d1207423_ex4-14.htm




Exhibit 4.14


 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT







 

 


This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of June 15, 2011, between Diana Containerships Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (together with any successor entity thereto, the "Company") and Diana Shipping Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation ("Diana"), as purchaser of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), in the private placement by the Company of shares of its Common Stock.







This Agreement is made in connection with the Share Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement"), dated as of June 9, 2011, between the Company and Diana for the purchase of up to $20 million of the Company's Common Stock (the "Shares").  In order to induce Diana to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights provided for in this Agreement.







The parties hereby agree as follows:








	
1.  

	
Definitions












As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:







Affiliate:  As to any specified Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with power to vote, ten percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person, (ii)  any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person, (iii) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such Person and (iv) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.  An indirect relationship shall include circumstances in which a Person's spouse, children, parents, siblings or mother, father, sister- or brother-in-law share the same household with such Person.







Agreement:  As defined in the preamble.







Business Day:  With respect to any act to be performed hereunder, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or other applicable places where such act is to occur are authorized or obligated by applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.







Closing Date:  June 15, 2011 or such other time or such other date as Diana and the Company may agree.







Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.







Common Stock:  As defined in the preamble.







Company:  As defined in the preamble.







Controlling Person:  As defined in Section 6(a) hereof.


 




  





  











  








 


End of Suspension Notice:  As defined in Section 5(b) hereof.







Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission pursuant thereto.







FINRA:  The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.







Holder:  Each record owner of any Registrable Shares from time to time.







Indemnified Party:  As defined in Section 6(c) hereof.







Indemnifying Party:  As defined in Section 6(c) hereof.







Liabilities:  As defined in Section 6(a) hereof.







No Objections Letter:  As defined in Section 4(t) hereof.







Person:  An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government or agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other legal entity.







Proceeding:  An action, claim, suit or proceeding (including without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or, to the knowledge of the Person subject thereto, threatened.







Prospectus:  The prospectus included in any Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus at the "time of sale" within the meaning of Rule 159 under the Securities Act and all other amendments and supplements to any such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such prospectus.







Purchase Agreement:  As defined in the preamble.







Purchaser Indemnitee:  As defined in Section 6(a) hereof.







Registrable Shares:  The Shares, upon original issuance thereof, and at all times subsequent thereto, including upon the transfer thereof by the original holder or any subsequent holder and any shares or other securities issued in respect of such Registrable Shares by reason of or in connection with any stock dividend, stock distribution, stock split, purchase in any rights offering or in connection with any exchange for or replacement of such Registrable Shares or any combination of shares, recapitalization, merger or consolidation, or any other equity securities issued pursuant to any other pro rata distribution with respect to the Common Stock, until, in the case of any such share of Common Stock, the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which the resale of such share has been registered pursuant to the Securities Act and it has been disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement relating to it, (ii) in the event the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the date on which it has been transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect), or (iii) the date on which it is sold to the Company or ceases to be outstanding.


 




  





2











  








 


Registration Expenses:  Any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including, without limitation: (i) all Commission, securities exchange, and FINRA registration, listing and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with international, federal or state securities or blue sky laws (including, without limitation, any registration, listing and filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Registrable Shares and the preparation of a blue sky memorandum and compliance with the rules of FINRA); (iii) all expenses in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, duplicating, printing, delivering and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, certificates and any other documents relating to the performance under and compliance with this Agreement; (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of any of the Registrable Shares on any securities exchange pursuant to Section 4(n) of this Agreement; (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company (including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to the performance of this Agreement); and (vi) any fees and disbursements customarily paid in issues and sales of securities (including the fees and expenses of any experts retained by the Company in connection with any Registration Statement); provided, however, that Registration Expenses shall exclude brokers' or underwriters' discounts and commissions, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Shares by a Holder.







Registration Statement:  Any registration statement of the Company that covers the exchange or resale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such registration statement.







Resale Registration Statement.  As defined in Section 2(a) hereof.







Rule 144:  Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 144A:  Rule 144A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 158:  Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 159:  Rule 159 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 405:  Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.


 




  





3











  








 


Rule 415:  Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 424:  Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 429:  Rule 429 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Rule 433:  Rule 433 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect as such rule.







Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.







Shares:  As defined in the preamble.







Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 2(a) hereof.







Staff: The staff of the Commission.







Suspension Event:  As defined in Section 5(b) hereof.







Suspension Notice:  As defined in Section 5(b) hereof.







Underwritten Offering:  A sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for re-offering to the public.













	
2.  

	
Registration Rights












(a) Mandatory Resale Registration.  Upon the written request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares, the Company agrees, as set forth in Section 4 hereof, to cause to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after such request (but in no event later than the date that is 60 days after the date of request), one resale Registration Statement on Form F-1 or such other form under the Securities Act then available to the Company providing for the resale of the outstanding Registrable Shares pursuant to Rule 415 from time to time by the Holders (a "Resale Registration Statement"). The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause such Resale Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable after the initial filing thereof and to remain effective, subject to Section 5 hereof, until the earlier of (A) such time as all Registrable Shares covered thereby have been sold in accordance with the intended distribution of such Registrable Shares, (B) there are no Registrable Shares outstanding or (C) the first anniversary of the effective date of such Resale Registration Statement (subject to extension as provided in Section 5(c) 


 




  





4











  






 


hereof and the condition that the Registrable Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market, pursuant to Section 4(n) of this Agreement, or on an alternative trading system with the Registrable Shares qualified under the applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of all fifty (50) states); provided, however, that if the Company has an effective Resale Registration Statement on Form F-1 (or other form then available to the Company) under the Securities Act and becomes eligible to use Form F-3 or such other short-form registration statement form under the Securities Act, the Company may, upon thirty (30) Business Days prior written notice to all Holders, register any Registrable Shares registered but not yet distributed under the effective Resale Registration Statement on such a short-form shelf registration statement (a "Shelf Registration Statement") and, once the short-form Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, withdraw the previous Registration Statement and, if permitted, transfer the filing fees from the previous Registration Statement (such transfer pursuant to Rule 429, if applicable) unless any Holder registered under the initial Resale Registration Statement notifies the Company within fifteen (15) Business Days of receipt of the Company notice that it intends to file  a new Registration Statement that withdrawal of the initial Resale Registration Statement would interfere with its distribution of Registrable Shares already in progress, in which case, the Company shall delay the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement and termination of the then-effective initial Resale Registration Statement for a period of not less than thirty (30) days from the date that the Company receives the notice from such Holders requesting a delay.  . Any Registration Statement providing for distribution pursuant to Rule 415 shall provide for the resale from time to time, subject to Section 4(a), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available (including, without limitation, an Underwritten Offering, a direct sale to purchasers or a sale through brokers or agents, which may include sales over the internet) by the Holders of any and all Registrable Shares. The Company shall not be obligated to maintain the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement beyond the first anniversary of the effective date of the Initial Resale Registration Statement (subject to extension as provided in Section 5(c) hereof and the condition that the Registrable Shares have been transferred to an unrestricted CUSIP and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market, pursuant to Section 4(n) of this Agreement, or on an alternative trading system with the Registrable Shares qualified under the applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of all fifty (50) states).







(b) Expenses.  The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration of the Registrable Shares pursuant to this Agreement.  Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall bear such Holder's proportionate share (based on the total number of Registrable Shares sold in such registration or exchanged pursuant to this Agreement) of all discounts and commissions payable to underwriters or brokers and all transfer taxes and transfer fees in connection with a registration of Registrable Shares or exchange thereof, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement.













	
3.  

	
Rules 144 and 144A Reporting












With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit the resale of the Registrable Shares to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:







(a) make and keep current public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration statement under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public for so long as the making and keeping available of current public information is required for the resale of the Registrable Shares pursuant to Rule 144;


 




  





5











  








 


(b) to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act for so long as the making and keeping available of current public information is required for the resale of the Registrable Shares pursuant to Rule 144;







(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Shares, if the Company is not required to file reports and other documents under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, it will make available other information as required by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of Registrable Shares pursuant to, Rule 144 or Rule 144A, and in any event shall make available (either by mailing a copy thereof, by posting on the Company's website, or by press release) to each Holder a copy of:







(i)   the Company's annual consolidated financial statements (including at least balance sheets, statements of profit and loss, statements of stockholders' equity and statements of cash flows) prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, accompanied by an audit report of the Company's independent accountants, no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company; and







(ii)   the Company's unaudited quarterly financial statements (including at least balance sheets, statements of profit and loss, statements of stockholders' equity and statements of cash flows) prepared in a manner consistent with the preparation of the Company's annual financial statements, no later than sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Company;







(d) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Shares and so long as the making and keeping available of current public information is required for the resale of the Registrable Shares pursuant to Rule 144, to furnish to the Holder promptly upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company, and take such further actions, as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such Registrable Shares without registration.








	
4.  

	
Registration Procedures












In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to any registration pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect or cause to be effected the registration of the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act to permit the sale of such Registrable Shares by the Holder or Holders in accordance with the Holder's or Holders' intended method or methods of distribution, and the Company shall:







(a) notify the Holder, in writing, promptly prior to filing a Registration Statement, of its intention to file a Registration Statement with the Commission and, promptly prior to filing, provide a copy of the Registration Statement to the Holder for review and comment; prepare and file with the Commission, as specified in this Agreement, a Registration Statement(s), which Registration Statement(s) shall (x) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the Commission to be filed therewith and (y) be reasonably acceptable to the Holder; the Holder in writing, promptly prior to filing of any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement and, promptly prior to filing, provide a copy of such amendment or supplement to the Holder for review and comment; promptly 


 




  





6











  






 


following receipt from the Commission, provide the Holder copies of any comments made by the Staff relating to such Registration Statement and of the Company's responses thereto for review and comment; and use its reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after filing and to remain effective, subject to Section 5 hereof, pursuant to Section 5(a), (b) or (c), as applicable.







(b) subject to Section 4(i) hereof, (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to each such Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period described in Section 2(a) hereof; (ii) cause each Prospectus contained therein to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 or any similar rule that may be adopted under the Securities Act; and (iii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof;







(c) furnish to the Holders, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Shares; the Company consents, subject to Section 5 hereof, to the use of such Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, by the Holders, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by any such Prospectus;







(d) use its reasonable efforts to register or qualify, or obtain exemption from registration or qualification for, all Registrable Shares by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing, keep each such registration or qualification or exemption effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to Section 2(a) and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Shares owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction or to register as a broker or dealer in such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 4(d) and except as may be required by the Securities Act, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) submit to the general service of process in any such jurisdiction;







(e) use its reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement to be registered and approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders thereof to consummate the disposition or exchange, as applicable, of such Registrable Shares;







(f) notify each Holder promptly and, if requested by any Holder, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (2) of the issuance by the Commission or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any Proceeding for that purpose, (3) of any request by the Commission or any other federal, state or foreign governmental authority for (A) amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or (B) additional information and (4) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is 


 




  





7











  






 


effective as a result of which such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (which information shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) and (5) at the request of any such Holder, promptly to furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such securities, such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;







(g) use its reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or if issued, to obtain the withdrawal of, any order enjoining or suspending the use or effectiveness of a Registration Statement or suspending the qualification of (or exemption from qualification of) any of the Registrable Shares for sale in any jurisdiction, as promptly as practicable;







(h) upon request, furnish to each requesting Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement, without charge, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);







(i) except as provided in Section 5 hereof, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4(f)(4) hereof, use its reasonable efforts to promptly prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Shares, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;







(j) if requested by the representative of the underwriters, if any, or any Holders of Registrable Shares being sold in connection with such offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the representative of the underwriters, if any, or such Holders indicate relates to them and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;







(k) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable efforts to furnish to the underwriters a signed counterpart, addressed to the underwriters, of: (i) an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters; and (ii) a "comfort" letter, dated the effective date of such Registration Statement and the date of each closing under the underwriting agreement, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company's financial statements included in such Registration Statement, covering substantially the same matters with respect to such Registration Statement (and the Prospectus included therein) and with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities and such other financial matters as the underwriters may reasonably request;


 




  





8











  








 


(l) enter into customary agreements (including in the case of an Underwritten Offering, an underwriting agreement in customary form and reasonably satisfactory to the Company) and take all other reasonable action in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the distribution of the Registrable Shares included in such Registration Statement and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, make representations and warranties to the underwriters in such form and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same to the extent customary if and when requested;







(m) make available for inspection by representatives of any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement and any special counsel or accountants retained by such underwriters, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representatives, the representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants in connection with a Registration Statement; provided, however, that such records, documents or information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies such representatives, representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants are confidential shall not be disclosed by such representatives, representative of the underwriters, counsel thereto or accountants unless (i) the disclosure of such records, documents or information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the release of such records, documents or information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) such records, documents or information have been generally made available to the public; provided, further, that the representatives of the underwriters will use reasonable efforts, to the extent practicable, to coordinate the foregoing inspection and information gathering and not materially disrupt the Company's business operations;







(n) use its reasonable efforts (including, without limitation, seeking to cure any deficiencies cited by the exchange or market in the Company's listing application) to list all Registrable Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market;







(o) prepare and file in a timely manner all additional documents, if any, and reports required by the Exchange Act and register the Registrable Shares under the Exchange Act simultaneously with or immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and maintain such registration through the effectiveness period required by Section 2(a) hereof;







(p) [RESERVED]







(q) (i) otherwise use its reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) make generally available to its Holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, earnings statements covering at least twelve (12) months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement that satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company;







(r) provide and cause to be maintained a registrar and transfer agent for all Registrable Shares covered by any Registration Statement;







(s) in connection with any sale, exchange, or transfer of the Registrable Shares (whether or not pursuant to a Registration Statement) that will result in the securities being delivered no longer being Registrable Shares, cooperate with the Holders and the representative of the underwriters, if 


 




  





9











  






 


any, to facilitate the timely, in the case of beneficial interests in Registrable Shares held through a depositary, transfer of such equivalent Registrable Shares with an unrestricted CUSIP, or in the case of certificated shares, preparation and delivery of certificates representing the applicable Registrable Shares, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive transfer legends; provided that each Holder has provided the transfer agent, if it will accept an opinion of such Holder's counsel, and the Company such certificates and opinions as reasonably requested by the transfer agent and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and to enable such Registrable Shares, as applicable, to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the representative of the underwriters, if any, or the Holders may request at least three (3) Business Days prior to any sale, exchange or transfer of the Registrable Shares or within three (3) Business Days after such exchange, as applicable;







(t) in connection with the initial filing of a Registration Statement and each amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, cooperate in connection with the filing with FINRA of all forms and information required or requested by FINRA in order to obtain written confirmation from FINRA that FINRA does not object to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements (or any deemed underwriting terms and arrangements) (each such written confirmation, a "No Objections Letter") relating to the resale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, information provided to FINRA through its COBRADesk system, and pay all costs, fees and expenses incident to FINRA's review of the Registration Statement, and the related underwriting terms and arrangements, including, without limitation, all filing fees associated with any filings or submissions to FINRA;







(u) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable efforts to cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel (including any "qualified independent underwriter," if applicable) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA.







The Company may require the Holders to furnish (and each Holder shall furnish) to the Company such information regarding the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Shares as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing or as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Shares, and no Holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling shareholder in any Registration Statement and no Holder shall be entitled to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof if such Holder does not provide such information to the Company.  Any Holder that sells Registrable Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement or as a selling security holder pursuant to an Underwritten Offering shall be required to be named as a selling shareholder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers.  Each Holder further agrees to furnish promptly to the Company in writing all information required from time to time to make the information previously furnished by such Holder not misleading.







Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(f)(2), 4(f)(3) or 4(f)(4) hereof, such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus.  If so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Shares current at the time of receipt of such notice.


 




  





10











  






 








	
5.  

	
Black-Out Period












(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5 and a good faith determination by a majority of the independent members of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") that it is in the best interests of the Company to suspend the use of the Registration Statement, following the effectiveness of a Registration Statement (and the filings with any international, federal or state securities commissions), the Company, by written notice to the Holders, may direct the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement for such times as the Company reasonably may determine is necessary and advisable (but in no event for more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any rolling twelve (12) month period commencing on the Closing Date or more than sixty (60) days in any rolling ninety (90) day period), if any of the following events shall occur: (i) the representative of the underwriters of an Underwritten Offering of primary shares by the Company has advised the Company that the sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement would have a material adverse effect on the Company's primary Underwritten Offering; (ii) the majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that (A) the offer or sale of any Registrable Shares would materially impede, delay or interfere with any proposed financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition, merger, tender offer, business combination, corporate reorganization or other significant transaction involving the Company, (B) after the advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement would require disclosure of non-public material information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction, (y) disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company's ability to consummate such transaction, or (z) renders the Company unable to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause the Registration Statement (or such filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable; or (iii) the majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith, after the advice of counsel, that it is required by law, rule or regulation or that it is in the best interests of the Company to supplement the Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement in order to incorporate information into the Registration Statement for the purpose of (1) including in the Registration Statement any prospectus required under Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (2) reflecting in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or of the most recent post-effective amendment) that, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth therein; or (3) including in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information.  Upon the occurrence of any such suspension, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement on a post-effective basis or to take such action as is necessary to make resumed use of the Registration Statement compatible with the Company's best interests, as applicable, so as to permit the Holders to resume sales of the Registrable Shares as soon as possible.







(b) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a "Suspension Event"), the Company shall give written notice (a "Suspension Notice") to the Holders to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing and the Company is using its best efforts and taking all reasonable steps to terminate suspension of the use of the Registration Statement as promptly as possible.  The 


 




  





11











  






 


Holders shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below).  If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Shares at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice.  The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such effect (an "End of Suspension Notice") from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.







(c) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension Notice pursuant to this Section 5, the Company agrees that it shall extend the period of time during which the applicable Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice and copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume sales.













	
6.  

	
Indemnification and Contribution












(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder of Registrable Shares and any underwriter (as determined in the Securities Act) for such Holder, (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) any such Person described in clause (i) (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a "Controlling Person"), and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, members, employees, representatives and agents of any such Person or any Controlling Person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above may hereinafter be referred to as a "Purchaser Indemnitee"), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, actions, out-of-pocket expenses, and other liabilities (the "Liabilities"), including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or Proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any Purchaser Indemnitee, joint or several, based upon or arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any preliminary Prospectus or any other document used to sell the Shares, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Liabilities arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Purchaser Indemnitee furnished to the Company, or any underwriter in writing by such Purchaser Indemnitee expressly for use therein.  The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any claim, Proceeding (including any governmental investigation), or litigation of which it shall have become aware in connection with the matters addressed by this Agreement which involves the Company or a Purchaser Indemnitee.  The indemnity provided for herein shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Purchaser Indemnitee.


 




  





12











  








 


(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Shares is participating, and as a condition to such participation, such Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and their respective officers, directors, partners, members, employees, representatives and agents of such Person or Controlling Person to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Purchaser Indemnitee, but only with reference to untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary Prospectus.  Absent gross negligence or willful misconduct, the liability of any Holder pursuant to this paragraph shall in no event exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder from sales of Registrable Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary Prospectus.







(c) If any suit, action, Proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Party") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure to so notify an Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 6, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party, upon request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the Indemnifying Party may reasonably designate in such Proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such Proceeding.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any such Proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party, unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Party failed within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (iii) the Indemnifying Party and its counsel, in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnified Party, do not actively and vigorously pursue the defense of such action or (iv) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party, or any Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been reasonably advised by counsel that, either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party or (y) a conflict may exist between such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or such Affiliate of the Indemnifying Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume nor direct the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party; it being understood, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all such Indemnified Parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by those Indemnified Parties who sold a majority of the Registrable Shares sold by all such Indemnified Parties and any such separate firm for the Company, the directors, the officers and such control Persons of the Company as shall be designated in writing by the Company).  The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected 


 




  





13











  






 


without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party.







(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6 is for any reason held to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Liabilities referred to therein (other than by reason of the exceptions provided therein) or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, then each Indemnifying Party under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits of the Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Indemnifying Party or Parties on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Liabilities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party or Parties and the Indemnified Party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and any Purchaser Indemnitees on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by such Purchaser Indemnitees and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.







(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if such Indemnified Parties were treated as one entity for such purpose), or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 6(d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Liabilities referred to in Section 6(d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall a Purchaser Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Purchaser Indemnitee from sales of Registrable Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Purchaser Indemnitee has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  For purposes of this Section 6, each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) a Holder of Registrable Shares shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) the Company, and each officer, director, partner, employee, representative, agent or manager of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.  Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or Proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from 


 




  





14











  






 


whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 6 or otherwise, except to the extent that any party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.







(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Parties may otherwise have to the Indemnified Parties referred to above.  The Purchaser Indemnitee's obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Shares sold by each of the Purchaser Indemnitees hereunder and not joint.








	
7.  

	
Termination of the Company's Obligation












The Company shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement with respect to any Registrable Shares proposed to be sold or exchanged by a Holder in a registration pursuant to this Agreement if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, (i) all such Registrable Shares proposed to be sold by a Holder may be sold in a single transaction without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for a period of at least ninety (90) days and is current in the filing of all such required reports, and (iii) the Registrable Shares have been listed for trading on a national securities exchange.








	
8.  

	
Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights












From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Holders beneficially owning not less than a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Shares (provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8, Registrable Shares that are owned, directly or indirectly, by an Affiliate of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding), enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder (a) to include such securities in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to the terms hereof, unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of its securities will not reduce the amount of Registrable Shares of the Holders that is included, or (b) to have its securities registered on a registration statement that could be declared effective prior to, or within one hundred eighty (180) days of, the effective date of any registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.













	
9.  

	
Miscellaneous












(a) Remedies.  In the event of a breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  Subject to Section 6, the Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.


 




  





15











  








 


(b) Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, without the written consent of the Company and Holders beneficially owning not less than a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Shares.  No amendment shall be deemed effective unless it applies uniformly to all Holders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to or departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders may be given by such Holder; provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the first and second sentences of this paragraph.







(c) Notices.  All notices and other communications, provided for or permitted hereunder, shall be made in writing and delivered by facsimile (with receipt confirmed), overnight courier or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by telegram:







(i)   if to a Holder, at the most current address given by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares to the Company; and







(ii)   if to the Company, at the offices of the Company at Pendelis 16, 175 64 Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece, Attention: Ioannis Zafirakis (facsimile: +30 210 947 0101); and







(d) Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment or assumption, subsequent Holders.







(e) Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.







(f) Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.







(g) Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OTHER THAN 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF 


 




  





16











  






 


THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.







(h) Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties hereto that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.







(i) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Purchase/Placement Agreement, is intended by the parties hereto as a final expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein.







(j) Adjustment for Stock Splits, etc.  Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares, then upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination, or stock dividend of such shares, the specific number of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the effect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of stock by such subdivision, combination, or stock dividend.







(k) Survival.  This Agreement is intended to survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.  The indemnification and contribution obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Company's obligations under Section 2 of this Agreement.

















[Signature page follows]











  





17











  













IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.








	  	
DIANA CONTAINERSHIPS INC.


 


	  	
By:

	
/s/ Symeon Palios


	  	  	
Name:

	
Symeon Palios


	  	  	
Title:

	
Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman


	  	  	  	
  


 


 


	  	
DIANA SHIPPING INC.


 


	  	
By:

	
/s/ Anastasios Margaronis


	  	  	
Name:

	
Anastasios Margaronis


	  	  	
Title:

	
Director and President


	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  





[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]



	  




















 







 

 







 




18