EXHIBIT 10.1
[COMPANY LOGO]
RELIABLE POWER
SYSTEMS, INC.
This Amended and Restated Letter Agreement (this "Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement") is executed this 5th day of October, 2001 (the "Effective Date"), by
and among Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, a Colorado resident ("Xxxxx"), First Western
Industries, LLC ("First Western"), New West Capital Partner, LLC ("New West
Capital Partner"), New West Capital, LLC ("New West Capital") (Xxxxx, First
Western, New West Capital Partner and New West Capital, together, the
"Surrendering Shareholders"), Reliable Power Systems, Inc., a Colorado
corporation (the "Company"), Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, an Illinois resident ("Xxxxxx"),
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, an Illinois resident ("Xxxxxxxx"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx,
a Colorado resident ("Xxxxxxxxxx"). Each party hereto shall be referred to as a
"Party" and all parties collectively, the "Parties".
WHEREAS, the Surrendering Shareholders and the Company entered into that certain
Letter Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2001 (the "Letter Agreement");
WHEREAS, for the reasons described below, the Surrendering Shareholders and the
Company originally intended to include Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx in the
Letter Agreement and the Surrendering Shareholders originally intended to
surrender a portion of the Surrendered Shares (defined below) to each of Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx and the remaining portion of the Surrendered Shares to
the Company;
WHEREAS, in order to better reflect the intentions of the Parties, the
Surrendering Shareholders, as of the date hereof, have not surrendered the
Surrendered Shares to the Company as provided for in the Letter Agreement, and
accordingly, consistent with such intentions, the Surrendering Shareholders and
the Company wish to amend and restate in its entirety the Letter Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company is currently experiencing significant financial
difficulties and is in need of additional financing;
WHEREAS, despite diligent efforts, the Company has been unable to secure
sufficient additional financing;
WHEREAS, the Company requires individuals to affiliate, or continue their
affiliation, with the Company whose affiliation in terms of reputation, contacts
and business acumen will assist the Company in its efforts to obtain additional
financing;
WHEREAS, within the business community, each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx
are highly regarded and experienced individuals and their affiliation or
continued affiliation with the Company will assist the Company in obtaining
additional financing;
1
WHEREAS, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxx Broderich each delivered his respective
letter of resignation as a director of the Company, effective immediately
between September 28, 2001 and October 4, 2001;
WHEREAS, each of Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx has agreed to serve as a director of the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") immediately following the execution
of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement;
WHEREAS, for the reasons discussed above, inter alia, and as a material
inducement to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx to execute this Amended and
Restated Letter Agreement, the Surrendering Shareholders have determined that it
is in their best interests and the best interests of the Company to execute this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement and surrender to the Company, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx their respective ownership in the Surrendered Shares in
accordance with the terms of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement; and
WHEREAS, after careful analysis and deliberation, and the advice of its
professional advisors, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company and its shareholders to execute this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
1. SURRENDER OF OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S STOCK. Upon
execution of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, each of the
Surrendering Shareholders have surrendered his or its respective
ownership of the following shares of common stock of the Company
(together, the "Surrendered Shares"), or Xxxxx shall cause such
Surrendering Shareholder to surrender its respective ownership in the
Surrendered Shares, to each of Walter, Hoffmann, Xxxxxxxxxx and the
Company, duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by an assignment in
blank separate from the certificate, in the amounts set forth below,
all of which Xxxxx warrants and represents are beneficially owned by
him or under his direct control:
NAME OF PARTY ACCEPTING SURRENDERED SHARES
SURRENDERING
SHAREHOLDER COMPANY XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- -----------
First Western 187,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 0
New West Capital Partner 1,500,000 0 0 0
New West Capital 100,000 0 0 0
Xxxxx 1,000,000 0 0 2,000,000
Following the surrender of the Two Million Seven Hundred and Eighty
Seven Thousand (2,787,000) shares (the "Company Surrendered Shares")
by the Surrendering Shareholders to the Company, the Company
Surrendered Shares
2
shall become part of the Company's pool of shares, which it shall be
authorized to issue in accordance with the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws.
2. REMAINING OWNERSHIP BY XXXXX. Following the surrender of the
Surrendering Shares, except as expressly set forth in Section 6 of
this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement regarding the stock
transfer of 213,000 shares of the Company's common stock, Xxxxx
(through his beneficial ownership of the shares of Company common
stock held by First Western) shall retain beneficial ownership of
1,213,000 shares of the Company's common stock previously owned by
him.
3. ASSUMPTION BY COMPANY OF THE COMPASS BANK LOAN. Pursuant to that
certain loan made by Compass Bank to the Company in the principal
amount of $685,000 (the "Compass Bank Loan"), Xxxxx is currently the
personal guarantor of such Compass Bank Loan. The Company hereby
agrees to assume from Xxxxx all liability associated with such Compass
Bank Loan and to execute such documents as are required to eliminate
the personal liability of Xxxxx for the Compass Bank Loan, as well as
the release of the pledge of any of Xxxxx' assets. The elimination of
Xxxxx' personal liability for the Compass Bank Loan shall be completed
no later than 10 business days after the closing of the first private
placement equity offering in an amount not less than $4,000,000 that
closes subsequent to the Effective Date.
4. REPAYMENT OF FUNDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO LINE OF CREDIT ISSUED BY FIRST
WESTERN. Pursuant to that certain Line of Credit issued by First
Western to the Company, effective as of February 7, 2001 ("Line of
Credit"), First Western issued credit in the total amount of $250,000.
The Company shall repay to Xxxxx (through First Western) the amount of
$50,000 (the "Repayment"), which the Company and Xxxxx agree reflects
a fair estimate of the moneys directly used by the Company in
furtherance of its business operations, and that the remaining balance
on the Line of Credit shall be forgiven by First Western. Subject to
such loan forgiveness, the Repayment shall be made to Xxxxx (through
First Western) no later than 10 business days after the closing of the
first private placement equity offering in an amount not less than
$4,000,000 that closes subsequent to the Effective Date.
5. ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENTS. In addition to the Repayment of the Line of
Credit, the Company agrees to reimburse Xxxxx for additional amounts
that he, either in his individual capacity or through one or more of
his affiliated entities, loaned to the Company in furtherance of its
business operations in a total amount not to exceed $75,000 (the
"Supplemental Repayment"). The Company's obligations with respect to
the Supplemental Repayment shall be subject to reasonable and accurate
documentation to be submitted by Xxxxx that clearly demonstrates that
such additional amounts were used in the furtherance of the Company's
business operations. The Supplemental Repayment shall be made to Xxxxx
(or to the appropriate affiliated entity of Xxxxx as directed by
Xxxxx) no later than 10 business days after the closing of the first
private placement equity offering in an amount not less than
$4,000,000 that closes subsequent to the Effective Date.
3
6. THIRD PARTY STOCK TRANSFERS. Xxxxx agrees to sell the shares and all
of his rights in and to the shares to the persons at the times and at
the prices set forth in SCHEDULE 6 attached hereto (the "Third Party
Share Transfers"). The Company shall hold such shares of common stock
currently owned by Xxxxx in escrow for the express purpose of such
Third Party Share Transfer and shall have the right to oversee the
individual transfers and sales in accordance with SCHEDULE 6. In this
regard, Xxxxx expressly assumes any and all obligations that the
Company may have had to issue such shares directly and agrees to
cooperate with the Company to effectuate each and every transfer and
sale made pursuant to the Third Party Stock Transfers.
7. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Xxxxx agrees to give, or cause to be given to,
the Company the right to purchase his or any other Surrendering
Shareholders' shares of the Company's common stock in the event that
he or it wishes to sell all or a portions of such shares.
8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable
efforts to allow Xxxxx to sell 100,000 shares of the Company's common
stock in any Secondary Offering, subject to Xxxxx entering into an
underwriter's agreement, underwriter's cutbacks and priority
registration rights for private placement investors in any future
public equity offering.
9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SURRENDERING SHAREHOLDERS. The
Surrendering Shareholders, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx that the statements
contained in this Section 9 are true and correct as of the Effective
Date:
(a) Each of the Surrendering Shareholders has full power, right
and authority to execute and deliver this Amended and Restated
Letter Agreement, and to perform his or its obligations hereunder
and all other agreements and documents required to be executed or
delivered by such Surrendering Shareholder pursuant to this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement or such other agreements,
and all such action has been duly authorized and, if necessary,
all action has been taken by the members and managers of each
Surrendering Shareholder that is a limited liability company.
This Amended and Restated Letter Agreement and such other
documents and agreements have been duly executed by each of the
Surrendering Shareholders and constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations, enforceable against each Surrendering
Shareholder in accordance with the terms thereof.
(b) Except for the items described on SCHEDULE 9(b) attached
hereto, each of the Surrendering Shareholders is the beneficial
and record owners of his or its respective Surrendered Shares and
such Surrendered Shares are not subject to any lien, encumbrance,
security interest or any other claim by any person or entity, or
any restriction on transfer (other than restrictions under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state
securities laws).
(c) Each of the Surrendering Shareholders is not subject to any
agreement, mortgage, lien, lease or other restriction that would
prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, and such transactions
would not violate any
4
agreement by which it or any of its properties are bound or
conflict or violate any judgment, order, writ, injunction,
decree, rule, or regulation of any court or governmental agency,
or instrumentality, or the certificate of formation or limited
liability company agreement of any of the Surrendering
Shareholders that are limited liabilities companies.
(d) As of the date of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement,
the Surrendering Shareholders together own of record and
beneficially only Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of common
stock, and no other equity securities of the Company, and
immediately following the execution of this Amended and Restated
Letter Agreement and surrender of the Surrendered Shares, no
other Surrendering Shareholders except First Western, and
therefore Xxxxx, as the beneficial owner of One Million Two
Hundred and Thirteen Thousand (1,213,000) shares of common stock
held by First Western, will own any equity securities of the
Company or any other warrants, purchase rights, subscription
rights, conversion rights, exchange rights or other contracts or
commitments to acquire any equity securities of the Company. None
of the Surrendering Shareholders has any other warrants, purchase
rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights
or other contracts or commitments that could require the
Surrendering Shareholders to acquire any additional common stock
of the Company or sell any of its own common stock of the
Company.
10. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents
and warrants to each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx that the
statements contained in this Section 10 are true and correct as of the
Effective Date.
(a) The Company has full power, right and authority to execute
and deliver this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, and to
perform its obligations hereunder and all other agreements and
documents required to be executed or delivered by the Company
pursuant to this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement or such
other agreements, and all such action has been duly authorized,
and if necessary, all required action has been taken by the Board
and the Company's shareholders. This Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement and such other documents and agreements have been duly
executed by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligations, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with the terms thereof, and do not violate the
Company's articles of incorporation or by-laws.
(b) The Company is not subject to any agreement, mortgage, lien,
lease or other restriction that would prevent the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement, and such transactions would not violate any agreement
by which it or any of its properties are bound or conflict or
violate any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, rule, or
regulation of any court or governmental agency, or
instrumentality.
(c) SCHEDULE 10(c) attached hereto sets forth for the Company (i)
the number of shares of authorized common stock of each class of
its common stock, (ii) the number of issued and outstanding
shares of each class of its common stock, (iii) the number of
shares of its common stock held in
5
treasury, (iv) the number of shares of authorized preferred stock
of each series of its preferred stock; (v) the number of issued
and outstanding shares of each series of its preferred stock, and
(vi) all outstanding stock options and warrants. The Company has
delivered to each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx correct and
complete copies of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of
the Company as amended to date. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company have been duly authorized
and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as
set forth on SCHEDULE 10(c), there are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription
rights, conversion rights, exchange rights or other contracts or
commitments that could require the Company to issue, sell or
otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its own common stock
or any other capital stock. There are no outstanding stock
appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar
rights with respect to the Company. There are no voting trusts,
proxies or other agreements or understandings with respect to the
voting of any of the Company Shares. The minute books, stock
certificate books and stock record books of the Company are
correct and complete. The Company does not control directly or
indirectly or have any direct or indirect equity participation in
any entity, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
person or similar entity.
(d) The Company has filed all required forms, reports and
documents (including proxy statements) with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") since February 7, 2001 (all
forms, reports and documents filed by the Company with the SEC,
the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the
Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, as the case may be, and, at the respective times they
were filed (or, in the case of any Company SEC Document that has
been amended or superseded, as of the date of such amending or
superseding filing), none of the Company SEC Documents contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The financial statements
(including, in each case, any notes thereto) of the Company
included in the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto,
were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") (except, in the case of the
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-QSB of the SEC)
applied on a consistent basis during the period involved (except
as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly
presented in all material respects the financial position of the
Company as of the respective dates thereof and the results of
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in
the case of unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and
to normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments
described therein), except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof. Except as disclosed in
the Company SEC Documents as required by GAAP, the Company has
not, since February 7, 2001, made any change in the accounting
practices or policies applied in the preparation of financial
statements.
6
11. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX AND XXXXXXXXXX.
Each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx represents and warrants
severally to the Surrendering Shareholders that the statements
contained in this Section 11 are true and correct as of the Effective
Date:
(a) He has full power, right and authority to execute and deliver
this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, and to perform his
obligations hereunder and all other agreements and documents
required to be executed or delivered by him pursuant to this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement or such other agreements,
without the consent or approval of any person, entity or court of
competent jurisdiction. This Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement and such other documents and agreements have been duly
executed by him and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against him in accordance with the terms
thereof.
(b) He meets one of the following tests and therefore qualifies
as an "accredited investor" as defined under Regulation D of the
Securities Act:
(i) he is a natural person who has individual income in excess of
$200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income
with his spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of these years, and
has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in
the current year; or
(ii)he is a natural person whose individual net worth or joint
net worth with his spouse, exceeds $1,000,000 at the time of this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement.
12. GENERAL INDEMNIFICATION. Each of the Parties (each, an "Indemnifying
Party") agrees to indemnify the other Party and such other Party's
officers and directors (the "Indemnified Parties") from and against
any liability, damage or deficiency, all actions, suits, proceedings,
demands, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses including
reasonable attorney's fees incident to any of the foregoing, resulting
from any misrepresentations, breach of covenant or warranty or
non-fulfillment of any agreement on the part of the Indemnifying Party
or any of its affiliated entities.
13. TAX INDEMNIFICATION. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx from and against any
increase in his federal and state income tax liability resulting from
a tax audit with respect to his receipt of his respective portion of
the Surrendered Shares pursuant to this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement. Furthermore, any payment under this Section 13 (the "Tax
Indemnity Payment") shall be "grossed-up" to reflect the fact that any
such Tax Indemnity Payment will be taxable to each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
and Xxxxxxxxxx. Accordingly, the amount of the Tax Indemnity Payment
shall be calculated by dividing the additional federal and state
income taxes imposed on each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx by the
reciprocal of the highest marginal federal and state income tax rate
then in effect. (For example, if the highest marginal federal and
state rate is 40%, the reciprocal
7
is 1-.4=.6. Thus if Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx or Xxxxxxxxxx has $10,000 of
additional income taxes, the grossed-up Tax Indemnity Payment would be
$10,000 / .6 = $16,667.)
Notwithstanding the above, the Company's indemnity obligation under
this Section 13 shall be limited to any income tax benefit actually
received by the Company for a corresponding increase in its tax
deductions due to the inclusion of additional income in the tax return
for each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx. The Company's tax benefit
shall be calculated using the "with and without" method, which
measures the tax benefit by determining the difference in tax whether
or not such deduction is included in the return or not. A tax benefit
will be deemed to exist only when the related deduction is allowed on
the Company's tax return and such deduction causes an actual lessening
of tax. An amount equal to such tax benefits received by the Company
in any taxable year shall be payable to each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and
Xxxxxxxxxx within 10 days after the Company files its income tax
return for such year.
14. RELEASE OF CLAIMS BY THE SURRENDERING SHAREHOLDERS. Except for his or
its rights and benefits under this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement, for and in consideration of the benefits provided herein,
each of the Surrendering Shareholders, on behalf of himself or itself,
and his or its heirs and dependents, executors, administrators and
assigns, as well as his or its affiliated companies and such
companies' respective shareholders, officers, directors, partners,
employees, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns (the "Releasing
Surrendering Shareholders"), hereby releases and discharges each of
the Company, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx, and any of his or its
heirs and dependents, executors, administrators and assigns, as well
as the Company's, and Walter's, Xxxxxxxx'x and Xxxxxxxxxx'x companies
and the Company's and Walter's, Xxxxxxxx'x or Xxxxxxxxxx'x companies
affiliates' shareholders, officers, directors, partners, employees,
agents, attorneys, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Company
or New Shareholder Releasees"), from any and all rights, claims,
causes of action, liability, damages, attorney's fees and costs of any
kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which the Releasing
Surrendering Shareholders ever had or now have against the Company or
New Shareholder Releasees by reason of any actual or alleged act,
omission, transaction, practice, conduct, occurrence or other matter
occurring up to and including the date of this Amended and Restated
Letter Agreement.
15. RELEASE OF CLAIMS BY THE COMPANY. Except for its rights and benefits
under this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, for and in
consideration of the benefits provided herein, the Company, on behalf
of itself as well as its affiliated companies and the Company's and
such affiliated companies' respective shareholders, officers,
directors, partners, employees, agents, attorneys, successors and
assigns (the "Releasing Company"), hereby releases and discharges each
of the Surrendering Shareholders, himself or itself, and his or its
heirs and dependents, executors, administrators and assigns, as well
as his or its affiliated companies and such companies' respective
shareholders, officers, directors, partners, employees, agents,
attorneys, successors and assigns (the "Surrendering Shareholder
Releasees") from any and all rights, claims, causes of action,
liability, damages, attorney's fees and costs of any kind or nature,
whether known or unknown, which the Releasing Company ever had or now
8
have against the Surrendering Shareholder Releasees by reason of any
actual or alleged act, omission, transaction, practice, conduct,
occurrence or other matter occurring up to and including the date of
this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement.
16. RELEASE OF CLAIMS BY EACH OF XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX AND XXXXXXXXXX. Except
for his respective rights and benefits under this Amended and Restated
Letter Agreement, for and in consideration of the benefits provided
herein, each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx, on behalf of himself
and his heirs and dependents, executors, administrators and assigns,
as well as his affiliated companies and such affiliated companies'
respective shareholders, officers, directors, partners, employees,
agents, attorneys, successors and assigns (the "Releasing
Individuals"), hereby releases and discharges each of the Surrendering
Shareholders, himself or itself, and his or its heirs and dependents,
executors, administrators and assigns, as well as his or its
affiliated companies and such companies' respective shareholders,
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, attorneys,
successors and assigns (the "Surrendering Shareholder Releasees") from
any and all rights, claims, causes of action, liability, damages,
attorney's fees and costs of any kind or nature, whether known or
unknown, which the Releasing Individual ever had or now have against
the Surrendering Shareholder Releasees by reason of any actual or
alleged act, omission, transaction, practice, conduct, occurrence or
other matter occurring up to and including the date of this Amended
and Restated Letter Agreement.
17. NON-DISPARAGEMENT. The Parties agree and covenant (i) not to disparage
one another to any person, company or entity; (ii) to do nothing that
could adversely affect the goodwill or reputation of the Company,
Xxxxx or any of his companies, Xxxxxx or any of his companies,
Xxxxxxxx or any of his companies, or Xxxxxxxxxx or any of his
companies, as the case may be; and (iii) to do nothing that could
adversely affect the morale of employees of the Company or of Xxxxx',
Walter's, Xxxxxxxx'x or Xxxxxxxxxx'x other companies, as the case may
be.
18. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Parties agree to keep the terms of this Amended
and Restated Letter Agreement strictly confidential, except insofar as
such disclosure is required by law. Such confidentiality shall not
pertain to the Parties' accountants, attorneys or governmental taxing
authorities; provided, however, that each person so informed shall be
bound to the confidentiality obligations herein and an unauthorized
disclosure by such person shall be deemed to be a breach of this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement. The Parties further agree not
to disclose any of their companies' confidential and/or proprietary
information, which shall be deemed to mean all non-public information
(in whatever form) relating to or arising from each of the applicable
companies' business, including, without limitation, trade secrets
used, developed or acquired by such company in connection with its
business, together with any analyses, records or data generated from
such information and material; information concerning the manner and
details of such company's operation, organization and management;
financial information and/or documents and non-public policies,
procedures and other printed, written or electronic material generated
or used in connection with such company's business; such company's
business plans and strategies; and all other information concerning
such company's concepts, prospects, customers, employees, agents,
contractors, earnings,
9
products, services, equipment, systems and/or prospective and executed
contracts and other business arrangements.
19. NON-SOLICITATION. For a one year period from the date of execution of
this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, each of the Surrendering
Shareholders with respect to the Company, and the Company with respect
to each of the Surrendering Shareholders agrees that it will not,
directly or indirectly, without the other applicable Party's prior
written consent, (i) cause or attempt to cause any employee or agent
of the other Party to terminate his or her relationship with the other
Party; or interfere or attempt to interfere with the relationship
between the other Party and any of its employees or agents; or hire or
attempt to hire any employee or agent of the other Party; or (ii)
solicit business from or conduct business from any customer or client
served by the other Party at any point during the Parties' association
with one another prior to the date of this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement or interfere or attempt to interfere with any business that
the other Party conducted with a customer or client during the
applicable Parties' association with one another prior to the
execution of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement. In this
regard, Xxxxx expressly agrees that he will not solicit business from,
or interfere with the Company's relationship with, On-Line Power,
Perfect Power and/or any of such companies' respective agents,
subcontractors and/or employees.
20. GOVERNING LAW. This Amended and Restated Letter Agreement shall be
governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Colorado, excluding its choice of law rules, and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
21. ARBITRATION. Except for the parties' rights to obtain injunctive
relief to enforce the confidentiality obligations and agreement not to
compete, this Agreement may be enforced only by final and binding
arbitration pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration
Association (AAA), before a single arbitrator selected under AAA
rules, in Denver
Colorado metropolitan area, including without
limitation Castle Rock,
Colorado. The Arbitrator's Award may be
enforced in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Colorado
pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1, et seq.
By submitting all disputes to arbitration, the parties give up the
right to a trial by jury. The arbitrator shall award statutory costs,
the arbitrator's fees and attorney's fees to the prevailing party to
the same extent as provided by applicable law as if that party had
prevailed in court.
22. ADVICE OF COUNSEL. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, IN
EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK
THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND HAS READ AND UNDERSTOOD
ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR
PREPARATION HEREOF.
23. FEES AND EXPENSES. The Parties hereto agree that each Party shall bear
and pay all expenses that have been incurred or that are in the future
incurred by or on behalf of such Party in connection with this Amended
and Restated Letter Agreement or any additional costs and expenses
incurred in connection with
10
other transactions or documents entered into in connection with this
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement; provided, however, the Company
shall reimburse each of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx for all
professional fees, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees,
accounting fees or financial advisor/appraisal fees, incurred by
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx in connection with the negotiation and
completion of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement and any
related transactions or agreements entered into in connection with
this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement.
24. MISCELLANEOUS. The Parties agree that this Amended and Restated Letter
Agreement is fair and reasonable and has been entered into freely and
voluntarily after good faith, arms length negotiations. Each Party
agrees that it is the owner of any claims released by this Amended and
Restated Letter Agreement and that it has not assigned any such claims
to any other person or entity. The Parties agree that, in entering
into this Agreement, they have not relied upon any representations,
warranties, promises and/or any other conditions made by the other
party that are not specifically set forth in this Amended and Restated
Letter Agreement. The Parties agree to execute such further documents
that are necessary to effectuate the intentions and terms and
conditions set forth herein. The Parties agree that there are no
collateral oral agreements between them with respect to the subject
matter of this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement or otherwise
(including, but not limited to, any previously contemplated agreements
between Xxxxx and the Company, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx or Xxxxxxxxxx). This
Amended and Restated Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one instrument.
11
The Parties have executed this Amended and Restated Letter Agreement the date
first written above.
RELIABLE POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXX
------------------------------------------
XXXXX XXXXX
Title: Director and President
EXECUTION BY THE COMPANY WITNESSED
BY: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
12
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO BY:
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXX, in his individual capacity
EXECUTION BY XXXXXX X. XXXXX
WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
---------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
FIRST WESTERN INDUSTRIES, LLC,
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
------------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXX
Title: CEO and Manager
---------------------------------------
EXECUTION BY FIRST WESTERN INDUSTRIES,
LLC WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
---------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
NEW WEST CAPITAL PARTNER, LLC
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
------------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXX
Title: CEO and Manager
---------------------------------------
EXECUTION BY NEW WEST CAPITAL PARTNER,
LLC WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
---------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
13
NEW WEST CAPITAL, LLC
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
-----------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXX
Title: CEO and Manager
--------------------------------------
EXECUTION BY NEW WEST CAPITAL, LLC
WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
/s/ XXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
XXXX X. XXXXXX, in his individual capacity
EXECUTION BY XXXX X. XXXXXX
WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
NAME: XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX, in his individual
capacity
EXECUTION BY XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX WITNESSED BY:
/s/ ROSE XXXXX XXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
NAME: ROSE XXXXX XXXXXXX
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX, in his individual
capacity
EXECUTION BY XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
WITNESSED BY:
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
14
