Exhibit 10.4
January 16, 2002
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Shipyards International
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear ▇▇▇▇:
Thanks for your prompt response to our recent letter concerning formation
of a Joint Venture and other business arrangements for doing Navy work in
Hawaii. This letter summarizes points raised in our conference call of 7 January
2002 and documents the terms as to the best organization for the IDIQ MS/MY
contract in Hawaii. If you accept this proposed agreement, please acknowledge by
signing as provided below. We would propose that upon acceptance of this
agreement that both parties would execute an amendment to the current Teaming
Agreement to memorialize this agreement.
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
HSI will serve as prime contractor and authorize management of the entire
IDIQ MS/MY program to an administrative group we will refer to as TEAM HAWAII.
TEAM HAWAII will be funded 50% by PSI and 50% by Southwest Marine Inc. ("SWM").
TEAM HAWAII will have a small staff including ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as President and
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as Program Manager. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will report jointly to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in his capacity as Chief Operating Officer of United States
Marine Repair, Inc. and to the Board of Advisors of PSI. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will
report jointly to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as President of HSI and to ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as
President of Southwest Marine, Inc. TEAM HAWAII's staff will be responsible for
the profitability of the IDIQ MS/MY contracts and report to the principals.
The functions of TEAM HAWAII on the MS/MY contract would be to (1) serve
as the primary interface between the HSI/SWM team and the U.S. Navy, (2)
prepare, submit, and negotiate all price proposals to the U.S. Navy, (3) make
decisions as to the allocation of work between HSI and Southwest Marine, and (4)
prepare all HSI invoices to the Navy on MS/MY availabilities. TEAM HAWAII will
function to split the profits and share the risk from the actual performance of
the contract availabilities. TEAM HAWAII will submit and negotiate each IDIQ
MS/MY contract availability price proposal and prepare invoices to the U.S. Navy
on behalf of HSI as the prime contractor. When a request for proposal or a
contract change order is received, TEAM HAWAII will determine which work is best
performed by PSI/HSI and which work is best performed by SWM. HSI and SWM would
then submit price quotes without profit to TEAM HAWAII at an accepted rate
structure for Government Contracting (including overhead, G&A, and other
allowable costs). TEAM HAWAII will apply a reasonable profit to all costs. TEAM
HAWAII will then prepare a proposal for HSI to submit to the Government. HSI and
SWM will split the profits of IDIQ MS/MY availabilities, as shown in Attachment
A, at the completion of each contract availability.
January 16, 2002
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HSI and Southwest Marine will absorb all operating costs of TEAM HAWAII in
equal amounts so that it will not be necessary to separately charge the Navy for
TEAM HAWAII administrative costs. Instead, these costs will be included in
either the overhead or G&A expenses of HSI and SWM. For instance, it should be
possible for all TEAM HAWAII personnel to remain on the payroll of their
respective parent companies. In addition, TEAM HAWAII's staff could occupy
HSI/SWM offices without cost. Finally, a mechanism could be established so that
other expenses are apportioned to achieve the desired 50-50 split on costs.
The most efficient notional work split at this time is for HSI to provide
production manpower and material that is available locally. SWM will provide the
management team (including some PSI personnel selected by ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇) and
buy material that must be obtained on the mainland. SWM will also accomplish the
subcontracting, as determined by TEAM HAWAII, because of its success in
obtaining significant discounts for early payment terms. These discounts would
offset the G&A markup on material, lower costs, and be attractive to the Navy.
For work performed under IDIQ MS/MY availabilities, SWM requires HSI to
make progress payments on a net 30-day basis, except where amounts are disputed
by the government. HSI will consider providing payment security such as an
assignment or security interest in MS/MY receivables or letters of credit.
EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENT
USMR and PSI will enter into a two-year exclusivity agreement in which ▇▇▇
agrees not to offer its business for sale to other buyers. Additionally, PSI
agrees to negotiate with USMR in good faith on terms of a definitive acquisition
or merger agreement. The two-year period will commence on January 22, 2002 and
end on January 22, 2004 with the second year contingent on the survival of the
MS/MY contract as described below.
In consideration for this grant of exclusivity, USMR will pay PSI an
annual fee of $325,000. The first payment will be remitted in full by January
30, 2002. The second payment will be remitted by January 30, 2003 provided the
Navy has exercised the option for the second year and that the merger of the two
companies has not been completed by that time. If the parties agree on terms of
a business combination during this period, all amounts paid by USMR to PSI under
the exclusivity agreement shall be applied towards the purchase price. If the
parties have not entered into a business combination by the end of the two-year
exclusivity period, or if USMR or a USMR subsidiary has not entered into an
agreement to acquire Marisco, Ltd., then PSI and SWM agree to negotiate in good
faith as to the best relationship under the original terms of the IDIQ MS/MY
Teaming Agreement.
INFRASTRUCTURE
SWM will pay PSI a facility rental fee of $350,000 plus one half of any
fees assessed for rental of Navy property during the first two years of the
MS/MY contract. $175,000 will be paid upon execution of this agreement, the
remaining lump sum amount of $175,000 will be paid only
January 16, 2002
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if the MS/MY second year option is exercised, in which case it will be due
within 30 days of execution of the second year option. The 50% share of any Navy
assessed monthly rental fee shall be paid monthly. If the rent is "in-kind," SWM
shall reimburse PSI in cash for PSI's in-kind work, using a rate for PSI
accepted by Government Contracting (including overhead, G&A, and other allowable
costs). The "lump sum" rental fee of $350,000 applies regardless of whether the
venture uses facilities at the naval base or works from other PSI facilities.
If the Navy terminates the MS/MY during the first or second year period,
TEAM HAWAII will split any remaining funds that are unexpended, and determine
how to redistribute tools or equipment which have been purchased with these
funds. Otherwise, after two years, PSI will be entitled to retain the facility
rental fee.
In consideration of the rents paid by SWM, PSI will:
- Pay the costs for leasing office furniture and equipment, for tooling
and to outfit the temporary shop for use by the Hawaii team.
- PSI will provide Southwest Marine with access to shops and warehouses
at PSI facilities.
OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Under this agreement, TEAM HAWAII, an integrated PSI/SWM management team,
will be responsible to the principals for the profitability of work
performed. PSI/HSI will provide the workforce and production capability
while SWM will provide project management, material procurement, temporary
labor for shipyard skills not available in the resident Hawaii workforce,
and perform the subcontracting. A key objective of both parties is to
improve the performance of TEAM HAWAII. Each party must work to improve the
functions they directly control while assisting the other member to improve
in their areas of responsibility. For example, PSI will support SWM's
efforts to improve subcontractor control and performance while SWM will
support the efforts of PSI/HSI to develop the capabilities and capacity of
the local workforce.
2. During the Term of the Exclusivity Agreement the parties may pursue
additional investments in the Hawaii market and may carry out such
investments through Teaming, a joint venture, or through USMR/SWM
individually. Any such investment undertaken during the Term of the
Exclusivity Agreement, and for a 3 year period surviving the Exclusivity
Agreement, shall be considered an effort of SWM/PSI Team and PSI will have
the right to acquire up to 49% of any such investment for a price to be
mutually determined using valuation factors comparable to the original
purchase price, but not less than the original purchase price.
January 16, 2002
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We hope that this proposal is acceptable to you as a final agreement and look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Warm regards,
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and Chief Operating Officer
United States Marine Repair, Inc.
Acknowledged and Agreed to by:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Shipyards International
ATTACHMENT A
PROPOSED TEAMING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN ▇▇▇ AND SWM
EXPLAINING PROCESS TO THE NAVY
The Navy would be told that the MSMY contract will be managed jointly by a team
comprised of HSI and SWM ("TEAM HAWAII"). There is no formal JV entity and all
of the costs of the team will be included in the indirect pools of either SWM or
HSI. It is only an arrangement between SWM and HSI to establish a joint project
management team and to split profits.
HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK
1. The Navy will continue to contract with HSI as the prime.
2. SWM and HSI will provide cost estimates to TEAM HAWAII for each
availability. The TEAM HAWAII program team will prepare HSI's fixed price
proposal to the Navy and include a reasonable profit (14%).
3. The TEAM HAWAII partners will divide profits based on final allowable cost
results for each team member. All profit over and above allowable contract
costs of the team will be divided 60% to HSI and 40% to SWM.
4. HSI will subcontract to SWM on a cost-plus basis with a NTE limit. Risk
for contract performance is shared jointly by the TEAM HAWAII partners.
EXAMPLE OF CONTRACT PRICING FORMULA
The SWM and HSI price estimates to TEAM HAWAII will be at cost:
HSI cost estimate without profit $ 2,500,000
SWM cost estimate without profit 1,500,000
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Subtotal $ 4,000,000
HSI team profit mark-up 14% 560,000
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Total HSI price to Navy $ 4,560,000
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ENDING PROFIT SPLIT
SWM = $ 224,000 40%
HSI = $ 336,000 60%
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Total = $ 560,000
