ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of February 16, 2010 among Li3 Energy, Inc., Next Lithium Corp. and Next Lithium (Nevada) Corp.
dated
as of February 16, 2010
among
Next
Lithium Corp.
and
Next
Lithium (Nevada) Corp.
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of
February 16, 2010 (the “Agreement”), among Li3 Energy,
Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Buyer”), Next Lithium Corp.,
an Ontario corporation (“Next”) and Next Lithium
(Nevada) Corp., a Nevada corporation (“Next Nevada,” and, together
with Next, the “Seller
Group”).
WHEREAS, Seller Group is a Party to (a)
an Agreement dated October 30, 2009 (the “CSV, LM and MW Option
Agreement”), attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant
to which Geoxplor Corp, a Nevada corporation (“Geoxplor”) has granted to
Seller Group the sole, exclusive and irrevocable right and option (the “CSV, LM and MW Option”),
exercisable in the manner described in Sections 5.1 and 9.1 of the CSV, LM and
MW Option Agreement, to acquire one hundred percent (100%) beneficial interest
in the association placer mining claims known as CSV Placer Mineral Claims, LM
Placer Mineral Claims and MW Placer Mineral Claims located in Big Smokey Valley
near Tonopah, Nevada, and as more particularly listed on Schedule B attached to
the CSV, LM and MW Option Agreement and incorporated herein by this reference
(the “CSV, LM and MW
Property”); and
WHEREAS; Seller Group is a Party to (a)
an Agreement dated October 30, 2009 (the “BSV Option Agreement,” attached
hereto as Exhibit
B, and, together with the CSV, LM and MW Option Agreement, the “Option Agreements”), pursuant
to which Geoxplor has granted to Seller Group the sole, exclusive and
irrevocable right and option (the “BSV Option,” and, together
with the CSV, LM and MW Option, the “Options”), exercisable in the
manner described in Sections 5.1 and 9.1 of the BSV Option Agreement, to acquire
one hundred percent (100%) beneficial interest in the association placer mining
claims known as BSV Placer Mineral Claims located in Big Smokey Valley near
Tonopah, Nevada, and as more particularly listed on Schedule B attached to the
BSV Option Agreement and incorporated herein by this reference (the “BSV Property,” and, together
with the CSV, LM and MW Property, the “Property”); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire that the
Seller Group sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer, and that Buyer
purchase and acquire from the Seller Group, all of the right, title and interest
of the Seller Group in and to the Purchased Assets (as hereinafter defined), and
that Buyer assume the Assumed Liabilities (as hereinafter defined), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing premises and the respective representations and warranties, covenants
and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. When
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article I or in the applicable Section of this Agreement to which
reference is made in this Article I.
“Affiliate” means, with respect
to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such specified Person.
“Ancillary Agreements” means
the other agreements, instruments and documents to be delivered at the
Closing.
2
“Authorization” means any
authorization, approval, consent, certificate, license, permit or franchise of
or from any Governmental Entity or pursuant to any Law.
“Books and Records” means books
of account, general, financial, warranty and shipping records, invoices,
supplier lists, product specifications, product formulations, drawings,
correspondence, engineering, maintenance, operating and production records,
advertising and promotional materials, credit records of customers and other
documents, records and files, in each case Related to the Purchased
Assets.
“Business Day” means a day
other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks located in New York
City are authorized or required by Law to close.
“Capital Stock” means (a) in
the case of a corporation, its shares of capital stock, (b) in the case of a
partnership or limited liability company, its partnership or membership
interests or units (whether general or limited), and (c) any other interest that
confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of,
or distribution of assets, of the issuing entity.
“Charter Documents” means, with
respect to any entity, the certificate of incorporation, the articles of
incorporation, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company
agreement, partnership agreement, formation agreement, joint venture agreement
or other similar organizational documents of such entity (in each case, as
amended).
“Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
“Contract” means any agreement,
contract, license, lease, commitment, arrangement or understanding, written or
oral, including any sales order or purchase order.
“Escrow Agent” means Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP.
“Escrow Agreement” means the
Escrow Agreement among Next, the Buyer and the Escrow Agent, substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto.
“GAAP” means generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States.
“Governmental Entity” means any
entity or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to United States federal, state,
local, or municipal government, foreign, international, multinational or other
government, including any department, commission, board, agency, bureau,
subdivision, instrumentality, official or other regulatory, administrative or
judicial authority thereof, and any nongovernmental regulatory body to the
extent that the rules and regulations or orders of such body have the force of
Law.
“HSR Act” means the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
“Indebtedness” means any of the
following: (a) any indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) any obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) any
obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except
trade accounts payable and other current Liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of the Business, (d) any obligations as lessee under capitalized leases,
(e) any indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement with respect to acquired property, (f) any
obligations, contingent or otherwise, under acceptance credit, letters of credit
or similar facilities, and (g) any guaranty of any of the
foregoing.
3
“Indemnitee” means any Person
that is seeking indemnification from an Indemnitor pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement.
“Indemnitor” means any party
hereto from which any Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement.
“Knowledge of Seller” or any
similar phrase means, with respect to any fact or matter, the actual knowledge
of the directors and executive officers of each member of the Seller Group,
together with such knowledge that such directors, executive officers or other
employees could be expected to discover after due investigation concerning the
existence of the fact or matter in question.
“Law” means any statute, law
(including common law), constitution, treaty, ordinance, code, order, decree,
judgment, rule, regulation and any other binding requirement or determination of
any Governmental Entity.
“Liability” means with respect
to any Person, any liability or obligation of such Person of any kind, character
or description, whether known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or
unaccrued, disputed or undisputed, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or
unsecured, joint or several, due or to become due, vested or unvested,
executory, determined, determinable or otherwise, and whether or not the same is
required to be accrued on the financial statements of such Person.
“Lien” means, with respect to
any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest,
adverse claim or other encumbrance in respect of such property or
asset.
“Order” means any award,
injunction, judgment, decree, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict or other
decision issued, promulgated or entered by or with any Governmental Entity of
competent jurisdiction.
“Other Antitrust Laws” means
the antitrust and competition Laws of all jurisdictions other than those of the
United States.
“Permitted Liens” means Liens
for current real or personal property Taxes not yet due and payable and with
respect to which the Seller Group maintains adequate reserves.
“Person” means an individual, a
corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an
unincorporated association, a Governmental Entity or any other entity or
body.
“Policy” means any public
liability, product liability, general liability, comprehensive, property damage,
vehicle, life, hospital, medical, dental, disability, worker’s compensation, key
man, fidelity bond, theft, forgery, errors and omissions, directors’ and
officers’ liability, or other insurance policy of any nature.
“Pre-Closing Environmental
Liabilities” means Liabilities arising out of (a) the ownership or
operation of the Business at any time on or prior to the Closing or (b) the
ownership, operation or condition of the Property or any other real property
currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by any member of the Seller
Group Related to the Property at any time on or prior to the Closing, in each
case to the extent based upon or arising out of (i) Environmental Law, (ii) a
failure to obtain, maintain or comply with any Environmental Permit, (iii) a
Release of any Hazardous Substance, or (iv) the use, generation, storage,
transportation, treatment, sale or other offsite disposal of Hazardous
Substances.
4
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with
respect to any party, any Person, of which (i) such party or any other
Subsidiary of such party is a general partner (excluding partnerships, the
general partnership interests of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of
such party do not have a majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or
(ii) at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their
terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or
others performing similar functions with respect to such Person is directly or
indirectly owned or controlled by such party and/or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all
federal, state, local, or foreign net or gross income, gross receipts, net
proceeds, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, franchise, bank shares,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, property, deed, stamp, alternative or
add-on minimum, environmental, profits, windfall profits, transaction, license,
lease, service, service use, occupation, severance, energy, unemployment, social
security, workers’ compensation, capital, premium, and other taxes, assessments,
customs, duties, fees, levies, or other governmental charges of any nature
whatever, whether disputed or not, together with any interest, penalties,
additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto.
“Tax Returns” means any return,
declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement
relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including
any amendment thereof.
“Taxing Authority” means any
Governmental Entity having jurisdiction with respect to any Tax.
“$” means United States
dollars.
1.2 Other Defined Terms.
The following terms have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Sections of
the Agreement set forth below:
Action
|
4.11(a)
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
Allocation
Statement
|
2.5
|
Applicable
Survival Period
|
10.1(d)
|
Assigned
Contracts
|
2.1(c)
|
Assumed
Liabilities
|
2.2
|
Business
|
4.8(g)
|
Buyer
|
Preamble
|
Buyer
Closing Certificate
|
8.3(c)
|
Buyer
Common Stock
|
2.4
|
Buyer
Disclosure Schedule
|
Preamble
Article V
|
Buyer
Indemnitees
|
10.2(a)
|
Buyer
Warranty Losses
|
10.2(b)
|
5
CERCLA
|
4.12(a)(iv)
|
Closing
|
3.1
|
Closing
Date
|
3.1
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
???
|
Consents
|
4.3(a)
|
Environment
|
4.12(a)(i)
|
Environmental
Action
|
4.12(a)(ii)
|
Environmental
Cleanup Site
|
4.12(a)(iii)
|
Environmental
Laws
|
4.12(a)(iv)
|
Environmental
Permit
|
4.12(a)(v)
|
Excluded
Liabilities
|
2.3
|
Hazardous
Substances
|
4.12(a)(vi)
|
Losses
|
10.2(a)
|
Noncompetition
Period
|
6.8(a)
|
Nondisclosure
Agreements
|
4.9(c)
|
Notice
of Claim
|
10.4(a)
|
PCBs
|
4.21(i)
|
Policies
|
4.22(a)
|
Post-Closing
Tax Period
|
7.5(b)
|
Pre-Closing
Tax Period
|
7.5(b)
|
Proprietary
Information
|
4.9(a)
|
Purchase
Price
|
2.4(a)
|
Purchase
Price Shares
|
2.4(a)
|
Purchased
Assets
|
2.1
|
RCRA
|
4.12(a)(iv)
|
Release
|
4.12(a)(vii)
|
6
Representatives
|
6.3
|
Restricted
Business
|
6.8(a)
|
Restricted
Contract
|
2.6(a)
|
Section
1060 Forms
|
2.5
|
Seller
Closing Certificate
|
8.2(c)
|
Seller
Disclosure Schedule
|
Preamble
Article IV
|
Seller
Group
|
Recitals
|
Seller
Indemnitees
|
10.3(a)
|
Seller
Warranty Losses
|
10.3(b)
|
Third
Party Claim
|
10.4(a)
|
Third
Party Defense
|
10.4(b)
|
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE
2.1 Purchase and Sale of the
Purchased Assets. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, at the Closing, Seller Group shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and
deliver to Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer designated by Buyer in writing to the
Seller Group not less than one Business Day prior to the Closing, and Buyer or such Subsidiary shall purchase, acquire
and accept from the
Seller Group, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens, the entire
right, title and interest of Seller Group in, to and under the following assets,
properties and rights (the “Purchased
Assets”):
(a) the
Option Agreements;
(b) all
Proprietary Information;
(c) all
Contracts related to the Option Agreements (together with the Option Agreements,
the “Assigned
Contracts”);
(d) all
Books and Records;
(e) all
claims, causes of action, choses in action, rights of recovery and rights under
all warranties, representations and guarantees arising from or relating to the
other Purchased Assets;
(f) all
insurance benefits, including rights and proceeds, arising from or relating to
the other Purchased Assets; and
(g) all
security deposits, xxxxxxx deposits and all other forms of deposit or security
placed with or by any member of the Seller Group for the performance of an
Assigned Contract.
7
2.2 Assumed Liabilities.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Buyer or a
Subsidiary of Buyer designated by Buyer in writing to the Seller Group not less
than one Business Day prior to the Closing shall assume effective as of the
Closing, and from and after the Closing, Buyer or
such Subsidiary shall pay, discharge or perform when due, as appropriate, only
the following Liabilities of the Seller Group (the “Assumed Liabilities”), and no
other Liabilities:
all
Liabilities in respect of the Assigned Contracts, but only to the extent that
such Liabilities thereunder arise or are required to be performed after the
Closing Date and do not relate to any failure to perform, improper performance,
warranty or other breach, default or violation by any member of the Seller Group
on or prior to the Closing.
2.3 Excluded Liabilities.
Neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates shall assume
any Liabilities of the Seller Group (such unassumed Liabilities, the “Excluded Liabilities”) other
than those specifically set forth in Section 2.2. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, in no event shall Buyer or any of its Affiliates
assume or incur any Liability in respect of, and the Seller Group shall remain
bound by and liable for, and shall pay, discharge or perform when due, the
following Liabilities of the Seller Group:
(a) all
Liabilities for (i) Taxes relating to the Purchased Assets for any Pre-Closing
Tax Period and (ii) Taxes of the Seller Group or any Affiliate of the Seller
Group;
(b) all
Liabilities in respect of the Contracts and assets other than the Purchased
Assets;
(c) all
product Liability, warranty and similar claims for damages or injury to person
or property, claims of infringement of intellectual property rights and all
other Liabilities, regardless of when made or asserted, which arise out of or
are based upon any events occurring or actions taken or omitted to be taken by
any member of the Seller Group, or otherwise arising out of or incurred in
connection with the Purchased Property, on or before the Closing
Date;
(d) all
Pre-Closing Environmental Liabilities;
(e) all
Indebtedness of the Seller Group; and
(f) all
Liabilities arising out of or incurred in connection with the negotiation,
preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including
Taxes and fees and expenses of counsel, accountants and other
experts.
2.4 Purchase
Price.
(a) The
aggregate consideration to be paid by Buyer to the Seller Group for the
Purchased Assets (the “Purchase
Price”) shall be (i) 4,000,000 newly issued shares (the “Purchase Price Shares”) of the
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Buyer (“Buyer Common Stock”), and (ii)
the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities.
(b) Next,
on behalf of the Seller Group, shall not be entitled to receive immediately the
Purchase Price Shares; Purchase Price Shares shall be deposited in escrow
pursuant to Section 3.4 and shall be held and disposed of in accordance with the
terms of the Escrow Agreement. The Purchase Price Shares shall be
delivered as provided in Section 3.3(a).
8
2.5 Allocation. As soon
as reasonably practicable following the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to the
Seller Group an allocation statement setting forth Buyer’s allocation of the
Purchase Price for Tax purposes pursuant to Section 1060 of the Code and any
other applicable Tax Laws (as the same may be revised pursuant to the following
sentence, the “Allocation
Statement”). Except as otherwise
required by Law, Buyer and the Seller Group shall, and each member of the Seller
Group shall cause each other member of the Seller Group to, file all Tax Returns
(such as IRS Form 8594 or any other forms or reports required to be filed
pursuant to Section 1060 of the Code or any comparable provisions of Law (“Section 1060 Forms”)) in a
manner that is consistent with the Allocation Statement and refrain from taking
any action inconsistent therewith. Buyer and the Seller Group shall, and each
member of the Seller Group shall cause each other member of the Seller Group to,
cooperate in the preparation of Section 1060 Forms and file such Section 1060
Forms timely and in the manner required by applicable Law. Buyer and the Seller
Group agree to treat any payments made pursuant to the indemnification
provisions of this Agreement as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for Tax
purposes.
2.6 Consents.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not constitute
an agreement to sell, assign, transfer, convey or deliver any Purchased Asset or
any benefit arising under or resulting from such Purchased Asset if the sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery thereof, without the Consent of a
third party, (i) would constitute a breach or other contravention of the rights
of such third party, (ii) would be ineffective with respect to any party to a
Contract concerning such Purchased Asset, or (iii) would, upon transfer, in any
way adversely affect the rights of Buyer under such Purchased Asset. If the
sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery by any member of the Seller
Group to, or any assumption by Buyer of, any interest in, or Liability under,
any Purchased Asset requires the Consent of a third party, then such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance, delivery or assumption shall be subject to
such Consent being obtained. Without limiting subsection (b) below, to the
extent any Assigned Contract may not be assigned to Buyer by reason of the
absence of any such Consent (“Restricted Contract”), Buyer shall not be
required to assume any Assumed Liabilities arising
under such Restricted Contract.
(b) To
the extent that any Consent in respect of a Restricted Contract or any other
Purchased Asset shall not have been obtained on or before the Closing Date,
Buyer may elect to proceed with the Closing, in which case, the Seller Group
shall continue to use reasonable best efforts to obtain any such Consent after
the Closing Date until such time as it shall have been obtained. The Seller
Group shall cooperate with Buyer in any economically feasible arrangement
proposed by Buyer to provide that Buyer shall receive the interest of the Seller
Group in the benefits under such Restricted Contract or other Purchased Asset.
The Seller Group shall pay and discharge, and shall indemnify and hold harmless,
Buyer and its Affiliates from and against any and all out-of-pocket costs of
seeking to obtain or obtaining any such Consent whether before or after the
Closing Date. As soon as a Consent for the sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance, delivery or assumption of a Restricted Contract or other Purchased
Asset is obtained, Next shall promptly assign, transfer, convey and deliver such
Restricted Contract or Purchased Asset to Buyer, and Buyer shall assume the
Assumed Liabilities under any such Restricted Contract from and after the date
of assignment to Buyer pursuant to a special-purpose assignment and assumption
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.
(c) Nothing
contained in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed a
waiver by Buyer of its right to have received on the Closing Date an effective
assignment of all of the Purchased Assets or of the covenant of the Seller Group
to obtain all Consents, nor shall this Section or any other provision of this
Agreement be deemed to constitute an agreement to exclude from the Purchased
Assets any Assigned Contracts or other Purchased Asset as to which a Consent may
be necessary.
9
ARTICLE
III
CLOSING
3.1 Closing Date. The
closing of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at
the offices of Gottbetter & Partners, LLP, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the
parties, which shall be no later than two Business Days after satisfaction (or
waiver as provided herein) of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other
than those conditions that by their nature will be satisfied at the Closing),
unless another time, date and/or place is agreed to in writing by the parties.
The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the
“Closing
Date.”
3.2 Deliveries by Seller Group
at the Closing. At the Closing, the Seller Group shall deliver to Buyer
the following:
(a) a
memorandum of this Agreement acceptable to Buyer, duly executed
by each member of the Seller Group, for the purpose of recording the same in the
records of Xxxxx County, Nevada, so as to give public notice, pursuant to the
laws of the State of Nevada, of the existence of this Agreement;
(b) such
other good and sufficient instruments of transfer as Buyer reasonably deems
necessary and appropriate to vest in Buyer all right, title and interest in, to
and under the Purchased Assets;
(c) the
Power of Attorney contemplated by Section 6.9 duly executed by each relevant
member of the Seller Group; and
(d) the
Seller Closing Certificate.
3.3 Deliveries by Buyer at the
Closing.
(a) At
the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to the Seller Group the Buyer Closing
Certificate.
(b) At
the Closing, Buyer shall execute and deliver to the Seller Group, and each
member of the Seller Group shall countersign, an agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to Buyer and the Seller Group and containing customary terms for
such an agreement, providing that if the Purchase Price Shares cannot be resold
under Rule 144 without restriction at any time following the 13th
month after Closing due to Buyer’s status as a former “shell” company
and its failure to file required reports with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and not because of any fault of any member of
the Seller Group, Buyer will register the Purchase Price Shares with the SEC for
resale on Form S-1 or such other form as may then be available for such
registration.
(b) In
addition, at the Closing, Buyer shall (i) reimburse the Seller Group for the
reasonable, documented legal expenses incurred by the Seller Group in connection
with this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated herein and the offer
letter dated November 24, 2009, up to a maximum of CAD$25,000, and (ii) deliver
CAD$25,000 to Colonnade Capital Corp. as directed in writing by the Seller
Group, in connection with the letter agreement dated August 20, 2009 in respect
of the identification and evaluation of mining claims.
10
3.4 Escrow. On the
Closing Date, the Buyer shall deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate (issued
in the name of the Escrow Agent or its nominee) representing the Purchase Price
Shares, as described in Section 2.4(b), for the purpose of securing the
indemnification obligations of the Seller Group set forth in this
Agreement. The Purchase Price Shares shall be held by the Escrow
Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement. The Purchase Price Shares
shall be held as a trust fund and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment,
trustee process or any other judicial process of any creditor of any Party, and
shall be held and disbursed solely for the purposes and in accordance with the
terms of the Escrow Agreement. If directed in writing by any member
of the Seller Group, Buyer will issue certificates for the Purchase Price Shares
in the names of such member’s stockholders who shall have agreed, in form
satisfactory to Buyer, to be bound by the terms of the Escrow Agreement, in such
amounts as such member shall direct.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER GROUP
Each
member of the Seller Group, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to
Buyer as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date that the statements
contained in this Article IV are true and correct, except as set forth in the
disclosure schedule dated and delivered as of the date hereof by the Seller
Group to Buyer (the “Seller
Disclosure Schedule”), which is attached
to this Agreement and is designated therein as being the Seller
Disclosure Schedule. The Seller Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in
paragraphs corresponding to each representation and warranty set forth in this
Article IV. Each exception to a representation and warranty set forth in the
Seller Disclosure Schedule shall qualify the specific representation and
warranty which is referenced in the applicable paragraph of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, and no other representation or warranty.
4.1 Organization and Good
Standing. Each member of the Seller Group is a corporation, limited
liability company or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
formation, has all requisite power to own, lease and operate its properties and
to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted,
and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts any business so as
to require such qualification. No member of the Seller Group is in
default under its Charter Documents.
4.2 Authority and
Enforceability.
(a) Each
member of the Seller Group has the requisite power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of each member of the Seller Group. Each member of
the Seller Group has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. This Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each member of the Seller Group,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar Laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights
generally, and (ii) the availability of injunctive relief and other equitable
remedies.
(b) Each
member of the Seller Group has the requisite power and authority to enter into
each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or is specified to be, a party, and to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The execution and delivery by
each member of the Seller Group of each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or
specified to be, a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability
company or other action on the part of each such member of the Seller Group.
Prior to the Closing, each member of the Seller Group will have duly executed
and delivered each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or specified to be, a
party. The Ancillary Agreements will constitute the valid and binding obligation
of each member of the Seller Group party thereto, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws
affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) the availability
of injunctive relief and other equitable remedies. This Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements will effectively vest in Buyer good, valid and marketable
title to all the Purchased Assets free and clear of all Liens.
11
4.3 No Conflicts;
Consents.
(a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by each member of the Seller Group do
not, and the execution and delivery of each Ancillary Agreement to which each
member of the Seller Group is, or specified to be, a party, the performance by
each member of the Seller Group of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and
the consummation by each member of the Seller Group of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (in each case, with or without the giving of
notice or lapse of time, or both), will not, directly or indirectly, (i) violate
the provisions of any of the Charter Documents of any member of the Seller
Group, (ii) violate or constitute a default, an event of default or an event
creating rights of acceleration, termination, cancellation, imposition of
additional obligations or loss of rights under any Contract (A) to which any
member of the Seller Group is a party, (B) of which any member of the Seller
Group is a beneficiary or (C) by which any member of the Seller Group or any of
their respective assets is bound, (iii) violate or conflict with any Law,
Authorization or Order applicable to any member of the Seller Group, or give any
Governmental Entity or other Person the right to challenge any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to
exercise any remedy, obtain any relief under or revoke or otherwise modify any
rights held under, any such Law, Authorization or Order, or (iv) result in the
creation of any Liens upon any of the assets owned or used by any member of the
Seller Group. There are no consents, waivers, assignments or other approvals or
actions that are required in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement under any Contract to which any member of the Seller Group is a
party (collectively, “Consents”) in order (i) in the
case of Contracts that are not Assigned Contracts, to preserve all rights and
benefits of the Seller Group thereunder and (ii) in the case of Contracts that
are Assigned Contracts, to sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to, Buyer
all rights and benefits of the Seller Group thereunder without any impairment or
alteration whatsoever, except such as have been delivered to Buyer on or before
the date of this Agreement.
(b) No
Authorization or Order of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notice
to, any Governmental Entity or other Person, is required by or with respect to
any member of the Seller Group in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
4.4 Taxes.
(a) All
Tax Returns required to have been filed by or with respect to each member of the
Seller Group have been duly and timely filed (or, if due between the date hereof
and the Closing Date, will be duly and timely filed), and each such Tax Return
correctly and completely reflects Liability for Taxes and all other information
required to be reported thereon. All Taxes owed by any member of the Seller
Group (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid (or, if due
between the date hereof and the Closing Date, will be duly and timely paid).
Each member of the Seller Group has adequately provided for, in its books of
account and related records, Liability for all unpaid Taxes, being current Taxes
not yet due and payable.
(b) There
is no action or audit now proposed, threatened or pending against, or with
respect to, any member of the Seller Group in respect of any Taxes. No member of
the Seller Group is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to
file any Tax Return, nor has any member of the Seller Group made (or had made on
its behalf) any requests for such extensions. No claim has ever been made by an
authority in a jurisdiction where any member of the Seller Group does not file
Tax Returns that any of them is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction or that any of them must file Tax Returns. There are no Liens on
any of the stock or assets of any member of the Seller Group with respect to
Taxes.
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(c) Each
member of the Seller Group has withheld and timely paid all Taxes required to
have been withheld and paid and has complied with all information reporting and
backup withholding requirements, including maintenance of required records with
respect thereto.
(d) There
is no dispute or claim concerning any Liability for Taxes with respect to any
member of the Seller Group for which notice has been provided, or which is
asserted or threatened, or which is otherwise known to any member of the Seller
Group. No issues have been raised in any Taxes examination with respect to any
member of the Seller Group which, by application of similar principles, could be
expected to result in Liability for Taxes for any member of the Seller Group or
period not so examined. Each member of the Seller Group has delivered to Buyer
correct and complete copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination
reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by any
member of the Seller Group since January 1, 2007. No member of the Seller Group
has waived (or is subject to a waiver of) any statute of limitations in respect
of Taxes or has agreed to (or is subject to) any extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(e) None
of the assets or properties of any member of the Seller Group constitutes
tax-exempt bond financed property or tax-exempt use property within the meaning
of Section 168 of the Code. No member of the Seller Group is a party to any
“safe harbor lease” within the meaning of Section 168(f)(8) of the Code, as in
effect prior to amendment by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of
1982, or to any “long-term contract” within the meaning of Section 460 of the
Code. No member of the Seller Group has ever been a United States real property
holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code. No
foreign member of the Seller Group has ever held a “United States real property
interest” within the meaning of Section 897(1)(1) of the Code. No member of the
Seller Group is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445 of the
Code. No member of the Seller Group has made any payments, is obligated to make
any payments, or is a party to any agreement that under certain circumstances
could obligate it to make payments that would result in a nondeductible expense
under Section 280G of the Code or an excise Tax to the recipient of such
payments pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code. No member of the Seller Group has
participated in or cooperated with an international boycott as defined in
Section 999 of the Code.
(f) No
member of the Seller Group has agreed to or is required to make by reason of a
change in accounting method or otherwise, or could be required to make by reason
of a proposed or threatened change in accounting method or otherwise, any
adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code. No member of the Seller Group has
been the “distributing corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(c)(2) of
the Code) with respect to a transaction described in Section 355 of the Code
within the 5year period ending as of the date of this Agreement. No member of
the Seller Group has received (or is subject to) any ruling from any Taxing
Authority or has entered into (or is subject to) any agreement with a Taxing
Authority. Each member of the Seller Group has disclosed on its federal income
Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial
understatement of federal income Tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the
Code.
(g) No
member of the Seller Group is a party to any Tax allocation or sharing
agreement. No member of the Seller Group has any Liability for the Taxes of any
Person, other than under Section 1.15026 of the Treasury regulations (or any
similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law) with respect to any Relevant
Group of which such member of the Seller Group currently is a member, (i) as a
transferee or successor, (ii) by contract, (iii) under Section 1.15026 of the
Treasury regulations (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law),
or (iv) otherwise. No member of the Seller Group is a party to any joint
venture, partnership or other arrangement that is treated as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes.
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(h) No
member of the Seller Group will be required to include any item of income in, or
exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or
portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i)
intercompany transactions or excess loss accounts described in Treasury
regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of state,
local, or foreign Tax Law), (ii) installment sale or open transaction
disposition made on or prior to the Closing or (iii) prepaid amount received on
or prior to the Closing.
(i) No
member of the Seller Group that is incorporated in a non-U.S. jurisdiction has,
or at any time has had, an investment in “United States property” within the
meaning of Section 956(c) of the Code. No member of the Seller Group is, or at
any time has been, a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of
Section 1297 of the Code and no member of the Seller Group is a shareholder,
directly or indirectly, in a passive foreign investment company. No member of
the Seller Group that is incorporated in a non-U.S. jurisdiction is, or at any
time has been, engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United
States, or treated as or considered to be so engaged.
(i) No
member of the Seller Group is or at any time has been subject to the dual
consolidated loss provisions of Section 1503(d) of the Code, (ii) the overall
foreign loss provisions of Section 904(f) of the Code or (iii) the
recharacterization provisions of Section 952(c)(2) of the Code. No member of the
Seller Group has any “nonrecaptured net Section 1231 losses” within the meaning
of Section 1231(c)(2) of the Code.
4.5 Compliance with
Law.
(a) Each
member of the Seller Group has conducted, and is conducting, its business in
compliance with all applicable Laws.
(b) No
event has occurred and no circumstances exist that (with or without the passage
of time or the giving of notice) may result in a violation of, conflict with or
failure on the part of any member of the Seller Group to conduct its business in
compliance with, any applicable Law. No member of the Seller Group has
received notice regarding any violation of, conflict with, or failure to conduct
the its business in compliance with, any
applicable Law.
4.6 Business
Authorizations. There are no Authorizations which are
necessary for any member of the Seller Group to conduct its business as
currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted or for the ownership and use
of the assets owned or used by such member of the Seller Group in the conduct of
its business.
4.7 Title to Purchased
Assets.
(a) A
member of the Seller Group has good and transferable title to all such Purchased
Assets, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. No Purchased
Asset is leased.
4.8 Mining
Claims. With respect to each Property:
(a) the
Property is comprised of the association placer mining claims listed on Schedule
B attached to each of the Option Agreements;
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(b) no
member of Seller Group has received any notice of expropriation and is not aware
of any intention of any party to expropriate any part of the
Property;
(c) there
is as or the date of this Agreement no litigation or proceeding, including
appeals or applications for review, in progress and, to the best of Seller’s
Knowledge, no litigation or claim threatened against or relating to any member
of the Seller Group directly affecting the Property, and there is not presently
outstanding against any member of the Seller Group any judgment, decree,
injunction, rule or order of any court, government department, commission,
agency or arbitration which materially adversely affects the
Property:
(d) subject
to the Permitted Encumbrances and compliance therewith, the execution and
delivery of the applicable Option Agreement and the exercise by Buyer of the
rights granted to it under the applicable Option Agreement will not conflict
with or be in contravention of any law, regulation or order of any government,
government department or other competent authority or conflict with rights of
third parties or result in a breach of or default under any agreement or other
instrument of obligation to which any member of the Seller Group is a party or
by which any member of the Seller Group or the Property may be
bound;
(e) the
applicable Option Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
each member of the Seller Group enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms under the laws of the Province of Ontario, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting creditors’ rights and the discretion exercisable by courts of
competent jurisdiction in respect of the availability of equitable remedies and
application of equitable principles.
(f) No
Governmental Entity having the power of eminent domain over the Property has
commenced or, to Seller’s Knowledge, intends to exercise the power of eminent
domain or a similar power with respect to all or any part of the Property. There
are no pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened condemnation, fire, health,
safety, building, zoning or other land use regulatory proceedings, lawsuits or
administrative actions relating to any portion of the Property or any other
matters which do or may adversely affect the current use, occupancy or value
thereof. No member of the Seller Group has received notice of any pending or
threatened special assessment proceedings affecting any portion of the
Property.
(g) The
Property and all present uses and operations of the Property comply with all
Laws, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, disposition agreements and
similar matters affecting the Property. The Property and its continued use,
occupancy and operation as used, occupied and operated in the conduct of the
business of metals and minerals mining (the “Business”) do not constitute a
nonconforming use and is not the subject of a special use permit under any
Law.
(h) The
Property is in suitable condition for the conduct of the Business as currently
conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each member of the Seller Group has
good and valid rights of ingress and egress to and from all Property from and to
the public street systems for all usual street, road and utility
purposes.
(i) No
Person other than a member of the Seller Group is in possession of any of the
Property or any portion thereof, and there are no leases, subleases, licenses,
concessions or other agreements, written or oral, granting to any Person other
than the Seller Group the right of use or occupancy of the Property or any
portion thereof. No easement, utility transmission line or water main located on
the Property adversely affects the use of the Property or any improvement on the
Property.
15
(j) No
fact or condition exists which could result in the termination or material
reduction of the current access from the Property to existing roads or to
utility services presently serving the Property.
4.9 Proprietary Information;
Intellectual Property.
(a) As
used in this Agreement, “Proprietary Information” means
all trade secrets, technical data, databases, customer lists, designs, tools,
methods, processes, technology, ideas, knowhow, source code, product road maps
and other proprietary information and materials relating to the other Purchased
Assets, including, without limitation, the Canadian National Instrument 43-101
Report by Coast Mountain Geological Ltd., dated September 4, 2009, relating to
the Property (the “Coast
Mountain Report”).
(b) No
member of the Seller Group has infringed or infringes upon, or otherwise
unlawfully used or uses, any intellectual property rights of a third party in
any way directly or indirectly related to the Purchased Assets. No member of the
Seller Group has received any communication alleging that a member of the Seller
Group or any of their respective activities or operations infringe upon or
otherwise unlawfully use any intellectual property rights of a third party nor,
to Seller’s Knowledge, is there any basis therefor.
(c) The
documentation relating to the Proprietary Information is current, accurate and
sufficient in detail and content to identify and explain it and to allow its
full and proper use without reliance on the special knowledge or memory of
others. Each member of the Seller Group has taken commercially reasonable steps
to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Proprietary Information owned
by any member of the Seller Group. Any receipt or use by, or disclosure to, a
third party of Proprietary Information owned by any member of the Seller Group
has been pursuant to the terms of binding written confidentiality and nonuse
agreement between a member of the Seller Group and such third party (“Nondisclosure Agreements”).
True and complete copies of the Nondisclosure Agreements, and any amendments
thereto, have been provided to Buyer. Each member of the Seller Group is, and to
Seller’s Knowledge, all other parties thereto are, in compliance with the
provisions of the Nondisclosure Agreements. Each member of the Seller Group is
in compliance with the terms of all Contracts pursuant to which a third party
has disclosed to, or authorized such member of the Seller Group to use,
Proprietary Information Related to the Purchased Assets owned by such third
party.
(d) No
Action has been instituted, or, to Seller’s Knowledge, is threatened, relating
to any Proprietary Information, and none of the Proprietary Information is
subject to any outstanding Order. To Seller’s Knowledge, no Person has
misappropriated or is misappropriating any Proprietary Information.
(e) No
Proprietary Information has been distributed, sold or licensed to a third party
by any member of the Seller Group.
(f) To
Seller’s Knowledge, the Coast Mountain Report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading.
(g) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by each member of the Seller Group does
not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (in each case,
with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both), will not,
directly or indirectly, result in the loss or impairment of any member of the
Seller Group’s rights to own any of its Proprietary Information, nor require the
consent of any Governmental Entity or other third party in respect of any such
Proprietary Information.
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4.10 Assigned
Contracts.
(a) The
Assigned Contracts are only the Option Agreements.
(b) Each
Assigned Contract is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms. Each
member of the Seller Group party to an Assigned Contract has complied with and
is in compliance with, and to Seller’s Knowledge, all other parties thereto have
complied with and are in compliance with, the provisions of each Assigned
Contract.
(c) No
member of the Seller Group is, and to Seller’s Knowledge, no other party thereto
is, in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any obligation,
covenant, condition or other term contained in any Assigned Contract, and no
member of the Seller Group has given or received notice to or from any Person
relating to any such alleged or potential default that has not been cured. No
event has occurred which, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, may conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or give any
Person the right to exercise any remedy under or accelerate the maturity or
performance of, or cancel, terminate or modify, any Assigned
Contract.
(d) The
Seller Group has delivered accurate and complete copies of each Assigned
Contract to Buyer.
4.11 Litigation.
(a) There
is no action, suit or proceeding, claim, arbitration, litigation or
investigation (each, an “Action”), (i) pending or, to
Seller’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting any member of the Seller
Group relating directly or indirectly to any of the Purchased Assets, or (ii)
that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. No event has
occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any
such Action.
(b) There
is no unsatisfied judgment, penalty or award against or affecting any member of
the Seller Group or any of their respective assets, properties or
rights.
4.12 Environmental.
(a) As
used in this Agreement, the following words and terms have the following
definitions:
(i) The
term “Environment” means
all indoor or outdoor air, surface water, groundwater, surface or subsurface
land, including all fish, wildlife, biota and all other natural
resources.
(ii) The
term “Environmental
Action” means any claim, proceeding or other Action brought or threatened
under any Environmental Law or the assertion of any claim with respect to
Pre-Closing Environmental Liabilities.
(iii) The
term “Environmental Cleanup
Site” means any location which is listed on the National Priorities List,
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information
System, or on any similar state or foreign list of sites requiring investigation
or cleanup, or which is the subject of any pending or threatened Action related
to or arising from any alleged violation of any Environmental Law, or at which
there has been a threatened or actual Release of a Hazardous
Substance.
17
(iv) The
term “Environmental
Laws” means any and all applicable Laws and Authorizations issued,
promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Entity relating to the
Environment, worker health and safety, preservation or reclamation of natural
resources, or to the management, handling, use, generation, treatment, storage,
transportation, disposal, manufacture, distribution, formulation, packaging,
labeling, Release or threatened Release of or exposure to Hazardous Substances,
whether now existing or subsequently amended or enacted, including but not
limited to: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”); the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42
U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section
2601 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 651 et
seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.
Section 11001 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300(f) et
seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et
seq.; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act 7 U.S.C. Section
136 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), 42 U.S.C. Section 6901
et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.; the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. Section 2701 et seq.; and any similar or
implementing state or local Law, and any non-U.S. Laws and regulations of
similar import, and all amendments or regulations promulgated thereunder; and
any common law doctrine, including but not limited to, negligence, nuisance,
trespass, personal injury, or property damage related to or arising out of the
presence, Release, or exposure to Hazardous Substances.
(v) The
term “Environmental
Permit” means any Authorization under Environmental Law and includes any
and all Orders issued or entered into by a Governmental Entity under
Environmental Law.
(vi) The
term “Hazardous
Substances” means all explosive or regulated radioactive materials or
substances, hazardous or toxic materials, wastes or chemicals, petroleum and
petroleum products (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), asbestos or
asbestos containing materials, and all other materials, chemicals or substances
which are regulated by, form the basis of liability or are defined as hazardous,
extremely hazardous, toxic or words of similar import, under any Environmental
Law, including materials listed in 49 C.F.R. Section 172.101 and materials
defined as hazardous pursuant to Section 101(14) of CERCLA.
(vii) The
term “Release” means any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of Hazardous Substances into the
Environment.
(b) There
are no Environmental Permits required in connection with the Option
Agreements or the
Property.
(c) There
are no past, pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened Environmental Actions
against or affecting the Property or any member of the Seller Group in
connection with the Option Agreements or the Property, and no member of the
Seller Group is aware of any facts or circumstances which could be expected to
form the basis for any such Environmental Action.
(d) Neither
Geoxplor nor any member of the Seller Group has entered into or agreed to any
Order, and no member of the Seller Group is subject to any Order, relating to
compliance with any Environmental Law or to investigation or cleanup of a
Hazardous Substance under any Environmental Law, in each case in connection with
the Option Agreements or the
Property.
(e) No
Lien has been attached to, or asserted against, any Property pursuant to any
Environmental Law, and, to Seller’s Knowledge, no such Lien has been threatened.
To Seller’s Knowledge, there are no facts, circumstances or other conditions
that could be expected to give rise to any Liens on or affecting the Property
under Environmental Law.
18
(f) There
has been no treatment, storage, disposal or Release of any Hazardous Substance
at, from, into, on or under any Property. No Hazardous Substances are present
in, on, about or migrating to or from any Property that could be expected to
give rise to an Environmental Action against any member of the Seller
Group.
(g) No
member of the Seller Group has received a CERCLA 104(e) information request nor
has any member of the Seller Group been named a potentially responsible party
for any National Priorities List site under CERCLA or any other site under
analogous state Law, in each case in connection with the Business. No member of
the Seller Group has received an analogous notice or request from any non-U.S.
Governmental Entity.
(h) There
are no aboveground tanks or underground storage tanks on, under or about the
Property. Any aboveground or underground tanks previously situated on the
Property have been removed in accordance with all Environmental Laws and no
residual contamination, if any, remains at such sites in excess of applicable
standards.
(i) There
are no polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) leaking from any
article, container or equipment on, under or about the Property and there are no
such articles, containers or equipment containing PCBs in, at, on, under or
within the Property.
(j) There
is no asbestos containing material or lead based paint containing materials in
at, on, under or within the Property.
(k) No
member of the Seller Group has transported or arranged for the treatment,
storage, handling, disposal, or transportation of any Hazardous Material to any
offsite location which is an Environmental Cleanup Site.
(l) None
of the Property is an Environmental Cleanup Site.
(m) The
Seller Group has provided, or has caused Geoxplor to provide, to Buyer true and
complete copies of, or access to, all written environmental assessments,
materials, reports, data, analyses and compliance audits that have been prepared
by or on behalf of Geoxplor or any member of the Seller Group with respect to
the Property.
4.13 Solvency.
(a) No
member of the Seller Group is insolvent or will be rendered insolvent by any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
“Insolvent” means, with respect to any Person, that the sum of the debts and
other probable Liabilities of such Person exceeds the present fair saleable
value of such Person’s assets.
(b) Immediately
after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements: (i) each member of the Seller Group will
be able to pay its Liabilities as they become due in the usual course of its
business, (ii) no member of the Seller Group will have unreasonably small
capital with which to conduct its present or proposed business, (iii) each
member of the Seller Group will have assets (calculated at fair market value)
that exceed its Liabilities, and (iv) taking into account all pending and
threatened litigation, final judgments against each member of the Seller Group
in actions for money damages are not reasonably anticipated to be rendered at a
time when, or in amounts such that, such member of the Seller Group will be
unable to satisfy any such judgments promptly in accordance with their terms
(taking into account the maximum probable amount of such judgments in any such
actions and the earliest reasonable time at which such judgments might be
rendered) as well as all other obligations of such member of the Seller Group.
The cash available to each member of the Seller Group, after taking into account
all other anticipated uses of the cash, will be sufficient to pay all such
Liabilities and judgments promptly in accordance with their
terms.
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4.14 Brokers or Finders.
Each member of the Seller Group represents, as to itself and its Affiliates,
that no agent, broker, investment banker or other firm or Person is or will be
entitled to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee
in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements.
4.15 Completeness of
Disclosure. No representation or warranty by any member of the Seller
Group in this Agreement, and no statement made by the Seller Group in the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, the Ancillary Agreements or any certificate or other
document furnished or to be furnished to Buyer pursuant hereto, or in connection
with the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements contains or will at the Closing contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact
required to be stated herein or therein or necessary to make any statement
herein or therein not misleading. Except as specifically set forth in this
Agreement or the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no facts or circumstances
of which any member of the Seller Group is aware that have had or could be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on
the Purchased Assets or the condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
prospects or results of operations of any member of the Seller
Group.
4.16 Representations Relating to
Seller’s Acquisition of the Purchase Price Shares.
(a) The
Seller Group is acquiring the Purchase Price Shares for investment for its own
account and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any
distribution thereof. The Seller Group understands and acknowledges
that the Purchase Price Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act
or any state or foreign securities laws, by reason of a specific exemption from
the registration provisions of the Securities Act and applicable state and
foreign securities laws, which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide
nature of the investment intent as expressed herein. Each member of
the Seller Group further represents that it does not have any contract,
undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant
participation to any third person with respect to any of the Purchase Price
Shares.
(b) The
Seller Group understands that an active public market for Buyer Common Stock may
not now exist and that there may never be an active public market for the
Purchase Price Shares acquired under this Agreement.
(c) Each
member of the Seller Group either (i) is an “accredited investor” as defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act or (ii) is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in
Regulation S as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act, and, in each case, shall submit to Buyer such further assurances
of such status as may be reasonably requested by Buyer.
(d) Each
member of the Seller Group, if a non-U.S. Person, agrees that it is acquiring
the Purchase Price Shares in an offshore transaction pursuant to Regulation S
and hereby represents to Buyer as follows:
20
(i) Such
member is outside the United States when receiving and executing this
Agreement;
(ii) Such
member has not acquired the Purchase Price Shares as a result of, and will not
itself engage in, any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in
the United States in respect of the Purchase Price Shares which would include
any activities undertaken for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be
expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States for
the resale of the Purchase Price Shares; provided, however, that such member may
sell or otherwise dispose of the Purchase Price Shares pursuant to registration
of the Purchase Price Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable state
and provincial securities laws or under an exemption from such registration
requirements and as otherwise provided herein;
(iii) Such
member understands and agrees that offers and sales of any of the Purchase Price
Shares prior to the expiration of a period of one year after the Closing Date
(the “Distribution Compliance Period”), shall only be made in compliance with
the safe harbor provisions set forth in Regulation S, pursuant to the
registration provisions of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, and
that all offers and sales after the Distribution Compliance Period shall be made
only in compliance with the registration provisions of the Securities Act or an
exemption therefrom, and in each case only in accordance with all applicable
securities laws;
(iv) Such
member understands and agrees not to engage in any hedging transactions
involving the Purchase Price Shares prior to the end of the Distribution
Compliance Period unless such transactions are in compliance with the Securities
Act; and
(v) Such
member hereby represents that it has satisfied itself as to the full observance
of the laws of its jurisdiction in connection with any invitation to subscribe
for the Purchase Price Shares or any use of this Agreement, including: (a) any
applicable legal requirements incumbent upon such member within its jurisdiction
for the purchase of the Purchase Price Shares; (b) any foreign exchange
restrictions applicable to such purchase; (c) any governmental or other consents
that such member may need to obtain; and (d) the income tax and other tax
consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the purchase, holding, redemption,
sale or transfer of the Purchase Price Shares. Such member’s subscription and
payment for, and its continued beneficial ownership of the Purchase Price
Shares, will not violate any applicable securities or other laws of such
member’s jurisdiction.
(e) Each
member of the Seller Group represents that neither it nor, to its knowledge, any
Person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with it, nor
any Person having a beneficial interest in it, nor any Person on whose behalf
Seller is acting: (i) is a Person listed in the Annex to Executive Order No.
13224 (2001) issued by the President of the United States (Executive Order
Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten
to Commit, or Support Terrorism); (ii) is named on the List of Specially
Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S. Office of
Foreign Assets Control; (iii) is a non-U.S. shell bank or is providing banking
services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank; (iv) is a senior non-U.S.
political figure or an immediate family member or close associate of such
figure; or (v) is otherwise prohibited from investing in Buyer pursuant to
applicable U.S. anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist and asset control laws,
regulations, rules or orders (categories (i) through (v), each a “Prohibited
Seller”). Each member of the Seller Group agrees to provide Buyer, promptly upon
request, all information that is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply
with applicable U.S. anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist and asset control
laws, regulations, rules and orders. Each member of the Seller Group consents to
the disclosure to U.S. regulators and law enforcement authorities by Buyer and
its affiliates and agents of such information about such member as is reasonably
necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable U.S. anti-money-laundering,
anti-terrorist and asset control laws, regulations, rules and orders. Each
member of the Seller Group acknowledges that if, following its investment in
Buyer, Buyer reasonably believes that such member is a Prohibited Seller or is
otherwise engaged in suspicious activity or refuses to promptly provide
information that Buyer requests, Buyer has the right or may be obligated to
prohibit additional investments, segregate the assets constituting the
investment in accordance with applicable regulations or immediately require such
member to transfer the shares of Common Stock. Each member of the
Seller Group further acknowledges that such member will have no claim against
Buyer or any of its affiliates or agents for any form of damages as a result of
any of the foregoing actions.
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(f) Each
member of the Seller Group or its duly authorized representative realizes that
because of the inherently speculative nature of business activities and
investments of the kind contemplated by Buyer, Buyer’s financial position and
results of operations may be expected to fluctuate from period to period and
will, generally, involve a high degree of financial and market risk that can
result in substantial or, at times, even total loss of the value of the Purchase
Price Shares.
(g) Each
member of the Seller Group acknowledges and agrees that Buyer is a “shell
company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”). Pursuant to Rule 144(i) under the
Securities Act, securities issued by a current or former shell company (such as
the Purchase Price Shares) that otherwise meet the holding period and other
requirements of Rule 144 nevertheless cannot be sold in reliance on Rule 144
until one year after the date on which Buyer files current “Form 10 information”
(as defined in Rule 144(i)) with the SEC reflecting that it ceased being a shell
company, and provided that at the time of a proposed sale pursuant to Rule 144,
the issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act and has filed all reports and other materials required to be
filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the issuer was required to
file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports. As a
result, the restrictive legends on certificates for the Purchase Price Shares
set forth below cannot be removed except in connection with an actual sale
meeting the foregoing requirements.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
represents and warrants to each member of Seller Group that each statement
contained in this Article V is true and correct as of the date hereof, except as
set forth in the disclosure schedule dated and delivered as of the date hereof
by Buyer to Next (the “Buyer
Disclosure Schedule”), which is attached to this Agreement and is
designated therein as being the Buyer Disclosure Schedule. The Buyer Disclosure
Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to each representation
and warranty set forth in this Article V. Each exception to a representation and
warranty set forth in the Buyer Disclosure Schedule shall qualify the specific
representation and warranty which is referenced in the applicable paragraph of
the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, and no other representation or
warranty.
5.1 Organization and Good
Standing. Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has
the requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as now being conducted.
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5.2 Authority and
Enforceability. Buyer has the requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it
is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which Buyer is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been, and the Ancillary Agreements to
which Buyer is a party will be, duly executed and delivered by Buyer and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each member of the Seller
Group, constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Buyer, enforceable
against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar Laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights
generally, and (b) the availability of injunctive relief and other equitable
remedies.
5.3 No Conflicts;
Consents.
(a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer do not, and the execution and
delivery of the Ancillary Agreements to which Buyer is a party and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not, (i)
violate the provisions of any of the Charter Documents of Buyer, (ii) violate
any Contract to which Buyer is a party, (iii) to the knowledge of Buyer, violate
any Law of any Governmental Entity applicable to Buyer on the date hereof, or
(iv) to the knowledge of Buyer, result in the creation of any Liens upon any of
the assets owned or used by Buyer, except in each such case where such violation
or Lien would not reasonably be expected materially to impair or delay the
ability of Buyer to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the
Ancillary Agreements.
(b) No
Authorization or Order of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notice
to any Governmental Entity is required by Buyer in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.
5.4 Purchase Price
Shares. The Purchase Price Shares are duly authorized, and upon transfer
of the Purchase Price Shares to the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of
ARTICLE II, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The
Purchase Price Shares will be issued in compliance with applicable Laws. The
Purchase Price Shares will not be issued in violation of any Contract to which
Buyer is a party or is subject or in violation of any preemptive or similar
rights of any Person.
5.5 Litigation. There is
no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Buyer, threatened against, Buyer which
(a) challenges or seeks to enjoin, alter or materially delay the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (b) would reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on Buyer.
5.6 Brokers or Finders.
Buyer represents, as to itself and its Affiliates, that no agent, broker,
investment banker or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any broker’s
or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF SELLER GROUP
6.1 Conduct of Business.
During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Closing Date, except with
the prior written consent of Buyer, each member of the Seller Group shall, and
shall cause each other member of the Seller Group to:
(a) (i)
maintain its corporate existence, (ii) pay or perform its Liabilities when due,
and (iii) carry on its business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in a
manner consistent with past practice and in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement and in compliance with all Laws and Assigned
Contracts;
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(b) maintain
the assets, properties and rights included in the Purchased Assets in the same
state of repair, order and conditions as they are on the date
hereof;
(c) maintain
the Books and Records in accordance with past practice, and use its reasonable
best efforts to maintain in full force and effect all Policies;
(e) use
its reasonable best efforts to (i) conduct its business in such a manner that on
the Closing Date the representations and warranties of the Seller Group
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct, as though such
representations and warranties were made on and as of such date, and (ii) cause
all of the conditions to the obligations of Buyer under this Agreement to be
satisfied as soon as practicable following the date hereof.
6.2 Negative Covenants.
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither member of the Seller
Group shall do any of the following without the prior written consent of
Buyer:
(a) adopt
or propose any amendment to the Charter Documents of any member of the Seller
Group that could be expected to delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) sell,
lease, transfer or assign any Purchased Assets;
(c) assume,
incur or guarantee any Indebtedness or modify the terms of any existing
Indebtedness;
(d) cancel
any debts or waive any claims or rights of substantial value;
(e) mortgage,
pledge or subject to Liens any assets, properties or rights Related to the
Purchased Assets;
(f) amend,
modify, cancel or waive any rights under any Contract which is an Assigned
Contract;
(g) take
any action or engage in any transaction that is material to the Purchased
Assets;
(l)
make any filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity relating in any
way to the Purchased Assets;
(m) prior
to the termination of the Escrow Agreement, be party to any merger, acquisition,
consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
in which such member of the Seller Group does not survive;
(n) make
any changes in its accounting methods, principles or practices;
(o) make
any Tax election, change its method of Tax accounting or settle any claim
relating to Taxes;
(p) take
any action or omit to do any act which action or omission will cause it to
breach any obligation contained in this Agreement or cause any representation or
warranty of the Seller Group not to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;
or
(q) agree,
whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.
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6.3 Access to Information;
Investigation. Each member of the Seller Group shall, and shall cause
each other member of the Seller Group to, afford to Buyer’s officers, directors,
employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents (“Representatives”) free and
full access to and the right to inspect, during normal business hours, all of
the Property, properties, assets, records, Contracts and other documents related
to the Purchased Assets, and shall permit them to consult with the officers,
employees, accountants, counsel and agents of the Seller Group for the purpose
of making such investigation of the Purchased Assets as Buyer shall desire to
make. The Seller Group shall furnish to Buyer all such documents and copies of
documents and records and information with respect to the Purchased Assets and
copies of any working papers relating thereto as Buyer may request. Without
limiting the foregoing, each member of the Seller Group shall permit, and will
cause each other member of the Seller Group to permit, Buyer and Buyer’s
Representatives to conduct environmental due diligence of the Property,
including the collecting and analysis of samples of indoor or outdoor air,
surface water, groundwater or surface or subsurface land on, at, in, under or
from the Property.
6.4 Confidentiality. From
and after the Closing Date, each member of the Seller Group will, and will cause
its Affiliates to, hold, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its
and their respective Representatives to hold, in confidence any and all
information, whether written or oral, concerning this Agreement and all
Ancillary Agreements, the Purchased Assets, except to the extent that such
member can show that such information (a) is in the public domain through no
fault of any member of the Seller Group or any of its Affiliates or their
respective Representatives or (b) is lawfully acquired by the Seller Group or
any of its Affiliates after the Closing Date from sources that are not
prohibited from disclosing such information by a legal, contractual or fiduciary
obligation. If any member of the Seller Group or any of its Affiliates or
Representatives is compelled to disclose any such information by judicial or
administrative process or by other requirements of Law, such member shall
promptly notify Buyer in writing and shall disclose only that portion of such
information that such member is advised by its counsel in writing is legally
required to be disclosed; provided that each
member of the Seller Group shall exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain
an appropriate protective order or other reasonable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded such information. The Seller Group shall enforce for
the benefit of Buyer all confidentiality, assignment of inventions and similar
agreements between any member of the Seller Group and any other party relating
to the Purchased Assets that are not Assigned Contracts.
6.5 Release of Liens.
Prior to the Closing Date, the Seller Group shall cause to be released all Liens
in and upon any of the Purchased Assets (all of such Liens are set forth in the
Seller Disclosure Schedule).
6.6 Consents. Each member
of the Seller Group shall, and shall cause each other member of the Seller
Group to, obtain all Consents that are required under the Assigned Contracts in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement so as to preserve all rights of, and benefits to, Buyer thereunder;
provided that no Assigned
Contract shall be amended and no right thereunder shall be waived to obtain any
such Consent. All of such Consents are set forth in the Section 4.3(a) of the
Seller Disclosure Schedule.
6.7 Notification of Certain
Matters. The Seller Group shall give prompt notice to Buyer of (a) any
fact, event or circumstance known to it that individually or taken together with
all other facts, events and circumstances known to it, has had or could
have, individually or in
the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Purchased Assets or the
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, prospects or results of
operations of any member of Seller Group, or would cause or constitute a breach
of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained
herein, (b) the failure of any condition precedent to Buyer’s obligations
hereunder, (c) any notice or other communication from any third party alleging
that the consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (d) any
notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (e) the
commencement of any Action that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would
have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 4.11; provided, however, (i) the
delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall not limit or otherwise
affect any remedies available to Buyer, and (ii) disclosure by any member of the
Seller Group shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Seller Disclosure
Schedule or prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach
of covenant.
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6.8 Restrictive
Covenants.
(a) The
Seller Group covenants that, commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the
second anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Noncompetition Period”), no member of the
Seller Group shall, and it shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly,
in any capacity, engage in or have any direct or indirect ownership interest in,
or permit such member’s or any such Affiliate’s name to be used in connection
with, any business anywhere in the United States of America which is engaged,
either directly or indirectly, in the Business (the “Restricted Business”). It is
recognized that the Restricted Business is expected to be conducted throughout
the United States of America and that more narrow geographical limitations of
any nature on this noncompetition covenant (and the nonsolicitation covenant set
forth in Section 6.8(b)) are therefore not appropriate.
(b) The
Seller Group covenants that during the Noncompetition Period, no member of the
Seller Group shall, and it shall cause its Affiliates not to, solicit the
employment or engagement of services of any person who is or was employed as an
employee, consultant or contractor in Buyer during the Noncompetition Period on
a full or part-time basis.
(c) The
Seller Group acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Section 6.8
are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of Buyer and
constitute a material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement and
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Seller Group
acknowledges that any violation of this Section 6.8 will result in irreparable
injury to Buyer and agrees that Buyer shall be entitled to preliminary and
permanent injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving actual damages, as
well as an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits
arising from any violation of this Section 6.8, which rights shall be cumulative
and in addition to any other rights or remedies to which Buyer may be entitled.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Noncompetition Period
shall be extended for an additional period equal to any period during which any
member of the Seller Group or any Affiliate is in breach of its obligations
under this Section 6.8.
(d) In
the event that any covenant contained in this Section 6.8 should ever be
adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, product or service or other
limitations permitted by applicable Law in any jurisdiction, then any court is
expressly empowered to reform such covenant, and such covenant shall be deemed
reformed, in such jurisdiction to the maximum time, geographic, product or
service or other limitations permitted by applicable Law. The covenants
contained in this Section 6.8 and each provision thereof are severable and
distinct covenants and provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
such covenant or provision as written shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable the remaining covenants or provisions hereof, and any such
invalidity or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such covenant or provision in any other
jurisdiction.
6.9 Insurance. The Seller
Group shall cause each Policy maintained by any member of the Seller Group
covering any Purchased Asset or Assumed Liability to be amended prior to Closing
to name Buyer as an additional insured. Effective upon the Closing, the Seller
Group shall appoint Buyer as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, in the name
of the Seller Group and any other relevant member of the Seller Group, but on
behalf of Buyer, to pursue and enforce any and all rights of the Seller Group or
any other member of the Seller Group under the Policies with respect to any
occurrence, claim or loss with respect to any Purchased Asset or Assumed
Liability to the extent attributable to events that occurred prior to the
Closing. The Seller Group agrees that the foregoing appointment shall be coupled
with an interest and shall be irrevocable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
such insurance shall affect any indemnification obligation provided in this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
OF BUYER AND SELLER
7.1 Regulatory
Approvals.
(a) Buyer
and the Seller Group shall each promptly apply for, and take all reasonably
necessary actions to obtain or make, as applicable, all Orders and
Authorizations of, and all filings with, any Governmental Entity or other Person
required to be obtained or made by it for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each party shall cooperate with and promptly
furnish information to the other party necessary in connection with any
requirements imposed upon such other party in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The
Seller Group shall assist Buyer in identifying the Authorizations required by
Buyer to hold, own, use and enjoy the Purchased Assets from and after the
Closing Date.
7.2 Public Announcements.
Neither Buyer nor any member of the Seller Group shall, and each member of the
Seller Group will cause the other member of the Seller Group not to, issue any
press releases or otherwise make any public statements with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that Buyer
or the Seller Group may, without such approval, make such press releases or
other public announcement as it believes are required pursuant to any listing
agreement with any national securities exchange or stock market or applicable
securities Laws, in which case the party required to make the release or
announcement shall allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such
release or announcement in advance of such issuance; provided, further, that each of
the parties may make internal announcements to their respective employees that
are consistent with the parties’ prior public disclosures regarding the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.3 Taxes.
(a) The
Seller Group shall pay all federal, state and local sales, documentary and real
estate and other transfer Taxes, if any, due as a result of the purchase, sale
or transfer of the Purchased Assets in accordance herewith whether imposed by
Law on the Seller Group or Buyer.
(b) All
real property Taxes, personal property Taxes and similar ad valorem obligations
levied with respect to the Purchased Assets for a taxable period that includes
(but does not end on) the Closing Date shall be apportioned between the Seller
Group and Buyer as of the Closing Date based on the number of days of such
taxable period included in the period ending with and including the Closing Date
(with respect to any such taxable period, the “Pre-Closing Tax Period”), and
the number of days of such taxable period beginning after the Closing Date (with
respect to any such taxable period, the “Post-Closing Tax Period”). The Seller Group
shall be liable for the proportionate amount of such Taxes that is
attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, and Buyer shall be liable for the
proportionate amount of such Taxes that is attributable to the Post-Closing
Period. If bills for such Taxes have not been issued as of the Closing Date,
and, if the amount of such Taxes for the period including the Closing Date is
not then known, the apportionment of such Taxes shall be made at Closing on the
basis of the prior period’s Taxes. After Closing, upon receipt of bills for the
period including the Closing Date, adjustments to the apportionment shall be
made by the parties, so that if either party paid more than its proper share at
the Closing, the other party shall promptly reimburse such party for the excess
amount paid by them.
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(c) Buyer
and the Seller Group agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to each other,
upon request, as promptly as practicable, such information and assistance
relating to the Purchased Assets and Assumed Liabilities (including access to
books and records) as is reasonably necessary for the filing of all Tax Returns,
the making of any election relating to Taxes, the preparation for any audit by
any Taxing Authority, and the prosecution or defense of any Action relating to
any Tax. Any expenses incurred in furnishing such information or assistance
shall be borne by the party requesting it.
7.4 Bulk Sales Laws.
Buyer and the Seller Group hereby waive compliance by Buyer and the Seller Group
with the bulk sales Law and any other similar Laws in any applicable
jurisdiction in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements; provided, however, that the
Seller Group shall pay and discharge when due all claims of creditors asserted
against Buyer or the Purchased Assets by reason of such noncompliance and shall
take promptly all necessary actions required to remove any Lien which may be
placed upon any of the Purchased Assets by reason of such
noncompliance.
7.5 Discharge of Business
Obligations after Closing.
(a) From
and after the Closing, each member of the Seller Group shall, and shall cause
each other member of the Seller Group to, pay and discharge on a timely basis
all of the Excluded Liabilities.
(b) From
and after the Closing, if any member of the Seller Group or any of their
respective Affiliates receives or collects any funds relating to any Purchased
Asset, such member of the Seller Group or its Affiliate shall remit such funds
to Buyer within five Business Days after its receipt thereof. From and after the
Closing, if Buyer receives or collects any funds relating to any Excluded Asset,
Buyer shall remit any such funds to the relevant member of the Seller Group
within five Business Days after its receipt thereof.
(c) Effective
upon the Closing, each member of the Seller Group shall, and shall cause each
other member of the Seller Group to, appoint Buyer as its true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, in the name of the relevant member of the Seller Group, but on
behalf of Buyer to (i) receive and open all mail, packages and other
communications addressed to any member of the Seller Group related to the
Purchased Assets, and (ii) endorse without recourse the name of any member of
the Seller Group on any check or any other evidences of Indebtedness received by
Buyer on account of the Purchased Assets transferred to Buyer hereunder. Each
member of the Seller Group agrees that the foregoing appointment shall be
coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.
7.6 Access to Books and
Records. Each of the Seller Group and Buyer shall preserve until the
tenth anniversary of the Closing Date all records possessed or to be possessed
by such party relating to any of the Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities
prior to the Closing. After the Closing Date, where there is a legitimate
business purpose, such party shall provide the other party with access, upon
prior reasonable written request specifying the need therefor, during regular
business hours, to (i) the officers and employees of such party and (ii) the
books of account and records of such party, but, in each case, only to the
extent relating to the Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities prior to the
Closing, and the other party and its representatives shall have the right to
make copies of such books and records at their sole cost; provided, however, that the
foregoing right of access shall not be exercisable in such a manner as to
interfere unreasonably with the normal operations and business of such party.
Such records may nevertheless be destroyed by a party if such party sends to the
other party written notice of its intent to destroy records, specifying with
particularity the contents of the records to be destroyed. Such records may then
be destroyed after the 30th day after such notice is given unless the other
party objects to the destruction in which case the party seeking to destroy the
records shall deliver such records to the objecting party at the objecting
party’s cost.
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7.7 Further Assurances.
Buyer and each member of the Seller Group shall, and each member of the Seller
Group shall cause the other members of the Seller Group to, execute such
documents and other instruments and take such further actions as may be
reasonably required or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Buyer
and the Seller Group shall each use its respective reasonable best efforts to
(a) take or cause to be taken all actions and to do or cause to be done all
other things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as
promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements and (b) obtain in a timely manner all Consents and
Authorizations and effect all necessary registrations and filings. From time to
time after the Closing, at Buyer’s request, each member of the Seller Group
shall execute, and each member of the Seller Group shall cause each other
relevant member of the Seller Group to, acknowledge and deliver to Buyer such
other instruments of conveyance and transfer and will take such other actions
and execute and deliver such other documents, certifications and further
assurances as Buyer may reasonably require in order to vest more effectively in
Buyer, or to put Buyer more fully in possession of, any of the Purchased
Assets.
ARTICLE
VIII
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
8.1 Conditions to Obligations of
Buyer and Seller. The obligations of Buyer and the Seller Group to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) The
waiting period applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement under the HSR Act and any applicable waiting periods under the
Other Antitrust Laws shall have expired or been terminated and all other
Authorizations and Orders of, declarations and filings with, and notices to any
Governmental Entity, required to permit the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or made and shall be in
full force and effect.
(b) No
temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other Order
preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be in effect. No Law shall have been enacted or shall be deemed applicable
to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which makes the consummation
of such transactions illegal.
8.2 Conditions to Obligation of
Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver by Buyer in its sole discretion) of the following further
conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Seller Group set forth in this Agreement
shall have been true and correct at and as of the date hereof and shall be true
and correct at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing
Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties refer
specifically to an earlier date, in which case such representations and
warranties shall have been true and correct as of such earlier
date.
(b) The
Seller Group shall have performed or complied with all obligations and covenants
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Seller Group
at or prior to the Closing.
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(c) Buyer
shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date signed on behalf of
each member of the Seller Group by the President of such member to the effect
that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(a) and 8.2(b) have been satisfied
(the “Seller Closing
Certificate”).
(d) There
shall have been no material adverse change in the Purchased Assets or the
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, prospects or results of
operations of any member of the Seller Group.
(e) No
Action shall be pending or threatened before any court or other Governmental
Entity or before any other Person wherein an unfavorable Order would (i) prevent
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Ancillary Agreements, (ii) affect adversely the right of Buyer to own the
Purchased Assets or (iii) restrain or prohibit Buyer’s ownership or operation
(or that of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) of all or any material portion of
the Purchased Assets, or compel Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates
to dispose of or hold separate all or any material portion of Purchased Assets
or all or any material portion of the business and assets of Buyer and its
Subsidiaries. No such Order shall be in effect.
(f) No
Law shall have been enacted or shall be deemed applicable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements which has any of the
effects set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) in Section 8.2(e).
(g) The
Seller Group shall have obtained the Consent of each Person whose Consent is
required under the Assigned Contracts and shall have provided evidence of each
such Consent in form and substance satisfactory to Buyer.
(h) Buyer
shall have received all Authorizations (including any Environmental Permits)
that are necessary for it to hold, own, use and enjoy the Purchased
Assets.
(i) The
Seller Group shall have delivered to Buyer all agreements and other documents
required to be delivered by the Seller Group to Buyer pursuant to Section 3.2 of
this Agreement.
(j) Buyer
shall have received a certificate of the Secretary of each member of the Seller
Group dated the Closing Date and certifying:
(i) that
attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the
Board of Directors and the stockholders of such member of the Seller Group in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect
and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; and
(ii) to
the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer of such member of the
Seller Group executing this Agreement and/or the Ancillary Agreements, and a
certification by another officer of such member of the Seller Group as to the
incumbency and signature of the Secretary of such member of the Seller
Group.
(k) Buyer
shall have received evidence in form and substance satisfactory to Buyer that
all Liens with respect to the Purchased Assets have been released.
(l) Buyer
shall have received the written opinion of WeirFoulds LLP, dated the Closing
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.
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(m) Buyer
shall have completed and shall be fully satisfied in its sole discretion with
the results of its review of, and its other due diligence investigations with
respect to, the Purchased Assets. Such review may include an analysis by Buyer
or its representatives of (i) the results of any environmental assessment of the
Property that Buyer shall deem appropriate and (ii) environmental and OSHA
practices and procedures of the Seller Group.
8.3 Conditions to Obligation of
Seller. The obligation of the Seller Group to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the
Seller Group in its sole discretion) of the following further
conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall have
been true and correct at and as of the date hereof and shall be true and correct
at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date, except
to the extent that such representations and warranties refer specifically to an
earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been
true and correct as of such earlier date.
(b) Buyer
shall have performed or complied with all obligations and covenants required by
this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Buyer at or prior to the
Closing.
(c) The
Seller Group shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date signed on
behalf of Buyer by the Chief Executive Officer of Buyer to the effect that the
conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a) and 8.3(b) have been satisfied (the
“Buyer Closing
Certificate”).
(d)
No Action shall be pending or threatened before any court or other
Governmental Entity or other Person wherein an unfavorable Order would (i)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements or (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to be rescinded following
consummation. No such Order shall be in effect.
(e) Buyer
shall have delivered to the Seller Group all agreements and other documents
required to be delivered by Buyer to the Seller Group pursuant to Section 3.3 of
this Agreement.
(f) The
Seller Group shall have received a certificate of the Secretary of Buyer dated
the Closing Date and certifying: (A) that attached thereto are true and complete
copies of all resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Buyer in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect
and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; and (B) to the
incumbency and specimen signature of each officer of Buyer executing this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and a
certification by another officer of Buyer as to the incumbency and signature of
the Secretary of Buyer.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION
9.1 Termination.
(a) This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
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(i)
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by
mutual written consent of Buyer and the Seller
Group;
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(ii)
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by
Buyer or the Seller Group if:
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(A) the
Closing does not occur on or before March 15, 2010; provided that the
right to terminate this Agreement under this clause (ii)(A) shall not be
available to any party whose breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure
of the Closing to occur on or before such date; or
(B) a
Governmental Entity shall have issued an Order or taken any other action, in any
case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which Order or
other action is final and non-appealable;
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(iii)
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by
Buyer if:
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(A) any
condition to the obligations of Buyer hereunder becomes incapable of fulfillment
other than as a result of a breach by Buyer of any covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement, and such condition is not waived by Buyer;
or
(B) there
has been a breach by any member of the Seller Group of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, or if any representation or warranty of any member of the
Seller Group shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions
set forth in Sections 8.2(a) or 8.2(b) would not be satisfied, and, in
either case, such breach is not curable, or, if curable, is not cured within
five days after written notice of such breach is given to the Seller Group by
Buyer.; or
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(iv)
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by
the Seller Group if:
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(A) any
condition to the obligations of the Seller Group hereunder becomes incapable of
fulfillment other than as a result of a breach by any member of the Seller Group
of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, and such condition is
not waived by the Seller Group; or
(B) there
has been a breach by Buyer of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement or the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, or if
any representation or warranty of Buyer shall have become untrue, in either case
such that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3(a) or 8.3(b) would not be
satisfied, and, in
either case, such breach is not curable, or, if curable, is not cured within
five days after written notice of such breach is given to Buyer by the Seller
Group.
(b) The
party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to clause (ii), (iii) or
(iv) shall give written notice of such termination to the other party
hereto.
9.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in
Section 9.1, this Agreement shall immediately become null and void and there
shall be no Liability or obligation on the part of the Seller Group or Buyer or
their respective officers, directors, stockholders or Affiliates, except as set
forth in Section 9.3; provided, however, the
provisions of Section 7.2 (Public Announcements) and Section 9.3 (Remedies) and
Article X of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and survive
any termination of this Agreement.
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9.3 Remedies. Any party
terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1
shall have the right to recover damages sustained by such party as a result of
any breach by the other party of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement or fraud or willful misrepresentation;
provided, however, that the
party seeking relief is not in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement contained in this Agreement under circumstances which would have
permitted the other party to terminate the Agreement under Section
9.1.
ARTICLE
X
INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Survival.
(a) Except
as set forth in Section 10.1(b), all representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, any Schedule, certificate or other
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, shall
survive the Closing for a period of three years.
(b) The
representations and warranties of the Seller Group contained in Sections 4.1
(Organization and Good Standing), 4.2 (Authority and Enforceability), 4.14
(Brokers or Finders), and the representations and warranties of Buyer contained
in Sections 5.1 (Organization and Good Standing), 5.2 (Authority and
Enforceability) and 5.6 (Brokers or Finders) shall survive the Closing
indefinitely. The representations and warranties of the Seller Group contained
in Sections 4.4 (Taxes) shall survive the Closing until 60 days after the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations period (after giving effect
to any waivers and extensions thereof). The representations and warranties of
the Seller Group contained in Section 4.12 (Environmental) shall survive the
Closing for a period of five years following the Closing Date.
(c) The
covenants and agreements which by their terms do not contemplate performance
after the Closing shall survive the Closing for a period of three years. The
covenants and agreements which by their terms contemplate performance after the
Closing Date shall survive the Closing indefinitely.
(d) The
period for which a representation or warranty, covenant or agreement survives
the Closing is referred to herein as the “Applicable Survival Period.”
In the event notice of claim for indemnification under Section 10.2 or 10.3 is
given within the Applicable Survival Period, the representation or warranty,
covenant or agreement that is the subject of such indemnification claim (whether
or not formal legal action shall have been commenced based upon such claim)
shall survive with respect to such claim until such claim is finally resolved.
The Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee for all Losses (subject to the
limitations set forth herein, if applicable) that the Indemnitee may incur in
respect of such claim, regardless of when incurred.
10.2 Indemnification by
Seller.
(a) Each
member of the Seller Group, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and defend
Buyer and its Affiliates and their respective stockholders, members, managers,
officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns (the “Buyer Indemnitees”) against,
and shall hold them harmless from, any and all losses, damages, claims
(including third party claims), charges, interest, penalties, Taxes, diminution
in value, costs and expenses (including legal, consultant, accounting and other
professional fees, costs of sampling, testing, investigation, removal, treatment
and remediation of contamination and fees and costs incurred in enforcing rights
under this Section 10.2) (collectively, “Losses”) resulting from,
arising out of, or incurred by any Buyer Indemnitee in connection with, or
otherwise with respect to:
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(i) the
failure of any representation and warranty or other statement by any member of
the Seller Group contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the
Seller Disclosure Schedule or any certificate or other document furnished or to
be furnished to Buyer in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to be true and correct in all respects as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date;
(ii) any
breach of any covenant or agreement of any member of the Seller Group contained
in this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Seller Disclosure Schedule or
any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Buyer in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements;
(iii) any
Excluded Liability including any Pre-Closing Environmental Liability, regardless
of whether or not the Seller Disclosure Schedule discloses any such Excluded
Liability;
(iv) any
fees, expenses or other payments incurred or owed by any member of the Seller
Group to any agent, broker, investment banker or other firm or person retained
or employed by it in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; and
(v) fraudulent
transfer Laws or the failure to comply with any bulk sales Laws and similar
Laws.
provided that for
purposes of this Section 10.2, the representations and warranties herein, in the
Ancillary Agreements and in the Seller Closing Certificate shall be deemed to
have been made without any qualifications as to knowledge or materiality and,
accordingly, all references herein and therein to “knowledge,” “material,” “in
all material respects” and similar qualifications as to knowledge and
materiality shall be deemed to be deleted therefrom (except where any such
provision requires disclosure of lists of items of a material nature or above a
specified threshold). Any and all Losses hereunder shall bear interest from the
date incurred until paid at the rate of 10% per annum.
(b) The
Seller Group shall not be liable for any Loss or Losses pursuant to Section
10.2(a)(i) (“Buyer Warranty
Losses”) (i) unless and until the aggregate amount of all Buyer Warranty
Losses incurred by the Buyer Indemnitees exceeds $10,000, in which event the
Seller Group shall be liable for all Buyer Warranty Losses from the first
dollar, and (ii) to the extent that Buyer Warranty Losses exceed $1,000,000 in
the aggregate; provided, however, nothing
contained in this Section 10.2(b) shall be deemed to
limit or restrict in any manner any rights or remedies which Buyer has, or might
have, at Law, in equity or otherwise, based on fraud or a willful
misrepresentation or willful breach of warranty hereunder.
10.3 Indemnification by
Buyer.
(a) Buyer
shall indemnify and defend the Seller Group and its Affiliates and their
respective stockholders, members, managers, officers, directors, employees,
agents, successors and assigns (the “Seller Indemnitees”) against,
and shall hold them harmless from, any and all Losses resulting from,
arising out of, or incurred by any Seller Indemnitee in connection with, or
otherwise with respect to:
(i) the
failure of any representation and warranty or other statement by Buyer contained
in this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or
any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to the Seller
Group pursuant to this Agreement to be true and correct in all respects as of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date;
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(ii) any
breach of any covenant or agreement of Buyer contained in this Agreement, the
Ancillary Agreements, the Buyer Disclosure Schedule or any certificate or other
document furnished or to be furnished to the Seller Group in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and
(iii) any
failure to perform when due the Assumed Liabilities.
provided that for
purposes of this Section 10.3, the representations and warranties herein and in
the Buyer Closing Certificate shall be deemed to have been made without any
qualifications as to knowledge or materiality and, accordingly, all references
herein and therein to “knowledge,” “material,” “in all material respects” and
similar qualifications as to knowledge and materiality shall be deemed to be
deleted therefrom (except where any such provision requires disclosure of lists
of items of a material nature or above a specified threshold).
(b) Buyer
shall not be liable for any Loss or Losses pursuant to 10.3(a)(i) (“Seller Warranty Losses”) (i)
unless and until the aggregate amount of all Seller Warranty Losses incurred by
the Seller Indemnitees exceeds $10,000, in which event Buyer shall be liable for
all Seller Warranty Losses from the first dollar, and (ii) to the extent that
Seller Warranty Losses exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, however, nothing
contained in this Section 10.3(b) shall be deemed to
limit or restrict in any manner any rights or remedies which the Seller Group
has, or might have, at Law, in equity or otherwise, based on fraud or a willful
misrepresentation or willful breach of warranty hereunder.
10.4 Indemnification Procedures
for Third Party Claims.
(a) In
the event that an Indemnitee receives notice of the assertion of any claim or
the commencement of any Action by a third party in respect of which indemnity
may be sought under the provisions of this Article X (“Third Party Claim”), the
Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Indemnitor in writing of such Third Party
Claim (“Notice of
Claim”). Failure or delay in notifying the Indemnitor will not relieve
the Indemnitor of any Liability it may have to the Indemnitee, except and only
to the extent that such failure or delay causes actual harm to the Indemnitor
with respect to such Third Party Claim. The Notice of Claim shall set forth the
amount, if known, or, if not known, an estimate of the foreseeable maximum
amount of claimed Losses (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final
amount of such Losses) and a description of the basis for such Third Party
Claim.
(b) Subject
to the further provisions of this Section 10.4, the Indemnitor will have 10 days
(or less if the nature of the Third Party Claim requires) from the date on which
the Indemnitor received the Notice of Claim to notify the Indemnitee that the
Indemnitor will assume the defense or prosecution of such Third Party Claim and
any litigation resulting therefrom with counsel of its choice and at its sole
cost and expense (a “Third
Party Defense”). If the Indemnitor assumes the Third Party Defense in
accordance with the preceding sentence, the Indemnitor shall be conclusively
deemed to have acknowledged that the Third Party Claim is within the scope of
its indemnity obligation hereunder and shall hold the Indemnitee harmless from
and against the full amount of any Losses resulting therefrom (subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement). Any Indemnitee shall have the right to
employ separate counsel in any such Third Party Defense and to participate
therein, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall not be at the expense
of the Indemnitor unless (A) the Indemnitor shall have failed, within the time
after having been notified by the Indemnitee of the existence of the Third Party
Claim as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph (b), to assume the
defense of such Third Party Claim, or (B) the employment of such counsel has
been specifically authorized in writing by the Indemnitor, which authorization
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(c) The
Indemnitor will not be entitled to assume the Third Party Defense
if:
(i) the
Third Party Claim seeks, in addition to or in lieu of monetary damages, any
injunctive or other equitable relief;
(ii) the
Third Party Claim relates to or arises in connection with any criminal
proceeding, action, indictment, allegation or investigation;
(iii) the
Third Party Claim relates to or arises in connection with any Environmental
Action;
(iv) under
applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any significant
issue exists between the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor in respect of the Third
Party Claim;
(v) the
Indemnitee reasonably believes an adverse determination with respect to the
Third Party Claim would be detrimental to or injure the Indemnitee’s reputation
or future business prospects;
(vi) the
Indemnitor failed or is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend such Third
Party Claim;
(vii) the
Indemnitor fails to provide reasonable assurance to the Indemnitee of its
financial capacity to prosecute the Third Party Defense and provide
indemnification in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
or
(viii) the
Third Party Claim would give rise to Losses which are more than the amount
indemnifiable by the Indemnitor pursuant to this Article X.
(d) If
by reason of the Third Party Claim a Lien, attachment, garnishment or execution
is placed upon any of the property or assets of the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor,
if it desires to exercise its right to assume such Third Party Defense, must
furnish a satisfactory indemnity bond to obtain the prompt release of such Lien,
attachment, garnishment or execution.
(e) If
the Indemnitor assumes a Third Party Defense, it will take all steps necessary
in the defense, prosecution, or settlement of such claim or litigation and will
hold all Indemnitees harmless from and against all Losses caused by or arising
out of such Third Party Claim (subject to the last sentence of Section 10.4(b)).
The Indemnitor will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement except with the written consent of the Indemnitee to which the
Indemnitor is obligated to furnish indemnification pursuant to this Agreement;
provided that
the consent of the Indemnitee shall not be required if all of the following
conditions are met: (i) the terms of the judgment or proposed settlement include
as an unconditional term thereof the giving to the Indemnitees by the third
party of a release of the Indemnitees from all Liability in respect of such
Third Party Claim, (ii) there is no finding or admission of (A) any violation of
Law by the Indemnitees (or any Affiliate thereof), (B) any violation of the
rights of any Person and (C) no effect on any other Action or claims of a
similar nature that may be made against the Indemnitees (or any Affiliate
thereof), and (iii) the sole form of relief is monetary damages which are paid
in full by the Indemnitor. The Indemnitor shall conduct the defense of the Third
Party Claim actively and diligently, and the Indemnitee will provide reasonable
cooperation in the defense of the Third Party Claim. So long as the Indemnitor
is reasonably conducting the Third Party Defense in good faith, the Indemnitee
will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with
respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the
Indemnitor (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Indemnitee shall have the right to pay or settle any such Third
Party Claim; provided
that, in such event, subject to the following sentence, it shall waive
any right to indemnity therefor by the Indemnitor for such claim unless the
Indemnitor shall have consented to such payment or settlement (such consent not
to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If the Indemnitor is not reasonably
conducting the Third Party Defense in good faith, the Indemnitee shall have the
right to consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with
respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the
Indemnitor and the Indemnitor shall reimburse the Indemnitee promptly for all
Losses incurred in connection with such judgment or settlement.
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(f) In
the event that (i) an Indemnitee gives Notice of Claim to the Indemnitor and the
Indemnitor fails or elects not to assume a Third Party Defense which the
Indemnitor had the right to assume under this Section 10.4 or (ii) the
Indemnitor is not entitled to assume the Third Party Defense pursuant to this
Section 10.4, the Indemnitee shall have the right, with counsel of its choice,
to defend, conduct and control the Third Party Defense, at the sole cost and
expense of the Indemnitor. In each case, the Indemnitee shall conduct the Third
Party Defense actively and diligently, and the Indemnitor will provide
reasonable cooperation in the Third Party Defense. The Indemnitee shall have the
right to consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with
respect to the Third Party Claim on such terms as it may deem appropriate; provided, however, that the amount of
any settlement made or entry of any judgment consented to by the Indemnitee
without the consent of the Indemnitor shall not be determinative of the validity
of the claim, except with the consent of the Indemnitor (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding Section 11.6 hereof, in connection with
any Third Party Claim, the Indemnitor hereby consents to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of any court in which an Action in respect of a Third Party Claim
is brought against any Indemnitee for purposes of any claim that the Indemnitee
may have under this Article X with respect to such Action or the matters alleged
therein and agrees that process may be served on the Indemnitor with respect to
such a claim anywhere in the world. If the Indemnitor does not elect to assume a
Third Party Defense which it has the right to assume hereunder, the Indemnitee
shall have no obligation to do so.
(g) Each
party to this Agreement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cooperate and to cause its employees to cooperate with and assist the Indemnitee
or the Indemnitor, as the case may be, in connection with any Third Party
Defense, including attending conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings,
trials and appeals and furnishing records, information and testimony, as may
reasonably be requested; provided that each
party shall use its best efforts, in respect of any Third Party Claim of which
it has assumed the defense, to preserve the confidentiality of all confidential
information and the attorney-client and work-product privileges.
10.5 Indemnification Procedures
for Non-Third Party Claims. In the event of a
claim that does not involve a Third Party Claim being asserted against it, the
Indemnitee shall send a Notice of Claim to the Indemnitor. The Notice of Claim
shall set forth the amount, if known, or, if not known, an estimate of the
foreseeable maximum amount of claimed Losses (which estimate shall not be
conclusive of the final amount of such Losses) and a description of the basis
for such claim. The Indemnitor will have 30 days from receipt of such Notice of
Claim to dispute the claim and will reasonably cooperate and assist the
Indemnitee in determining the validity of the claim for indemnity. If the
Indemnitor does not give notice to the Indemnitee that it disputes such claim
within 30 days after its receipt of the Notice of Claim, the claim specified in
such Notice of Claim will be conclusively deemed a Loss subject to
indemnification hereunder.
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10.6 Escrowed Shares. At
the Closing, the Purchase Price Shares shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to
be held and administered by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of the
Escrow Agreement. In addition to any other remedies Buyer may have for Losses
described in Section 10.2 hereof, Buyer may make a claim against the Purchase
Price Shares for the amount of such Losses by sending a Notice of Claim
described in Section 10.4 or 10.5 to the Escrow Agent. Buyer’s recourse to the
Purchase Price Shares shall be without prejudice to any and all other remedies
Buyer may have pursuant to this Article X or otherwise. Buyer’s remedies for
Losses shall not be limited to the assets comprising the Purchase Price
Shares.
10.7 Contingent Claims.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent an Indemnitee from making a claim
hereunder for potential or contingent claims or demands; provided that the
Notice of Claim sets forth the specific basis for any such contingent claim to
the extent then feasible and the Indemnified Party has reasonable grounds to
believe that such a claim may be made.
10.8 Environmental
Actions. Buyer shall have the right (a) to defend, conduct and control,
with counsel of its choice, any Environmental Action, and (b) to compromise or
settle any Environmental Action. In the event that any Buyer Indemnitee is
required or deems it necessary to perform any Remedial Work in connection with
an Environmental Action, or to avoid the initiation of an Environmental Action,
whether or not formal proceedings have been initiated or threatened with respect
thereto, the Buyer Indemnitees shall have the right to commence and thereafter
prosecute to completion, all such Remedial Work, and shall be indemnified by the
Seller Group with respect to any and all Losses incurred in connection
therewith. “Remedial Work” means any response action, removal action, remedial
action, closure, corrective action, regulatory permitting, monitoring program,
risk assessment, deed restriction, sampling program, investigation or other
activity required, allowed by or consistent with Environmental Law to clean up,
remove, remediate, treat, xxxxx or otherwise address any Hazardous
Substance.
10.9 Effect of Investigation;
Waiver. An Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or other remedies based
upon the representations and warranties and covenants and agreements of the
Indemnitor will not be affected by any investigation or knowledge of the
Indemnitee or any waiver by the Indemnitee of any condition based on the
accuracy of any representation or warranty, or compliance with any covenant or
agreement. Such representations and warranties and covenants and agreements
shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee
knew or should have known that any representation or warranty might be
inaccurate or that the Indemnitor failed to comply with any agreement or
covenant. Any investigation by such party shall be for its own protection only
and shall not affect or impair any right or remedy hereunder.
10.10 Other Rights and Remedies
Not Affected. The indemnification rights of the parties under this
Article X are independent of and in addition to such rights and remedies as the
parties may have at Law or in equity or otherwise for any misrepresentation,
breach of warranty or failure to fulfill any agreement or covenant hereunder on
the part of any party hereto, including the right to seek specific performance,
rescission or restitution, none of which rights or remedies shall be affected or
diminished hereby.
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. Any notice,
request, demand, waiver, consent, approval or other communication which is
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
(a) on the date established by the sender as having been delivered personally,
(b) on the date delivered by a private courier as established by the sender by
evidence obtained from the courier, (c) on the date sent by facsimile, with
confirmation of transmission, if sent during normal business hours of the
recipient, if not, then on the next business day, or (d) on the fifth day after
the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid. Such communications, to be valid, must be addressed as
follows:
38
If to
Buyer, to:
Xx. Xxxxx
x Xxxxxx 000 Xx. 000
Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx
Xxxx
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxx
Facsimile:
Telephone:
00-0-000-0000
With a
required copy to:
Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
XXX
Attention: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
If to the
Seller Group, to:
Next
Lithium Corp.
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Xxxxxx
Attention: President
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
With a
required copy to:
WeirFoulds
LLP
0000-000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Xxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Facsimile: (000)-000-0000
or to
such other address or to the attention of such Person or Persons as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party (or
in the case of counsel, to such other readily ascertainable business address as
such counsel may hereafter maintain). If more than one method for sending notice
as set forth above is used, the earliest notice date established as set forth
above shall control.
11.2 Amendments and
Waivers.
(a) Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such
amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by
each party to this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against
whom the waiver is to be effective.
39
(b) No
failure or delay by any party in exercising any right or privilege hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise
thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or privilege.
(c) To
the maximum extent permitted by Law, (i) no waiver that may be given by a party
shall be applicable except in the specific instance for which it was given and
(ii) no notice to or demand on one party shall be deemed to be a waiver of any
obligation of such party or the right of the party giving such notice or demand
to take further action without notice or demand.
11.3 Expenses. Each party
shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with
this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including all legal, accounting, financial advisory,
consulting and all other fees and expenses of third parties, whether or not the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated.
11.4 Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other party; provided that,
without such consent, Buyer may transfer or assign this Agreement, in
whole or in part or from time to time, to one or more of its Affiliates, but no
such transfer or assignment will relieve Buyer of its obligations hereunder.
Subject to the foregoing, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective executors, heirs, personal representatives, successors and
assigns.
11.5 Governing Law. This
Agreement and Schedules hereto shall be governed by and
interpreted and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York,
without giving effect to any choice of Law or conflict of Laws rules or
provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that
would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State
of New York.
11.6 Consent to
Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, for the purposes of any Action
arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party
agrees to commence any such Action either in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan. Each
party further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by
U.S. registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth above shall be
effective service of process for any Action in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan with
respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section
11.6. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the
laying of venue of any Action arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, and hereby further
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such Action brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY ACTION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF
OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS OR THE ACTIONS OF
SUCH PARTY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
HEREOF AND THEREOF.
11.7 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and any party hereto may execute any such counterpart, each of
which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall
have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto. The parties
agree that the delivery of this Agreement, and the delivery of the Ancillary
Agreements and any other agreements and documents at the Closing, may be
effected by means of an exchange of facsimile signatures with original copies to
follow by mail or courier service.
40
11.8 Third Party
Beneficiaries. No provision of this Agreement is intended to
confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder; except that in the case of Article X hereof, the other Indemnitees
and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives,
successors and assigns, are intended third party beneficiaries of such sections
and shall have the right to enforce such sections in their own
names.
11.9 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Schedules
and the other documents, instruments and agreements specifically referred to
herein or therein or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto set forth the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. All Schedules referred to herein are intended to
be and hereby are specifically made a part of this Agreement. Any and all
previous agreements and understandings between or among the parties regarding
the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are superseded by this
Agreement, except for the Confidentiality Agreement which shall continue in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms.
11.10 Captions. All
captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do
not form a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
11.11 Severability. Subject
to Section 6.8(d), any provision of this Agreement which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the
extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering
unenforceable the remaining provisions hereof, and any such invalidity or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
11.12 Specific Performance.
Buyer and each member of the Seller Group each agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed by them in accordance with the terms hereof and that each party shall
be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any
other remedy at Law or equity.
11.13 Interpretation.
(a) The
meaning assigned to each term defined herein shall be equally applicable to both
the singular and the plural forms of such term and vice versa, and words
denoting either gender shall include both genders as the context requires. Where
a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms shall
have a corresponding meaning.
(b) The
terms “hereof”, “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall,
unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(c) When
a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit
or Schedule, such reference is to an Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit or
Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(d) The
word “include”, “includes”, and “including” when used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”, unless otherwise
specified.
41
(e) A
reference to any party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document
shall include such party’s predecessors, successors and permitted
assigns.
(f) Reference
to any Law means such Law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted,
and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) The
parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Any rule of construction or
interpretation otherwise requiring this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to
be construed or interpreted against any party by virtue of the authorship of
this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall not apply to the construction
and interpretation hereof and thereof.
(h) All
accounting terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings
given to them under GAAP.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
42
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
|
|
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxx
|
||
Title: CEO
|
||
NEXT
LITHIUM CORP.
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxxXxxxxxxx
|
|
Name: Xxxxx
X. XxxXxxxxxxx
|
||
Title: Director
|
||
NEXT
LITHIUM (NEVADA) CORP.
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. XxxXxxxxxxx
|
|
Name: Xxxxx
X. XxxXxxxxxxx
|
||
Title: Director
|
Seller
Disclosure Schedule
None.
Buyer
Disclosure Schedule
None.