement or the Second Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement have been paid.

 

(h)

A copy of all documents required by the Finance Parties to verify compliance with all necessary “know your customer”, “ultimate beneficial owner” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations.

 

(i)

A copy of any other authorisation, document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

6


SCHEDULE 2

FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED FACILITIES AGREEMENT

 

7


Execution version

USD 3,200,000,000

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BRIDGE FACILITIES AGREEMENT

ORIGINALLY DATED 20 NOVEMBER 2023,

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON 28 JUNE 2024 AND 16 OCTOBER 2024

for

CMB NV

with

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK

KBC BANK NV

SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE

as Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers

and

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV

DNB (UK) LIMITED

ING BELGIUM NV/SA

NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE

as Mandated Lead Arrangers

and

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)

as Lead Arranger

with

KBC BANK NV

acting as Coordinator

and

KBC BANK NV

acting as Agent and Security Agent


CONTENTS

 

Clause        Page  

1.

  Definitions and Interpretation      1  

2.

  The Facilities      30  

3.

  Purpose      33  

4.

  Conditions of Utilisation      34  

5.

  Bid Certificate      36  

6.

  Reopening Certificate      37  

7.

  Utilisation      37  

8.

  Repayment      38  

9.

  Prepayment and Cancellation      38  

10.

  Interest      45  

11.

  Interest Periods      46  

12.

  Changes to the Calculation of Interest      47  

13.

  Fees      48  

14.

  Tax Gross Up and Indemnities      49  

15.

  Increased Costs      54  

16.

  Other Indemnities      57  

17.

  Mitigation by the Lenders      60  

18.

  Costs and Expenses      60  

19.

  Representations      61  

20.

  Information Undertakings      68  

21.

  General Undertakings      71  

22.

  Events of Default      80  

23.

  Changes to the Lenders      84  

24.

  Changes to the Borrower      87  

25.

  Security      88  

26.

  Role of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger and others      91  

27.

  Conduct of Business by the Finance Parties      101  

28.

  Sharing among the Finance Parties      101  

29.

  Payment Mechanics      102  

30.

  Set-Off      106  

31.

  Notices      106  

32.

  Calculations and Certificates      108  

33.

  Partial Invalidity      109  

34.

  Remedies and Waivers      109  

35.

  Amendments and Waivers      109  

36.

  Confidential information      114  

37.

  Confidentiality of Funding Rates      117  

38.

  Counterparts      118  

39.

  Bail-in      118  

40.

  Governing Law      120  

41.

  Enforcement      120  

42.

  Service of process      120  

Schedule

  

1.

  The Original Lenders      121  

2.

  Conditions Precedent      122  
  Part 1 Conditions Precedent to signing      122  


  Part 2 SPA Conditions Precedent      123  
  Part 3 Bid Conditions Precedent      124  
  Part 4 Refinancing Conditions Precedent      125  
  Part 5 Reopening Conditions Precedent      126  

3.

  Requests      127  
  Part 1 Utilisation Request      127  
  Part 2 Selection Notice      129  

4.

  Form of Transfer Certificate      130  

5.

  Timetables      132  

6.

  Form of Increase Confirmation      133  

7.

  Form of Extension Request      135  

8.

  Form of Bid Certificate Request      136  

9.

  Form of Reopening Certificate Request      137  

10.

  Form of Bid Certificate      138  

11.

  Form of Reopening Certificate      139  

12.

  Reference Rate Terms      140  

13.

  Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate      144  

14.

  Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate      146  

15.

  Form of Tax Status Certificate      147  

16.

  Form of CMB.TECH valuation      148  


THIS AGREEMENT is originally dated 20 November 2023, as amended and restated pursuant to an amendment and restatement agreement dated 28 June 2024 and an amendment and restatement agreement dated 16 October 2024 and made

BETWEEN:

 

(1)

CMB NV (Belgische Scheepvaartmaatschappij – Compagnie Maritime Belge), a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap/société anonyme) with its statutory seat at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0404.535.431, Business Court of Antwerp (division Antwerp) (the Borrower);

 

(2)

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, KBC BANK NV and SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE as bookrunning mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arranger);

 

(3)

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV, DNB (UK) LIMITED, ING BELGIUM NV/SA and NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the Mandated Lead Arranger);

 

(4)

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL) as lead arranger (the Lead Arranger, and whether acting individually or together with the Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers and the Mandated Lead Arranger, the Arranger);

 

(5)

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) as lenders (the Original Lenders);

 

(6)

KBC BANK NV as issuing bank (in this capacity, the Issuing Bank);

 

(7)

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, KBC BANK NV and SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE as coordinators (the Coordinators);

 

(8)

KBC BANK NV as documentation agent (the Documentation Agent);

 

(9)

KBC BANK NV as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Agent); and

 

(10)

KBC BANK NV as security agent for the Finance Parties (the Security Agent).

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

Definitions

In this Agreement:

A-Fleet means 24 vessels from the Target (being 24 VLCC’s).

A-Fleet Acquisition means the acquisition by Frontline plc, Frontfleet Ltd. or a special purpose vehicle nominated by Frontfleet Ltd. of the A-Fleet (on an unencumbered basis at the time the vessels under the A-Fleet are sold) for the A-Fleet Acquisition Amount.

 

1


A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement means the combination of the Framework Agreement, the Heads of Agreement, the MoAs and the Settlement Agreement, between Frontline plc respectively Frontfleet Ltd. or its guaranteed nominees and the Target regarding the A-Fleet Acquisition and including solely the following conditions precedent to the becoming effective of the main provisions of each MoA (the Effective Date):

 

  (a)

the competition clearance (to the extent applicable) in respect of the A-Fleet Acquisition;

 

  (b)

the resolutions by the Target’s shareholders’ meeting approving the conditionality of the transaction contemplated by the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement and the Settlement Agreement on the closing under the Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to Article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations having been filed with the clerk’s office of the business court in Antwerp; and

 

  (c)

all conditions precedent under the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement having been satisfied.

A-Fleet Acquisition Amount means an aggregate acquisition amount for the A-Fleet Acquisition of USD 2,350,013,335, subject to the A-Fleet Price Reduction.

A-Fleet Closing Mechanics means the document entitled “Closing mechanics of the sale of 24 vessels to Frontline and the sale and lease back of 2 vessels to Ocean Yield (i.e. Cedar & Cypress)” dated 17 November 2023 and prepared by the Borrower.

A-Fleet Price Reduction means the reduction of the A-Fleet Acquisition Amount as from the date falling 30 days after the Effective Date and with an average amount of USD 13,461 per day per vessel which has not been sold by the relevant time.

Acquisition Document means the Share Purchase Agreement, the SPA Closing Memorandum and any other document designated as an “Acquisition Document” by the Agent and the Borrower.

Acquisition Proceeds has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.7 (Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds).

Additional Business Day means any day specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Affiliate means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company, and in relation to Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, any member of Crédit Agricole group, including any Caisse Régionale de Crédit Agricole Mutuel, Crédit Lyonnais and any financial institution of Crédit Agricole group which is affiliated to the central body of Crédit Agricole.

Authorisation means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration.

Availability Period means:

 

  (a)

in relation to the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility, the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the earlier of (i) the SPA Closing Date and (ii) 31 December 2023;

 

  (b)

in relation to the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility, the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the end of the Certain Funds Period;

 

  (c)

in relation to the Margin Loan Bridge Facility, the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the earlier of (i) the SPA Closing Date and (ii) 31 December 2023; and

 

  (d)

in relation to the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility, the period from the Second Effective Date to and including the end of the Reopening Certain Funds Period.

 

2


Available Commitment means, in relation to a Facility, a Lender’s Commitment under that Facility minus:

 

  (a)

its participation in any outstanding Loans under that Facility; and

 

  (b)

in relation to any proposed Loan, its participation in any other Loans that are due to be made under that Facility on or before the proposed Utilisation Date.

Available Facility means, in relation to a Facility the aggregate for the time being of each Lender’s Available Commitment in respect of that Facility.

B-Fleet means 36 vessels of the Target (being 14 VLCC’s and 22 Suezmax’s).

B-Fleet (Re-)financing means the (re-)financing of the B-Fleet for a total amount corresponding to around 55 per cent. of the fair market value of the vessels, where the amount of the (re-)financing which is in excess of the existing debt on the B-Fleet and the debt related to the acquisition of the 4 newbuild Suezmax vessels which will be delivered in 2024, will be used in full for the repayment of the outstanding debt on the A-Fleet.

Bank Account and Securities Pledge Agreement means the Belgian law bank account and securities pledge agreement dated 20 November 2023 between the Borrower as security provider and the Security Agent as security agent.

Baseline CAS means any rate which is either:

 

  (a)

specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms; or

 

  (b)

determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology specified in the Reference Rate Terms.

Belgian Financial Collateral Law means the Belgian law of 15 December 2004 on financial collateral, as amended from time to time.

Belgian MAS Law means Title XVII of Book III of the Belgian Civil Code, as amended by the law of 11 July 2013 amending the Belgian Civil Code in respect of security on movable assets and abolishing various relevant provisions, as amended from time to time.

Bid means the mandatory take-over bid on the Target Outstanding Shares made or to be made by the Borrower (or on its behalf) to shareholders of the Target, which may include dual tender offers, one of which is to be made in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and rules and the other to be made in accordance with Belgian law and practice.

Bid Acquisition means the acquisition by the Borrower of all or part of the Target Outstanding Shares pursuant to the Bid.

Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility means the term loan bridge facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (b) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment means:

 

  (a)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase); and

 

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  (b)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Bid Certificate means each of the certificates as to the certainty of funds in respect of the Bid to be issued to the FSMA by the Issuing Bank pursuant to article 3, 2° of the Public Take-Over Royal Decree, substantially in the form of Schedule 10 (Form of Bid Certificate).

Bid Certificate Request means a notice substantially in the relevant form set out in Schedule 8 (Form of Bid Certificate Request).

Bid Closing Date means the date of first utilisation under the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility.

Bid Conditions Precedent means the documents and other evidence listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent).

Bid Costs means all fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes incurred by the Borrower in connection with, or incidental to, the Bid, the Bid Acquisition and the Finance Documents or the reimbursement of such fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes by the Borrower.

Bid Expiry Date means the date on which the Borrower determines and notifies the Lenders that the Bid has been irrevocably lapsed, which (for the avoidance of doubt) may not occur prior to the end of any extension of an initial or subsequent acceptance period.

Bid Price means the cash consideration in respect of the Target Outstanding Shares expressed in USD/Target Share as offered under the Bid.

Borrower Change of Control means the Permitted Holders no longer holding 100 per cent. of the issued share capital or voting rights of the Borrower or two or more persons acting in concert other than the Permitted Holders or any individual person who is not a Permitted Holder having the right or the ability to control, either directly or indirectly, the affairs or composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower.

Break Costs means the amount (if any) by which:

 

  (a)

the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period;

exceeds:

 

  (b)

the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period.

 

4


Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in New York City, Oslo, Antwerp and Paris and in relation to:

 

  (a)

any date for payment or purchase of an amount relating to a Loan or Unpaid Sum; or

 

  (b)

the determination of the first day or the last day of an Interest Period for a Loan or Unpaid Sum, or otherwise in relation to the determination of the length of such an Interest Period),

which is an Additional Business Day relating to that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

Central Bank Rate has the meaning given to that term in the Reference Rate Terms.

Central Bank Rate Adjustment has the meaning given to that term in the Reference Rate Terms.

Certain Funds Period means the period commencing on the SPA Closing Date until the earliest to occur of:

 

  (a)

11.59 p.m. (in Brussels) on the date falling 5 Business Days after the SPA Closing Date, if the formal filing with the FSMA of the Bid in accordance with article 5 of the Public Take-Over Royal Decree has not been made by the Borrower by such time;

 

  (b)

11.59 p.m. (in Brussels) on the Final Settlement Date;

 

  (c)

the Bid Expiry Date; and

 

  (d)

the date falling 9 Months after the date of this Agreement,

or, in each case, such later date as agreed by the Lenders.

Charged Property means all of the assets of the Borrower which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.

CMB Cashflow Forecast means the excel document entitled “CMB updated CF 140923” dated 14 September 2023.

CMB.TECH Enterprises NV means CMB.TECH Enterprises NV (previously known as CMB.TECH NV), a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap/société anonyme) with its statutory seat at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0766.552.396, Business Court of Antwerp (division Antwerp).

CMB.TECH Shares means the part of the share capital of CMB.TECH Enterprises NV owned at any time by the Borrower.

CMB.TECH Valuation Report means the valuation report entitled “CMB.TECH internal valuation 31052023” dated 31 May 2023 and any update thereof in accordance with paragraph (b) of Clause 20.3 (Information: miscellaneous).

Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Commitment means a SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment, a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment, a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment or a Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitment.

 

5


Commitment Letter means the commitment letter dated 4 October 2023 between the Borrower, the Arrangers, the Coordinators, the Documentation Agent, the Agent and the Security Agent

Compounded Reference Rate means, in relation to any RFR Banking Day during the Interest Period of a Loan, the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of:

 

  (a)

the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for that RFR Banking Day; and

 

  (b)

the applicable Baseline CAS.

Compounding Methodology Supplement means, in relation to the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate or the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate, a document which:

 

  (a)

is agreed in writing by the Borrower, the Agent (in its own capacity) and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

  (b)

specifies a calculation methodology for that rate; and

 

  (c)

has been made available to the Borrower and each Finance Party.

Confidential Information means all information relating to the Borrower, the Group, the Finance Documents or a Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or a Facility from either:

 

  (a)

any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

 

  (b)

another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers,

in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes:

 

  (i)

information that:

 

  (A)

is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 36 (Confidential); or

 

  (B)

is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or

 

  (C)

is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality;

 

  (ii)

any Funding Rate.

Confidentiality Undertaking means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a form as most recently recommended and published by the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

6


Conversion means a conversion, with preservation and continuation of Transaction Security, of:

 

  (a)

all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – DTC or Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear into Pledged Target Shares – Registered; or

 

  (b)

all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – Registered into Pledged Target Shares – DTC or Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear.

Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate means, in relation to an Interest Period for a Loan, the percentage rate per annum determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology set out in Schedule 14 (Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or in any relevant Compounding Methodology Supplement.

DAC6 means the Council Directive of 25 May 2018 (2018/822/EU) amending Directive 2011/16/EU.

Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate means, in relation to any RFR Banking Day during an Interest Period for a Loan, the percentage rate per annum determined by the Agent (or by any other Finance Party which agrees to determine that rate in place of the Agent) in accordance with the methodology set out in Schedule 13 (Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or in any relevant Compounding Methodology Supplement.

Daily Rate means the rate specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Default means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 22 (Events of Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender means any Lender:

 

  (a)

which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available (or has notified the Agent or the Borrower (which has notified the Agent) that it will not make its participation in a Loan available) by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 7.4 (Lenders’ participation);

 

  (b)

which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document;

 

  (c)

with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing,

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

  (i)

its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (A)

administrative or technical error; or

 

  (B)

a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within three (3) Business Day of its due date; or

 

  (ii)

the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

Disposal has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds).

 

7


Disposal Proceeds has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds).

Disruption Event means either or both of:

 

  (a)

a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facilities (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or

 

  (b)

the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:

 

  (i)

from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

  (ii)

from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents,

and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.

Distribution means any dividend or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, or other distribution) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share capital) or any repayment or distribution of any dividend or share premium reserve (including any decrease of share capital).

DTC means the Depository Trust Company.

Effective Date has the meaning given to that term in the definition of “A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement”.

Eligible Institution means any Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity selected by the Borrower and which, in each case, is not a member of the Group, the Target or any of its Subsidiaries.

Environment means humans, animals, plants and all other living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media:

 

  (a)

air (including, without limitation, air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground);

 

  (b)

water (including, without limitation, territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers); and

 

  (c)

land (including, without limitation, land under water).

Environmental Law means any applicable law or regulation which relates to:

 

  (a)

the pollution or protection of the Environment; or

 

  (b)

the generation, handling, storage, use, release or spillage of any substance which, alone or in combination with any other, is capable of causing harm to the Environment, including, without limitation, any waste.

 

8


Escrow Agreement means the escrow agreement(s) dated 17 November 2023 between, among others, the Target and Frontline plc respectively Frontfleet Ltd. or any of its guaranteed nominees in respect of the payment of the 10 per cent. deposit for each vessel of the A-Fleet.

EUR or euro means the single currency of the Participating Member States.

Euronav Cashflow Forecast means the excel document entitled “Helios CF 02102023 – External Final” dated 2 October 2023.

Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 22 (Events of Default).

Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exchangeable Bond means an exchangeable bond issued by the Borrower, provided that the exchangeable bonds have the following characteristics:

 

  (a)

the bondholder is granted an option to convert an exchangeable bond into Target Shares in accordance with an exchange premium which is equal to an amount of at least 25% and maximum 40% of the market value of the Target Shares at the time of the issuance of the exchangeable bonds (such corresponding number of Target Shares being the Exchange Target Shares);

 

  (b)

each exchangeable bond is secured by a maximum of 2.5 Exchange Target Shares (the Overcollateralisation, and the Target Shares subject to Overcollateralisation, the Overcollateralised Target Shares); and

 

  (c)

the maturity date of the Exchangeable Bond falls after the Extended Termination Date.

Exchangeable Bond Proceeds has the meaning given to that term in Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds).

Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreements means each of the following loan facilities agreements (each as may be amended or supplemented from time to time):

 

  (a)

a margin loan facility agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as borrower and Belfius Bank NV/SA as lender, with USD and EUR outstandings corresponding to a USD equivalent of circa 68,145,000 on the date of this Agreement;

 

  (b)

a margin loan facility agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as borrower and KBC Bank NV as lender, with USD and EUR outstandings corresponding to a USD equivalent of circa USD 70,913,500 on the date of this Agreement;

 

  (c)

a margin loan facility agreement dated 2 May 2022 between the Borrower as borrower and Nordea Bank Abp Filial I Norge as lender, with an outstanding amount of USD 60,000,000 on the date of this Agreement;

 

  (d)

a margin loan facility agreement dated 28 June 2022 between the Borrower as borrower and Société Générale as lender, with the EUR equivalent of circa USD 108,424,500 outstanding on the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (e)

a margin loan facility agreement dated 3 May 2023 between the Borrower as borrower and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as lender, with an outstanding amount of USD 54,830,000 outstanding on the date of this Agreement.

 

9


Existing Security Documents means each of:

 

  (a)

a cash collateral account and margin securities account pledge agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor and KBC Bank NV as security trustee and account bank;

 

  (b)

a share pledge agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor and KBC Bank NV as security trustee, in respect of the shares in CMB.TECH Enterprises NV;

 

  (c)

a cash collateral account and margin securities account pledge agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor and Belfius Bank NV/SA as security trustee and account bank;

 

  (d)

a share pledge agreement dated 23 March 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor and Belfius Bank NV/SA as security trustee, in respect of the shares in CMB.TECH Enterprises NV;

 

  (e)

a cash collateral account and margin securities account pledge agreement dated 3 May 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor, Nordea Bank Abp Filial I Norge as security trustee and KBC Bank NV as account bank;

 

  (f)

a cash collateral account and margin securities account pledge agreement dated 29 June 2022 between the Borrower as pledgor, Société Générale as security trustee and KBC Bank NV as account bank; and

 

  (g)

a cash and share collateral accounts pledge agreement dated 5 May 2023 between the Borrower as pledgor and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as pledgee and security agent and KBC Bank NV as custodian bank.

Existing Transfer Restrictions means any Transfer Restrictions under or arising in connection with (i) the Borrower being an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 144) of the Target, (ii) a Lender being an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 144) of the Target as a result of such Lender holding equity interests in the Target that are not Pledged Target Shares or engaging in other transactions or arrangements not contemplated by the Finance Documents or (iii) the Existing Security Documents until the Security thereunder is released in accordance with the terms hereof.

Extended Termination Date has the meaning given to that term in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.4 (Extension option).

Extension has the meaning given to that term in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.4 (Extension option).

Extension Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Form of Extension Request) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower.

Facility means the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility, the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility, the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility or the Margin Loan Bridge Facility.

Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

FATCA means:

 

  (a)

sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

10


  (b)

any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or

 

  (c)

any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

FATCA Application Date means:

 

  (a)

in relation to a “withholdable payment” described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; or

 

  (b)

in relation to a “pass thru payment” described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) above, the first date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA.

FATCA Deduction means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA.

FATCA Exempt Party means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.

Fee Letter means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement; the date of the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement or the Second Effective Date between the Arranger and the Borrower (or the Agent and the Borrower, or the Security Agent and the Borrower or a Coordinator and the Borrower, or the Documentation Agent and the Borrower) setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 13 (Fees) or any other letter designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower.

Final Settlement Date means the last Settlement Date that applies with respect to the Bid, which will in any case take place on or prior to the last day of the Availability Period in relation to the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility.

Finance Document means this Agreement, any Fee Letter, any Utilisation Request, any Transaction Security Document, the Supplemental Letter, the Commitment Letter, any Bid Certificate, any Bid Certificate Request, any Reopening Certificate, any Reopening Certificate Request, any Selection Notice, any Extension Request, any Reference Rate Supplement, any Compounding Methodology Supplement and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower.

Finance Party means the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Coordinators, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or a Lender.

Financial Indebtedness means, in relation to a person (the debtor), a liability of the debtor:

 

  (a)

for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor;

 

  (b)

under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor;

 

  (c)

under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility made available to the debtor;

 

11


  (d)

under a financial lease, a deferred purchase consideration arrangement or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor;

 

  (e)

under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or

 

  (f)

under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person.

Financial Information Package means each of:

 

  (a)

the CMB Cashflow Forecast;

 

  (b)

the Euronav Cashflow Forecast; and

 

  (c)

the Helios Combined Balance Sheet CMB-Euronav.

Framework Agreement means the framework agreement dated 9 October 2023 between Frontline plc and the Target regarding the A-Fleet Acquisition.

Frontline Commitment Letters means:

 

  (a)

the shareholder loan commitment letter dated 7 October 2023 between Hemen Holding Limited and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees); and

 

  (b)

the bank financing commitment letters:

 

  (i)

dated 5 October 2023 between Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Frontfleet Ltd.(or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (ii)

dated 5 October 2023 between Danske Bank and Frontfleet Ltd.(or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (iii)

dated 5 October 2023 between DNB Bank ASA and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (iv)

dated 5 October 2023 between Standard Chartered Bank and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (v)

dated 6 October 2023 between ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (vi)

dated 6 October 2023 between Citibank N.A., London Branch and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees);

 

  (vii)

dated 6 October 2023 between ING Bank N.V. and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees); and

 

  (viii)

dated 5 October 2023 between Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (Publ) and Frontfleet Ltd. (or its guaranteed nominees).

FSMA means the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority.

 

12


FSMA Letter means the letter dated 19 September 2023 pursuant to which the FSMA confirmed (i) its belief that a derogation of the applicable takeover laws to decrease the minimum bid price calculated pursuant to article 53, first section, 1° of the Public Take-Over Royal Decree by any dividend distributions made by the Target during the reference period would respect the applicable takeover laws and (ii) that it would not oppose to the Bid to be made in USD.

Funding Rate means any individual rate notified by a Lender to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 12.3 (Cost of funds).

GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in Belgium, including IFRS.

Group means the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding the Target Group) for the time being.

Group Structure Chart means the group structure chart in the agreed form which shows the Group assuming the SPA Acquisition and the Bid Acquisition have occurred delivered to the Agent under Clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent).

Heads of Agreement means the heads of agreement dated 8 October 2023 between the Target and Frontfleet Ltd. containing overarching and coordinating terms for each MoA and the Framework Agreement.

Helios Combined Balance Sheet CMB-Euronav means the excel document entitled “Helios updated Combined Balance Sheet CMB Euronav 14092023” dated 14 September 2023.

Holding Company means, in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary.

IFRS means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

Impaired Agent means the Agent or the Security Agent at any time when:

 

  (a)

it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment;

 

  (b)

the Agent or the Security Agent, as applicable, otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document;

 

  (c)

(if the Agent or the Security Agent, as applicable, is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”; or

 

  (d)

an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent or the Security Agent, as applicable;

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:

 

  (i)

its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (A)

administrative or technical error; or

 

  (B)

a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date; or

 

13


  (ii)

the Agent or the Security Agent, as applicable, is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question.

Increase Confirmation means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in Schedule 6 (Form of increase confirmation).

Increase Lender has the meaning given to that term in Clause 2.2 (Increase).

Information Package means the Structure Memorandum, the A-Fleet Closing Mechanics, the Financial Information Package and the CMB.TECH Valuation Report.

Initial Conditions Precedent means the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent).

Insolvency Event in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:

 

  (a)

is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

  (b)

becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

  (c)

makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;

 

  (d)

institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official;

 

  (e)

has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and:

 

  (i)

results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or

 

  (ii)

is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof;

 

  (f)

has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger);

 

  (g)

seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (d) above);

 

14


  (h)

has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter;

 

  (i)

causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) above; or

 

  (j)

takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts.

Interest Payment means the aggregate amount of interest that is, or is scheduled to become, payable under any Finance Document.

Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 11 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 10.3 (Default interest).

Lender means:

 

  (a)

any Original Lender; and

 

  (b)

any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party as a “Lender” in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase) or Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders),

which in each case has not ceased to be a Party as such in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Listing Rules means, in relation to NYSE, the rules and regulations applicable to companies listed thereon that are contained in its listed company manual, or in the case of Euronext Brussels, the rules for the admission and operations of the regulated market and any other rules or regulations required for the admission of securities to that exchange.

LMA means the Loan Market Association.

Loan means a SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan, a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan, a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan or a Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan.

Lookback Period means the number of days specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Majority Lenders means a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate 662/3 per cent. or more of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated 662/3 per cent. or more of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction).

Mandatory Prepayment Account means an interest-bearing account:

 

  (a)

held in Belgium by the Borrower with the Agent;

 

  (b)

identified in a letter between the Borrower and the Agent as a Mandatory Prepayment Account;

 

  (c)

subject to Security in favour of the Security Agent which Security is in form and substance satisfactory to the Finance Parties; and

 

  (d)

from which no withdrawals may be made by any members of the Group except as contemplated by this Agreement,

 

15


(as the same may be redesignated, substituted or replaced from time to time).

Margin means the percentage per annum set out below in the column opposite that range:

 

Period

   Margin per cent. per annum
From the date of this Agreement to (but excluding) the date falling 6 Months after the date of this Agreement    2.75
From the date falling 6 Months after the date of this Agreement to (but excluding) the date falling 9 Months after the date of this Agreement    3.25
From the date falling 9 Months after the date of this Agreement to (but excluding) the date falling 12 Months after the date of this Agreement    3.75
From the date falling 12 Months after the date of this Agreement to the Termination Date    4.50

However:

 

  (A)

while an Event of Default has occurred and as long as it is continuing, the Margin for each Loan shall be the highest percentage per annum set out above; and

 

  (B)

if at any time on or after 20 August 2024, the Total Commitments outstanding under this Agreement are less than:

 

  I.

USD 425,000,000, the Margin set out in the grid above shall be reduced by 0.50 per cent. per annum; or

 

  II.

USD 300,000,000, the Margin set out in the grid above shall be reduced by 0.75 per cent. per annum,

but in each case, the reduction of the Margin only lasts until the Total Commitments outstanding under this Agreement increase again to, or above, these respective thresholds.

Margin Loan Bridge Facility means the term loan bridge facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (c) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

 

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Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitment means:

 

  (a)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase); and

 

  (b)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Margin Loan Bridge Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Margin Regulations means Regulations T, U and X issued by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System.

Margin Stock means “margin stock” or “margin securities” as defined in the Margin Regulations.

Market Disruption Rate means the rate (if any) specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Material Adverse Effect means, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, a material adverse effect on:

 

  (a)

the business, operations, property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Group and/or the Target Group as from the completion of the SPA Acquisition (as applicable) taken as a whole; or

 

  (b)

the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

  (c)

the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security granted or purporting to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents.

Material Non-Public Information means information regarding Target and/or its subsidiaries that is not generally available to the public and that a reasonable investor would likely consider important in deciding whether to buy or sell shares issued by the Target.

Maximum Bid Price means USD 18.43/Target Share (being the maximum nominal amount), it being understood that if a dividend payment is made on the level of the Target, the Bid Price will be reduced accordingly.

MoA means a memorandum of agreement dated 8 October 2023 and entered into between the Target and Frontline plc respectively Frontfleet Ltd. or any of its guaranteed nominees in respect of each individual vessel of the A-Fleet.

Month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, subject to adjustment in accordance with the rules specified as Business Day Conventions in the Reference Rate Terms.

NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

17


Ocean Yield Sale-And-Lease Back means the sale-and-lease-back financings in relation to two Suezmax vessels owned by the Target for an aggregate amount of USD 153,780,000, which corresponds to circa 90 per cent. of the fair market value of these vessels and where such amount will be applied in full to facilitate prepayment of the Facilities by the Borrower in line with the Structure Memorandum and the A-Fleet Closing Mechanics.

Original Financial Statements means the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Group for the financial half year ended 30 June 2024.

Original Termination Date means:

 

  (a)

in relation to the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility, [intentionally left blank as at the Second Effective Date no more SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments are outstanding];

 

  (b)

in relation to the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility, 20 February 2025;

 

  (c)

in relation to the Margin Loan Bridge Facility, [intentionally left blank as at the Second Effective Date no more Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitments are outstanding]; and

 

  (d)

in relation to the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility, 20 February 2025.

Overview of Share Transactions means an overview setting out the series of transactions entered into by the Borrower in connection with the acquisition of the Pledged Target Shares – Existing (including the amounts and dates thereof), in an agreed form between the Borrower and the Security Agent.

Participating Member States means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

Party means a party to this Agreement.

Permitted CMB.TECH Sale means the potential sale, merger or other disposal of CMB.TECH Enterprises NV or any of its Subsidiaries, either in whole or in part, to (i) the Target and/or (ii) in case of a sale or disposal, a third party subject to the Borrower and/or the Target retaining more than 75 per cent. of the shares and maintaining control of CMB.TECH Enterprises NV within the meaning of Article 1:14 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations.

Permitted Euronav Sale means any sale or series of sales of the shares held by the Borrower in the Target, at all times subject to the Borrower maintaining more than 50 per cent. of the shares in the Target (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the treasury shares) and maintaining control of the Target within the meaning of Article 1:14 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, it being understood that Saverco NV’s shareholding in the Target will not exceed 24,400 shares.

Permitted Holders means Marc Saverys, his direct lineal descendants, the personal estate of any of them and any trust or similar entity created for the sole benefit of any of those persons or their estates.

Permitted Trigger means the time as of which the Total Commitments remaining under this Agreement are less than USD 300,000,000.

Pledged Target Shares means all Target Shares held by the Borrower on the date hereof or later acquired (through the SPA Acquisition, the Bid Acquisition, the Reopening Acquisition or otherwise).

Pledged Target Shares – DTC means Pledged Target Shares that are Target Shares – DTC.

 

18


Pledged Target Shares – Existing means the Target Shares owned by the Borrower at the date of this Agreement.

Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear means Pledged Target Shares that are Target Shares – Euroclear.

Pledged Target Shares – Registered means Pledged Target Shares that are Target Shares – Registered.

Prospectus means the prospectus containing the details of the Bid.

Public Take-Over Law means the Belgian law of 1 April 2007 on take-over bids, as amended from time to time.

Public Take-Over Royal Decree means the Belgian royal decree of 27 April 2007 on take-over bids, as amended from time to time.

Qualifying Lender has the meaning given to that term in Clause 14 (Tax Gross Up and Indemnities).

Reference Rate Supplement means a document which:

 

  (a)

is agreed in writing by the Borrower and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders);

 

  (b)

specifies the relevant terms which are expressed in this Agreement to be determined by reference to Reference Rate Terms; and

 

  (c)

has been made available to the Borrower and each Finance Party.

Reference Rate Terms means the terms set out in Schedule 12 (Reference Rate Terms) or in any Reference Rate Supplement.

Refinancing Conditions Precedent means, in relation to the utilisation of the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan only, the documents and other evidence listed in Part 4 of Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent).

Related Fund in relation to a fund (the first fund), means a fund which is managed or advised by the same investment manager or investment adviser as the first fund or, if it is managed by a different investment manager or investment adviser, a fund whose investment manager or investment adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund.

Relevant Market means the market specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Reopening means the mandatory take-over bid on the Reopening Target Outstanding Shares by means of (i) the reopening of the Bid conducted in accordance with applicable Belgian law directed at all shareholders of the Target owning Reopening Target Outstanding Shares on the basis of the Reopening Supplement; and (ii) a simultaneous new public tender offer conducted in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws directed at all shareholders of the Target owning Reopening Target Outstanding Shares resident in the United States or any shareholder who is otherwise a “U.S. holder” within the meaning of Rule 14d-1 under the Exchange Act.

Reopening Action Plan means the Excel file titled “CMB CMBT action plan repayment Bridge Facility” prepared by the Borrower and delivered to the Agent under the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

 

19


Reopening Acquisition means the acquisition by the Borrower of all or part of the Reopening Target Outstanding Shares pursuant to the Reopening.

Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility means the term loan bridge facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (d) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment means:

 

  (a)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase); and

 

  (b)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

Reopening Certain Funds Period means the period commencing on the Second Effective Date until the earliest to occur of:

 

  (a)

11.59 p.m. (in Brussels) on the date falling 5 Business Days after the Second Effective Date, if the formal filing with the FSMA of the Reopening has not been made by the Borrower by such time;

 

  (b)

11.59 p.m. (in Brussels) on the Reopening Settlement Date;

 

  (c)

the Reopening Expiry Date; and

 

  (d)

31 January 2025,

or, in each case, such later date as agreed by all the Lenders.

Reopening Certificate means each of the certificates as to the certainty of funds in respect of the Reopening to be issued to the FSMA by the Issuing Bank pursuant to article 3, 2° of the Public Take-Over Royal Decree, substantially in the form of Schedule 11 (Form of Reopening Certificate).

Reopening Certificate Request means a notice substantially in the relevant form set out in Schedule 9 (Form of Reopening Certificate Request).

Reopening Closing Date means the date of first utilisation under the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility.

Reopening Conditions Precedent means the documents and other evidence listed in Part 5 of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent).

Reopening Costs means all fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes incurred by the Borrower in connection with, or incidental to, the Reopening, the Reopening Acquisition and the Finance Documents or the reimbursement of such fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes by the Borrower.

 

20


Reopening Expiry Date means the date on which the Borrower determines and notifies the Lenders that the Reopening has been irrevocably lapsed, which (for the avoidance of doubt) may not occur prior to the end of any extension of an initial or subsequent acceptance period.

Reopening FSMA Letter means the letter dated 7 October 2024 pursuant to which the FSMA ordered the Borrower to, amongst others, reopen the Bid within 40 business days of receipt of such letter, being 8 October 2024.

Reopening Price means USD 12.66/Target Share, it being understood that if distributions (including in the form of a dividend, distribution of share premium, decrease of share capital or in any other form) are made on the level of the Target, the Reopening Price will be reduced accordingly.

Reopening Settlement Date means the date on which the Borrower pays the amounts payable pursuant to the terms of the Reopening for the Reopening Target Outstanding Shares tendered under the Reopening, to an account of the paying agent appointed in relation to the Reopening or (as the case may be) directly to the relevant clearing system.

Reopening Supplement means the supplement to the Prospectus containing the details of the Reopening.

Reopening Target Outstanding Shares means the then outstanding shares in the Target (other than the treasury shares at the date of completion of the Reopening) at the time of the Reopening not held by the Borrower or its Affiliates, being 17.045.136 shares.

Repeating Representations means each of the representations set out in Clause 19.1 (Status) to and including Clause 19.6 (Governing law and enforcement), Clause 19.9 (No default), paragraph (g) of Clause 19.10 (No misleading information), Clause 19.11 (Centre of main interests) to and including Clause 19.14 (No proceedings), Clause 19.16 (Transaction Security) to and including Clause 19.19 (DAC6) and Clause 19.21 (Pledged Target Shares) to and including Clause 19.25 (U.S. beneficial ownership reporting).

Reporting Day means the day (if any) specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Reporting Time means the relevant time (if any) specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

RFR means the rate specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

RFR Banking Day means any day specified as such in the Reference Rate Terms.

Representative means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian.

Rule 144 means 17 C.F.R. § 230.144 (persons deemed not to be engaged in a distribution and therefore not underwriters) promulgated under the Securities Act.

Sanctioned Country has the meaning given to that term in Clause 19.18 (Sanctions).

Sanctioned Person has the meaning given to that term in Clause 19.18 (Sanctions).

Sanctions means any economic, financial or trade sanctions or restrictive measures enacted, administered, imposed or enforced by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the US Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom Government (including His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy), the European Union, any member state of the European Union, the Kingdom of Norway or any other relevant sanctions authority.

 

21


Sanctions Event means:

 

  (a)

any representation contained in Clause 19.18 (Sanctions) made or deemed to be made by the Borrower is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading when made or deemed to be made;

 

  (b)

any undertaking in Clause 21.11 (Sanctions) including any information undertaking, relating to Sanctions is not complied with;

 

  (c)

any Sanctions Relevant Person is or becomes a Sanctioned Person; and/or

 

  (d)

an act or omission of a Sanctions Relevant Person or any other event relating to the Finance Documents which is likely to result in a Lender or any of its Affiliates violating any Sanctions or otherwise could result in a Lender or any of its Affiliates becoming a Sanctioned Person.

Sanctions Relevant Person means:

 

  (a)

the Borrower, each member of the Group and/or the Target Group; and

 

  (b)

each of their relevant directors, officers, affiliates, agents and employees (other than any crew members).

Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement means the amendment and restatement agreement dated 16 October 2024 between the Parties in respect of this Agreement.

Second Effective Date has the meaning given to the term “Second Effective Date” under the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

Security means a mortgage (hypotheek/hypothèque), a ship mortgage (scheepsverband/mortgage), pledge (pand/nantissement), mandate (mandaat/mandat) to grant a mortgage, a pledge or any other real security, privilege (voorrecht/privilège), reservation of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud/réserve de propriété), any real security (zakelijke zekerheid/sûreté réelle) and any transfer by way of security (overdracht ten titel van zekerheid/transfert à titre de garantie) or any other in rem security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect under any applicable law.

Selection Notice means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Requests) given in accordance with Clause 11 (Interest Periods).

Settlement Agreement means the settlement agreement dated 9 October 2023 between the Target, Frontline plc, Famatown Finance Limited, Hemen Holding Limited and Geveran Trading Co. Limited, in respect of the settlement of the arbitration between the Target and Frontline plc.

Settlement Date means each date on which the Borrower pays the amounts payable pursuant to the terms of the Bid for the Target Outstanding Shares tendered under the Bid, to an account of the paying agent appointed in relation to the Bid or (as the case may be) directly to the relevant clearing system.

Share Purchase Agreement means the share purchase agreement dated 9 October 2023 between the Borrower as purchaser and Frontline plc and Famatown Finance Limited as sellers in respect of all Frontline plc’s and Famatown Finance Limited’s Target Shares and including solely the following conditions precedent to closing thereunder:

 

22


  (a)

the expiry or the early termination of any applicable waiting period (or any extensions thereof) to consummation of the SPA Acquisition required under the United States Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, without any investigation or proceeding having been initiated;

 

  (b)

Frontline plc confirming in writing to the Borrower that the Regulatory Condition under and as defined in the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement has been satisfied or waived; and

 

  (c)

the resolution by the Target’s shareholders’ meeting approving the conditionality of the transaction contemplated by the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement on the closing under the Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to Article 7:151 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations having been filed with the clerk’s office of the business court in Antwerp.

SPA Acquisition means the acquisition by the Borrower of Frontline plc’s and Famatown Finance Limited’s Target Shares pursuant to the Acquisition Documents.

SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment means:

 

  (a)

in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set opposite its name under the heading “SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment” in Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) and the amount of any other SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase); and

 

  (b)

in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Increase),

to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement.

SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility means the term loan bridge facility made available under this Agreement as described in paragraph (a) of Clause 2.1 (The Facilities).

SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan means a loan made or to be made under the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan.

SPA Bid Costs means all fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes incurred by the Borrower in connection with, or incidental to, the Share Purchase Agreement, the SPA Acquisition, the Bid, the Bid Acquisition and the Finance Documents or the reimbursement of such fees, costs and expenses, stamp, registration and other Taxes by the Borrower.

SPA Closing Date means the date of first utilisation under the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility.

SPA Closing Memorandum means the closing memorandum to be entered into between the Borrower, Famatown Finance Limited, Frontline plc and the Target stating various closing actions that took place with respect to project “Helios”.

SPA Conditions Precedent means the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Conditions Precedent).

Specified Event of Default means an Event of Default under:

 

  (a)

Clause 22.1 (Non-payment);

 

  (b)

Clause 22.6 (Insolvency);

 

23


  (c)

Clause 22.7 (Insolvency proceedings);

 

  (d)

Clause 22.8 (U.S. Bankruptcy Laws); and

 

  (e)

paragraph (b) of Clause 22.10 (Unlawfulness).

Specified Time means a day or time determined in accordance with Schedule 5 (Timetables).

Structure Memorandum means the structure paper entitled “Structure memorandum – Project Helios 2.0” and dated 5 October 2023 prepared by Argo Law delivered to the Agent under Clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent).

Subsidiary means an entity of which a person has direct or indirect control or owns directly or indirectly more than 50 per cent. of the voting capital or similar right of ownership and control means the power to direct the management and policies of an entity, whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or otherwise.

Supplemental Letter means the supplemental letter dated 27 June 2024 between, among others, the Borrower, the Agent and the Security Agent, supplementing the Bank Account and Securities Pledge Agreement.

Target means CMB.TECH NV (previously known as Euronav NV), a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap/société anonyme) with its statutory seat at De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 0860.402.767, Business Court of Antwerp (division Antwerp).

Target Change of Control means the Borrower ceasing to control the Target within the meaning of Article 1:14 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations which, for the avoidance of doubt, is applicable from the SPA Closing Date.

Target Group means the Target and its Subsidiaries for the time being.

Target Outstanding Shares means all or part of the then outstanding shares in the Target (other than the treasury shares at the date of completion of the Bid) at the time of the Bid not held by the Borrower or its Affiliates.

Target Shares means any shares in the Target.

Target Shares – DTC means Target Shares that trade on the NYSE and settle through DTC, including as a result of a Conversion.

Target Shares – Euroclear means Target Shares that trade on Euronext Brussels and settle through Euroclear, including as a result of a Conversion.

Target Shares – Registered means Target Shares that are registered shares, including as a result of a Conversion.

Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same).

Tax Status Certificate means a certificate issued by a Lender in the form set out in Schedule 15 (Form of Tax Status Certificate).

Termination Date means, subject to Clause 2.4 (Extension option), the Original Termination Date.

 

24


Total Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments means the aggregate of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments, being USD 499,951,323.24 at the Second Effective Date.

Total Commitments means the aggregate of the Total Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments, the Total Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments, the Total SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments and the Total Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitments, being USD 715,951,323.24 at the Second Effective Date.

Total Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitments means the aggregate of the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitments, being USD 0 at the Second Effective Date.

Total Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments means the aggregate of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments, being USD 216,000,000 at the Second Effective Date.

Total SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments means the aggregate of the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments, being USD 0 at the Second Effective Date.

Transaction Document means each of the Finance Documents, the Acquisition Documents, the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrower.

Transaction Security means the Security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents.

Transaction Security Documents means:

 

  (a)

the Bank Account and Securities Pledge Agreement, as supplemented by the Supplemental Letter; and

 

  (b)

and any other document entered into by the Borrower creating or expressed to create Security over all or any part of its assets in respect of its obligations under any of the Finance Documents.

Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Borrower.

Transfer Date means, in relation to a transfer, the later of:

 

  (a)

the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Transfer Certificate; and

 

  (b)

the date on which the Agent executes the relevant Transfer Certificate.

Transfer Restrictions means, with respect to the Pledged Target Shares, any condition to or restriction on the ability of the owner or pledgee thereof to pledge, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such Pledged Target Shares or enforce the provisions thereof or of any document related thereto whether set forth in such Pledged Target Shares or in any document related thereto, including, without limitation:

 

  (a)

any requirement that any sale, assignment or other transfer or enforcement for such Pledged Target Shares be subject to any volume limitations or be consented to or approved by any person, including, without limitation, the Target or any other obligor thereon;

 

  (b)

any limitations on the type or status, financial or otherwise, of any purchaser, pledgee, assignee or transferee of such Pledged Target Shares;

 

25


  (c)

any requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document of any person to the issuer of, any other obligor on or any registrar or transfer agent for such Pledged Target Shares, prior to the sale, pledge, assignment or other transfer or enforcement of such Pledged Target Shares;

 

  (d)

any registration or qualification requirement or prospectus delivery requirement for such Pledged Target Shares pursuant to any federal, state, local or foreign securities law (including, without limitation, any such requirement arising under Section 5 of the Securities Act, as a result of such Pledged Target Shares being a “restricted security” or the Borrower being an “affiliate” of the Target, as such terms are defined in Rule 144);

 

  (e)

any condition to or restriction on the ability of a potential purchaser, assignee, pledgee or transferee to acquire such Pledged Target Shares from the holder thereof; and

 

  (f)

any legend or other notification appearing on any certificate representing such Pledged Target Shares to the effect that any such condition or restriction exists,

provided, however, that any such condition or restriction arising under the Finance Documents shall not constitute a “Transfer Restriction”.

Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrower under the Finance Documents.

U.S. means the United States of America.

U.S. Bankruptcy Law means the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, or any other United States Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

USD or dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America.

Utilisation Date means the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made.

Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Requests).

VAT means:

 

  (a)

any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and

 

  (b)

any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere.

 

1.2

Construction

 

(a)

Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to:

 

  (i)

the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Coordinator, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Finance Party, any Lender, the Borrower or any Party shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees to, or of, its rights and/or obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description;

 

26


  (iii)

a Finance Document or a Transaction Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or Transaction Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated;

 

  (iv)

indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

 

  (v)

a person includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium, partnership or other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality);

 

  (vi)

a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

 

  (vii)

a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted from time to time; and

 

  (viii)

a time of day is a reference to Brussels time.

 

(b)

Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.

 

(c)

Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.

 

(d)

A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived.

 

(e)

A reference in this Agreement to a page or screen of an information service displaying a rate shall include:

 

  (i)

any replacement page of that information service which displays that rate; and

 

  (ii)

the appropriate page of such other information service which displays that rate from time to time in place of that information service,

and, if such page or service ceases to be available, shall include any other page or service displaying that rate specified by the Agent after consultation with the Borrower.

 

(f)

A reference in this Agreement to a Central Bank Rate shall include any successor rate to, or replacement rate for, that rate.

 

(g)

Any Reference Rate Supplement overrides anything in:

 

  (i)

Schedule 12 (Reference Rate Terms); or

 

  (ii)

any earlier Reference Rate Supplement.

 

(h)

A Compounding Methodology Supplement relating to the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate or the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate overrides anything relating to that rate in:

 

  (i)

Schedule 13 (Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate) or Schedule 14 (Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate), as the case may be; or

 

27


  (ii)

any earlier Compounding Methodology Supplement.

 

(i)

A reference to “the date of this Agreement” means 20 November 2023.

 

1.3

Belgian terms

 

(a)

In this Agreement, where it relates to any Belgian entity or Security, a reference to:

 

  (i)

gross negligence means zware fout/faute grave;

 

  (ii)

wilful misconduct means opzet/intention;

 

  (iii)

a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer includes any vereffeningsdeskundige/praticien de la liquidation, herstructureringsdeskundige/praticien de la réorganisation, curator/curateur, vereffenaar/liquidateur, gedelegeerd rechter/juge délégué, gerechtsmandataris/mandataire de justice, voorlopig bewindvoerder/administrateur provisoire, mandataris ad hoc/mandataire ad hoc, ondernemingsbemiddelaar/médiateur d’entreprise, as applicable;

 

  (iv)

a person being unable to pay its debts is that person being in a state of cessation of payments (staking van betaling/cessation de paiements);

 

  (v)

a suspension of payments, moratorium of any indebtedness or reorganisation includes any of those terms in the context of any gerechtelijke reorganisatie/réorganisation judiciaire, overdracht onder gerechtelijk gezag/transfert sous autorité judiciaire, staking van betaling/cessation de paiements or any other legal proceeding based on Book XX, Title V/I (Insolventie van Ondernemingen/Insolvabilité des entreprises – Gerechtelijke reorganisatie / Réorganisation judiciaire) or Title V/II (Insolventie van Ondernemingen/Insolvabilité des entreprises – Overdracht onder gerechtelijk gezag/Transfert sous autorité judiciaire) of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit économique);

 

  (vi)

commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness includes any negotiations conducted with a view to reaching a settlement agreement (minnelijk akkoord/accord amiable) with one or more of its creditors pursuant to Book XX, Title IV (Minnelijk akkoord buiten gerechtelijke reorganisatie/Accord amiable hors réorganisation judiciaire), Book XX, Title V/1, Chapter 1 (Openbare gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een minnelijk akkoord/ Réorganisation judiciaire publique par accord amiable), or Book XX, Title V/1, Chapter 4, Section 2 (Besloten gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een minnellijk akkoord/Réorganisation judiciaire privée par accord amiable) of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit économique);

 

  (vii)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement includes a settlement agreement outside judicial reorganisation (minnelijk akkoord buiten gerechtelijke reorganisatie/accord amiable hors réorganisation judiciaire), a judicial reorganisation (gerechtelijke reorganisatie/réorganisation judiciaire) (including openbare gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een minnelijk akkoord/réorganisation judiciaire publique par accord amiable, openbare gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een collectief akkoord/réorganisation judiciaire publique par un accord collectif, besloten gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een minnelijk akkoord/réorganisation judiciaire privée par accord amiable, or besloten gerechtelijke reorganisatie door een collectief akkoord/réorganisation judiciaire privée par un accord collectif), or a transfer under judicial authority (overdracht onder gerechtelijk gezag/transfert sous autorité judiciaire) pursuant to Book XX, Titles IV, V/I or V/II of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit économique), as applicable;

 

28


  (viii)

winding up, administration or dissolution includes any vereffening/liquidation, ontbinding/dissolution, faillissement/faillite, besloten voorbereiding van het faillissement/préparation privée d’une faillite and sluiting van een onderneming/fermeture d’une enterprise;

 

  (ix)

insolvency includes any insolventieprocedure/procedure d’insolvabilité, gerechtelijke reorganisatie/réorganisation judiciaire, overdracht onder gerechtelijk gezag/transfert sous autorité judiciaire, besloten voorbereiding van het faillissement/préparation privée d’une faillite faillissement/faillite and any other concurrence between creditors (samenloop van schuldeisers/concours des créanciers);

 

  (x)

an expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or analogous process includes any uitvoerend beslag/saisie exécutoire and bewarend beslag/saisie conservatoire;

 

  (xi)

an amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction includes a overdracht van algemeenheid/transfert d’universalité, overdracht van bedrijfstak/transfert de branche d’activité, splitsing/scission and fusie/fusion and an assimilated transaction (gelijkgestelde verrichting/opération assimilée) in accordance with the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations;

 

  (xii)

a ship mortgage means a scheepshypotheek/hypothèque maritime;

 

  (xiii)

the Belgian Civil Code means the Belgian oud Burgerlijk Wetboek/ancien Code Civil of 21 March 1804 and, with effect from its applicable effective date, the Belgian new Burgerlijk Wetboek/Code Civil introduced pursuant to the Wet van 13 april 2019 tot invoering van een Burgerlijk Wetboek en tot invoeging van boek 8 “Bewijs” in dat Wetboek/Loi de 13 avril 2019 portant création d’un Code civil et y insérant un livre 8 « La preuve », as amended from time to time;

 

  (xiv)

the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations means the Belgian Wetboek van vennootschappen en verenigingen/Code des sociétés et des associations dated 23 March 2019, as amended from time to time;

 

  (xv)

constitutional documents means the incorporation deed and the most recently (coordinated) version of its articles of association;

 

  (xvi)

the Royal Decree implementing the Belgian Income Tax Code means the Koninklijk Besluit tot uitvoering van het Wetboek van de inkomstenbelastingen 1992 /Arrêté royal d’exécution du Code des impôts sur les revenus 1992, as amended from time to time; and

 

  (xvii)

an entity being incorporated in Belgium or of which its jurisdiction of incorporation is Belgium, means that such Borrower has its statutory seat in Belgium.

 

(b)

Each Party agrees to waive Article 5.74 of the Belgian Civil Code and agrees that it shall not be entitled to make any claim or exercise any rights under Article 5.74 of the Belgian Civil Code. Each Party agrees that this waiver and agreement applies to all Finance Documents governed by Belgian law.

 

(c)

To the extent Belgian law governs the Parties’ non-contractual obligations and to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Party expressly and irrevocably waives (for itself and on behalf of any of its Affiliates) any non-contractual claim or right it may have against each other Party pursuant to article 6.3, §1 of the Belgian Civil Code in respect of any breach by a Party of any of its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

29


(d)

To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Party expressly and irrevocably waives (for itself and on behalf of any of its affiliates) any non-contractual claim and right it may have against any Auxiliaries of each other Party pursuant to article 6.3, §2 of the Belgian Civil Code in connection with the Finance Documents. For the purposes of hereof, “Auxiliary” means any person or entity who performs (in whole or in part) any obligation of a Party, is engaged in relation to the performance of any obligation under the Finance Documents, or represents a Party in connection with the Finance Documents (whether in its own name and/or for its own account, or in the name and/or for the account of a Party), including auxiliaries (“hulppersonen/auxiliaires”) of a Party as referred to in article 6.3, §2 of the Belgian Civil Code. This includes any affiliate, director, officer, board member, manager, employee, founder, member, partner, shareholder, associate, volunteer, agent, attorney, advisor or contractor of a Party. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition also includes any subsequent tiers of such auxiliaries, including any secondary, tertiary, or further removed auxiliaries, irrespective of their level or order in the chain of appointment.

 

1.4

Third Party Rights

 

(a)

Unless expressly provided to the contrary in a Finance Document a person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the Third Parties Act) to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

 

(b)

Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time.

 

(c)

Any person described in paragraph (b) of Clause 26.11 (Exclusion of liability) may, subject to this Clause 1.4 and the Third Parties Act, rely on any Clause of this Agreement which expressly confers rights on it.

 

2.

THE FACILITIES

 

2.1

The Facilities

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower:

 

  (a)

a term loan bridge facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments;

 

  (b)

a term loan bridge facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments;

 

  (c)

a term loan bridge facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Margin Loan Bridge Facility Commitments; and

 

  (d)

a term loan bridge facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments.

 

2.2

Increase

 

(a)

The Borrower may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling ten (10) Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:

 

  (i)

the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with paragraph (g) of Clause 9.13 (Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender); or

 

30


  (ii)

the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with:

 

  (A)

Clause 9.1 (Illegality); or

 

  (B)

Paragraph (a) of Clause 9.13 (Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender),

request that the Commitments relating to any Facility be increased (and the Commitments relating to that Facility shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments relating to that Facility so cancelled as follows:

 

  (i)

the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Eligible Institutions (each an Increase Lender) selected by the Borrower (each of which shall not be a member of the Group) and each of which confirms in writing (whether in the relevant Increase Confirmation or otherwise) its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

  (ii)

the Borrower and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Borrower and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

  (iii)

each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

  (iv)

the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and

 

  (v)

any increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility shall take effect on the date specified by the Borrower in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in paragraph (b) are satisfied.

 

(b)

An increase in the Commitments relating to a Facility will only be effective on:

 

  (i)

the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender; and

 

  (ii)

in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase, the Agent being satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Increase Lender upon being so satisfied.

 

(c)

Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.

 

(d)

The Borrower shall, promptly on demand, pay the Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 2.2 (Increase).

 

31


(e)

The Increase Lender shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee in an amount equal to the fee which would be payable under Clause 23.4 (Transfer fee) if the increase was a transfer pursuant to Clause 23.6 (Procedure for transfer) and if the Increase Lender was a New Lender.

 

(f)

The Borrower may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Borrower and the Increase Lender in a letter between the Borrower and the Increase Lender setting out that fee. A reference in this Agreement to a Fee Letter shall include any letter referred to in this paragraph.

 

(g)

Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to find an Increase Lender and in no event shall any Lender whose Commitment is replaced by an Increase Lender be required to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

(h)

Clause 23.5 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:

 

  (i)

an Existing Lender were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;

 

  (ii)

the New Lender were references to that Increase Lender; and

 

  (iii)

a re-transfer were references to a transfer.

 

2.3

Finance Parties’ rights and obligations

 

(a)

The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from the Borrower shall be a separate and independent debt.

 

(c)

A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.

 

2.4

Extension option

 

(a)

The Borrower may request that the Termination Date applicable to each of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility and the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility be extended, subject to the terms of this Clause 2.4, by delivering to the Agent an Extension Request not less than 5 Business Days before the Original Termination Date, for a further period of six (6) Months (the Extension) (the Extended Termination Date).

 

(b)

Following the delivery of an Extension Request in accordance with paragraph (a) above, the Termination Date applicable to each of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility and the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility will be extended by the Extension provided that:

 

  (i)

no Default has occurred and is then continuing or would occur as a result of the Extension;

 

32


  (ii)

at the time of delivery of the Extension Request and at the Original Termination Date, the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are correct in all material respects; and

 

  (iii)

the Borrower has paid three (3) days before the Original Termination Date to the Agent (for the account of the Lenders pro rata) an extension fee equal to:

 

  (A)

in case the Total Commitments outstanding under this Agreement at the date on which the extension fee is paid are equal to or more than USD 300,000,000, 0.50 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Total Commitments being extended; and

 

  (B)

in case the Total Commitments outstanding under this Agreement at the date on which the extension fee is paid are less than USD 300,000,000, 0.25 per cent. of the aggregate amount of the Total Commitments being extended.

 

(c)

The Extension always applies to each of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility and the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility.

 

(d)

An Extension Request shall be irrevocable.

 

(e)

The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of any such Extension Request.

 

3.

PURPOSE

 

3.1

Purpose

 

(a)

The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility towards:

 

  (i)

the financing of the SPA Acquisition; and

 

  (ii)

the financing of the SPA Bid Costs.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility towards:

 

  (i)

the financing of the Bid Acquisition; and

 

  (ii)

the financing of the Bid Costs.

 

(c)

The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Margin Loan Bridge Facility towards the refinancing of any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreements.

 

(d)

The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility towards:

 

  (i)

the financing of the Reopening Acquisition; and

 

  (ii)

the financing of the Reopening Costs.

 

3.2

Monitoring

No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

33


4.

CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION

 

4.1

Initial conditions precedent

 

(a)

The Borrower may not:

 

  (i)

request the Issuing Bank to issue a Bid Certificate pursuant to Clause 5.1 (Delivery of a request for a Bid Certificate), unless the Agent has received all of the Initial Conditions Precedent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the SPA Closing Date has occurred; and

 

  (ii)

deliver a Utilisation Request, and the Lenders will not be obliged to comply with Clause 7.4 (Lenders’ participation) in relation to any Loan, unless on or before the Utilisation Date for that utilisation the Agent has received the following conditions precedent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent:

 

  (A)

in relation to the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan: the Initial Conditions Precedent and the Refinancing Conditions Precedent;

 

  (B)

in relation to a SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan: the Initial Conditions Precedent and the SPA Conditions Precedent;

 

  (C)

in relation to a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan: the Initial Conditions Precedent and the Bid Conditions Precedent; and

 

  (D)

in relation to a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan: the Reopening Conditions Precedent.

The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

(b)

Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in paragraph (a) above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.

 

4.2

Further conditions precedent for the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan and the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan

Subject to Clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent), the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 7.4 (Lenders’ participation) in relation to the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan and the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan, if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

  (a)

no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan;

 

  (b)

no Sanctions Event is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; and

 

  (c)

the Repeating Representations to be made by the Borrower are true in all material respects.

 

4.3

Maximum number of Loans

 

(a)

The Borrower may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed Loan:

 

  (i)

more than 2 SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans would be outstanding;

 

  (ii)

more than 2 Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans would be outstanding;

 

34


  (iii)

more than 2 Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loans would be outstanding; or

 

  (iv)

more than 1 Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans would be outstanding.

 

(b)

The Borrower may not request that a Loan be divided.

 

4.4

Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans during the Certain Funds Period

 

(a)

During the Certain Funds Period and notwithstanding any provision in the Finance Documents to the contrary, a Lender is not entitled to:

 

  (i)

refuse to participate in or make available any Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

  (ii)

cancel any of its Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

  (iii)

rescind, terminate or cancel the Finance Documents or exercise any similar right or remedy or make or take any action or make or enforce any claim under or in respect of any Finance Document it may have in respect of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

  (iv)

exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim or similar right or remedy in respect of any Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan; or

 

  (v)

cancel, accelerate or cause repayment or prepayment of any amounts owing under this Agreement or under any other Finance Document of any Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan,

unless the entitlement to take any of the foregoing action arises because the Initial Conditions Precedent or the Bid Conditions Precedent have not been complied with (the Certain Funds Provision).

 

(b)

The Finance Parties agree that the utilisation of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility during the Certain Funds Period will only be subject to the Certain Funds Provision and during the Certain Funds Period no rights will be exercised by any Lender, the Agent or any other Finance Party or otherwise (such as rights of rescission) which could affect the making of a Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan or its application other than as expressly contemplated above.

 

(c)

Immediately upon the expiry of the Certain Funds Period, all such rights, remedies and entitlements shall be available to the Finance Parties notwithstanding that they may not have been used or been available for use during the Certain Funds Period.

 

4.5

Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans during the Reopening Certain Funds Period

 

(a)

During the Reopening Certain Funds Period and notwithstanding any provision in the Finance Documents to the contrary, a Lender is not entitled to:

 

  (i)

refuse to participate in or make available any Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

  (ii)

cancel any of its Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

  (iii)

rescind, terminate or cancel the Finance Documents or exercise any similar right or remedy or make or take any action or make or enforce any claim under or in respect of any Finance Document it may have in respect of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility to the extent to do so would prevent or limit the making of a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan;

 

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  (iv)

exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim or similar right or remedy in respect of any Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan; or

 

  (v)

cancel, accelerate or cause repayment or prepayment of any amounts owing under this Agreement or under any other Finance Document of any Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan,

unless the entitlement to take any of the foregoing actions arises because the Reopening Conditions Precedent have not been complied with (the Reopening Certain Funds Provision).

 

(b)

The Finance Parties agree that the utilisation of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility during the Reopening Certain Funds Period will only be subject to the Reopening Certain Funds Provision and during the Reopening Certain Funds Period no rights will be exercised by any Lender, the Agent or any other Finance Party or otherwise (such as rights of rescission) which could affect the making of a Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan or its application other than as expressly contemplated above.

 

(c)

Immediately upon the expiry of the Reopening Certain Funds Period, all such rights, remedies and entitlements shall be available to the Finance Parties notwithstanding that they may not have been used or been available for use during the Reopening Certain Funds Period.

 

5.

BID CERTIFICATE

 

5.1

Delivery of a request for a Bid Certificate

 

(a)

During the Certain Funds Period, the Borrower may, if it gives the Issuing Bank not less than one Business Day notice by delivering to the Issuing Bank a Bid Certificate Request, request the Issuing Bank to issue a Bid Certificate.

 

(b)

The Borrower may submit more than one Bid Certificate Request it being understood that the aggregate amount of Bid Certificates issued should not exceed the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments.

 

(c)

A Bid Certificate Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly given unless:

 

  (i)

it specifies that it is for a Bid Certificate;

 

  (ii)

the proposed issue date for the Bid Certificate is a Business Day within the Availability Period applicable to the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility; and

 

  (iii)

the aggregate amount of the proposed Bid Certificate must be an amount in USD which does not exceed the Available Facility in relation to the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment.

 

5.2

Issue of a Bid Certificate

If the conditions set out in this Agreement in respect of the issue of a Bid Certificate have been met, the Issuing Bank shall issue the Bid Certificate within one Business Day from receiving the Bid Certificate Request under Clause 5.1 (Delivery of a request for a Bid Certificate).

 

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6.

REOPENING CERTIFICATE

 

6.1

Delivery of a request for a Reopening Certificate

 

(a)

During the Reopening Certain Funds Period, the Borrower may, by delivering to the Issuing Bank a Reopening Certificate Request, request the Issuing Bank to issue a Reopening Certificate.

 

(b)

A Reopening Certificate Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly given unless:

 

  (i)

it specifies that it is for a Reopening Certificate;

 

  (ii)

the proposed issue date for the Reopening Certificate is a Business Day within the Availability Period applicable to the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility; and

 

  (iii)

the aggregate amount of the proposed Reopening Certificate must be an amount in USD which does not exceed the Available Facility in relation to the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment.

 

6.2

Issue of a Reopening Certificate

If the conditions set out in this Agreement in respect of the issue of a Reopening Certificate have been met, the Issuing Bank shall immediately issue the Reopening Certificate upon receiving the Reopening Certificate Request under Clause 6.1 (Delivery of a request for a Reopening Certificate).

 

7.

UTILISATION

 

7.1

Delivery of a Utilisation Request

The Borrower may utilise a Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time, except for any Loan to be made on the first Utilisation Date under this Agreement, for which an agreed form Utilisation Request must be delivered 3 Business Days prior to such first Utilisation Date and a duly completed Utilisation Request must be delivered before 9.30 a.m. CET on the first Utilisation Date.

 

7.2

Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

(a)

Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

 

  (i)

it identifies the Facility to be utilised;

 

  (ii)

the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period applicable to that Facility;

 

  (iii)

the currency and amount of the Loan comply with Clause 7.3 (Currency); and

 

  (iv)

the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 11 (Interest Periods).

 

(b)

Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request.

 

7.3

Currency

The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be USD.

 

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7.4

Lenders’ participation

 

(a)

If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.

 

(b)

The amount of each Lender’s participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan.

 

(c)

The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan, the amount of its participation in that Loan, in each case by the Specified Time.

 

7.5

Limitation on Loans

The Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan may only be utilised:

 

  (i)

on the first Utilisation Date; and

 

  (ii)

provided that:

 

  (A)

the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan has been utilised simultaneously; and

 

  (B)

the amount of the Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan does not exceed the outstanding Financial Indebtedness under the Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreements.

 

7.6

Cancellation of Commitments

The Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the relevant Availability Period.

 

8.

REPAYMENT

The Borrower shall repay the Loans in full on the Termination Date applicable to the relevant Facility.

 

9.

PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

 

9.1

Illegality

If, in any applicable jurisdiction, it becomes unlawful for any Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Loan:

 

  (a)

that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

  (b)

upon the Agent notifying the Borrower, each Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and

 

  (c)

to the extent that the Lender’s participation has not been transferred pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 9.13 (Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender), the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in the Loans on the last day of the Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Borrower or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law) and that Lender’s corresponding Commitment(s) shall immediately be cancelled in the amount of the participations repaid.

 

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9.2

Sanctions

Without prejudice to a Lender`s right under Clause 9.1 (Illegality) if a Sanctions Event occurs:

 

  (a)

the Borrower or the relevant Lender upon becoming aware of such event shall promptly notify the Agent thereof, which shall promptly thereafter notify each Lender and the Borrower as relevant thereof;

 

  (b)

no Lender shall be obliged to participate in any Loan; and

 

  (c)

each Lender may at any time by notice to the Agent and the Borrower;

 

  (i)

cancel its Commitment(s) with immediate effect; and

 

  (ii)

may also to the extent that the Lender’s participation has not been transferred pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 9.13 (Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender) by such notice demand the Borrower to immediately repay that Lender’s participation in the Loans together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued to it under the Finance Documents at the date, specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent and the Borrower, on the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being, no earlier than five (5) Business Days before the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law including any general license or other exception to Sanctions).

 

9.3

Change of control

Upon the occurrence of a Borrower Change of Control or, as from the SPA Closing Date, a Target Change of Control:

 

  (a)

the Borrower shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event;

 

  (b)

a Lender shall not be obliged to fund a Loan; and

 

  (c)

the Facilities will be cancelled and all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts due under the Finance Documents, shall become immediately due and payable.

 

9.4

Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions

 

(a)

Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) below, if the Borrower receives any Distribution from the Target, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans, in accordance with Clause 9.9 (Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations) together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any related Break Costs, promptly after the date of receipt of such Distribution, in an amount equal to the amount of the Distribution.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not be applicable to:

 

  (i)

any Distribution reserved and subsequently utilised between the date of this Agreement and the SPA Closing Date for purposes of repaying or prepaying any Financial Indebtedness under any Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreement in accordance with the terms of the relevant Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreement; and

 

  (ii)

any Distribution paid into the Mandatory Prepayment Account promptly after the date of receipt of such Distribution in an amount at the discretion of the Borrower, but so that the amount standing to the credit of the Mandatory Prepayment Account does not exceed USD 30,000,000 at any time, and to be applied by the Agent in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 9.10 (Mandatory Prepayment Account).

 

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(c)

The Borrower shall ensure that the proceeds of any Distribution received between the SPA Closing Date and the Bid Closing Date and which are in excess of a full repayment of the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility and the Margin Loan Bridge Facility are paid into a Mandatory Prepayment Account as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Borrower.

 

9.5

Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds

 

(a)

For the purposes of this Clause 9.5:

Available Cash means the consolidated (available) cash position of the Borrower calculated on a pro forma basis to include any undrawn amounts under any committed and for such purposes available credit facilities, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) cash available at the Target Group and (ii) cash credited to or committed to be credited to the Mandatory Prepayment Account, in each case, as calculated (A) one Business Day prior to the date of the relevant Disposal and (B) using the same calculation principles as set out in the document entitled “Financial cash position CMB – reporting example” dated 17 May 2024 and prepared by the Borrower.

Disposal means a sale, lease, licence, transfer, loan or other disposal by a person of any asset, undertaking or business (whether by a voluntary or involuntary single transaction or series of transactions).

Disposal Proceeds means the consideration effectively received by any member of the Group (including any amount receivable in repayment of intercompany debt) for any Disposal made by any member of the Group and after deducting:

 

  (i)

any reasonable expenses which are incurred by any member of the Group with respect to that Disposal to persons who are not members of the Group, after repayment of Financial Indebtedness in relation to any existing financing of the asset that is disposed;

 

  (ii)

any Tax incurred and required to be paid by the seller in connection with that Disposal (as reasonably determined by the seller, on the basis of existing rates and taking account of any available credit, deduction or allowance); and

 

  (iii)

the proceeds from any mandatory prepayment otherwise required under this Agreement (including but not limited to the mandatory prepayment under Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale)).

Pro Forma Available Cash means Available Cash including the aggregate amount of Disposal Proceeds to be received by any member of the Group.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall prepay (and shall procure that the Disposal Proceeds received by any member of the Group are up-streamed to the Borrower to prepay) the Loans, in accordance with Clause 9.9 (Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations) together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any related Break Costs, in an amount equal to the following amounts, promptly after the date of receipt of such Disposal Proceeds:

 

  (i)

if the Pro Forma Available Cash is more than USD 80,000,000, up to 100% of Disposal Proceeds provided that the Available Cash immediately following such prepayment does not fall below USD 80,000,000; and

 

40


  (ii)

for the avoidance of doubt, if the Pro Forma Available Cash is equal to or less than USD 80,000,000, 0% of Disposal Proceeds.

 

9.6

Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale

 

(a)

Subject to paragraph (b) below, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans, in accordance with Clause 9.9 (Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations) together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any related Break Costs, promptly after the date of receipt of such cash proceeds, in an amount equal to the amount of the cash proceeds that are effectively received as a result of a Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and/or Permitted Euronav Sale.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not be applicable to any cash proceeds that are effectively received as a result of a Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and/or Permitted Euronav Sale and are paid into the Mandatory Prepayment Account promptly after the date of receipt of such cash proceeds in an amount at the discretion of the Borrower, but so that the amount standing to the credit of the Mandatory Prepayment Account does not exceed USD 30,000,000 at any time, and to be applied by the Agent in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 9.10 (Mandatory Prepayment Account).

 

9.7

Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds

 

(a)

For the purposes of this Clause 9.7:

Acquisition Proceeds means the proceeds of a claim (a Recovery Claim) which are effectively received from a vendor under the Acquisition Documents or any of its Affiliates (or any employee, officer or adviser) in relation to the Acquisition Documents or from the provider of any report in relation to the SPA Acquisition (in its capacity as a provider of that report) except for Excluded Acquisition Proceeds, and after deducting:

 

  (i)

any reasonable expenses which are incurred by any member of the Group to persons who are not members of the Group; and

 

  (ii)

any Tax incurred and required to be paid by a member of the Group (as reasonably determined by the relevant member of the Group on the basis of existing rates and taking into account any available credit, deduction or allowance),

in each case in relation to that Recovery Claim.

Excluded Acquisition Proceeds means any proceeds of a Recovery Claim which the Borrower notifies the Agent are, or are to be, applied:

 

  (i)

to satisfy (or reimburse a member of the Group which has discharged) any liability, charge or claim upon a member of the Group by a person which is not a member of the Group; or

 

  (ii)

in the replacement, reinstatement and/or repair of assets of members of the Group which have been lost, destroyed or damaged,

in each case as a result of the events or circumstances giving rise to that Recovery Claim, if those proceeds are so applied as soon as possible (but in any event within 180 days, or such longer period as the Majority Lenders may agree) after receipt.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall prepay the Loans, in accordance with Clause 9.9 (Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations) together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any related Break Costs, in an amount equal to the amount of the Acquisition Proceeds, promptly after the date of receipt of such Acquisition Proceeds.

 

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9.8

Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds

 

(a)

For the purposes of this Clause 9.8:

Exchangeable Bond Proceeds means the proceeds received by the Borrower under or in connection with the Exchangeable Bond, after deducting any reasonable expenses which are incurred by the Borrower with respect to the Exchangeable Bond.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall prepay the Loans, in accordance with Clause 9.9 (Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations) together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any related Break Costs, promptly after the date of receipt of such cash proceeds, in an amount equal to the amount of the Exchangeable Bond Proceeds.

 

9.9

Application of mandatory prepayments and cancellations

 

(a)

A prepayment under Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions), Clause 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds), Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale), Clause 9.7 (Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds) and Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds) shall be applied to prepay the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan and Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loan pro rata and, when all SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility Loans and Margin Loan Bridge Facility Loans have been prepaid in full, to prepay the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan and the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Loan pro rata.

 

(b)

Amounts required to be applied in accordance with this Clause shall be applied in the following order:

 

  (i)

first, in cancellation of Available Commitments (and the Available Commitment of the Lenders will be cancelled rateably); and

 

  (ii)

secondly, in prepayment of Loans and cancellation of Commitments.

 

9.10

Mandatory Prepayment Account

 

(a)

The Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent to apply:

 

  (i)

the amounts credited to the Mandatory Prepayment Account under paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions) and paragraph (b) of Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale) to pay any interest, duration fee, ticking fees or extension fees due under this Agreement at their respective due date, and any surplus will be applied to make the mandatory prepayments as referred to in paragraph (a) of Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions) and paragraph (a) of Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale) on the Termination Date; and

 

  (ii)

the amounts credited to the Mandatory Prepayment Account under paragraph (c) of Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions) to make the mandatory prepayments as referred to in paragraph (a) of Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions) on the Bid Closing Date immediately after the first utilisation under the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility.

 

(b)

The Agent acknowledges and agrees that (i) interest shall accrue at normal commercial rates on amounts credited to those accounts and that the account holder shall be entitled to receive such interest (which shall be paid in accordance with the mandate relating to such account) unless a Default is continuing and (ii) each such account is subject to the Transaction Security.

 

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9.11

Voluntary cancellation

 

(a)

The Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of USD 5,000,000) of the SPA Acquisition Bridge Facility or the Margin Loan Bridge Facility.

 

(b)

No earlier than the day upon which a Bid Certificate is issued, the Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part of the Bid Acquisition Bridge Facility which exceeds the amount mentioned in the Bid Certificate.

 

(c)

No earlier than the day upon which a Reopening Certificate is issued, the Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility which exceeds the amount mentioned in the Reopening Certificate.

 

(d)

Any cancellation under this Clause 9.11 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably.

 

9.12

Voluntary prepayment

 

(a)

The Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of the outstanding Loan by a minimum amount of USD 5,000,000).

 

(b)

A Loan may only be prepaid after the last day of the Availability Period for the Applicable Facility (or, if earlier, the day on which the applicable Available Facility is zero).

 

9.13

Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender

 

(a)

If:

 

  (i)

any sum payable to any Lender by the Borrower is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up); or

 

  (ii)

any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity) or Clause 15.1 (Increased costs),

the Borrower may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment(s) of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender’s participation in the Loans or give the Agent notice of its intention to replace that Lender in accordance with paragraph (d) below.

 

(b)

On receipt of a notice of cancellation referred to in paragraph (a) above, the Available Commitment(s) of that Lender shall be immediately reduced to zero.

 

(c)

On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice of cancellation under paragraph (a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in that Loan and that Lender’s corresponding Commitment(s) shall be immediately cancelled in the amount of the participations repaid.

 

(d)

If:

 

  (i)

any of the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) above apply to a Lender; or

 

43


  (ii)

the Borrower becomes obliged to pay any amount in accordance with Clause 9.1 (Illegality) to any Lender,

the Borrower may, on 15 days’ prior notice to the Agent and that Lender, replace that Lender by requiring that Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, that Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Institution which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of the transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest to the extent that the Agent has given a notification under Clause 23.9 (Pro rata interest settlement), Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(e)

The replacement of a Lender pursuant to paragraph (d) above shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

  (i)

the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

  (ii)

neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to find a replacement Lender;

 

  (iii)

in no event shall the Lender replaced under paragraph (d) above be required to pay or surrender any of the fees received by such Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv)

the Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to paragraph (d) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer.

 

(f)

A Lender shall perform the checks described in paragraph (e)(iv) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in paragraph (d) above and shall notify the Agent and the Borrower when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.

 

(g)

If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting lender, give the Agent ten (10) Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

  (i)

On the notice referred to in paragraph (i) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately by reduced to zero.

 

  (ii)

The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (i) above, notify all the Lenders.

 

9.14

Restrictions

 

(a)

Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 9 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

(b)

Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty, except for a prepayment under paragraph (a) of Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions), paragraph (b) of Clause 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds), paragraph (a) of Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale), paragraph (b) of Clause 9.7 (Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds) or paragraph (b) of Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds) whereby the amount prepaid shall include principal, accrued interest on the principal prepaid and any relevant Break Costs.

 

44


(c)

The Borrower may not re-borrow any part of a Facility which is prepaid.

 

(d)

The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of the Loans or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(e)

Subject to Clause 2.2 (Increase), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.

 

(f)

If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 9 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Borrower or the affected Lender, as appropriate.

 

(g)

If all or part of any Lender’s participation in a Loan under a Facility is repaid or prepaid, an amount of that Lender’s Commitments (equal to the amount of the participation which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of that Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment.

 

9.15

Application of prepayments

Any prepayment of a Loan pursuant to Clause 9.3 (Change of control), Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions), 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds), Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale), Clause 9.7 (Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds), Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds) or Clause 9.12 (Voluntary prepayment) shall be applied pro rata to each Lender’s participation in that Loan.

 

10.

INTEREST

 

10.1

Calculation of interest

 

(a)

The rate of interest on each Loan for any day during an Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:

 

  (i)

Margin; and

 

  (ii)

Compounded Reference Rate for that day.

 

(b)

If any day during an Interest Period for a Loan is not an RFR Banking Day, the rate of interest on that Loan for that day will be the rate applicable to the immediately preceding RFR Banking Day.

 

10.2

Payment of interest

The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period.

 

10.3

Default interest

 

(a)

If the Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which is two (2) per cent. per annum higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 10.3 shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent.

 

45


(b)

To the extent permitted by applicable law, default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

10.4

Notifications

 

(a)

The Agent shall promptly upon an Interest Payment being determinable notify:

 

  (i)

the Borrower of that Interest Payment;

 

  (ii)

each relevant Lender of the proportion of that Interest Payment which relates to that Lender’s participation in the relevant Loan; and

 

  (iii)

the relevant Lenders and the Borrower of:

 

  (A)

each applicable rate of interest relating to the determination of that Interest Payment; and

 

  (B)

to the extent it is then determinable, the Market Disruption Rate (if any) relating to the relevant Loan.

This paragraph (a) shall not apply to any Interest Payment determined pursuant to Clause 12.3 (Cost of funds).

 

(b)

The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Borrower of each Funding Rate relating to a Loan.

 

(c)

The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the Borrower of the determination of a rate of interest relating to a Loan to which Clause 12.3 (Cost of funds) applies.

 

(d)

This Clause 10.4 shall not require the Agent to make any notification to any Party on a day which is not a Business Day.

 

11.

INTEREST PERIODS

 

11.1

Selection of Interest Periods

 

(a)

The Borrower may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice.

 

(b)

Each Selection Notice is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the Borrower not later than the Specified Time.

 

(c)

If the Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will be the period specified in the Reference Rate Terms.

 

(d)

Subject to this Clause 11, the Borrower may select an Interest Period of any period specified in the Reference Rate Terms or any other period agreed between the Borrower, the Agent and all Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan, provided that an Interest Period of one (1) week may not be selected more than 5 times over the lifetime of the Facilities.

 

(e)

An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date applicable to its Facility.

 

(f)

Each Interest Period shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of its preceding Interest Period.

 

46


(g)

No Interest Period shall be longer than six Months.

 

11.2

Non-Business Days

Any rules specified as “Business Day Conventions” in the Reference Rate Terms shall apply to each Interest Period.

 

11.3

Consolidation of Loans

If two or more Interest Periods end on the same date, those Loans will, unless the Borrower specifies to the contrary in the Selection Notice for the next Interest Period, be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

12.

CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST

 

12.1

Interest calculation if no RFR or Central Bank Rate

If:

 

  (a)

there is no applicable RFR or Central Bank Rate for the purposes of calculating the Daily Non-Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate for an RFR Banking Day during an Interest Period for a Loan; and

 

  (b)

Cost of funds will apply as a fallback” is specified in the Reference Rate Terms,

Clause 12.3 (Cost of funds) shall apply to that Loan for that Interest Period.

 

12.2

Market disruption

If:

 

  (a)

a Market Disruption Rate is specified in the Reference Rate Terms; and

 

  (b)

before the Reporting Time the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participation in a Loan exceed 35 per cent. of that Loan) that its cost of funds relating to its participation in that Loan would be in excess of that Market Disruption Rate,

then Clause 12.3 (Cost of funds) shall apply to that Loan for the relevant Interest Period.

 

12.3

Cost of funds

 

(a)

If this Clause 12.3 applies to a Loan for an Interest Period, Clause 10.1 Calculation of interest shall not apply to that Loan for that Interest Period and the rate of interest on each Lender’s share of that Loan for that Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

  (i)

the applicable Margin; and

 

  (ii)

the average rate notified to the Agent by the Lenders as soon as practicable and in any event by the Reporting Time, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum their cost of funds relating to their participation in that Loan.

 

(b)

If this Clause 12.3 applies and the Agent or the Borrower so requires, the Agent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.

 

47


(c)

Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrower, be binding on all Parties.

 

(d)

If this Clause 12.3 applies the Agent shall, as soon as is practicable, notify the Borrower.

 

12.4

Break Costs

 

(a)

If an amount is specified as Break Costs in the Reference Rate Terms, the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.

 

(b)

Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue.

 

13.

FEES

 

13.1

Upfront fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Original Lender) an upfront fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.2

Second upfront fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Original Lender) an upfront fee with respect to the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.3

Duration fee

[Intentionally left blank.]

 

13.4

Coordination fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Coordinator (for its own accounts) a coordination fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.5

Agency fee

The Borrower shall pay to the Agent and the Security Agent (for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

13.6

Ticking fee

[Intentionally left blank.]

 

13.7

Ticking fee – Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility

 

(a)

As from the Second Effective Date to (but excluding) the earlier of (i) the date on which the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility is cancelled in full and (ii) the end of the Availability Period of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender pro rata to its respective Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitments) a ticking fee (the Reopening Ticking Fee) in an amount equal to 35 per cent. per annum of the applicable Margin for the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility on the Available Commitments for the relevant period, it being understood (for the avoidance of doubt) that paragraph (b) of the definition of Available Commitment shall not be taken into account when calculating the Reopening Ticking Fee.

 

48


(b)

The accrued Reopening Ticking Fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the Availability Period in relation of the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility, on the last day of that Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective and shall be due irrespective of whether the Reopening Acquisition is successfully completed.

 

14.

TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES

 

14.1

Definitions

 

(a)

In this Agreement:

Protected Party means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability, or required to make any payment, for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document.

Qualifying Lender means, in respect of any payments made under the Finance Documents by the Borrower, a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to it and which can receive such interest without a Tax Deduction due to being:

 

  (i)

a professional investor within the meaning of Article 105, 3° of the Royal Decree implementing the Belgian Income Tax Code, which is a company resident for tax purposes in Belgium or which is acting through a Facility Office established in Belgium with which the Loan is effectively connected, other than mentioned in (ii) below; or

 

  (ii)

a credit institution within the meaning of article 105, 1°, a) of the Royal Decree implementing the Belgian Income Tax Code which is a resident for tax purposes in Belgium or which is acting through a permanent establishment in Belgium; or

 

  (iii)

a credit institution within the meaning of article 107, §2, 5°, a), second dash of the Royal Decree implementing the Belgian Income Tax Code, that is acting through its head office and is resident for tax purposes in a country with which Belgium has entered into a double taxation agreement that is in force (irrespective of whether or not the double taxation agreement makes provision for exemption from tax imposed by Belgium) or in a country which is a member state of the European Economic Area; or

 

  (iv)

a credit institution within the meaning of article 107, §2, 5°, a), second dash of the Royal Decree implementing the Belgian Income Tax Code, that is acting through a permanent establishment which (i) itself qualifies as a credit institution within the meaning of the aforementioned article 107, §2, 5, a) second dash and (ii) is located in a country with which Belgium has entered into a double taxation agreement that is in force (irrespective of whether or not the double taxation agreement makes provision for exemption from tax imposed by Belgium) or in a country which is a member state of the European Economic Area; or

 

  (v)

a Treaty Lender.

Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax.

Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

 

49


Tax Payment means either the increase in a payment made by the Borrower to a Finance Party under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity).

Treaty Lender means a Lender which:

 

  (i)

is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty and is entitled to the benefits of such Treaty; and

 

  (ii)

does not carry on a business in Belgium through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected.

Treaty State means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a Treaty) with Belgium which makes provision for full exemption from Belgian taxation on interest.

 

(b)

Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 14 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.

 

14.2

Tax gross-up

 

(a)

The Borrower shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Borrower.

 

(c)

If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by the Borrower or the Agent, the amount of the payment due from the Borrower shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.

 

(d)

A payment shall not be increased under paragraph (c) above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by Belgium, if on the date on which the payment falls due:

 

  (i)

the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or Treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority; or

 

  (ii)

the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Borrower making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) below.

 

(e)

If the Borrower is required to make a Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.

 

(f)

Within 30 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

50


(g)

A Treaty Lender and the Borrower which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for the Borrower to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.

 

14.3

Tax indemnity

 

(a)

The Borrower shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above shall not apply:

 

  (i)

with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party:

 

  (A)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or

 

  (B)

under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party’s Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction,

if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or

 

  (ii)

to the extent a loss, liability or cost:

 

  (A)

is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up);

 

  (B)

would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in paragraph (d) of Clause 14.2 (Tax gross-up) applied; or

 

  (C)

relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.

 

(c)

A Protected Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Borrower.

 

(d)

A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Borrower under this Clause 14.3, notify the Agent.

 

14.4

Tax Credit

If the Borrower makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines in good faith that:

 

  (a)

a Tax Credit is attributable to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, to that Tax Payment or to a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and

 

  (b)

that Finance Party has obtained and utilised and retained that Tax Credit,

the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Borrower which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Borrower.

 

51


14.5

Tax credit clawback

If any Finance Party makes any payment to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 14.4 and such Finance Party subsequently certifies in good faith that the credit, relief, remission or repayment in respect of which such payment was made was not available or has been withdrawn or that it was unable to use such credit, relief, remission or repayment in full, the Borrower shall reimburse such Finance Party such amount as such Finance Party determines in good faith is necessary to place it in the same after-tax position as it would have been in if such credit, relief, remission or repayment had been obtained and fully used and retained by such Finance Party.

 

14.6

Lender status confirmation

Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to the Borrower, which of the following categories it falls in:

 

  (a)

not a Qualifying Lender;

 

  (b)

a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or

 

  (c)

a Treaty Lender.

 

14.7

Tax form

 

(a)

Prior to the date the first time a Loan is made available to the Borrower (and thereafter on the Transfer Date in relation to a New Lender), and from time to time thereafter if requested by the relevant taxing authority, each Lender (other than a Treaty Lender) that is not a Belgian resident shall provide the Borrower with a completed signed Tax Status Certificate. Each Lender (other than a Treaty Lender) that is not a Belgian resident shall promptly inform the Borrower and the Agent if the Tax Status Certificate no longer reflects the status of such Lender, unless the change in such Lender’s status is due to any change in any law or Treaty, or any published practice or concession of any relevant taxing authority.

 

(b)

If a Lender fails to comply with this Clause 14.7, then such Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it provides the Borrower with a completed signed Tax Status Certificate.

 

14.8

Stamp taxes

The Borrower shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that Finance Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes or notarial fees payable in respect of any Finance Document.

 

14.9

VAT

 

(a)

All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).

 

52


(b)

If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the Supplier) to any other Finance Party (the Recipient) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the Relevant Party) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):

 

  (i)

(where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Recipient must (where this paragraph (i) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and

 

  (ii)

(where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.

 

(c)

Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

(d)

Any reference in this Clause 14.9 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (in accordance with the provisions of national law implementing Article 11 of the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112)).

 

(e)

In relation to any supply made by a Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, if reasonably requested by such Finance Party, that Party must promptly provide such Finance Party with details of that Party’s VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Finance Party’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.

 

14.10

FATCA Information

 

(a)

Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:

 

  (i)

confirm to that other Party whether it is:

 

  (A)

a FATCA Exempt Party; or

 

  (B)

not a FATCA Exempt Party;

 

  (ii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purpose of that other Party’s compliance with FATCA;

 

  (iii)

supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party’s compliance with any law, regulation or exchange of information regime.

 

53


(b)

If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not, or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly.

 

(c)

Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and paragraph (a)(iii) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:

 

  (i)

any law or regulation;

 

  (ii)

any fiduciary duty; or

 

  (iii)

any duty of confidentiality.

 

(d)

If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.

 

14.11

FATCA Deduction

 

(a)

Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.

 

(b)

Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction) notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Borrower and the Agent and the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.

 

15.

INCREASED COSTS

 

15.1

Increased costs

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 15.3 (Exceptions) the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement or (iii) the implementation or application of, or compliance with, Basel III, CRD IV or any other law or regulation that implements or applies Basel III or CRD IV (for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, as amended by CRD V).

 

(b)

In this Agreement:

 

  (i)

Increased Costs means:

 

  (A)

a reduction in the rate of return from a Facility or on a Finance Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) overall capital;

 

  (B)

an additional or increased cost; or

 

54


  (C)

a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,

which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document; and

 

  (ii)

Basel III means:

 

  (A)

the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;

 

  (B)

the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and

 

  (C)

any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.

 

  (iii)

CRD IV means EU CRD IV and UK CRD IV.

 

  (iv)

CRD V means EU CRD V and UK CRD V.

 

  (v)

EU CRD IV means each of (A) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC and (B) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.

 

  (vi)

EU CRD V means:

 

  (A)

Directive (EU) 2019/878 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending Directive 2013/36/EU as regards exempted entities, financial holding companies, mixed financial holding companies, remuneration, supervisory measures and powers and capital conservation measures; and

 

  (B)

Regulation (EU) 2019/876 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards the leverage ratio, the net stable funding ratio, requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities, counterparty credit risk, market risk, exposures to central counterparties, exposures to collective investment undertakings, large exposures, reporting and disclosure requirements, and Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.

 

  (vii)

UK CRD IV means:

 

  (A)

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the Withdrawal Act);

 

55


  (B)

the law of the United Kingdom or any part of it, which immediately before IP completion day (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020) implemented Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC and its implementing measures;

 

  (C)

direct EU legislation (as defined in the Withdrawal Act), which immediately before IP completion day (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020) implemented EU CRD IV as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act;

 

  (D)

CRR rules as amended, restated or re-enacted, as such term is defined in Article 144A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; and

 

  (E)

any replacement of the legislation or rules referred to in paragraphs (A) to (D) above following revocation of the relevant retained EU law in the UK, to the extent that such replacement legislation or rules replicate substantially the effect of the law, rules and policy set out in that legislation or those rules.

 

  (viii)

UK CRD V means:

 

  (A)

the law of the United Kingdom or any part of it, which immediately before IP completion day (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020) implemented Directive (EU) 2019/878 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending Directive 2013/36/EU as regards exempted entities, financial holding companies, mixed financial holding companies, remuneration, supervisory measures and powers and capital conservation measures;

 

  (B)

Regulation (EU) 2019/876 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards the leverage ratio, the net stable funding ratio, requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities, counterparty credit risk, market risk, exposures to central counterparties, exposures to collective investment undertakings, large exposures, reporting and disclosure requirements, and Regulation (EU) No 648/20 as each forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act; and

 

  (C)

CRR rules as amended, restated or re-enacted, as such term is defined in Article 144A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, corresponding to provisions of EU CRD V either as determined by reference to PRA documentation published pursuant to Section 5(4) of the Financial Services Act 2021 or, where a particular provision of EU CRD V did not form part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Withdrawal Act, which implement the same Basel III standard as the particular provision of EU CRD V.

 

15.2

Increased cost claims

 

(a)

A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 15.1 (Increased costs) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower.

 

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(b)

Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.

 

15.3

Exceptions

 

(a)

Clause 15.1 (Increased costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

  (i)

attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by the Borrower;

 

  (ii)

attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party;

 

  (iii)

compensated for by Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity) or would have been compensated for under Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 14.3 (Tax indemnity) applied; or

 

  (iv)

attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation.

 

(b)

In this Clause 15.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 14.1 (Definitions).

 

16.

OTHER INDEMNITIES

 

16.1

Currency indemnity

 

(a)

If any sum due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (a Sum), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency) for the purpose of:

 

  (i)

making or filing a claim or proof against the Borrower;

 

  (ii)

obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,

the Borrower shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.

 

(b)

The Borrower waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.

 

16.2

Other indemnities

 

(a)

The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of:

 

  (i)

the occurrence of any Event of Default or Sanctions Event;

 

  (ii)

a failure by the Borrower to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties);

 

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  (iii)

funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Loan requested by the Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or

 

  (iv)

a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party, each Affiliate of a Finance Party and each officer or employee of a Finance Party or its Affiliate, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or officer or employee of that Finance Party or Affiliate) in connection with or arising out of the Bid, the Bid Acquisition, the SPA Acquisition, the Reopening, or the Reopening Acquisition or the funding of the Bid, the Bid Acquisition, the SPA Acquisition, the Reopening or the Reopening Acquisition including but not limited to those incurred in connection with any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or regulatory enquiry concerning the Bid, the Bid Acquisition, the SPA Acquisition, the Reopening or the Reopening Acquisition and unless such loss or liability is caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of that Finance Party or its Affiliate (or employee or officer of that Finance Party or Affiliate).

 

16.3

Indemnity to the Agent

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

  (a)

investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default or a Sanctions Event;

 

  (b)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or

 

  (c)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement.

 

16.4

Indemnity to the Security Agent

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Security Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

  (a)

investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default or a Sanctions Event;

 

  (b)

acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or

 

  (c)

instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement.

 

16.5

Indemnity to the Issuing Bank

 

(a)

The Borrower shall within five Business Days of demand to be made by the Issuing Bank indemnify the Issuing Bank against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it (otherwise than by reason of the Issuing Bank’s fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as an Issuing Bank under, or making any payment in respect of, a Bid Certificate or Reopening Certificate issued upon request of the Borrower.

 

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(b)

The obligations of the Borrower under this Clause 16.5 will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any other person) including:

 

  (i)

any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, the Borrower, any beneficiary under a Bid Certificate or Reopening Certificate or any other person;

 

  (ii)

the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce (i) any rights against, or (ii) security over assets of, the Borrower, any beneficiary under a Bid Certificate or a Reopening Certificate or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security (if any);

 

  (iii)

any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the shareholders or status of the Borrower, any beneficiary under a Bid Certificate or a Reopening Certificate or any other person;

 

  (iv)

any amendment, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of a Finance Document, a Bid Certificate, a Reopening Certificate or any other document or security including, without limitation, any change in the purpose of, any extension of, or any increase in, the Facilities or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document;

 

  (v)

any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document, a Bid Certificate, a Reopening Certificate or any other document or security; or

 

  (vi)

any insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

16.6

Bid Certificate and Reopening Certificate Loss Sharing

 

(a)

If the Borrower fails to indemnify or reimburse the Issuing Bank under Clause 16.5 (Indemnity to the Issuing Bank), the Lenders shall make payments (each a Reimbursement Payment) to the Issuing Bank in accordance with this Clause to the extent necessary to ensure that:

 

  (i)

the Total Loss (as defined below) of the Issuing Bank is (to the extent possible in accordance with this Clause) reimbursed in full; and

 

  (ii)

the Total Reimbursed Amount (as defined below) is shared by each Lender in its Relevant Proportion (as defined below).

 

(b)

On receiving notice of any default by the Borrower referred to in paragraph (a) above (from the Issuing Bank or otherwise), the Agent shall notify each Lender promptly of such default.

 

(c)

Within five Business Days of the date of any notice from the Agent referred to in paragraph (b) above (the Default Notice Date), the Issuing Bank shall provide the Lenders with written details of all (if any) amounts owing by the Borrower to it under Clause 16.5 (Indemnity to the Issuing Bank) as at the Default Notice Date, in respect of which it has not been reimbursed, indemnified or repaid by the Borrower or any other Lender (such amount, being the Issuing Bank’s Loss which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any loss or liability incurred by the Issuing Bank by reason of its fraud, gross negligence or wilful misconduct).

 

(d)

The calculation of Loss in accordance with paragraph (c) above will be carried out on the Default Notice Date and repeated at monthly intervals following the Default Notice Date (each a Test Date).

 

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(e)

Promptly following each Test Date, the Agent shall aggregate the amount of the Issuing Bank’s Loss (the aggregate amount for the Issuing Bank in respect of each Test Date being the Total Loss and the amount of such Total Loss that is reimbursed or required to be reimbursed by the Lenders in USD in accordance with this Clause being the Total Reimbursed Amount).

 

(f)

The Agent shall promptly notify any change in the amount of the Total Loss to each Lender and the Issuing Bank. Subject to paragraph (g) below, each Lender agrees to make Reimbursement Payments to the extent necessary to ensure that:

 

  (i)

the Total Loss of the Issuing Bank is (to the extent possible in accordance with this Clause) reimbursed in full; and

 

  (ii)

the Total Reimbursed Amount is shared by each Lender in the proportion which its Commitment bears to the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders as at the relevant Test Date (the Relevant Proportion).

 

(g)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank agree that no Lender will be required to make a Reimbursement Payment under this Clause to the extent that the amount of such Reimbursement Payment would, when aggregated with all other Reimbursement Payments made by that Lender under this Clause and its participation in any Loans that are outstanding, exceed that Lender’s Commitment.

 

17.

MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS

 

17.1

Mitigation

 

(a)

Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Borrower, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 9.1 (Illegality), Clause 14 (Tax Gross Up and Indemnities) or Clause 15 (Increased Costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents.

 

17.2

Limitation of liability

 

(a)

The Borrower shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 17.1 (Mitigation).

 

(b)

A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 17.1 (Mitigation) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

18.

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

18.1

Transaction expenses

The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Agent, the Security Agent, the Coordinators, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Arranger the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and syndication of:

 

  (a)

this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and

 

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  (b)

any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement,

in each case whether or not the SPA Acquisition and/or the Bid Acquisition and/or the Reopening Acquisition are successfully completed.

 

18.2

Amendment costs

If (a) the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (b) an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 29.10 (Change of currency), the Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement in each case whether or not the SPA Acquisition and/or the Bid Acquisition and/or the Reopening Acquisition is successfully completed.

 

18.3

Enforcement costs

The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document.

 

19.

REPRESENTATIONS

The Borrower makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 19 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement.

 

19.1

Status

 

(a)

It is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

(b)

It has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.

 

19.2

Binding obligations

Subject to any general principles of law limiting its obligations which are specifically referred to in any legal opinion delivered pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) and Schedule 2 (Conditions Precedent):

 

  (a)

the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Transaction Document are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations; and

 

  (b)

(without limiting the generality of paragraph (a) above), each Transaction Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Transaction Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.

 

19.3

Non-conflict with other obligations

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not and will not conflict with:

 

  (a)

any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

  (b)

its constitutional documents; or

 

  (c)

any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any of its assets.

 

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19.4

Power and authority

It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated by those Transaction Documents.

 

19.5

Validity and admissibility in evidence

 

(a)

All Authorisations required or desirable:

 

  (i)

to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and in relation to the Bid and the Reopening; and

 

  (ii)

to make the Transaction Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation,

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.

 

(b)

All Authorisations necessary for the conduct of the business, trade and ordinary activities of members of the Group have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.

 

19.6

Governing law and enforcement

 

(a)

The choice of governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

(b)

Any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

19.7

Deduction of Tax

It is not required to make any Tax Deduction (as defined in Clause 14.1 (Definitions)) from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender.

 

19.8

No filing or stamp taxes

Under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents other than a documentary duty of EUR 0.15 payable in relation to each original copy of a Finance Document if signed or registered in Belgium or, as the case may be, stamp duty of up to EUR 100 that is payable in relation to any Belgian notarial deed.

 

19.9

No default

 

(a)

No Event of Default and, on the date of this Agreement, the SPA Closing Date, the Bid Closing Date and the Reopening Closing Date, no Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Loan.

 

(b)

No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or to which its assets are subject and which might have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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19.10

No misleading information

Save as disclosed in writing to the Agent and the Arranger prior to the date of this Agreement:

 

  (a)

any written factual information contained in the Information Package was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the information or (as the case may be) as at the date the information is expressed to be given;

 

  (b)

the Financial Information Package has been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles as applied to the Original Financial Statements, and the financial projections contained in the Financial Information Package have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information, are fair and based on reasonable assumptions and have been approved by the board of directors of the Borrower;

 

  (c)

any financial projection or forecast contained in the Information Package has been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions and was fair (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the projection or forecast) and arrived at after careful consideration;

 

  (d)

the expressions of opinion or intention provided by or on behalf of the Borrower for the purposes of the Information Package were made after careful consideration and (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the expression of opinion or intention) were fair and based on reasonable grounds;

 

  (e)

no event or circumstance has occurred or arisen and no information has been omitted from the Information Package and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information, opinions, intentions, forecasts or projections contained in the Information Package being untrue or misleading in any material respect;

 

  (f)

all information provided to a Finance Party by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the Bid, the Bid Acquisition and the SPA Acquisition on or before the date of this Agreement and not superseded before that date (whether or not contained in the Information Package) is accurate and not misleading in any material respect and all projections provided to any Finance Party on or before the date of this Agreement have been prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions which were reasonable at the time at which they were prepared and supplied; and

 

  (g)

all other written information provided by the Borrower (including its advisers) to a Finance Party was true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any respect.

 

19.11

Centre of main interests

For the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast) (the Regulation), its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

19.12

Financial statements

 

(a)

Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

(b)

Its Original Financial Statements fairly present its consolidated financial condition as at the end of the relevant financial half year and its results of operations during the relevant financial half year.

 

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(c)

There has been no material adverse change in the business or financial condition of the Group since the date of the Original Financial Statements.

 

19.13

Pari passu ranking

Its payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.

 

19.14

No proceedings

Save as disclosed in writing to the Agent and the Lenders prior to the date of the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement:

 

  (a)

no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has or have (to the best of its knowledge and belief) been started or threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries; and

 

  (b)

no judgment or order of a court, arbitral body or agency which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect has (to the best of its knowledge and belief) been made against it or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

19.15

Acquisition Documents, A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement, disclosures and other documents

 

(a)

The Acquisition Documents contain all the terms of the SPA Acquisition.

 

(b)

The A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement contains all terms of the A-Fleet Acquisition.

 

(c)

There is no disclosure made to the Acquisition Documents or the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement which has or may have a material adverse effect on any of the information, opinions, intentions, forecasts and projections contained or referred to in the Information Package.

 

(d)

To the best of its knowledge no representation or warranty given by any party to the Acquisition Documents or the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement is untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

19.16

Transaction Security

 

(a)

The Transaction Security has or will have first ranking priority and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security (upon release of the Security granted under the Existing Security Documents), other than any Security granted in connection with the Exchangeable Bond.

 

(b)

The Target Shares which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The constitutional documents of the Target do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Transaction Security.

 

19.17

Anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering

No member of the Group or the Target Group nor any of their directors or officers or, to the knowledge of a member of the Group or the Target Group, any of their affiliate, agent or employee, has engaged in any activity or conduct which would violate any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption or anti-money laundering laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction and each member of the Group and the Target Group has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of such laws, regulations and rules.

 

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19.18

Sanctions

No Sanctions Relevant Person is an individual or entity, that is or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled or acting on behalf of, at the direction of or for the benefit of (all as defined by the relevant Sanctions) by a Sanctions Relevant Person that is: (i) the subject or target of any Sanctions or listed on any list of designated persons in application of Sanctions (a Sanctioned Person), (ii) located, organised or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target or subject of Sanctions broadly prohibiting dealings with such government, country, or territory (a Sanctioned Country) or (iii) in breach of Sanctions.

 

19.19

DAC6

No transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents nor any transaction to be carried out in connection with any transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents meets any hallmark set out in Annex IV of DAC6 or any applicable national implementing legislation thereof.

 

19.20

No outstanding tax debt

 

(a)

No member of the Group is materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and no member of the Group is overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax unless and only to the extent that such payment is (i) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 20.1 (Financial statements) to the extent required under the applicable accounting principles, (ii) not yet due and payable or not yet subject to penalties for non-payment, or (iii) incurred in the ordinary course of business and does not materially impair the Borrower’s ability to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

It is resident for Tax purposes in Belgium and is not acting through any establishment it may have in any other jurisdiction for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

19.21

Pledged Target Shares

 

(a)

The Pledged Target Shares (other than the Pledged Target Shares – Registered) are admitted to trading on the relevant stock exchange or securities market on which the Target Shares are publicly traded and constitute either Pledged Target Shares – DTC or Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear.

 

(b)

The Pledged Target Shares—Registered are registered shares in the share register of the Target and constitute Pledged Target Shares – Registered.

 

(c)

The Pledged Target Shares:

 

  (i)

are fully paid and no moneys or liabilities are outstanding or payable in respect of any of them; and

 

  (ii)

have been duly authorised and validly issued.

 

(d)

The Pledged Target Shares are not subject to any Transfer Restrictions other than the Existing Transfer Restrictions.

 

(e)

All Pledged Target Shares – DTC are and will remain registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, maintained in book-entry form on the books of DTC, allowed to be settled through DTC’s regular book entry settlement services and identified by an unrestricted CUSIP; provided that the Borrower may (i) reposition all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – DTC into Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear if so requested by the Agent, pursuant to Clause 21.22 (Repositioning) and (ii) convert, with preservation and continuation of Transaction Security, all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – DTC into Pledged Target Shares - Registered in accordance with the terms of the relevant Transaction Security Document.

 

65


(f)

All Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear are and will remain registered in the name of Euroclear, maintained in book-entry form on the books of Euroclear and allowed to be settled through Euroclear’s regular book entry settlement services; provided that the Borrower may convert, with preservation and continuation of Transaction Security, all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear into Pledged Target Shares—Registered in accordance with the terms of the relevant Transaction Security Document.

 

(g)

The Pledged Target Shares – Registered are and will remain registered in the share register of the Target in the name of the Borrower; provided that the Borrower may convert, with preservation and continuation of Transaction Security, all or part of the Pledged Target Shares – Registered into Pledged Target Shares – Euroclear or Pledged Target Shares—DTC in accordance with the terms of the relevant Transaction Security Document.

 

(h)

The share register of the Target is located in Belgium.

 

(i)

The Borrower purchased and paid for the Pledged Target Shares – Existing in a series of transactions in the amounts and on the dates specified in the Overview of Share Transactions on or prior to December 12, 2022. The Borrower’s “holding period” under Rule 144(d) with respect to the Pledged Target Shares acquired after the date of this Agreement under the SPA Acquisition and the Bid Acquisition will commence, respectively upon closing of the SPA Acquisition and upon settlement of the tender offer in connection with the Bid Acquisition. The Borrower’s “holding period” under Rule 144(d) with respect to the Pledged Target Shares acquired after the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement under the Reopening Acquisition will commence upon settlement of the tender offer in connection with the Reopening Acquisition.

 

(j)

No:

 

  (i)

notification by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than pursuant to their obligations, as applicable, under Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act and/or the Belgian law of 2 May 2007 on disclosure of major holdings in issuers whose shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and laying down miscellaneous provisions (as amended from time to time) or any reporting requirements of the Target under Section 13(a) under the Exchange Act) to or approval from any stock exchange, regulatory authority or similar body or any other person is or will be required;

 

  (ii)

breach by the Borrower or of its Affiliates of the relevant Listing Rules for the relevant exchange for the admission and operations of the regulated market and any other rules or regulations required for the admission of securities to such exchange, including, without limitation, the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or any other similar law or regulation has or would occur;

 

  (iii)

clearance to deal under the relevant Listing Rules or any other similar law or regulation is or will be required by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; or

 

  (iv)

mandatory offer or bid will be required to be made by a Lender or any transferee as purchaser of shares,

as a result of:

 

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  (A)

Pledged Target Shares being subject to Security created by the Finance Documents; or

 

  (B)

the enforcement of a Security Document relating to the Pledged Target Shares or the Security created thereby or any appropriation or transfer of all or any part of the Pledged Target Shares, in each case, by or to a Lender, the Security Agent or any other person, provided that such Lender, the Security Agent or such other person does not hold any other Pledged Target Shares or otherwise have any connection to Target Shares, as applicable, at that time and the Security Agent or such other person is not subject to any relevant additional regulatory regime other than in the United States.

 

(k)

The total number of Target Shares held by the Borrower, as at the date of this Agreement was 50.425.600 and as at the date of the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement is 177.147.299.

 

19.22

Certain US securities law matters

 

(a)

Each Loan is entered into by the Borrower in good faith and at arm’s length and is a bona fide loan.

 

(b)

No Loan is entered into with an expectation that the Borrower would default in its obligations with respect thereto.

 

(c)

The Transaction Security is a bona fide Security to secure the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents, which obligations provide for full recourse to the Borrower, and is not entered into by the Borrower with the intent of facilitating a disposition of any Pledged Target Shares, whether directly or indirectly.

 

(d)

The Borrower agrees that the Pledged Target Shares are bona fide pledged not “without recourse” within the meaning of Rule 144(d)(3)(iv).

 

19.23

U.S. Investment Company Act status

The Borrower is not required to be registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

19.24

U.S. margin regulations

The Borrower is not engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. Neither the borrowing hereunder, nor the use of the proceeds thereof, will violate the provisions of the Margin Regulations.

 

19.25

U.S. beneficial ownership reporting

The Borrower has complied in all material respects with any beneficial ownership reporting obligations under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and requirements under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230 (including the delivery relevant certifications, if applicable).

 

19.26

Repetition

The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by the Borrower by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on:

 

  (a)

the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period;

 

  (b)

the date of each Extension Request;

 

67


  (c)

the date of a Bid Certificate Request;

 

  (d)

the date of a Reopening Certificate Request; and

 

  (e)

the Original Termination Date subject to the Extension being exercised,

in each case except that those contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 19.12 (Financial statements) will, once subsequent financial statements have been delivered under this Agreement, be deemed to relate to those subsequently delivered financial statements.

 

20.

INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 20 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

20.1

Financial statements

The Borrower shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders as soon as the same become available, but in any event:

 

  (a)

within 120 days after the end of each of its financial years:

 

  (i)

its audited consolidated annual financial statements for that financial year; and

 

  (ii)

its audited individual financial statements for that financial year;

 

  (b)

within 90 days after the end of the first half of each of its financial year:

 

  (i)

its audited (based on a limited review) consolidated financial statements for that financial half year; and

 

  (ii)

its unaudited individual financial statements for that financial half year.

 

20.2

Requirements as to financial statements

 

(a)

Each set of financial statements delivered by the Borrower pursuant to paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 20.1 (Financial statements) shall be certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting its financial condition as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up and include a computation (in reasonable detail) as to the compliance with Clause 21.9 (Financial covenants) certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall procure that each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 20.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Agent that there has been a change in GAAP, the accounting practices or reference periods and its auditors deliver to the Agent:

 

  (i)

a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the GAAP, accounting practices and reference periods upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared; and

 

  (ii)

sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial Statements.

 

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Any reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared.

 

20.3

Information: miscellaneous

The Borrower shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests):

 

  (a)

all documents dispatched by the Borrower to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally at the same time as they are dispatched;

 

  (b)

within 60 days after the end of each quarter of each of the Borrower’s financial years for as long as the Permitted CMB.TECH Sale has not occurred, an updated spreadsheet substantially in the form set out in Schedule 16 (Form of CMB.TECH valuation) and otherwise acceptable to the Agent with details of the net asset value of CMB.TECH Shares as at the last day of such quarter and calculated using a method acceptable to the Agent and accounting for the most recent market valuations of any assets of CMB.TECH Enterprises NV and any outstanding debt of CMB.TECH Enterprises NV;

 

  (c)

promptly upon payment of each vessel sale under an MoA, evidence that such payment has occurred in accordance with the relevant MoA;

 

  (d)

promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group or the Target Group;

 

  (e)

promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any judgment or order of a court, arbitral body or agency which is made against any member of the Group or the Target Group, and which might have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

  (f)

promptly upon becoming aware of the relevant claim, the details of any claim which is current, threatened or pending against the vendors under the Acquisition Documents or any other person in respect of the Acquisition Documents; and

 

  (g)

promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may reasonably request provided that if the information relates to the Target or a Subsidiary of the Target such information shall only be made available to the Lenders to the extent it is not prohibited by any mandatory laws and regulations.

 

20.4

Notification of default or Sanctions event

 

(a)

The Borrower shall notify the Agent of any Default and/or Sanctions Event (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence.

 

(b)

Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Borrower shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default and/or Sanctions Event is continuing (or if a Default and/or Sanctions Event is continuing, specifying the Default and/or Sanctions Event and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).

 

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20.5

Direct electronic delivery by Borrower

The Borrower may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to a Lender by delivering that information directly to that Lender in accordance with Clause 31.6 (Electronic communication) to the extent that Lender and the Agent agree to this method of delivery.

 

20.6

“Know your customer” checks

 

(a)

If:

 

  (i)

the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

  (ii)

any change in the status of the Borrower after the date of this Agreement; or

 

  (iii)

a proposed transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such transfer,

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

20.7

Provision of Material Non-Public Information

 

(a)

Neither the Borrower nor its Representative shall provide any Finance Party with any Material Non-Public Information in any document or notice required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or any other Finance Document or in any communication connected with this Agreement or any other Finance Document (each a Communication) without: (i) first notifying such Finance Party in writing that the Communication that it is about to deliver contains Material Non-Public Information; and (ii) the relevant Finance Party having confirmed that it wishes to receive such information and instructed the Borrower or their agent of the person to whom such information shall be delivered.

 

(b)

If a Finance Party has refused to receive such Material Non-Public Information (directly by notice to the Borrower or their agent or by notice to the Agent) or a Finance Party has not provided such notification, the Borrower or their Representative shall only deliver the Communication to the extent that it does not contain Material Non-Public Information, in which event that the Borrower or their Representative shall not be deemed to have breached this Agreement or any other Finance Document.

 

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21.

GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS

The undertakings in this Clause 21 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

21.1

Authorisations

The Borrower shall promptly:

 

  (a)

obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and

 

  (b)

supply certified copies to the Agent of,

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of its jurisdiction of incorporation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Bid Acquisition, the Reopening Acquisition, the SPA Acquisition, the Finance Documents and the Acquisition Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Finance Document or the Acquisition Documents.

 

21.2

Compliance with laws

The Borrower shall comply in all material respects with all laws (including any Environmental Law) to which it may be subject.

 

21.3

Foreign Private Issuer Status

To the Borrower’s knowledge based on the Target’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and without any independent investigation that the Target meets the requirements to qualify as a foreign private issuer (as defined in 17 C.F.R. §240.3b-4(c)), and the Borrower will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Target to maintain such foreign private issuer status.

 

21.4

Pari passu ranking

The Borrower shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.

 

21.5

Financial Indebtedness

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower will not incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

  (i)

as long as the Permitted Trigger is not met, (A) any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement, (B) any Financial Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Margin Loan Facilities Agreement until and including the SPA Closing Date, (C) any existing and new Financial Indebtedness for assets and investments included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast for the period until the end of 2024 and (D) any other drawn Financial Indebtedness related to new projects and/or capex (which is not included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast) the aggregate outstanding amount of which does not exceed USD 125,000,000 at any time;

 

  (ii)

as from the moment the Permitted Trigger is met, and if (A) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set out in Clause 21.9 (Financial covenants), (B) no breach of financial covenants set out in Clause 21.9 (Financial covenants) has occurred as a result of the incurrence of such Financial Indebtedness and (C) neither the Borrower nor any other member of the Group is obliged to maintain or create any security interest over any Target Shares as security for its obligations in respect of such Financial Indebtedness; and

 

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  (iii)

any Financial Indebtedness arising under the Exchangeable Bond.

 

21.6

Merger

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower may not enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any merger with the Borrower provided that

 

  (i)

the Borrower is the surviving entity;

 

  (ii)

such merger would not result in a Borrower Change of Control;

 

  (iii)

no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of such merger; and

 

  (iv)

such merger can reasonably be expected to not be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole)

 

21.7

Insurance

 

(a)

The Borrower will maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets against those risks and to the extent as is usual for companies carrying on the same or substantially similar business.

 

(b)

All insurances must be with reputable independent insurance companies or underwriters.

 

21.8

Change of business

The Borrower shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Borrower or the Group from that carried on at the date of this Agreement, unless approved by all Lenders, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

21.9

Financial covenants

 

(a)

The Borrower will ensure that the consolidated financial position of the Group (which for this Clause 21.9 will include, as from the SPA Closing Date, the financial position of the Target Group) shall at all times during the lifetime of the Facilities be such that:

 

  (i)

Cash is not less than USD 20,000,000;

 

  (ii)

the ratio of Net Funded Debt to Total Capitalisation is not more than 70 percent;

 

  (iii)

the aggregate of Cash and Cash Equivalents is not less than the aggregate of:

 

  (A)

USD 700,000 multiplied by the aggregate of:

 

  I.

the number of vessels owned by members of the Group; and

 

  II.

the number of vessels (other than the vessels referred to in paragraph (a)(iii)(A) I above) time chartered or bareboat chartered to any member of the Group for a period of 6 months or more (inclusive of any optional extensions); and

 

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  (B)

the Dollar equivalent of EUR 45,000 multiplied by the aggregate of:

 

  I.

the number of crew transfer vessels owned by members of the Group; and

 

  II.

the number of crew transfer vessels (other than the crew transfer vessels referred to in paragraph (a)(iii)(B) I above) time chartered or bareboat chartered to any member of the Group for a period of 6 months or more (inclusive of any optional extensions); and

 

  (iv)

Stockholders’ Equity is not less than USD 375,000,000.

 

(b)

In this Clause 21.9:

Cash means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Group’s credit balances on any deposit, savings or current account and cash in hand but excluding any such credit balances and cash subject to a Security Interest at any time (the Relevant Cash Amounts) and where any Relevant Cash Amounts are of a subsidiary of the Borrower, the value of Relevant Cash Amounts in respect of each such subsidiary for the purposes of calculating the value of Cash shall be the value of the Relevant Cash Amounts of that subsidiary multiplied by the percentage direct or indirect shareholding of the Borrower in that subsidiary.

Cash Equivalents means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Group’s:

 

  (a)

certificates of deposit of, or time deposits or overnight bank deposits with, any Lender or any commercial bank whose short-term securities are rated at least A-2 by Standard and Poor’s Rating Group and P-3 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. having maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

  (b)

commercial paper of, or money market accounts or funds with or issued by, any Lender or by an issuer rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group and P-3 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and having an original tenor of 12 months or less;

 

  (c)

medium term fixed or floating rate notes of any Lender or an issuer rated at least AA by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group and/or Aa3 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. at the time of acquisition and having a remaining term of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

 

  (d)

undrawn amounts under this Agreement and other committed, available credit facilities having remaining maturities of more than 6 months which are available for borrowing by members of the Group,

but excluding any of those assets subject to a Security Interest at any time, provided that paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) shall include any such certificates of deposit, commercial paper or notes with or issued by (as the case may be) a bank or financial institution or issuer, as the case may be, which, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, has a similar credit quality to the rating required by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group and Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. as referred to in the relevant paragraph.

Excluded Funded Debt means the lower of:

 

  (a)

USD75,000,000; and

 

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  (b)

the aggregate amount of:

 

  (i)

unsecured non-interest bearing loans; or

 

  (ii)

unsecured loans with a tenor of not more than 12 months,

that form a part of Funded Debt.

Funded Debt means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet provided that Financial Indebtedness shall, for the purpose of this financial covenant, mean:

 

  (a)

subject to paragraph (b), a liability to a party which is not a member of the Group falling within paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) or (f) of Financial Indebtedness and including the principal outstanding amount of the Loan at the date of determination;

 

  (b)

but excluding trade payables, expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, obligations under any master agreement, pension liabilities, and any charter-in obligations to the extent that any such amounts would otherwise be included in paragraph (a) above.

Latest Balance Sheet means, at any date, the consolidated balance sheet of the Group most recently delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 20.1 (Financial statements) and/or most recently made publicly available.

Net Funded Debt means Funded Debt less the sum of:

 

  (a)

Excluded Funded Debt;

 

  (b)

Cash; and

 

  (c)

Cash Equivalents (excluding undrawn amounts under this Agreement and other committed, available credit facilities having remaining maturities of more than 6 months which are available for borrowing by members of the Group).

Stockholders’ Equity means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of the capital and reserves of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet.

Total Capitalisation means the sum of Net Funded Debt and Stockholders’ Equity.

 

21.10

Distributions to shareholders

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower may not:

 

  (i)

declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee (including any management fees to the Permitted Holders) or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share capital);

 

  (ii)

repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve; and

 

  (iii)

redeem, repurchase, defease, retire or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so,

except with the prior written consent of all Lenders.

 

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(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

  (i)

as long as the Permitted Trigger is not met, (A) any action mentioned in paragraph (a) above so long the aggregate of such payments does not exceed USD 15,000,000 over the lifetime of this Agreement and (B) management fees for an amount up to USD 10,000,000 over the lifetime of this Agreement; and

 

  (ii)

as from the moment the Permitted Trigger is met, any action mentioned in paragraph (a) above provided that (A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and which has not been waived or remedied or would result upon payment of the proposed dividend or distribution and no breach of financial covenants set out in Clause 20.9 (Financial covenants) would occur and (B) immediately following the payment of the proposed dividend or distribution on the date of such payment, the aggregate of Cash and Cash Equivalents shall not be less than the aggregate of USD 775,000 multiplied by: (i) the number of vessels owned by members of the Group and (ii) the number of vessels (other than the vessels referred to in (B)(i) above) time chartered or bareboat chartered to any member of the Group for a period of 6 months or more (inclusive of any optional extensions).

 

21.11

Sanctions

 

(a)

The Borrower will not (and shall ensure that no Sanctions Relevant Person will), directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the loans hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country, region or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Facility hereunder).

 

(b)

The Borrower shall not (and shall ensure that no Sanctions Relevant Person shall) use any revenue, proceeds or benefit derived from any activity or dealing with a Sanctioned Person or a Person located, organised or resident in a Sanctioned Country in discharging any obligation due or owing to the Finance Parties.

 

(c)

The Borrower shall (and shall ensure that each Sanctions Relevant Person will) comply in all respects with Sanctions and shall ensure that appropriate controls and safeguards are in place designed to prevent any action being taken that would be contrary to the paragraphs of this Clause.

 

21.12

Anti-corruption law

 

(a)

The Borrower shall not, and shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries or any member of the Target Group will, directly or indirectly use the proceeds of a Loan for any purpose which would breach any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption or anti-money laundering laws, rules or regulations.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall (and shall ensure that each of its Subsidiaries and each member of the Target Group will):

 

  (i)

conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws, rules and regulations; and

 

  (ii)

maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws, rules and regulations.

 

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21.13

Financial assistance

The Borrower will comply in all respects with the provisions of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations relating to financial assistance in relation to the payment of amounts due under this Agreement.

 

21.14

Acquisitions

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower will not:

 

  (i)

acquire a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them); or

 

  (ii)

incorporate a company.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to:

 

  (i)

the SPA Acquisition;

 

  (ii)

the Bid Acquisition;

 

  (iii)

the Reopening Acquisition; or

 

  (iv)

any acquisition in the ordinary course of trading.

 

21.15

Loans or credit

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower will not be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness as long as the Permitted Trigger is not met.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any loan made to a member of the Group:

 

  (i)

for assets and investments included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast for the period until the end of 2024; and

 

  (ii)

for new projects and/or capex (not included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast) so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness incurred under those loans does not exceed USD 125,000,000 over the lifetime of this Agreement.

 

21.16

Further assurance

 

(a)

The Borrower shall promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)):

 

  (i)

to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;

 

  (ii)

to confer on the Security Agent or confer on the Finance Parties Security over any property and assets of the Borrower located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents; and/or

 

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  (iii)

to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

21.17

No guarantees or indemnities

 

(a)

Except as permitted under paragraph (b) below, the Borrower shall not incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in respect of any obligation of any person, as long as the Permitted Trigger is not met.

 

(b)

Paragraph (a) above does not apply to:

 

  (i)

any guarantee made for assets and investments included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast for the period until the end of 2024;

 

  (ii)

any guarantee in respect of any obligation of a member of the Group incurred for new projects and/or capex (not included in the CMB Cashflow Forecast) so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness incurred under those guarantees does not exceed USD 320,000,000 over the lifetime of this Agreement; and

 

  (iii)

any guarantee made in the ordinary course of trading so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness incurred under those guarantees does not exceed USD 10,000,000 at any time.

 

21.18

U.S. margin regulations

Neither the borrowing hereunder, nor the use of the proceeds thereof, will violate the provisions of the Margin Regulations. The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage in extending credit for the purpose of carrying Margin Stock.

 

21.19

Regulation S

Following the occurrence of any Event of Default, none of the Borrower nor its Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed selling efforts, as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act, with respect to any of the Pledged Target Shares.

 

21.20

Bid covenants

The Borrower shall:

 

  (a)

from time to time, keep the Agent informed about any material changes in the status and progress of the Bid;

 

  (b)

except with the prior written consent of all Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned and which consent shall be deemed to have been given if no reply to the contrary is received within five Business Days of such request for consent), not issue any press release or make any statement or announcement which makes reference to:

 

  (i)

any Facility;

 

  (ii)

any Finance Party in connection with the Finance Documents;

 

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  (iii)

any Finance Document,

unless it is contained in an amendment to the Borrower’s Schedule 14D or in its Schedule TO filed with the SEC in respect of the Bid or otherwise required by law, regulation or a competent regulatory authority, provided that a press release, statement or announcement referring to the certain funds shall only be issued if that announcement is substantially consistent with the terms and conditions of the Prospectus, or, to the extent not in a form substantially consistent with the terms and conditions of the Prospectus in relation to the financing of the Bid, in the form agreed with all Lenders;

 

  (c)

not amend or waive or not enforce any other material term or condition of the Bid in a way which would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole) unless required by applicable law;

 

  (d)

not increase (or act that may result in an increase) the cash consideration to be paid in respect of the Target Outstanding Shares to an amount in excess of the Maximum Bid Price without the prior written consent of all Lenders unless required by applicable law;

 

  (e)

ensure that the making and conclusion of the Bid and the Bid Acquisition complies in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations including, without limitation, including the Public Take-Over Law, the Public Take-Over Royal Decree and the European Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014) or with any derogations thereof granted by the FSMA pursuant to the FSMA Letter or otherwise; and

 

  (f)

lever its controlling voting power as shareholder of the Target to the fullest extent to:

 

  (i)

as soon as practically possible following the Bid Closing Date, take all required corporate resolutions and execution steps so as to upstream cash from the Target towards the Borrower in accordance with the options set out in the Structure Memorandum, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders; and

 

  (ii)

ensure that the Bid Closing Date is compatible with a sizeable cash upstreaming occurring during the same calendar quarter and postpone or delay the Bid Closing Date to ensure that such date does not occur in the last 10 days prior to the last day of the relevant calendar quarter in which such sizeable cash upstreaming occurs; and

 

  (iii)

as from the SPA Closing Date, refrain from any major new investment or acquisition (other than a Permitted CMB.TECH Sale) to be made by the Target and in general use its best efforts to refrain from any action that is reasonably likely to impede, delay or otherwise preclude the upstreaming of cash in the amounts and within the timeframe set out in paragraph (f)(i) above (other than a Permitted CMB.TECH Sale); and

 

  (iv)

oppose any proposed increase in remuneration paid by the Target to the Permitted Holders other than remuneration that is (i) at arm’s length terms and (ii) approved by the remuneration committee of the Target.

 

21.21

Reopening covenants

The Borrower shall:

 

  (a)

from time to time, keep the Agent informed about any material changes in the status and progress of the Reopening;

 

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  (b)

except with the prior written consent of all Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned and which consent shall be deemed to have been given if no reply to the contrary is received within five Business Days of such request for consent), not issue any press release or make any statement or announcement which makes reference to:

 

  (i)

the Reopening Acquisition Bridge Facility;

 

  (ii)

any Finance Party in connection with the Finance Documents;

 

  (iii)

any Finance Document,

unless it is contained in an amendment to the Borrower’s Schedule 14D or in its Schedule TO filed with the SEC in respect of the Reopening or otherwise required by law, regulation or a competent regulatory authority, provided that a press release, statement or announcement referring to the certain funds shall only be issued if that announcement is substantially consistent with the terms and conditions of the Reopening Supplement, or, to the extent not in a form substantially consistent with the terms and conditions of the Reopening Supplement in relation to the financing of the Reopening, in the form agreed with all Lenders;

 

  (c)

not amend or waive or not enforce any other material term or condition of the Reopening in a way which would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole) unless required by applicable law;

 

  (d)

not increase (or act that may result in an increase) the cash consideration to be paid in respect of the Reopening Target Outstanding Shares to an amount in excess of the Reopening Price without the prior written consent of all Lenders unless required by applicable law;

 

  (e)

ensure that the making and conclusion of the Reopening or the Reopening Acquisition complies in all material respects with the Reopening FSMA Letter and otherwise with all applicable laws and regulations including, without limitation, the Public Take-Over Law, the Public Take-Over Royal Decree and the European Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014); and

 

  (f)

on a best efforts basis, take the actions in the Reopening Action Plan or alternative actions, in order to prepay the outstanding Commitments at the latest by its Termination Date.

 

21.22

Repositioning

Subject to any legal restrictions, the Borrower will upon first request of the Majority Lenders reposition all Pledged Target Shares acquired under the Share Purchase Agreement, the Bid or the Reopening that are traded on the New York Stock Exchange to Euronext Brussels, it being understood that the Majority Lenders can only make such request until the six-month holding period under Rule 144 with respect of those Pledged Target Shares has been satisfied, provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to comply with such request if, in the reasonable judgement of the Borrower, such repositioning would cause the Target Shares to fail to meet the NYSE’s continuing listing standards.

 

21.23

Compliance with the A-Fleet Closing Mechanics and delivery and payment of individual vessels

The Borrower (i) shall use its reasonable endeavours to comply with the closing mechanics as set out in the A-Fleet Closing Mechanics and (ii) will ensure that the delivery and payment of the individual vessels of the A-Fleet under the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement will in any case take place within a period of 60 calendar days from the Effective Date.

 

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21.24

Acquisition Documents and A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement

 

(a)

The Borrower shall ensure that no party to an Acquisition Document or the A-Fleet Acquisition Agreement agrees to amend, vary, supplement, supersede, waive, suspend or terminate such document in a way which could have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders, including but not limited to a reduction of the A-Fleet Acquisition Amount, except if as a result of the A-Fleet Price Reduction.

 

(b)

The Borrower shall promptly pay all amounts payable to the vendor under the Acquisition Documents as and when they become due (except to the extent that any such amounts are being contested in good faith by a member of the Group and if required where adequate reserves are set aside for any such payment).

 

(c)

The Borrower shall, (and the Borrower will procure that each relevant member of the Group will), take all reasonable and practical steps to preserve and enforce its rights (or the rights of any other member of the Group) and pursue any claims and remedies arising under the Acquisition Documents.

 

21.25

Conditions subsequent

Within 5 Business Days from the SPA Closing Date, the Borrower shall provide to the Agent the SPA Closing Memorandum duly executed by the parties thereto.

 

22.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Each of the events or circumstances set out in Clause 22 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 22.14 (Acceleration)).

 

22.1

Non-payment

The Borrower does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless its failure to pay is caused by:

 

  (a)

administrative or technical error; or

 

  (b)

a Disruption Event; and

payment is made within three (3) Business Days of its due date.

 

22.2

Anti-corruption, sanctions and financial covenants

Non compliance with the provisions of Clause 19.17 (Anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering), Clause 19.18 (Sanctions), Clause 21.11 (Sanctions), Clause 21.12 (Anti-corruption law) or Clause 21.9 (Financial covenants).

 

22.3

Other obligations

 

(a)

Non compliance with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 22.1 (Non-payment) and Clause 22.2 (Anti-corruption, sanctions and financial covenants)).

 

(b)

No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within ten (10) Business Days of the earlier of (A) the Agent giving notice to the Borrower and (B) the Borrower becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

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22.4

Misrepresentation

Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made, unless, but not in respect of the representations and statements set out in Clause 19.17 (Anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering) and Clause 19.18 (Sanctions), the circumstances giving rise to the misrepresentation or breach of statement:

 

  (a)

are capable of remedy; and

 

  (b)

are remedied within ten (10) Business Days of the earlier of (A) the Agent giving notice to the Borrower and (B) the Borrower becoming aware of the misrepresentation or breach of statement.

 

22.5

Cross default

 

(a)

Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.

 

(b)

Any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of a default (however described).

 

(c)

Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group (as applicable) as a result of a default (however described).

 

(d)

Any creditor of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group (as applicable) due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of a default (however described).

 

(e)

No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 22.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than USD 10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

22.6

Insolvency

 

(a)

The Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group:

 

  (i)

is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due;

 

  (ii)

is deemed or is declared for the purposes of any applicable law to be unable to pay its debts as they fall due, subject to a grace period ending on the last day of the relevant payment period;

 

  (iii)

suspends making payments on any of its debts; or

 

  (iv)

by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors (excluding any Finance Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

(b)

A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group.

 

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22.7

Insolvency proceedings

 

(a)

Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to:

 

  (i)

the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group (with the exception of any company which is dormant and the value of whose gross assets is USD 10,000,000 or less);

 

  (ii)

a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group;

 

  (iii)

the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Borrower or any of its assets or the Target or any of its assets or any member of the Group or Target Group (with the exception of any company which is dormant and the value of whose gross assets is USD 10,000,000 or less) or any of their assets;

 

  (iv)

enforcement of any Security over any assets of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group, if the aggregate amount of such assets exceed USD 10,000,000 over the lifetime of the Facilities;

 

  (v)

the exercise in respect of the Borrower of any of the resolution powers under the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009;

 

  (vi)

or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.

 

(b)

This Clause 22.7 shall not apply to any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.

 

22.8

U.S. Bankruptcy Laws

Any of the following occurs in respect of the Borrower in each case under U.S. Bankruptcy Law:

 

  (a)

it makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

  (b)

it commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law; or

 

  (c)

an involuntary case under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law is commenced against it and is not controverted within 20 days or is not dismissed or stayed within 60 days after commencement of the case; or

 

  (d)

an order for relief or other order approving any case or proceeding is entered under any U.S. Bankruptcy Law.

 

22.9

Creditors’ process

Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of the Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group in respect of a sum of, or sums aggregating, USD 10,000,000 or more or the equivalent in another currency, save where, in relation to a conservatory attachment or arrest of any vessel only, such attachment or arrest is discharged within 30 days.

 

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22.10

Unlawfulness

 

(a)

It is or becomes unlawful for the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

It is or becomes unlawful or impossible for the Agent, the Security Agent or the Lenders to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any Security created by, a Transaction Security Document.

 

22.11

Repudiation

 

(a)

The Borrower (or any other relevant party) rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction Security.

 

(b)

Any party to the Acquisition Documents rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate any of those agreements or instruments in whole or in part where to do so has or is, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

22.12

Cessation of business

The Borrower, the Target or any member of the Group or Target Group suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its business, except for the Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and the A-Fleet Acquisition.

 

22.13

Material adverse change

Any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

22.14

Acceleration

On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall:

 

  (i)

in the case of a Specified Event of Default, immediately, or

 

  (ii)

in the case of any other Event of Default which is continuing, if after providing notice to each Lender and being so directed by Lenders whose commitments together constitute the Majority Lenders (each acting independently of each other without coordination),

 

  (a)

cancel each Available Commitment of each Lender whereupon each such Available Commitment shall immediately be cancelled and the Facility shall immediately cease to be available for further utilisation;

 

  (b)

declare that all or part of the Loans, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

  (c)

declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

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23.

CHANGES TO THE LENDERS

 

23.1

Transfers by the Lenders

Subject to this Clause 23, a Lender (the Existing Lender) may transfer by way of transfer of contract (overdracht van contract / cession de contrat) any of its rights and obligations to another bank or financial institution or to an insurer, reinsurer, trust, fund or to other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender).

 

23.2

Borrower Consent

 

(a)

The consent of the Borrower is required for a transfer by an Existing Lender, unless the transfer is:

 

  (i)

to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender;

 

  (ii)

made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing; or

 

  (iii)

to any refinancing entity, including without limitation any insurer, reinsurer, securitisation special purpose entity, trust or fund, for the purpose of that Existing Lender refinancing or hedging its loan exposure, provided no such transfer shall either (a) release the relevant Existing Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or (b) require any payments to be made by the Borrower other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or those granted to the relevant Existing Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

The consent of the Borrower to a transfer must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Borrower will be deemed to have given its consent five Business Days after the Existing Lender has requested it unless consent is expressly refused by the Borrower within that time.

 

23.3

Other conditions of transfer

 

(a)

A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 23.6 (Procedure for transfer) is complied with.

 

(b)

If:

 

  (i)

a Lender transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and

 

  (ii)

as a result of circumstances existing at the date the transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clause 14 (Tax Gross Up and Indemnities) or Clause 15 (Increased Costs),

then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the transfer or change had not occurred.

 

(c)

Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.

 

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23.4

Transfer fee

The New Lender shall, on the date upon which a transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of USD 3,000.

 

23.5

Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

(a)

Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:

 

  (i)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents;

 

  (ii)

the financial condition of the Borrower;

 

  (iii)

the performance and observance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or

 

  (iv)

the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,

and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.

 

(b)

Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it:

 

  (i)

has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (ii)

will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

(c)

Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

  (i)

accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 23; or

 

  (ii)

support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by the Borrower of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise.

 

23.6

Procedure for transfer

 

(a)

Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 23.2 (Borrower Consent) and Clause 23.3 (Other conditions of transfer) a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (c) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.

 

(b)

The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

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(c)

Subject to Clause 23.9 (Pro rata interest settlement), on the Transfer Date:

 

  (i)

to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by transfer of contract its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security, the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations);

 

  (ii)

the Borrower and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender;

 

  (iii)

the Agent, the Arranger, the Coordinators, the Issuing Bank, the Security Agent, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of Transaction Security as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Coordinators, the Issuing Bank and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (iv)

the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender”.

 

23.7

Copy of Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation to Borrower

The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate or an Increase Confirmation, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation.

 

23.8

Security over Lenders’ rights

 

(a)

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 23, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from the Borrower, at any time directly or indirectly transfer, charge, pledge or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:

 

  (i)

any transfer, charge, pledge or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank including without limitation any transfer of rights to a special purpose vehicle where Security over securities issued by such special purpose vehicle is to be created in favour of a federal reserve or central bank (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the European Central Bank); and

 

  (ii)

any transfer, charge, pledge or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,

except that no such transfer, charge, pledge or Security shall:

 

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  (A)

release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant transfer, charge, pledge or Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

  (B)

require any payments to be made by the Borrower other than or in excess of, or grant to any person any more extensive rights than, those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

The limitations on transfers by a Lender set out in any Finance Document, in particular in Clause 23.1 (Transfers by the Lenders), Clause 23.2 (Borrower Consent) and Clause 23.4 (Transfer fee), shall not apply to the creation of Security pursuant to paragraph (a) above.

 

(c)

The limitations and provisions referred to in paragraph (b) above shall further not apply to any direct or indirect transfer of rights under the Finance Documents or of the securities issued by the special purpose vehicle, made by a federal reserve or central bank (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the European Central Bank) to a third party in connection with the enforcement of Security created pursuant to paragraph (a) above.

 

23.9

Pro rata interest settlement

 

(a)

If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 23.6 (Procedure for transfer) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period):

 

  (i)

any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (Accrued Amounts) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period; and

 

  (ii)

the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts, so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

  (A)

when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and

 

  (B)

the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 23.9, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

(b)

In this Clause 23.9 references to ‘Interest Period’ shall be construed to include a reference to any other period for accrual of fees.

 

(c)

An Existing Lender which retains the right to the Accrued Amounts pursuant to this Clause 23.9 but which does not have a Commitment shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote of Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

24.

CHANGES TO THE BORROWER

The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

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25.

SECURITY

 

25.1

Security Agent as holder of Transaction Security

 

(a)

In this Clause:

Finance Party Claim means:

 

  (i)

all obligations and liabilities (whether present or future, actual or contingent, and whether incurred jointly or severally, and whether as principal, guarantor or in some other capacity) at any time owing or incurred by the Borrower to a Finance Party (or any of their successors, transferees or assigns) under or in connection with the Finance Documents, as the same may be amended, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time (including by way of transfer of contract), however fundamental any amendment, supplement, extension or restatement may be, including (without affecting the generality of the foregoing) if the amendment, supplement, extension or restatement would result in:

 

  (A)

a change of the purpose, increase, extension or restructuring of any kind (in whole or in part and including as to its type) of any facility made available under this Agreement; and/or

 

  (B)

an additional facility being made available under this Agreement; and

 

  (ii)

subject to the restrictions set out in this Agreement, any obligations and liabilities referred to under paragraph (i) above which are assumed by any successor to the Borrower further to any merger, demerger, partial demerger (partiële splitsing), contribution of assets or other corporate restructuring affecting the Borrower, any assignment, novation, transfer of contract, transfer of debt, delegation, subrogation of obligations or liabilities, or otherwise.

Security Agent Claim means any amount which the Borrower owes to the Security Agent under this Clause.

 

(b)

The Borrower must pay the Security Agent, as an independent and separate creditor, an amount equal to each Finance Party Claim on its due date.

 

(c)

The Security Agent may enforce performance of any Security Agent Claim in its own name as an independent and separate right. This includes any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guarantees and applications for and voting in respect of any kind of insolvency proceeding.

 

(d)

Each Finance Party must, at the request of the Security Agent, perform any act required in connection with the enforcement of any Security Agent Claim. This includes joining in any proceedings as co-claimant with the Security Agent.

 

(e)

Unless the Security Agent fails to enforce a Security Agent Claim or any Transaction Security within a reasonable time after its due date and except with the consent of the Majority Lenders, a Finance Party may not take any action to enforce the corresponding Finance Party Claim or any Transaction Security unless it is requested to do so by the Security Agent.

 

(f)

The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to require a Finance Party to join in any proceedings as co-claimant with the Security Agent in respect of any Security Agent Claim.

 

(g)

Discharge by the Borrower of a Finance Party Claim will discharge the corresponding Security Agent Claim in the same amount.

 

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  (i)

Discharge by the Borrower of a Security Agent Claim will discharge the corresponding Finance Party Claim in the same amount.

 

(h)

The aggregate amount of the Security Agent Claim will never exceed the aggregate amount of Finance Party Claims.

 

(i)

A defect affecting a Security Agent Claim against the Borrower will not affect any Finance Party Claim.

 

  (i)

A defect affecting a Finance Party Claim against the Borrower will not affect any Security Agent Claim.

 

(j)

If the Security Agent returns to the Borrower, whether in any kind of insolvency proceedings or otherwise, any recovery in respect of which it has made a payment to a Finance Party, that Finance Party must repay an amount equal to that recovery to the Security Agent.

 

25.2

Responsibility

 

(a)

The Security Agent is not liable or responsible to any other Finance Party for:

 

  (i)

any failure in perfecting or protecting the security created by any Transaction Security Document;

 

  (ii)

any other action taken or not taken by it in connection with any Transaction Security Document,

unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(b)

None of the Agent, the Security Agent or the Arranger is responsible for:

 

  (i)

the right or title of any person in or to, or the value of, or sufficiency of any part of Transaction Security;

 

  (ii)

the priority of any Transaction Security; or

 

  (iii)

the existence of any other Security affecting any asset secured under a Transaction Security Document.

 

25.3

Title

The Security Agent may accept, without enquiry, the title (if any) the Borrower may have to any asset over which security is intended to be created by any Transaction Security Document.

 

25.4

Possession of documents

The Security Agent is not obliged to hold in its own possession any Transaction Security Document, title deed or other document in connection with any asset over which security is intended to be created by a Transaction Security Document. Without prejudice to the above, the Security Agent may allow any bank providing safe custody services or any professional adviser to the Security Agent to retain any of those documents in its possession.

 

25.5

Investments

Except as otherwise provided in any Transaction Security Document, all moneys received by the Security Agent under a Transaction Security Document may be:

 

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  (a)

invested in the name of, or under the control of, the Security Agent in any investments which may be selected by the Security Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders; or

 

  (b)

placed on deposit in the name of, or under the control of, the Security Agent at any bank or institution (including any Finance Party) and on such terms as the Security Agent may agree.

 

25.6

Approval

Each Finance Party:

 

  (a)

confirms its approval of each Transaction Security Document; and

 

  (b)

authorises and directs the Security Agent (by itself or by such person(s) as it may nominate), to enter into and enforce the Transaction Security Documents as agent or as otherwise provided (and whether or not expressly in the names of the Finance Parties) on its behalf.

 

25.7

Conflict with Transaction Security Documents

If there is any conflict between this Agreement and any Transaction Security Document with regard to instructions to, or other matters affecting, the Security Agent, this Agreement will prevail.

 

25.8

Release of security

 

(a)

If a disposal of any asset subject to security created by a Transaction Security Document is made (other than pursuant to a Permitted CMB.TECH Sale, a Permitted Euronav Sale or an issuance under the Exchangeable Bond) to a person (which is and will remain) outside the Group in the following circumstances:

 

  (i)

all Lenders agree to the disposal;

 

  (ii)

the disposal is being made at the request of the Security Agent in circumstances where any Transaction Security has become enforceable; or

 

  (iii)

the disposal is being effected by enforcement of a Transaction Security Document,

the asset(s) being disposed of will be released from any Transaction Security. However, the proceeds of any disposal (or an amount corresponding to them) must be applied in accordance with the requirements of the Finance Documents (if any).

 

(b)

If a disposal of any asset subject to security created by a Transaction Security Document is made pursuant to a Permitted CMB.Tech Sale or a Permitted Euronav Sale, the asset(s) being disposed of will be released from any Transaction Security, for the avoidance of doubt, without any consent from the Lenders being required for such release, provided that the proceeds of any disposal (or an amount corresponding to them) must be applied in accordance with Clause 9.6 (Mandatory Prepayment – Permitted CMB.TECH Sale and Permitted Euronav Sale).

 

(c)

One Business Day prior to issuance of the Exchangeable Bond, the Overcollateralised Target Shares will be released from any Transaction Security, for the avoidance of doubt, without any consent from the Lenders being required for such release, provided that the proceeds of any exchangeable bond issuance under the Exchangeable Bond (or an amount corresponding to them) must be applied in accordance with Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds) and that the pro forma ratio of the aggregate amount of Total Commitments (taking into account such prepayment) to the remaining number of Pledged Target Shares does not increase following the issuance of the Exchangeable Bond.

 

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(d)

Any release under this Clause will not become effective until the date of the relevant disposal or otherwise in accordance with the consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

(e)

If a disposal is not made, then any release relating to that disposal will have no effect, and the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents will continue in full force and effect.

 

(f)

If the Security Agent is satisfied that a release is allowed under this Clause, (at the request and expense of the Borrower) each Finance Party must enter into any document and do all such other things which are reasonably required to achieve that release. Each other Finance Party irrevocably authorises the Security Agent to enter into any such document.

 

25.9

Co-security Agent

 

(a)

The Security Agent may appoint a separate security agent or a co-security agent in any jurisdiction:

 

  (i)

if the Security Agent reasonably considers that without the appointment the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents might be materially and adversely affected;

 

  (ii)

for the purpose of complying with any law, regulation or other condition in any jurisdiction; or

 

  (iii)

for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing a judgment or enforcing any Finance Document in any jurisdiction.

 

(b)

Any appointment under this Clause will only be effective if the security agent or co-security agent confirms to the Security Agent and the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Security Agent that it is bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were the Security Agent.

 

(c)

The Security Agent may remove any security agent or co-security agent appointed by it and may appoint a new security agent or co-security agent in its place.

 

(d)

The Borrower must pay to the Security Agent any reasonable remuneration paid by the Security Agent to any security agent or co-security agent appointed by it, together with any related costs and expenses properly incurred by the security agent or co-security agent.

 

25.10

Information

Each Finance Party and the Borrower must supply the Security Agent with any information that the Security Agent may reasonably specify as being necessary or desirable to enable it to perform its functions under this Clause.

 

25.11

Perfection of security

The Borrower must (at its own cost) take any action and enter into and deliver any document which is required by the Security Agent so that a Transaction Security Document provides for effective and perfected security in favour of any successor Security Agent.

 

26.

ROLE OF THE AGENT, THE SECURITY AGENT, THE ARRANGER AND OTHERS

 

26.1

Appointment of the Agent

 

(a)

Each of the Arranger, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

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(b)

Each of the Arranger, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders authorises the Agent to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

26.2

Appointment of the Security Agent

 

(a)

Each Finance Party irrevocably appoints the Security Agent (individually) in accordance with the following provisions of this Clause to act as its agent, in accordance with article 5 of the Belgian Financial Collateral Law and article 3 of the Belgian MAS Law and as beneficiary of a parallel debt (as the case may be) under this Agreement and with respect to the Transaction Security Documents, and irrevocably authorises the Security Agent (acting jointly or severally) on its behalf to:

 

  (i)

execute each Transaction Security Document expressed to be executed by the Security Agent (as the case may be) on its behalf; and

 

  (ii)

perform such duties and exercise such rights and powers under this Agreement and the Transaction Security Documents as are specifically delegated to the Security Agent by the terms thereof, together with such rights, powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto, including the release of the Transaction Security in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Security Documents.

 

(b)

The Security Agent has only those duties which are expressly specified in the Finance Documents.

 

26.3

Instructions

 

(a)

The Agent shall:

 

  (i)

unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:

 

  (A)

all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and

 

  (B)

in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and

 

  (ii)

not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with paragraph (i) above.

 

(b)

The Security Agent shall:

 

  (i)

unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:

 

  (A)

all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and

 

  (B)

in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and

 

  (ii)

not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with paragraph (i) above.

 

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(c)

The Agent and Security Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion. Each of the Agent and Security Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any such instructions or clarification that it has requested.

 

(d)

Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Agent or the Security Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties.

 

(e)

Each of the Agent and Security Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.

 

(f)

In the absence of instructions, each of the Agent and Security Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

(g)

Neither the Agent nor the Security Agent is authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document.

 

26.4

Duties of the Agent and Security Agent

 

(a)

The Agent’s and Security Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

(b)

The Security Agent and, subject to paragraph (c) below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

(c)

Without prejudice to Clause 23.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation to Borrower), paragraph (b) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate or Increase Confirmation.

 

(d)

Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, neither the Security Agent nor the Agent is obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(e)

If the Agent or Security Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(f)

If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, Ticking Fee, Reopening Ticking Fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent or the Arranger) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(g)

Each of the Agent and Security Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied).

 

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(h)

The Agent must provide to the Borrower within five (5) Business Days of a request by the Borrower (but no more frequently than once per calendar month) a list (which may be in electronic form) setting out the names of the Lenders as at the date of that request, their respective Commitments, the address (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention any communication is to be made) of each Lender for any communication to be made or document to be delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents, the electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by electronic mail or other electronic means to and by each Lender to whom any communication under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by that means and the account details of each Lender for any payment to be distributed by the Agent to that Lender under the Finance Documents.

 

26.5

Role of the Arranger, the Documentation Agent and the Coordinators

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, and the Coordinators have no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

26.6

No fiduciary duties

 

(a)

Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Coordinators or the Issuing Bank as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

(b)

None of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Coordinators or the Issuing Bank shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

26.7

Business with the Group

The Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Coordinators or the Issuing Bank may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

26.8

Rights and discretions of the Agent and the Security Agent

 

(a)

Each of the Agent and the Security Agent may:

 

  (i)

rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;

 

  (ii)

assume that:

 

  (A)

any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Lenders or any group of Lenders or the Issuing Bank are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and

 

  (B)

unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and

 

  (iii)

rely on a certificate from any person:

 

  (A)

as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or

 

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  (B)

to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing,

as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.

 

(b)

Each of the Agent and the Security Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:

 

  (i)

no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 22.1 (Non-payment)); and

 

  (ii)

any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Lenders has not been exercised.

 

(c)

Each of the Agent and the Security Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisors, surveyors or other professional advisors or experts when reasonably required.

 

(d)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (e) below, each of the Agent and Security Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if the Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be necessary.

 

(e)

Each of the Agent and Security Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Agent, the Security Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying.

 

(f)

Each of the Agent and the Security Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its officers, employees and agents.

 

(g)

Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise, each of the Agent and the Security Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

(h)

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (g) above, the Agent may disclose the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose the same upon the written request of the Borrower or the Majority Lenders.

 

(i)

Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, none of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Coordinators, the Issuing Bank or the Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.

 

(j)

Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Security Agent is obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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26.9

Responsibility for documentation

None of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Coordinators is responsible or liable for:

 

  (a)

the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Coordinators, the Borrower or any other person in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; or

 

  (b)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or

 

  (c)

any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

 

26.10

No duty to monitor

Neither the Agent nor the Security Agent shall be bound to enquire:

 

  (a)

whether or not any Default has occurred;

 

  (b)

as to the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or

 

  (c)

whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.

 

26.11

Exclusion of liability

 

(a)

Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Agent or the Security Agent), neither the Agent nor the Security Agent will be liable for:

 

  (i)

any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document (including any action taken in relation to the Transaction Security), unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  (ii)

exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, other than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;

 

  (iii)

with respect to the Security Agent, any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Transaction Security; or

 

  (iv)

without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent or Security Agent respectively) arising as a result of:

 

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  (A)

any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or

 

  (B)

the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,

including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of: nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.

 

(b)

No Party (other than the Agent or the Security Agent) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or the Security Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or the Security Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent may rely on this paragraph (b).

 

(c)

Neither the Agent nor the Security Agent will be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent or the Security Agent if the Agent or the Security Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent or the Security Agent for that purpose.

 

(d)

Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Coordinators to carry out:

 

  (i)

any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person

 

  (ii)

any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Lender,

on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Coordinators that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Coordinators.

 

(e)

Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Agent’s or Security Agent’s liability, any liability of the Agent or Security Agent arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Agent or the Security Agent respectively or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Agent or Security Agent respectively at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Agent or Security Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Agent or Security Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

 

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26.12

Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent

 

(a)

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 29.11 (Disruption to payment systems etc) notwithstanding the Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

(b)

The Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above.

 

26.13

Lenders’ indemnity to the Security Agent

 

(a)

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Security Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Security Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Security Agent’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Security Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Security Agent has been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

(b)

The Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Security Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above.

 

26.14

Resignation and replacement of the Agent or the Security Agent

 

(a)

The Agent and the Security Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in Belgium as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Borrower.

 

(b)

Alternatively the Agent and the Security Agent may resign by giving 30 days’ notice to the other Lenders and the Borrower, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent or Security Agent (as the case may be).

 

(c)

If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent or Security Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent or Security Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) may appoint a successor Agent or Security Agent (acting through an office in Belgium).

 

(d)

The retiring Agent or Security Agent must, at its own cost:

 

  (i)

make available to the successor Agent or Security Agent those documents and records and provide any assistance as the successor Agent or Security Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as the Agent or Security Agent under the Finance Documents; and

 

  (ii)

enter into and deliver to the successor Agent or Security Agent those documents and effect any registrations as may be required for the transfer or assignment of all of its rights and benefits under the Finance Documents to the successor Agent or Security Agent.

 

(e)

The Borrower must, at its own cost take any action and enter into and deliver any document which is required by the Security Agent to ensure that a Transaction Security Document provides for effective and perfected Security in favour of any successor Security Agent.

 

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(f)

The Agent’s or the Security Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.

 

(g)

Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent or Security Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (d) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 16.3 (Indemnity to the Agent) (in case of the Agent), Clause 16.4 (Indemnity to the Security Agent) (in case of the Security Agent) and this Clause 26. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

(h)

After consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent or the Security Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Agent or the Security Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above.

 

(i)

If the Agent or the Security Agent is an Impaired Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days’ notice (or any shorter notice the Majority Lenders may agree) replace the Agent or the Security Agent. The replacement of the Agent or the Security Agent and appointment of a successor Agent or Security Agent under this paragraph will take effect on the date specified in that notice and is further subject to paragraphs (d), (e) and (g) above.

 

(j)

The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:

 

  (i)

the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 14.10 (FATCA Information) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

 

  (ii)

the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 14.10 (FATCA Information) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or

 

  (iii)

the Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;

and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.

 

26.15

Confidentiality

 

(a)

In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent and the Security Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

(b)

If information is received by another division or department of the Agent or the Security Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent or the Security Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

26.16

Relationship with the Lenders

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 23.9 (Pro rata interest settlement), the Agent and the Security Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Agent’s or the Security Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office:

 

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  (i)

entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and

 

  (ii)

entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day,

unless it has received not less than five Business Days’ prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)

Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under Clause 31.6 (Electronic communication)) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, electronic mail address (or such other information), department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of Clause 31.2 (Addresses) and paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 31.6 (Electronic communication) and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.

 

26.17

Credit appraisal by the Lenders

Without affecting the responsibility of the Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Coordinators that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

  (a)

the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

 

  (b)

the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

  (c)

whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (d)

the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, the Security Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

26.18

Agent’s management time

Any amount payable to the Agent under Clause 16.3 (Indemnity to the Agent), Clause 18 (Costs and Expenses) and Clause 26.12 (Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent) shall include the cost of utilising the Agent’s management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Borrower and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Agent under Clause 13 (Fees).

 

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26.19

Security Agent’s management time

Any amount payable to the Security Agent under Clause 16.4 (Indemnity to the Security Agent), Clause 18 (Costs and Expenses) and Clause 26.13 (Lenders’ indemnity to the Security Agent) shall include the cost of utilising the Security Agent’s management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Security Agent may notify to the Borrower and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Security Agent under Clause 13 (Fees).

 

26.20

Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent and the Security Agent

If any Party owes an amount to the Agent or the Security Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent or the Security Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent or the Security Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.

 

27.

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES

No provision of this Agreement will:

 

  (a)

interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;

 

  (b)

oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or

 

  (c)

oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.

 

28.

SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES

 

28.1

Payments to Finance Parties

If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party) receives or recovers any amount from the Borrower other than in accordance with Clause 29 (Payment Mechanics) (a Recovered Amount) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:

 

  (a)

the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Agent;

 

  (b)

the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 29 (Payment Mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

 

  (c)

the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 29.6 (Partial payments).

 

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28.2

Redistribution of payments

The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the Borrower and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the Sharing Finance Parties) in accordance with Clause 29.6 (Partial payments) towards the obligations of the Borrower to the Sharing Finance Parties.

 

28.3

Recovering Finance Party’s rights

On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 28.2 (Redistribution of payments) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from the Borrower, as between the Borrower and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by the Borrower.

 

28.4

Reversal of redistribution

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

 

  (a)

each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the Redistributed Amount); and

 

  (b)

as between the Borrower and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by the Borrower.

 

28.5

Exceptions

 

(a)

This Clause 28 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the Borrower.

 

(b)

A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

 

  (i)

it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

 

  (ii)

that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.

 

29.

PAYMENT MECHANICS

 

29.1

Payments to the Agent

 

(a)

On each date on which the Borrower or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, the Borrower or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

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(b)

Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre in such Participating Member State or London, as specified by the Agent) with such bank as the Agent, in each case, specifies.

 

29.2

Distributions by the Agent

Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 29.3 (Distributions to the Borrower) and Clause 29.4 (Clawback) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days’ notice with a bank specified by that Party in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency(or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre in such Participating Member State or London, as specified by that Party).

 

29.3

Distributions to the Borrower

The Agent may (with the consent of the Borrower or in accordance with Clause 30 (Set-Off)) apply any amount received by it for the Borrower in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

29.4

Clawback and pre-funding

 

(a)

Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

 

(b)

Unless paragraph (c) below applies, if the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

(c)

If the Agent is willing to make available amounts for the account of a Borrower before receiving funds from the Lenders then if and to the extent that the Agent does so but it proves to be the case that it does not then receive funds from a Lender in respect of a sum which it paid to a Borrower:

 

  (i)

the Agent shall notify the Borrower of that Lender’s identity and the Borrower shall on demand refund it to the Agent; and

 

  (ii)

the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, the Borrower shall on demand pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding cost incurred by it as a result of paying out that sum before receiving those funds from that Lender.

 

29.5

Impaired Agent

 

(a)

If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, the Borrower or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent may instead either:

 

  (i)

pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s); or

 

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  (ii)

if in its absolute discretion it considers that it is not reasonably practicable to pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s), pay that amount or the relevant part of that amount to an interest-bearing account held with a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of BBB+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or Baa1 or higher by Moody’s Investor Services Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Borrower or the Lender making the payment (the Paying Party) and designated as a pledged account for the benefit of the Party beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents (the Recipient Party).

In each case the payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the pledged account will be for the benefit of the Recipient Party or Recipient Parties pro rata to their respective entitlements.

 

(c)

A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause will be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and will not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the pledged account.

 

(d)

Promptly on the appointment of a successor Agent under this Agreement, each Paying Party must (other than to the extent that the relevant Party has given an instruction under paragraph (e) below) give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the pledged account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Agent for distribution to the relevant Recipient Party or Recipient Parties in accordance with the Finance Documents.

 

(e)

A Paying Party must, promptly on request by a Recipient Party and to the extent:

 

  (i)

that it has not given an instruction under paragraph (d) above; and

 

  (ii)

that it has been provided with the necessary information by that Recipient Party,

give instructions to the bank with which the pledged account is held to transfer the relevant amount (together with any accrued interest) to that Recipient Party.

 

29.6

Partial payments

 

(a)

If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by the Borrower under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of the Borrower under the Finance Documents in the following order:

 

  (i)

first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid amounts owing to the Agent and the Security Agent under the Finance Documents;

 

  (ii)

secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under this Agreement;

 

  (iii)

thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and

 

  (iv)

fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.

 

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(b)

The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (a)(iv) above.

 

(c)

Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by the Borrower.

 

29.7

No set-off by the Borrower

All payments to be made by the Borrower under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

29.8

Business Days

 

(a)

Any payment under the Finance Documents which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

 

(b)

During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.

 

29.9

Currency of account

 

(a)

Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, USD is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from the Borrower under any Finance Document.

 

(b)

A repayment of a Loan or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Loan or Unpaid Sum is denominated, pursuant to this Agreement, on its due date.

 

(c)

Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated, pursuant to this Agreement, when that interest accrued.

 

(d)

Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.

 

(e)

Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than USD shall be paid in that other currency.

 

29.10

Change of currency

 

(a)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

  (i)

any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Borrower); and

 

  (ii)

any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably).

 

(b)

If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Borrower) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

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29.11

Disruption to payment systems etc.

If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Borrower that a Disruption Event has occurred:

 

  (a)

the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Borrower, consult with the Borrower with a view to agreeing with the Borrower such changes to the operation or administration of the Facilities as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances;

 

  (b)

the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Borrower in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes;

 

  (c)

the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

  (d)

any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Borrower shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 35 (Amendments and Waivers);

 

  (e)

the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminuation in value or any liability whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 29.11; and

 

  (f)

the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above.

 

30.

SET-OFF

A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from the Borrower under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to the Borrower, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

31.

NOTICES

 

31.1

Communications in writing

Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by letter.

 

31.2

Addresses

The address (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

  (a)

in the case of the Borrower, that identified with its name below;

 

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  (b)

in the case of each Arranger, each Lender, the Documentation Agent, each Coordinator or the Issuing Bank that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and

 

  (c)

in the case of the Agent and Security Agent, that identified with its name below,

or any substitute address or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

31.3

Delivery

 

(a)

Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 31.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer.

 

(b)

Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agent’s signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent shall specify for this purpose).

 

(c)

All notices from or to the Borrower shall be sent through the Agent.

 

(d)

Any communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraphs (a) to (c) above, after 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.

 

31.4

Notification of address

Promptly upon changing its address, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

31.5

Communication when Agent is Impaired Agent

If the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Document which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Agent will be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision will not operate after a replacement Agent has been appointed.

 

31.6

Electronic communication

 

(a)

Any communication or document to be made or delivered by one Party to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made or delivered by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website) if those two Parties:

 

  (i)

notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means; and

 

  (ii)

notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

 

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(b)

Any such electronic communication or delivery as specified in paragraph (a) above to be made between the Borrower and a Finance Party may only be made in that way to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication or delivery. The electronic mail addresses referred to in Clause 31.2 (Addresses) are accepted for electronic communication as referred to in this Clause 31.6.

 

(c)

Any such electronic communication or delivery as specified in paragraph (a) above made or delivered by one Party to another will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication or document made or delivered by a Party to the Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.

 

(d)

Any electronic communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with paragraph (b) above, after 5:00 p.m. in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication or document is sent or made available has its address for the purpose of this Agreement shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.

 

(e)

Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received or a document being delivered shall be construed to include that communication or a document being made available in accordance with this Clause 31.6.

 

31.7

English language

 

(a)

Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

(b)

All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document apart from any corporate documents (vennootschapsrechtelijke documenten) must be:

 

  (i)

in English; or

 

  (ii)

if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

32.

CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES

 

32.1

Accounts

In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.

 

32.2

Certificates and determinations

Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.

 

32.3

Day count convention and interest calculation

 

(a)

Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and the amount of any such interest, commission or fee is calculated:

 

  (i)

on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days (or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Market differs, in accordance with that market practice); and

 

  (ii)

subject to paragraph (b) below, without rounding.

 

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(b)

The aggregate amount of any accrued interest, commission or fee which is, or becomes, payable by the Borrower under a Finance Document shall be rounded to 2 decimal places.

 

33.

PARTIAL INVALIDITY

If, at any time, any provision of a Finance Document is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

 

34.

REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under a Finance Document shall operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy or constitute an election to affirm any of the Finance Documents. No election to affirm any Finance Document on the part of any Finance Party shall be effective unless it is in writing. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in each Finance Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

35.

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

35.1

Required consents

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 35.2 (All Lender matters) and Clause 35.3 (Other exceptions) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

(b)

The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 35.

 

(c)

Paragraph (c) of Clause 23.9 (Pro rata interest settlement) shall apply to this Clause 35.

 

35.2

All Lender matters

 

(a)

An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to:

 

  (i)

the definition of “Borrower Change of Control”, “Target Change of Control” and “Majority Lenders”, in Clause 1.1 (Definitions);

 

  (ii)

the definition of “Sanctioned Country”, “Sanctioned Person” and “Sanctions” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions);

 

  (iii)

an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents (other than pursuant to the exercise of 2.4 (Extension option));

 

  (iv)

a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;

 

  (v)

a change in currency of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

  (vi)

an increase in any Commitment, an extension of any Availability Period or any requirement that a cancellation of Commitments reduces the Commitments of the Lenders rateably;

 

  (vii)

a change to the Borrower;

 

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  (viii)

the definition of “Specified Event of Default”;

 

  (ix)

any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

  (x)

Clause 2.3 (Finance Parties’ rights and obligations), Clause 7.1 (Delivery of a Utilisation Request), Clause 9.1 (Illegality), Clause 9.2 (Sanctions), Clause 9.3 (Change of control), Clause 9.4 (Mandatory Prepayment – Distributions), Clause 9.5 (Mandatory Prepayment – Disposal Proceeds), Clause 9.7 (Mandatory Prepayment – Acquisition Proceeds), Clause 9.8 (Mandatory Prepayment – Exchangeable Bond Proceeds), Clause 9.15 (Application of prepayments), Clause 19.18 (Sanctions), Clause 21.11 (Sanctions), Clause 21.12 (Anti-corruption law), Clause 21.20 (Bid covenants), Clause 21.21 (Reopening covenants), Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders), Clause 24 (Changes to the Borrower), Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties), this Clause 35, Clause 40 (Governing Law) or Clause 41 (Enforcement);

 

  (xi)

any of the SPA Conditions Precedent, the Bid Conditions Precedent, the Refinancing Conditions Precedent or the Reopening Conditions Precedent; or

 

  (xii)

the nature or scope of the Charged Property and the release of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document,

shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

 

35.3

Other exceptions

 

(a)

An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or a Coordinator (in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Security Agent, the Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank or that Coordinator, as the case may be.

 

35.4

Changes to reference rates

 

(a)

Subject to Clause 35.3 (Other exceptions), if an RFR Replacement Event has occurred, any amendment or waiver which relates to:

 

  (i)

providing for the use of a Replacement Reference Rate in place of the RFR; and

 

  (ii)

 

  (A)

aligning any provision of any Finance Document to the use of that Replacement Reference Rate;

 

  (B)

enabling that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the calculation of interest under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any consequential changes required to enable that Replacement Reference Rate to be used for the purposes of this Agreement);

 

  (C)

implementing market conventions applicable to that Replacement Reference Rate;

 

  (D)

providing for appropriate fallback (and market disruption) provisions for that Replacement Reference Rate; or

 

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  (E)

adjusting the pricing to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from one Party to another as a result of the application of that Replacement Reference Rate (and if any adjustment or method for calculating any adjustment has been formally designated, nominated or recommended by the Relevant Nominating Body, the adjustment shall be determined on the basis of that designation, nomination or recommendation),

may be made with the consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and the Borrower.

 

(b)

If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in paragraph(a) above within 10 Business Days (or such longer time period in relation to any request which the Borrower and the Agent may agree) of that request being made:

 

  (i)

its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the Facility when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

  (ii)

its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

(c)

In this Clause 35.4:

Relevant Nominating Body means any applicable central bank, regulator or other supervisory authority or a group of them, or any working group or committee sponsored or chaired by, or constituted at the request of, any of them or the Financial Stability Board.

RFR Replacement Event means, in relation to the RFR:

 

  (i)

the methodology, formula or other means of determining the RFR has, in the opinion of all the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, materially changed;

 

  (ii)

(A)

 

  (1)

the administrator of the RFR or its supervisor publicly announces that such administrator is insolvent; or

 

  (2)

information is published in any order, decree, notice, petition or filing, however described, of or filed with a court, tribunal, exchange, regulatory authority or similar administrative, regulatory or judicial body which reasonably confirms that the administrator of the RFR is insolvent,

provided that, in each case, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide the RFR;

 

  (B)

the administrator of the RFR publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease to provide the RFR permanently or indefinitely and, at that time, there is no successor administrator to continue to provide the RFR;

 

  (C)

the supervisor of the administrator of the RFR publicly announces the RFR has been or will be permanently or indefinitely discontinued; or

 

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  (D)

the administrator of the RFR or its supervisor announces that the RFR may no longer be used; or

 

  (iii)

the administrator of the RFR determines that the RFR should be calculated in accordance with its reduced submissions or other contingency or fallback policies or arrangements and either:

 

  (A)

the circumstance(s) or event(s) leading to such determination are not (in the opinion of all the Lenders and the Borrower) temporary; or

 

  (B)

the RFR is calculated in accordance with any such policy or arrangement for a period no less than the period specified as the “RFR Contingency Period” in the Reference Rate Terms; or

 

  (iv)

in the opinion of all the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, the RFR is otherwise no longer appropriate for the purposes of calculating interest under this Agreement.

Replacement Reference Rate means a reference rate which is:

 

  (i)

formally designated, nominated or recommended as the replacement for the RFR by:

 

  (A)

the administrator of the RFR (provided that the market or economic reality that such reference rate measures is the same as that measured by the RFR); or

 

  (B)

any Relevant Nominating Body,

and if replacements have, at the relevant time, been formally designated, nominated or recommended under both paragraphs, the “Replacement Reference Rate” will be the replacement under paragraph (B) above;

 

  (ii)

in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, generally accepted in the international or any relevant domestic syndicated loan markets as the appropriate successor to the RFR; or

 

  (iii)

in the opinion of the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, an appropriate successor to the RFR.

 

35.5

Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

 

(a)

For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining:

 

  (i)

the Majority Lenders; or

 

  (ii)

whether:

 

  (A)

any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments; or

 

  (B)

the agreement of any specified group of Lenders,

has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents,

that Defaulting Lender’s Commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments and, to the extent that that reduction results in that Defaulting Lender’s Total Commitments being zero, that Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

 

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(b)

For the purposes of this Clause 35.5, the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

 

  (i)

any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;

 

  (ii)

any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Defaulting Lender has occurred,

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

 

35.6

Excluded Commitments

If any Defaulting Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any term of any Finance Document or any other vote of Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within fifteen (15) Business Days (unless the Borrower and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:

 

  (a)

its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments under the relevant Facilities when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and

 

  (b)

its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.

 

35.7

Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)

The Borrower may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender:

 

  (i)

replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; or

 

  (ii)

require such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Commitment(s) of the Lender; or

to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a Replacement Lender) selected by the Borrower, and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with Clause 23 (Changes to the Lenders) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Loans and all accrued interest (to the extent that the Agent has not given a notification under Clause 23.9 (Pro rata interest settlement)), Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)

Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

  (i)

the Borrower shall have no right to replace the Agent;

 

113


  (ii)

neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a Replacement Lender;

 

  (iii)

the transfer must take place no later than ten (10) Business Days after the notice referred to in paragraph (a) above;

 

  (iv)

in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and

 

  (v)

the Defaulting Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to paragraph (a) above once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer to the Replacement Lender.

 

(c)

The Defaulting Lender shall perform the checks described in paragraph (b)(v) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above and shall notify the Agent and the Borrower when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.

 

36.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

36.1

Confidentiality

Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 20.7 (Provision of Material Non-Public Information) and Clause 36.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

36.2

Disclosure of Confidential Information

Any Finance Party may disclose:

 

  (a)

to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;

 

  (b)

to any person:

 

  (i)

to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent and, in each case, to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

  (ii)

with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or the Borrower and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

114


  (iii)

appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (b) of Clause 26.16 (Relationship with the Lenders));

 

  (iv)

who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above;

 

  (v)

to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;

 

  (vi)

to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;

 

  (vii)

to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 23.8 (Security over Lenders’ rights);

 

  (viii)

who is a Party; or

 

  (ix)

with the consent of the Borrower;

in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:

 

  (A)

in relation to paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

 

  (B)

in relation to paragraph (b)(iv) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

 

  (C)

in relation to paragraphs (b)(v), (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances;

 

  (c)

to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be

 

115


  required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Finance Party.

 

  (d)

to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Borrower.

 

  (e)

Nothing in any Finance Document shall prevent disclosure of any Confidential Information or other matter to the extent that preventing that disclosure would otherwise cause any transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents or any transaction carried out in connection with any transaction contemplated by the Finance Documents to become an arrangement described in Part II A 1 of Annex IV of Directive 2011/16/EU.

 

  (f)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that if any Lender or any of their Affiliates receives from the Borrower or their Representative any Material Non-Public Information at any time in connection with this Agreement or any Finance Documents, such Lender or such Affiliate thereof may, following the occurrence of an Event of Default, disclose such Material Non-Public Information publicly, to any potential purchaser of the Pledged Target Shares or to any other person in connection with such potential purchase (including, without limitation, in connection with the enforcement of Transaction Security).

 

36.3

Entire agreement

This Clause 36 (Confidential Information) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.

 

36.4

Inside information

Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

36.5

Notification of disclosure

Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Borrower promptly:

 

  (a)

of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of Clause 36.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

  (b)

upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 36 (Confidential Information).

 

116


36.6

Continuing obligations

The obligations in this Clause 36 (Confidential Information) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of 12 months from the earlier of:

 

  (a)

the date on which all amounts payable by the Borrower under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and

 

  (b)

the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.

 

37.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF FUNDING RATES

 

37.1

Confidentiality and disclosure

 

(a)

The Agent and the Borrower agree to keep each Funding Rate confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (b) and (c) below.

 

(b)

The Agent may disclose:

 

  (i)

any Funding Rate to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 10.4 (Notification of rates of interest); and

 

  (ii)

any Funding Rate to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Agent and the relevant Lender.

 

(c)

The Agent and the Borrower may disclose any Funding Rate to:

 

  (i)

any of their Affiliates and any of their or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives if any person to whom that Funding Rate is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it;

 

  (ii)

any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate is to be given, is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the Borrower, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

  (iii)

any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the Borrower, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and

 

117


  (iv)

any person with the consent of the relevant Lender.

 

37.2

Related obligations

 

(a)

The Agent and the Borrower acknowledge that each Funding Rate is or may be price-sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Agent and the Borrower undertake not to use any Funding Rate for any unlawful purpose.

 

(b)

The Agent and the Borrower agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender:

 

  (i)

of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to paragraph (c)(ii) of Clause 37.1 (Confidentiality and disclosure) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and

 

  (ii)

upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 37.

 

37.3

No Event of Default

No Event of Default will occur under Clause 22.2 (Other obligations) by reason only of the Borrower’s failure to comply with this Clause 37.

 

38.

COUNTERPARTS

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.

 

39.

BAIL-IN

 

39.1

Contractual recognition of bail-in

Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Parties, each Party acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any Party to any other Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:

 

  (a)

any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

 

  (i)

a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

 

  (ii)

a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and

 

  (iii)

a cancellation of any such liability; and

 

  (b)

a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

 

118


39.2

Bail-in definitions

In this Clause 39:

Article 55 BRRD means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

Bail-In Action means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

Bail-In Legislation means:

 

  (a)

in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 BRRD, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time;

 

  (b)

in relation to the United Kingdom, the UK Bail-In Legislation; and

 

  (c)

in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country and the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

EEA Member Country means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time.

Resolution Authority means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

UK Bail-In Legislation means Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Write-down and Conversion Powers means:

 

  (a)

in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

 

  (b)

in relation to the UK Bail-In Legislation, any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

 

  (c)

in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

 

119


  (i)

any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

 

  (ii)

any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation.

 

40.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

41.

ENFORCEMENT

 

(a)

The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement) (a Dispute).

 

(b)

The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

 

42.

SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

(a)

Without prejudice to any other mode of service of process allowed under any relevant law, the Borrower:

 

  (i)

irrevocably appoints CMB.TECH Technology and Development Centre Ltd. as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the courts of English in connection with any Finance Document; and

 

  (ii)

agrees that failure by an agent for service of process to notify the Borrower of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

(b)

If any person appointed as an agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, the Borrower must promptly (and in any event within 14 Business Days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent. Failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose.

 

120


SCHEDULE 1

THE ORIGINAL LENDERS

 

121


SCHEDULE 2

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

PART 1

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SIGNING

 

122


PART 2

SPA CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

123


PART 3

BID CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

124


PART 4

REFINANCING CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

125


PART 5

REOPENING CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

126


SCHEDULE 3

REQUESTS

 

127


 

128


 

129


SCHEDULE 4

FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE

 

130


 

131


SCHEDULE 5

TIMETABLES

 

 

132


SCHEDULE 6

FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION

 

133


 

134


SCHEDULE 7

FORM OF EXTENSION REQUEST

 

135


SCHEDULE 8

FORM OF BID CERTIFICATE REQUEST

 

136


SCHEDULE 9

FORM OF REOPENING CERTIFICATE REQUEST

 

137


SCHEDULE 10

FORM OF BID CERTIFICATE

 

138


SCHEDULE 11

FORM OF REOPENING CERTIFICATE

 

139


SCHEDULE 12

REFERENCE RATE TERMS

 

140


 

141


 

142


 

143


SCHEDULE 13

DAILY NON-CUMULATIVE COMPOUNDED RFR RATE

 

144


 

145


SCHEDULE 14

CUMULATIVE COMPOUNDED RFR RATE

 

146


SCHEDULE 15

FORM OF TAX STATUS CERTIFICATE

 

147


SCHEDULE 16

FORM OF CMB.TECH VALUATION

 

148


SIGNATORIES

The Borrower

CMB NV

 

/s/ Ludovic Saverys

Name:   Ludovic Saverys
Title:   Authorised signatory

 

8


The Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK

 

/s/ Nicolas Lafarge

   

/s/ Jean-Christophe Drauge

Name: Nicolas Lafarge     Name: Jean-Christophe Drauge
Title: Managing Director     Title: Vice President

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Koen Collier

   

/s/ Ariane Roggen

Name: Koen Collier     Name: Ariane Roggen
Title: Loan Origination Manager     Title: Loan Origination Manager

SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE

 

/s/ Pierre-Alain Poncet

Name: Pierre-Alain Poncet
Title: Director, Advisory & Financing Group

 

9


The Mandated Lead Arrangers

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV

 

/s/ Bart Ferrand

   

/s/ Piet Cordonnier

Name: Bart Ferrand     Name: Piet Cordonnier
Title: Head of Specialised Corporate Lending     Title: Company Lawyer

DNB (UK LIMITED)

 

/s/ Craig Ramsay

   

/s/ Gemma Darney

Name: Craig Ramsay     Name: Gemma Darney
Title: Authorised Signatory     Title: Authorised Signatory

ING BELGIUM NV/SA

 

/s/ Sandra Vander Mijnsbrugge

   

/s/ Diete Vansteenkiste

Name: Sandra Vander Mijnsbrugge     Name: Diete Vansteenkiste
Title: Lending Transaction Management Expert     Title: Head of Corporate Lending

NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE

 

/s/ Henrik Trulsen

   

/s/ Oddjbjørn Warpe

Name: Henrik Trulsen     Name: Oddbjørn Warpe
Title: Director     Title: Executive Director

 

10


The Lead Arranger

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)

 

/s/ Per Olav Bucher-Johannessen

   

/s/ Erling Amundsen

Name: Per Olav Bucher-Johannessen     Name: Erling Amundsen
Title: Head of Shipping     Title: Senior Legal Advisor

 

11


The Lenders

BELFIUS BANK SA/NV

 

/s/ Bart Ferrand

   

/s/ Piet Cordonnier

Name: Bart Ferrand     Name: Piet Cordonnier
Title: Head of Specialised Corporate Lending     Title: Company Lawyer

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK

 

/s/ Nicolas Lafarge

   

/s/ Jean-Christophe Drauge

Name: Nicolas Lafarge     Name: : Jean-Christophe Drauge
Title: Managing Director     Title: Vice President

DNB (UK) LIMITED

 

/s/ Craig Ramsay

   

/s/ Gemma Darney

Name: Craig Ramsay     Name: Gemma Darney
Title: Authorised Signatory     Title: Authorised Signatory

 

12


ING BELGIUM NV/SA

 

/s/ Sandra Vander Mijnsbrugge

   

/s/ Diete Vansteenkiste

Name: Sandra Vander Mijnsbrugge     Name: Diete Vansteenkiste
Title: Lending Transaction Management Expert     Title: Head of Corporate Lending

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Anja Goris

   

/s/ Coran Lenaerts

Name: Anja Goris     Name: Coran Lenaerts
Title: Senior Banker     Title: Senior Banker

NORDEA BANK ABP FILIAL I NORGE

 

/s/ Henrik Trulsen

   

/s/ Oddbjørn Warpe

Name: Henrik Trulsen     Name: Oddbjørn Warpe
Title: Director     Title: Executive Director

SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)

 

/s/ Per Olav Bucher-Johannessen

   

/s/ Erling Amundsen

Name: Per Olav Bucher-Johannessen     Name: Erling Amundsen
Title: Head of Shipping     Title: Senior Legal Advisor

 

13


SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE

 

/s/ Pierre-Alain Poncet

Name: Pierre-Alain Poncet
Title: Director, Advisory & Financing Group

 

14


The Issuing Bank

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Anja Goris

   

/s/ Coran Lenaerts

Name: Anja Goris     Name: Coran Lenaerts
Title: Senior Banker     Title: Senior Banker

The Coordinator

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Koen Collier

   

/s/ Ariane Roggen

Name: Koen Collier     Name: Ariane Roggen
Title: Loan Origination Manager     Title: Loan Origination Manager

 

15


The Agent

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Patritzia Argirova

   

/s/ Eva D’Haeseleer

Name: Patritzia Argirova     Name: Eva D’Haeseleer
Title: Agent Syndicated Loans     Title: Agent Syndicated Loans

The Security Agent

KBC BANK NV

 

/s/ Patritzia Argirova

   

/s/ Eva D’Haeseleer

Name: Patritzia Argirova     Name: Eva D’Haeseleer
Title: Agent Syndicated Loans     Title: Agent Syndicated Loans

 

16

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Schedule TO-T

(Rule 14d-100)

CMB.TECH NV

(formerly Euronav NV

(Name of Subject Company)

Compagnie Maritime Belge NV

(Offeror – Name of Filing Person)

Table 1-Transaction Valuation

 

       
     Transaction
Valuation*
 

Fee

Rate

 

 Amount of

 Filing Fee**

       

Fees to Be Paid

  $86,191,090   0.00015310   $13,196
       

Fees Previously Paid

  $0     $0
       

Total Transaction Valuation

  $86,191,090      
       

Total Fees Due for Filing

      $13,196
       

Total Fees Previously Paid

      $0
       

Total Fee Offsets

      $0
       

Net Fee Due

          $13,196

 

*

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the amount of the filing fee only. The transaction valuation was calculated by adding (i) the product of (x) 6,808,143, the number of ordinary shares, no par value, of CMB.TECH NV (the “Ordinary Shares”) estimated to be held by U.S. Holders (as that term is defined under instruction 2 to paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 14d-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of August 22, 2024, multiplied by (y) the offer price of $12.66 per Ordinary Share.

**

The filing fee was calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 under the Exchange Act, and the Fee Rate Advisory for Fiscal Year 2025, issued August 20, 2024, by multiplying the transaction valuation by 0.00015310.


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