EX-99.2 3 s104717_ex99-2.htm EXHIBIT 99-2

Exhibit 99.2

CONVERTIBLE NOTE

THESE SECURITIES WERE ISSUED IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED HEREIN) PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “1933 ACT”). ACCORDINGLY, NONE OF THE SECURITIES TO WHICH THIS CERTIFICATE RELATES NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE 1933 ACT, OR ANY U.S. STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND, UNLESS SO REGISTERED, NONE MAY BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES (AS DEFINED HEREIN OR, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED HEREIN) EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT AND IN EACH CASE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. IN ADDITION, HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1933 ACT. “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” ARE AS DEFINED BY REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii) AND 17(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.

PARAGON SHIPPING INC.

Convertible Note

Issuance Date: November 11, 2016

Original Principal Amount: U.S. $500,000

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, PARAGON SHIPPING INC., a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of ________________________ or its registered assigns (“Holder”) the amount set out above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date (as defined below), acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal (as defined below) (as such interest on any outstanding Principal may be reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise) at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set out above as the Issuance Date (the “Issuance Date”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Convertible Note (this “Note”, including all Convertible Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, collectively, the “Notes”) is issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below) on the Closing Date (as defined below). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 28.

1. PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges (as defined in Section 23(c)) on such Principal and Interest). Other than as specifically permitted by this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Late Charges on Principal and Interest, if any.

2. INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.

(a) Interest on this Note shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date, shall accrue daily at the Interest Rate on the outstanding Principal amount from time to time, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable to the Holder on the Maturity Date or any applicable Redemption Date (each, an “Interest Date”). Interest shall be payable on each Interest Date, to the record holder of this Note on the applicable Interest Date, in freely-tradable Common Shares that have been registered for resale by the Holder under the 1933 Act (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) ("Interest Shares"), so long as there has been no Equity Conditions Failure; provided however, that the Company may, at its option following notice to the Holder, pay Interest on any Interest Date in cash ("Cash Interest") or in a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares. The Company shall deliver a written notice (each, an "Interest Election Notice") to each holder of the Notes on or prior to the Interest Notice Due Date (the date such notice is delivered to all of the holder, the "Interest Notice Date") which notice (i) either (A) confirms that Interest to be paid on such Interest Date shall be paid entirely in Interest Shares or (B) elects to pay Interest as Cash Interest or a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares and specifies the amount of Interest that shall be paid as Cash Interest and the amount of Interest, if any, that shall be paid in Interest Shares and (ii) if any Interest is to be paid in Interest Shares, certifies that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure. If the Equity Conditions are not satisfied as of the Interest Notice Date, then unless the Company has elected to pay such Interest as Cash Interest, the Interest Notice shall indicate that unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions, the Interest shall be paid as Cash Interest. If the Equity Conditions were satisfied as of the Interest Notice Date but the Equity Conditions are no longer satisfied at any time prior to the Interest Date, the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect indicating that unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions, the Interest shall be paid in cash. Interest to be paid on an Interest Date in Interest Shares shall be paid in a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares (rounded to the nearest whole share in accordance with Section 3(a)) of Common Shares equal to the quotient of (1) the amount of Interest payable on such Interest Date less any Cash Interest paid and (2) the Conversion Price in effect on the applicable Interest Date.

(b) When any Interest Shares are to be paid on an Interest Date, the Company shall (i) (A) provided that the Company's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") is participating in the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (B) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver on the applicable Interest Date, to the address set forth in the register maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement or to such address as specified by the Holder in writing to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Date, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee (and without any restrictive legend or stop transfer order maintained against it), for the number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled and (ii) with respect to each Interest Date, pay to the Holder, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of any Cash Interest.

(c) Prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, Interest on this Note shall accrue at the Interest Rate and be payable by way of inclusion of the Interest in the Conversion Amount on each Conversion Date in accordance with Section 3(b)(i). From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest Rate shall automatically be increased to eighteen percent (18.0%) per annum. In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured, the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the date of such cure; provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default. The Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Interest Shares.

3. CONVERSION OF NOTES. This Note shall be convertible into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares (as defined below), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.

(a) Conversion Right. Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d), the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as defined below) into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares in accordance with Section 3(c), at the Conversion Rate (as defined below). The Company shall not issue any fraction of a Common Share upon any conversion. If the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Common Share, the Company shall round such fraction of a Common Share up to the nearest whole share. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Common Shares upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.

(b) Conversion Rate. The number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Rate”).

(i) “Conversion Amount” means the sum of (A) the portion of the Principal to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (B) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal amount and accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such portion of such Principal and such Interest and (C) the applicable Make-Whole Amount.

(ii) “Conversion Price” means, for any date of determination, the product of (x) the lowest VWAP of the Common Shares during the twenty-one (21) consecutive Trading Days ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Conversion Date (the “Variable Conversion Base Price”) and (y) sixty-five percent (65%). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or other similar transaction during any such measuring period.

(i) Optional Conversion. To convert any Conversion Amount into Common Shares on any date (a “Conversion Date”), the Holder shall deliver (whether via facsimile or otherwise), for receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York time, on such date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “Conversion Notice”) to the Company. If required by Section 3(c)(iii), the Holder shall surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Company (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 17(b)). On or before the first (1^st) Trading Day following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II, of receipt of such Conversion Notice to the Holder. On or before the second (2^nd) Trading Day following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall (1) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and such Common Shares may be issued without restrictive legend in accordance with Section 5(d) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, credit such aggregate number of Common Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (2) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program or such Common Shares may not be issued without restrictive legend in accordance with Section 5(d) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled. If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion as required by Section 3(c)(iii) and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 17(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Shares issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Shares on the Conversion Date.

(ii) Company’s Failure to Timely Convert. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after the Company’s receipt of a Conversion Notice (whether via facsimile or otherwise) (the “Share Delivery Deadline”), a certificate for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Common Shares on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC for such number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion of any Conversion Amount (as the case may be) (a “Conversion Failure”) then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (1) the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after such Share Delivery Deadline that the issuance of such Common Shares is not timely effected an amount equal to 1% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of Common Shares not issued to the Holder on a timely basis and to which the Holder is entitled multiplied by (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Shares on the Trading Day immediately preceding the last possible date which the Company could have issued such Common Shares to the Holder without violating Section 3(c)(i) and (2) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Conversion Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned (as the case may be) any portion of this Note that has not been converted pursuant to such Conversion Notice, provided that the voiding of a Conversion Notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this Section 3(c)(ii) or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the Share Delivery Deadline, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder and register such Common Shares on the Company’s share register or credit the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be), and if on or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of all or any portion of the number of Common Shares issuable upon such conversion that the Holder so anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either: (I) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the Common Shares so purchased (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such Common Shares) shall terminate, or (II) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Common Shares or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (x) such number of Common Shares multiplied by (y) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Shares on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Conversion Notice and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (II).

(iii) Book-Entry. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3, following conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted (in which event this Note shall be delivered to the Company following conversion thereof as contemplated by Section 3(c)(i)) or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and/or paid and/or adjusted (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions and/or payments and/or adjustments (as the case may be) or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon conversion.

(iv) Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes. In the event of a dispute as to the number of Common Shares issuable to the Holder in connection with a conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Common Shares not in dispute and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 22.

(d) Limitations on Conversions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note, this Note shall not be convertible by the Holder hereof, and the Company shall not effect any conversion of this Note or otherwise issue any Common Shares pursuant hereto, to the extent (but only to the extent) that after giving effect to such conversion or other share issuance hereunder the Holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Common Shares. To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether this Note shall be convertible (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates) and of which such securities shall be convertible, exercisable or exchangeable (as among all such securities owned by the Holder and its affiliates) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be determined on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be). No prior inability to convert this Note, or to issue Common Shares, pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of convertibility. For purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership and all determinations and calculations (including, without limitation, with respect to calculations of percentage ownership) shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this paragraph to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Maximum Percentage beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such Maximum Percentage limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of this Note. The holders of Common Shares shall be third party beneficiaries of this paragraph and the Company may not waive this paragraph without the consent of holders of a majority of its Common Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of Common Shares then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities into Common Shares, including, without limitation, pursuant to this Note or securities issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. By written notice to the Company, at any time the Holder may increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company, and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder sending such notice and not to any other holder of Notes.

4. RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

(a) Event of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(i) the suspension from trading or the failure of the Common Shares to be trading or listed (as applicable) on an Eligible Market for a period of ten (10) consecutive days or for more than an aggregate of thirty (30) days in any 365-day period;

(ii) the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note (including, without limitation, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay any redemption payments or amounts hereunder) or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least five (5) days;

(iii) except for any Indebtedness (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) under the senior notes due in 2021, the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of an aggregate of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $100,000;

(iv) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within forty-five (45) days of their initiation;

(v) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law;

(vi) the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days;

(vii) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $100,000 are rendered against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within forty-five (45) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within forty-five (45) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the $100,000 amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within forty-five (45) days of the issuance of such judgment;

(viii) except for payments due under the Company’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2021, the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, either (i) fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of $100,000 due to any third party (other than, with respect to unsecured Indebtedness only, payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP) or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of $100,000, which breach or violation permits the other party thereto to declare a default or otherwise accelerate amounts due thereunder, or (ii) suffer to exist any other circumstance or event that would, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, result in a default or event of default under any agreement binding the Company or any Subsidiary, which default or event of default would or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, operations (including results thereof), liabilities, properties, condition (including financial condition) or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate;

(ix) other than as specifically set forth in another clause of this Section 4(a), the Company or any Subsidiary breaches any representation, warranty, covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document, except, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, only if such breach remains uncured for a period of three (3) consecutive Trading Days;

(x) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) occurs; or

(xi) any Change of Control occurs.

(b) Notice of an Event of Default; Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “Event of Default Notice”) to the Holder. At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default, the Holder may require the Company to redeem, at any time during the period commencing on the date the Holder first becomes aware of such Event of Default through and including the tenth (10^th) Trading Day after the later of (x) the date the Holder receives the applicable Event of Default Notice with respect thereto and (y) the date such Event of Default has been cured, all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the product of (X) the Conversion Rate with respect to the Conversion Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of Default Redemption Notice multiplied by (Y) the product of (1) the Redemption Premium multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Shares on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Event of Default and ending on the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 4(b) (the “Event of Default Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 4(b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 4(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, but subject to Section 3(d), until the Event of Default Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 4(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon and any applicable Make-Whole Amount) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Shares pursuant to the terms of this Note. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 4(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 4(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.

5. RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.

(a) Assumption. The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless (i) the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(a) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to the principal amounts then outstanding and the interest rates of the Notes held by such holder, having similar conversion rights as the Notes and having similar ranking to the Notes, and satisfactory to the Holder and (ii) the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation whose common shares are quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of a Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon conversion or redemption of this Note at any time after the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the Common Shares (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Section 14, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter) issuable upon the conversion or redemption of the Notes prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of the publicly traded common shares (or their equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction had this Note been converted immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 5(a) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Note.

(b) Other Corporate Events. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Shares (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Note (i) in addition to the Common Shares receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets to which the Holder would have been entitled with respect to such Common Shares had such Common Shares been held by the Holder upon the consummation of such Corporate Event (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note) or (ii) in lieu of the Common Shares otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets received by the holders of Common Shares in connection with the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Note initially been issued with conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed to Common Shares) at a conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the Conversion Rate. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Holder.

(c) The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note.

(a) Purchase Rights. If at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Shares (the "Purchase Rights"), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Common Shares acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Shares are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

6. [Intentionally Omitted]

7. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any Common Shares receivable upon conversion of this Note above the Conversion Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares upon the conversion of this Note, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Notes, the maximum number of Common Shares as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion of the Notes then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversion).

8. RESERVATION OF AUTHORIZED SHARES.

(a) Reservation. So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company shall take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Notes, a number of Common Shares, as of any date of determination, for each of the Notes in accordance with the following formula:

P
—————— x 1.5 = Share Reserve

(T x B)

P = The aggregate principal amount of the Note outstanding as of such date of determination;

T = The applicable Conversion Price as of such date of determination;

B = 0.85;

provided, that the Share Reserve shall in no event be less than 150% of the number of Common Shares as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion of all of the Notes then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversions) (the “Required Reserve Amount”).

(b) Insufficient Authorized Shares. If, notwithstanding Section 8(a), and not in limitation thereof, while any of the Notes remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved Common Shares to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon conversion of the Notes at least a number of Common Shares equal to the Required Reserve Amount (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized Common Shares to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Notes then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized Common Shares. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized Common Shares and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. In the event that the Company is prohibited from issuing Common Shares upon any conversion due to the failure by the Company to have sufficient Common Shares available out of the authorized but unissued Common Shares (such unavailable number of Common Shares, the “Authorization Failure Shares”), in lieu of delivering such Authorization Failure Shares to the Holder, the Company shall pay cash in exchange for the redemption of such portion of the Conversion Amount convertible into such Authorized Failure Shares at a price equal to the sum of (i) the product of (x) such number of Authorization Failure Shares and (y) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Shares on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date the Holder delivers the applicable Conversion Notice with respect to such Authorization Failure Shares to the Company and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this Section 8(b) and (ii) to the extent the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of Authorization Failure Shares, any brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any, of the Holder incurred in connection therewith. Nothing contained in Section 8(a) or this Section 8(b) shall limit any obligations of the Company under any provision of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

9. Company Optional Redemption. At any time after the Issuance Date, the Company shall have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Conversion Amount (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) then remaining under this Note (the “Company Optional Redemption Amount”) on the Company Optional Redemption Date (as defined below) (a “Company Optional Redemption”). The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the “Company Optional Redemption Price”) equal to 127.5% of the Conversion Amount (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) of this Note then outstanding. The Company may exercise its right to require redemption under this Section 9 by delivering an irrevocable written notice thereof by facsimile and overnight courier to the Holder (the “Company Optional Redemption Notice” and the date the Holder receives such notice is referred to as the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Date”). The Company may deliver only one Company Optional Redemption Notice in any ninety (90) day period. The Company Optional Redemption Notice shall (x) state the date on which the Company Optional Redemption shall occur (the “Company Optional Redemption Date”) which date shall not be less than three (3) Trading Days nor more than ninety (90) calendar days following the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date, (y) state the aggregate Conversion Amount (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) of the Notes which is being redeemed in such Company Optional Redemption from the Holder pursuant to this Section 9 on the Company Optional Redemption Date and (z) if any Interest portion of the Company Optional Redemption Amount is being paid in Interest Shares, state the information required in an Interest Election Notice in accordance with Section 2(a). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at any time prior to the date the Company Optional Redemption Price is paid, in full, the Company Optional Redemption Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Shares pursuant to Section 3. All Conversion Amounts converted by the Holder after the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date shall reduce the Company Optional Redemption Amount of this Note required to be redeemed on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with Section 10 and any payments of any Interest portion of the Company Optional Redemption Amount in Interest Shares shall be made in accordance with Section 2.

10. REDEMPTIONS.

(a) Mechanics. The Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price to the Holder in cash within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s Event of Default Redemption Notice. The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date. In the event of a redemption of less than all of the Conversion Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 17(d)) representing the outstanding Principal which has not been redeemed. The Holder’s delivery of a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the Conversion Amount subject to such notice.

11. VOTING RIGHTS. The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law and as expressly provided in this Note.

12. INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

13. COVENANTS. Until all of the Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:

(a) Rank. All payments due under this Note (i) shall rank junior to the Company’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2021 and the Company’s loan and credit facilities outstanding as of the Issuance Date and (ii) shall be pari passu with all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Reserved.

(d) Restricted Payments. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness, whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the time such payment is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(e) Restricted Issuances. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (i) issue any Notes (other than as contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Notes) or (ii) issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes.

(f) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock (other than any obligations to do so outstanding as of the Issuance Date).

(g) Restriction on Transfer of Assets. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, spin-off, split-off, close, convey or otherwise dispose of any material assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, it being expressly understood and acknowledged that the Subsidiaries are expected to and are allowed to sell various vessels currently owned and (ii) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision shall not apply to any transactions pursuant to a binding agreement existing on the date hereof.

(h) Reserved.

(i) Change in Nature of Business. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Issuance Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose.

(j) Preservation of Existence, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.

(k) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any material loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.

(l) Maintenance of Intellectual Property. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take all reasonable action necessary or advisable to maintain all of the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that are necessary or material to the conduct of its business in full force and effect.

(m) Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.

(n) Material Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any material transaction or series of related material transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any affiliate, except (i) pursuant to agreements in existence as of the date hereof or (ii) in the ordinary course of business in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration and on terms no less favorable to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an affiliate thereof.

14. PARTICIPATION. Upon any conversion of this Note, the Holder shall be entitled to receive such dividends paid and distributions made to the holders of Common Shares from and after the initial Issuance Date to the same extent as if the Holder had effected such conversion and had held such Common Shares (issued or to be issued in such conversion) on the record date for such dividends and distributions. Payments under the preceding sentence shall be made on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Deadline with respect to such conversion.

15. AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. The prior written consent of the Holder shall be required for any change or amendment to this Note.

16. TRANSFER. This Note and any Common Shares issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company, subject only to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

17. REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

(a) Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 17(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 17(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Section 3(c)(iii) following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 17(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.

(c) Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 17(d) and in principal amounts of at least $1,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.

(d) Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 17(a) or Section 17(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest and Late Charges on the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.

18. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any such breach or any such threatened breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

19. PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.

20. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Terms used in this Note but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

21. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

22. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Conversion Price, any Redemption Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or fair market value (as the case may be) or the arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate or the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation within two (2) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation (as the case may be) being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Conversion Price, any Redemption Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or fair market value (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate or any Redemption Price (as the case may be) to an independent, outside accountant selected by the Holder that is reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

23. NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.

(a) Notices. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 8(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Shares, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of Common Shares or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

(b) Currency. All dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Note shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).

(c) Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing, provided that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company with prior written notice setting out such request and the Holder’s wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. Any amount of Principal or other amounts due under the Transaction Documents which is not paid when due (solely to the extent such amount is not then accruing interest at the Default Rate) shall result in a late charge being incurred and payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such amount at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum from the date such amount was due until the same is paid in full (“Late Charge”).

24. CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued Interest, Late Charges and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.

25. WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.

26. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Illinois. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. By the execution and delivery of this Note, the Company acknowledges that it has, by separate written instrument, irrevocably designated and appointed Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP, at 61 Broadway, 32^nd Floor, New York, NY 10006 (together with any successor, the “Agent for Service”) as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note that may be instituted in any state or federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or brought under federal or state securities laws, and acknowledges that the Agent for Service has accepted such designation. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of the Agent for Service in full force and effect so long as the Note shall be outstanding. Service upon such Agent for Service in accordance with this Section 26 shall be deemed completed whether or not forwarded to or received by the Company. If such Agent for Service ceases to be able to act as such, resigns as such Agent for Service or to have an address in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, the Company agrees to irrevocably appoint a new agent acceptable to the Investor to receive on behalf of the Company service of any legal process and to deliver to the Investor within 14 days a copy of a written acceptance of appointment by such agent. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. In the event that any provision of this Note is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Note. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

27. MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.

28. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.

(b) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

(c) “Change of Control” means any Fundamental Transaction other than (i) any merger of the Company or any of its, direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries with or into any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Shares in which holders of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification to hold publicly traded securities and, directly or indirectly, are, in all material respects, the holders of the voting power of the surviving entity (or entities with the authority or voting power to elect the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities) after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification, (iii) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) “Closing Bid Price” and “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price (as the case may be) then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink Sheets LLC).

(e) “Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, which date is the date the Company initially issued the Note pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

(f) “Common Shares” means (i) the Company’s common shares, US$0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common shares shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common shares.

(g) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any Common Shares.

(h) “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the NYSE Arca, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market, the OTC Bulletin Board, or the OTCQX Marketplace or the OTCQB Marketplace operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. (or any successor to any of the foregoing).

(i) "Equity Conditions" means that each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) on each day during the period beginning six (6) month prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the "Equity Conditions Measuring Period"), all Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes (including as Interest Shares) shall be eligible for sale without restriction and without the need for registration under the 1933 Act and any applicable state securities laws; (ii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Common Shares is designated for quotation on the Principal Market or any other Eligible Market and shall not have been suspended from trading on such exchange or market (other than suspensions of not more than two (2) days and occurring prior to the applicable date of determination due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by such exchange or market been pending in writing by such exchange or market; (iii) during the one (1) year period ending on and including the date immediately preceding the applicable date of determination, the Company shall have delivered Common Shares upon conversion of the Notes to the Holders on a timely basis as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii) hereof; (iv) any applicable Common Shares to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination may be issued in full without violating Section 3(d) hereof and the rules or regulations of the Principal Market or any applicable Eligible Market; (v) the Company shall not have failed to timely make any payments within five (5) Business Days of when such payment is due pursuant to any Transaction Document; (vi) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred either (A) the public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated, or (B) an Event of Default or (C) an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default; (vii) the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would cause any Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes (including as Interest Shares) not to be eligible for sale without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 and any applicable state securities laws; and (viii) the Company otherwise shall have been in compliance with and shall not have breached any provision, covenant, representation or warranty of any Transaction Document.

(j) "Equity Conditions Failure" means that (i) on any day during the period commencing ten (10) Trading Days prior to the applicable Interest Date through the applicable Interest Date or (ii) on any day during the period commencing ten (10) Trading Days prior to the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice Date through the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date, the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder).

(k) “Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (3) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.

(l) “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

(m) “Interest Rate” means eight percent (8.0%) per annum, as may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 2.

(n) “Make-Whole Amount” means, as to any Conversion Amount on any Conversion Date, as to any Event of Default redemption pursuant to Section 4(b) on any Event of Default redemption date, or as to any Company Optional Redemption on any Company Optional Redemption Date, the amount of any Interest that, but for (i) the Holder’s exercise of its conversion right pursuant to Section 3(c)(i); (ii) an Event of Default redemption pursuant to Section 4(b), or (iii) a Company Optional Redemption pursuant to Section 9, would have accrued with respect to the Conversion Amount being converted or redeemed under this Note at the Interest Rate for the period from the applicable Conversion Date, Event of Default redemption date or Company Optional Redemption Date, as the case may be, through the Maturity Date.

(o) “Maturity Date” shall mean November 11, 2017; provided, however, the Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default or (ii) through the date that is twenty (20) Business Days after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction in the event that a Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or a Fundamental Transaction Notice is delivered prior to the Maturity Date, provided further that if a Holder elects to convert some or all of this Note pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the Conversion Amount would be limited pursuant to Section 3(d) hereunder, the Maturity Date shall automatically be extended until such time as such provision shall not limit the conversion of this Note.

(p) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or Convertible Securities.

(q) “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common shares or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

(r) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

(s) “Principal Market” means, as of any date of determination, the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares is then traded.

(t) “Redemption Notices” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Notices and the Company Optional Redemption Notices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Notice.”

(u) “Redemption Premium” means (i) in the case of the Events of Default described in Section 4(a) (other than Sections 4(a)(iv) through 4(a)(vi)), 127.5% or (ii) in the case of the Events of Default described in Sections 4(a)(iv) through 4(a)(vi), 100%.

(v) “Redemption Prices” means, collectively, Event of Default Redemption Prices and the Company Optional Redemption Prices and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Price.”

(w) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the successor thereto.

(x) “Securities Purchase Agreement” means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Holder pursuant to which the Company issued this Note, as may be amended from time to time.

(y) “Subsidiaries” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

(z) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

(aa) “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Shares is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Shares, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Shares is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Shares is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder.

(bb) “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers, trustees or other similar governing body of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

(cc) “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market (or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded) during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink Sheets LLC). If VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 22. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.

29. DISCLOSURE. Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day after any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a report on Form 6-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to such Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries. Nothing contained in this Section 29 shall limit any obligations of the Company, or any rights of the Holder, under Section 4(i) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

[signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

	PARAGON SHIPPING INC.

	By:
		Name: George Skrimizeas
		Title: Chief Operating Officer

Convertible Note - Signature Page

EXHIBIT I

PARAGON SHIPPING INC.
CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued to the undersigned by Paragon Shipping Inc.,a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into Common Shares, US$0.001 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company, as of the date specified below Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

Date of Conversion:

Aggregate Principal to be converted:

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be converted:

Aggregate Make-Whole Amount:

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT
TO BE CONVERTED:

Please confirm the following information:

Conversion Price:

Number of Common Shares to be issued:

Please issue the Common Shares into which the Note is being converted in the following name and to the following address:

Issue to:

Facsimile Number:

Holder:

By:

Title:

Dated:

Account Number:

(if electronic book entry transfer)

Transaction Code Number:

(if electronic book entry transfer)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Company hereby acknowledges this Conversion Notice and hereby directs _________________ to issue the above indicated number of Common Shares.

	PARAGON SHIPPING INC.

	By:
		Name:
		Title: