SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of November 30, 2010 by and among and TWL Investments Ltd., James Randall Martin and Sergio Rios Molina, as Sellers relating to the purchase and sale of RNC (Management) Limited
Exhibit
2.2
dated as
of November 30, 2010
by and
among
N.C.G.A.
Project Acquisition Corp., as Buyer
and
TWL
Investments Ltd., Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, as
Sellers
relating
to the purchase and sale
of
RNC
(Management) Limited
SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of November 30, 2010 (this “Agreement”), among N.C.G.A.
Project Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands corporation (“Buyer”), and TWL Investments
Ltd. (“TWL”), Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx (“Lough”),
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (“Xxxxxx”) and Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx (“Xxxx” and
together with TWL and Xxxxxx, “Sellers”).
WHEREAS,
Sellers own 1,000 common shares (being all the issued common shares) (the “Management Shares”) of RNC
(Management) Limited (“Management”), Management owns
one common share (being all the issued common shares) of RNC (Hemco) Limited, a
Belize international business corporation (“Hemco”), Hemco owns 9,998
common shares of Hemco Nicaragua S.A., a Nicaraguan corporation (“HemcoNic”) and Xxxxxx and
Xxxxx own one common share each of HemcoNic (together the “HemcoNic Interests”) (being,
together with the common shares in HemcoNic owned by Hemco, all the issued
common shares in HemcoNic);
WHEREAS,
Management also owns 69 common shares (being 69% of the issued common shares) of
Minerales Matuzulen S.A. (“Matuzulen”);
WHEREAS,
HemcoNic also owns 700 common shares (being 70% of the issued common shares) of
Vesubio Mining S.A. (“Vesubio”);
WHEREAS,
(i) Sellers desire to sell to Buyer or its designee, and Buyer desires to
purchase from Sellers, the Management Shares and, conditional upon such sale
(ii) each of Lough and Xxxxxx desires to assign to Buyer or its designee, and
Buyer desires to receive an assignment from Lough and Xxxxxx, their HemcoNic
Interest for no additional consideration, in each case upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in ARTICLE X.
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
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF THE MANAGEMENT SHARES AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE HEMCONIC
INTEREST
Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, (i)
each Seller shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer or its
designee, and Buyer shall purchase from each Seller, the Management Shares set
forth opposite such Seller’s name on Annex A hereto, and
(ii) Lough and Xxxxxx shall assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer or its
designee, and Buyer shall receive an assignment from Lough and Xxxxxx of, their
HemcoNic Interest.
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ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
PRICE AND PAYMENT
2.1
Purchase
Price. The purchase price for the Management Shares shall be an amount
equal to Sixty Five Million Dollars ($65,000,000) (the “Purchase Price”).
2.2
Payment of Purchase
Price. On the Closing Date, the Purchase Price shall be satisfied by
Buyer paying to Sellers the sum of Sixty Four Million Seven Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($64,750,000) (the “Purchase Price Balance”) by
the delivery to Sellers by wire transfer of immediately available funds into
accounts designated by Sellers and allocated among Sellers in accordance with
Annex A hereto
and by the application (amongst Sellers as they see fit) of the non-refundable
deposit previously paid by Buyer to Sellers in the amount of Two Hundred and
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000).
2.3
Closing Date. Subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII (or the
waiver thereof by the parties or parties entitled to waive that condition), the
closing of the sale and purchase of the Management Shares and the assignment of
the HemcoNic Interest provided for in this Section 2.3 (the “Closing”) shall take place at
the offices of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx (New York) LLP, 1133 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the
parties which shall be no later than the earlier of (i) two Business Days after
satisfaction (or waiver as provided herein) of the conditions set forth
in ARTICLE VII (other than those conditions that by their nature will
be satisfied at the Closing), and (ii) December 31, 2010, unless another time,
date and/or place is agreed to in writing by the parties. The date on which the
Closing shall be held is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date.”
2.4
Documents to be Delivered by
Sellers. At the Closing, Sellers shall deliver, or cause to be delivered,
to Buyer (or, if Buyer so elects, to its designee) the following:
(a) the
share certificates for the Management Shares duly endorsed or accompanied by
stock powers duly endorsed in blank, with any required transfer stamps affixed
thereto;
(b) the
share certificate for the HemcoNic Interest duly endorsed or accompanied by
stock powers duly endorsed in blank, with any required transfer stamps affixed
thereto;
(c) written
resignations of each of the directors of the Acquired Companies;
(d) the
Cooperation Agreement duly executed by Affiliate(s) of Sellers reasonably
acceptable to Buyer;
(e) the
Transition Services Agreement duly executed by Affiliate(s) of Sellers
reasonably acceptable to Buyer;
(f) a
Seller Release duly executed by Sellers;
(g) if
not already executed and delivered, the Management Services Agreement duly
executed by an Affiliate of Sellers reasonably acceptable to Buyer;
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(h) a
written legal opinion from Kutkevicius Xxxxx, LLP, counsel to TWL, addressed to
Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, covering matters relating to TWL, in a form
reasonably acceptable to Buyer and its counsel;
(i)
executed documentation for the
sale and transfer of the Excluded HemcoNic Interests to an Affiliate of Sellers
in consideration for a promissory note (the “Forestry Note”) and the
assignment of the Forestry Note as directed by Sellers, all to be effective on a
date in 2011 reasonably acceptable to the parties; and
(j)
such other documents as Buyer shall
reasonably request.
2.5
Documents to be Delivered by
Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to
Sellers the following:
(a) the
Purchase Price Balance;
(b) 1,000,000
shares of UG Common Stock (the “Plan Shares”) to a trust for
the benefit of Hemco’s employees, including without limitation Xxxxx, Xxxxxx and
Xxxx. The allocation of Hemco’s employees’ interests in the Plan Shares (or the
proceeds from the sale thereof) shall be determined jointly by Sellers, on the
one hand, and Buyer (or its permitted assignee), on the other hand;
(c) the
Cooperation Agreement duly executed by Affiliate(s) of Buyer reasonably
acceptable to Sellers;
(d) the
Transition Services Agreement duly executed by Affiliate(s) of Buyer reasonably
acceptable to Sellers;
(e) if
not already executed and delivered, the Management Services Agreement duly
executed by HemcoNic;
(f) a
written legal opinion from Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, Nevada counsel to Buyer, or
such other counsel agreed upon between the parties hereto (such agreement not to
be unduly withheld or delayed), addressed to Sellers, dated as of the Closing
Date, covering matters relating to the UG Common Stock to be delivered to the
Contractor pursuant to Management Services Agreement and the Plan Shares (as
hereinafter defined), in form reasonably acceptable to Sellers and their
counsel; and
(g) such
other documents as Sellers shall reasonably request.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Each
Seller hereby (unless otherwise provided herein) jointly and severally
represents and warrants to Buyer as follows.
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3.1
Ownership and Good Standing
of the Belizean Companies.
(a) Each
of Management and Hemco (together the “Belizean Companies”) is an
international business corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of Belize. Each of the Belizean Companies has all
requisite power to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts any business
so as to require such qualification. Neither of the Belizean Companies does or
ever has done any business in Belize.
(b) Neither
of the Belizean Companies is in default under its Charter Documents. The Charter
Documents of each Belizean Company in the form attached to Schedule 3.1(b) are
the Charter Documents of such Belizean Company as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.
3.2
Ownership and Good Standing
of the Nicaraguan Companies.
(a) Each
of HemcoNic, Matuzulen and Vesubio (together with HemcoNic and Matazulen, the
“Nicaraguan Companies”,
and together with the Belizean Companies, the “Acquired Companies”) is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of Nicaragua. Each of the Nicaraguan Companies has all requisite power to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as currently
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly qualified to do business
and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which
it owns or leases property or conducts any business so as to require such
qualification.
(b)
None of the Nicaraguan Companies is in default under its Charter Documents. The
Charter Documents of each Nicaraguan Company in the form attached to Schedule 3.2(b) are
the Charter Documents of such Nicaraguan Company as in effect on the date of
this Agreement.
3.3
Ownership and Transfer of
the Management Shares; Capitalization of the Belizean
Companies.
(a) Each
Seller is the record and beneficial owner of the Management Shares indicated as
being owned by such seller on Annex A hereto, free
and clear of all Liens. Each Seller has the requisite power and authority to
sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver the Management Shares as provided in
this Agreement, and such delivery will convey to Buyer good title to such
Management Shares, free and clear of all Liens. No legend or other reference to
a purported Lien appears on any certificate representing any of the Management
Shares in any share or other private or public registry. The sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance and delivery of the Management Shares to Buyer in
accordance with the terms of ARTICLE I will not adversely affect
Management’s ownership of the Capital Stock of Hemco.
(b) The
authorized Capital Stock of Management consists of 50,000 common shares, par
value $1.00 per share. All of the Management Shares were duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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(c) All
of the Management Shares were issued in compliance with applicable Laws. None of
the Management Shares was issued in violation of any Contract to which any
Seller or any Acquired Company is a party or is subject to, or in violation of,
any preemptive or similar rights of any Person.
(d) Other
than the Management Shares, Management does not have outstanding any Equity
Securities or any other securities. Management is not a party or subject to any
Contract obligating Management to issue any Equity Securities or any other
securities and there is no circumstance or condition that may give rise to a
claim by any Person that such Person is entitled to acquire any securities of
Management. Management does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or
other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible
into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote)
on any matter.
(e) All
of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock of Hemco (the “Hemco Shares”) are owned of
record and beneficially by Management free and clear of all Liens. Other than
the Hemco Shares, Hemco does not have outstanding any Equity Securities or any
other securities. Hemco is not a party or subject to any Contract obligating
Hemco to issue any Equity Securities or any other securities and there is no
circumstance or condition that may give rise to a claim by any Person that such
Person is entitled to acquire any securities of the Hemco. Hemco does not have
outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of
which have the right to vote (or convertible into, or exercisable or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any
matter.
(f)
The Belizean Companies do not
have outstanding or authorized any stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or similar rights.
(g) Neither
any Seller nor any Acquired Company is a party or subject to any stockholder
agreement, voting agreement, voting trust or any other similar arrangement which
has the effect of restricting or limiting the transfer, voting or other rights
associated with the Management Shares.
(h) There
are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of Management to provide funds to
or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in any Person.
3.4
Capitalization of the
Nicaraguan Companies.
(a) Schedule 3.4(a) sets
forth with respect to each of the Nicaraguan Companies the authorized and
outstanding Capital Stock of such Nicaraguan Company and the owner(s) of record
of such outstanding Capital Stock. The outstanding shares of Capital Stock of
each of the Acquired Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.
(b) All
of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock of HemcoNic (including, without
limitation, the HemcoNic Interests (the “HemcoNic Shares”)) are owned
of record and beneficially by Hemco, Lough or Xxxxxx free and clear of all
Liens. Upon transfer of the HemcoNic Interests to Buyer or its designee in
accordance with the terms of ARTICLE I, Buyer or its designee will receive
valid title to the HemcoNic Interests, free and clear of all Liens. Management
is the record and beneficial owner of 69% of the outstanding shares of Capital
Stock of Matuzulen. HemcoNic is the record and beneficial owner of 70% of the
outstanding shares of Capital Stock of Vesubio (any of the foregoing shares of
Capital Stock of Matazulan or Vesubio, together with the Hemco Shares and the
HemcoNic Shares, the “Acquired
Subsidiary Shares”) free and clear of all Liens.
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(c) All
of the Acquired Subsidiary Shares were issued in compliance with applicable
Laws. None of the Acquired Subsidiary Shares was issued in violation of any
Contract to which any Seller or any Acquired Company is a party or is subject
to, or in violation of, any preemptive or similar rights of any
Person.
(d) Other
than the HemcoNic Shares, HemcoNic does not have outstanding any Equity
Securities or any other securities. HemcoNic is not a party or subject to any
Contract obligating HemcoNic to issue any Equity Securities or any other
securities and there is no circumstance or condition that may give rise to a
claim by any Person that such Person is entitled to acquire any securities of
the HemcoNic. HemcoNic does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or
other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible
into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote)
on any matter.
(e) None
of the Acquired Subsidiaries has outstanding or authorized any stock
appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, or similar
rights.
(f) None
of Sellers, Management or the Acquired Subsidiaries is a party or subject to any
stockholder agreement, voting agreement, voting trust or any other similar
arrangement which has the effect of restricting or limiting the transfer, voting
or other rights associated with the Acquired Subsidiary Shares.
(g) There
are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any of the Acquired Subsidiaries
to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital
contribution or otherwise) in any Person.
3.5
Authority and
Enforceability. Each Seller who is a natural person has reached age of
majority in the jurisdiction in which such Seller resides. TWL is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the federal laws of
Canada, has all requisite power to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.
Each Seller has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement,
each other agreement, document, instrument or certificate contemplated by this
Agreement or to be executed by such Seller in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (together with this
Agreement, the “Seller
Documents”), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Seller
Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each
Seller. This Agreement has been, and each of the other Seller Documents will be
at or prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by Sellers and, assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer, this Agreement constitutes,
and each of the other Seller Documents when so executed and delivered will
constitute the valid and binding obligation of each Seller, enforceable against
it/him 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.
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3.6
No
Conflicts; Authorizations.
(a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Sellers do not, and the performance
by Sellers of their obligations hereunder and the consummation by Sellers 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, (i) violate
the provisions of any of the Charter Documents of any Acquired Company, (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, or require a consent to assignment, under any Contract (A) to
which any Seller or any Acquired Company is a party, (B) of which any Seller or
any Acquired Company is a beneficiary or (C) by which any Seller or any Acquired
Company or any of its respective assets is bound, (iii) violate or conflict with
any Law, Authorization or Order applicable to any Seller or any Acquired
Company, or give any Governmental Entity or other Person the right to challenge
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement 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 Seller or any Acquired
Company. Schedule
3.6(a) sets forth all consents, waivers, assignments and other approvals
and actions that are required in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement under any Contract to which any Seller or any Acquired Company
is a party (collectively, “Consents”) in order to
preserve all rights of, and benefits to, the Acquired Companies
thereunder.
(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 Seller or any Acquired Company in connection with the execution and delivery
of any Seller of this Agreement and the other Seller Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
8
3.7
Financial Statements.
True and complete copies of HemcoNic’s audited consolidated financial statements
consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries as
at December 31 in each of the years 2007 through 2009 and the related statements
of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow, for the
years then ended (the “Acquired Audited Financial
Statements”), and management prepared unaudited consolidated financial
statements consisting of the balance sheet of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries as
at September 30, 2010, and the related statements of income and retained
earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the nine-month period then
ended (the “Acquired
Interim Financial
Statements” and together with the Acquired Audited Financial Statements,
the “Acquired Financial Statements”), have
been provided to Buyer and are listed in Schedule 3.7. The
Acquired Audited Financial Statements are true, complete and correct and have
been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(“IFRS”) developed by
the International Accounting Standards Board applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved (except that the Acquired Audited Financial
Statements as at December 31 in each of the years 2007 through 2008 were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
Nicaragua (“Nicaragua
GAAP”) and the Acquired Audited Financial Statements as at December 31 in
the year 2009 contain notes reconciling the Acquired Audited Financial
Statements as at December 31 in the year 2008 from Nicaragua GAAP to IFRS). The
Acquired Financial Statements are based on the books and records of HemcoNic and
its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of HemcoNic and its
Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of
the operations of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries for the periods indicated. The
consolidated balance sheet of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries as of December 31,
2009, is referred to herein as the “Acquired Balance Sheet” and the date
thereof as the “Acquired
Balance Sheet Date” and
the consolidated balance sheet of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries as of September
30, 2010, is referred to herein as the “Acquired Interim Balance Sheet.” Each
of HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries maintains a standard system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with IFRS. The Acquired Interim
Financial Statements are true complete and correct in all material respects and,
except that they have not been audited, have been prepared in a manner
consistent with the Acquired Financial Statements in all material respects and,
without limiting the foregoing, properly account or provide for all Taxes paid
or payable by the Acquired Companies during or in respect the period subject of
the Acquired Interim Financial Statements. Schedule 3.7 sets
forth a true and complete copy of the “management accounts” of Matuzulen and
Vesubio, in each case, as of September 30, 2010.
3.8
Restructured Legacy
Businesses; Excluded HemcoNic Assets; No Undisclosed
Liabilities.
(a) As
of the date hereof, except for the ownership of the Hemco Shares and the
HemcoNic Shares, respectively, all other business operations, assets and
liabilities of each of Management and Hemco are set forth in Schedule 3.8(a)
(collectively, the “Restructured Legacy
Businesses”). As of the Closing Date, neither Management nor Hemco shall
have any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever,
asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or
unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except for the
Liabilities of Management in relation to its employees, whose employment
contracts are attached in Schedule
3.8(a).
(b) Schedule 3.8(b) sets
forth the forestry operations and certain other real estate and vehicles owned
by HemcoNic on the date hereof (the “Excluded HemcoNic
Assets”).
(c) Other
than as disclosed in Schedule 3.8(c),
HemcoNic and its Subsidiaries have no Liabilities, except (a) those which are
adequately reflected or reserved against in the Acquired Balance Sheet as of the
Acquired Balance Sheet Date, (b) the Indebtedness which is permitted to remain
as at the Closing Date in accordance with Section 5.5 hereof and (c) those
Liabilities which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business (other
than the Restructured Legacy Businesses) and consistent with past practice since
the Acquired Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the
aggregate, material in amount.
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3.9 Taxes.
(a) The
Belizean Companies (i) are not obliged under any Law to file and have never
filed, nor ever been required to file, any Tax Returns in Belize or elsewhere
and (ii) are not obliged under any Law to pay and have never paid, nor ever been
required to pay any Taxes in Belize or elsewhere. There is no action or audit
currently proposed, threatened or pending against, or with respect to, the
Belizean Companies in respect of any Taxes. No claim has ever been made by an
authority in any jurisdiction that any of the Belizean Companies is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction or that any of them must file Tax
Returns.
(b) Each
Nicaraguan Company has filed all Tax Returns and paid all Taxes as required
under applicable laws and regulations. All Tax Returns required to have been
filed by or with respect to each Nicaraguan Company in the past twelve months
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 in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations
liability for Taxes and all other information required to be reported thereon,
except that forestry credits (“Forestry Credits”) in the
amount of $204,919 and $542,330 for the years ended or ending as at December 31
in the years 2008 and 2009, respectively, have not yet been approved and the Tax
Return for the year ended or ending as at December 31, 2010 including an
approximate $400,000 Forestry Credit that has not yet been filed. All Taxes of
any Nicaraguan Company for all Tax years ending prior to the Closing Date and
all Taxes of any Nicaraguan Company for tax years beginning before and ending on
or after the Closing Date (in each case, whether or not shown on any Tax Return)
have been timely paid (or, if due after the date of this Agreement, have been
provided for in the books of account and related records or Tax reserves of such
Nicaraguan Company as of the date of this Agreement and, if due on or before the
Closing Date will be duly and timely paid prior to the Closing Date). The
Nicaraguan Companies have adequately provided for, in their books of account and
related records, liability for all unpaid Taxes, being current Taxes not yet due
and payable, except as aforesaid.
(c) There
is no action or audit currently proposed, threatened or pending against, or with
respect to, the Nicaraguan Companies in respect of any Taxes. No Nicaraguan
Company is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax
Return, nor have any of the Nicaraguan Companies made (or had made on their
behalf) any requests for such extensions. Each Nicaraguan Company (i) is not
obliged under any Law to file and has never filed, nor ever been required to
file, any Tax Returns in a jurisdiction other than Nicaragua and (ii) is not
obliged under any Law to pay and has never paid, nor ever been required to pay,
any Taxes to a jurisdiction other than Nicaragua. No claim has ever been made by
an authority in a jurisdiction other than Nicaragua that any of the Nicaraguan
Companies 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 Acquired Company with respect to Taxes.
(d) The
Acquired Companies have withheld and timely paid all Taxes required to have been
withheld and paid in the past twelve months and have complied in the past twelve
months with all information reporting and backup withholding requirements,
including maintenance of required records with respect thereto, and are
otherwise current and up-to-date with all Taxes required to have been withheld
and paid.
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(e) There
is no dispute or claim concerning any liability for Taxes with respect to any
Nicaraguan Company for which notice has been provided, or which is asserted or
threatened, or which is otherwise known to any Seller or any Nicaraguan Company,
except that the Forestry Credits have not yet been allowed. No issues have been
raised in any Taxes examination with respect to any Nicaraguan Company which, by
application of similar principles, could be expected to result in liability for
Taxes for any other Nicaraguan Company or period not so examined. Schedule 3.9(e) (i)
lists the copies of all Tax Returns filed with respect to any Nicaraguan Company
for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2008, (ii) indicates those
Tax Returns that have been audited by a Taxing Authority, and (iii) indicates
those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit by a Taxing Authority.
No Nicaraguan Company 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.
(f) No
Acquired Company has received (or is subject to) any outstanding ruling from any
Taxing Authority or has entered into (or is subject to) any outstanding
agreement regarding Taxes with a Taxing Authority or any other
person.
(g) No
Acquired Company 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, (ii) installment sale or open transaction
disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, (iii) prepaid amount received
on or prior to the Closing Date or (iv) change in accounting method for a
taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date.
(h) No
Tax elections have been made with respect to any Acquired Company in any
jurisdiction except as appear in the Tax Returns listed in Schedule
3.9(e).
(i)
As of the Closing Date, no Acquired Company
will have or own (A) tangible property located in the United States, (B) stock
in a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States
federal tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States or a state
therein, (C) a debt or other obligation of a United States person other than
bank deposits of an Acquired Company or an obligation arising in the sale or
processing of property in the ordinary course of business of such Acquired
Company, (D) any right to use in the United States a patent, copyright,
invention, model, design, secret formula process, or similar right.
(j)
As of the Closing Date, no Acquired Company will
have or own (1) an interest in real property (including an interest in a mine,
well, or other natural deposit) located in the United States or the United
States Virgin Islands, (2) any interest (other than an interest solely as a
creditor) in any entity treated as a corporation for United States tax purposes
that is organized under the laws of the United States or any State therein if
more than 50% of the fair market value of such entity’s assets (including only
real property assets and assets used in a trade or business) are assets
described in (1).
(k) To
each of Seller’s Knowledge, since February 28, 2006, no Acquired Company has
done business in Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab
Emirates, Republic of Yemen or Iraq or has done business with any national,
company or government of any such countries.
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(l) Since
January 1, 2006, none of Sellers, Lough (or any other shareholder of TWL) or any
Acquired Companies (1) has filed (or expects to file for any taxable year for
which a United States federal income tax return is not due until after the date
hereof) any United States federal income tax return reporting income of an
Acquired Company on the basis that such Acquired Company is a “passive foreign
investment company” within the meaning of the Code, (2) has made any Tax
election on a United States federal income tax return claiming or indicating
that an Acquired Company is or may be a “passive foreign investment company”
within the meaning of the Code, or (3) has been notified by the United States
Internal Revenue Service in an audit or otherwise that the Internal Revenue
Service intends to treat or may treat any Acquired Company as a “passive foreign
investment company” within the meaning of the Code.
(m) Since
January 1, 2006, except for Xxxxxx, none of Sellers or Lough (or any other
shareholder of TWL) has been a United States citizen or resident or a
corporation or partnership organized under the laws of the United States or any
State therein, or a United States domestic trust or estate. Xxxxxx represents
and warrants that he is a United States citizen and that he does not own or
control, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the voting power or value of any
Acquired Company.
(n) No
Acquired Company has filed a Tax Return on a combined, consolidated, group or
pooled filing basis.
(o) All
Taxes imposed upon or relating to any Acquired Company as a transferee or
successor by contract, or otherwise, relating to periods prior to the Closing
Date have been paid or reserved or accrued in its books of account prior to the
Closing Date.
3.10
Compliance with
Law.
(a) Each
Acquired Company has complied in all material respects with each, and is not in
violation in any material respect of any, applicable Law to which such Acquired
Company or its respective business, operations, assets or properties is or has
been subject.
(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 Acquired Company to comply with, any Law in any
material respect. No Acquired Company has received notice regarding any
violation of, conflict with, or failure to comply with, any Law.
3.11
Authorizations.
(a) Each
Acquired Company owns, holds or lawfully uses in the operation of its business
all Authorizations which are necessary for it 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 Acquired Company in the conduct of its
business free and clear of all Liens. Such Authorizations are valid and in full
force and effect and none of such Authorizations will be terminated or impaired
or become terminable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. All permits are listed in Schedule
3.11(a).
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(b) No
Acquired Company has received notice regarding any violation of, conflict with,
failure to comply with the terms of, or any revocation, withdrawal, termination,
cancellation, suspension or modification of, any Authorization. No Acquired
Company is in default, nor has any Acquired Company received notice of any claim
of default, with respect to any Authorization.
(c) No
Person other than an Acquired Company owns or has any proprietary, financial or
other interest (direct or indirect) in any Authorization which any Acquired
Company owns or uses in the operation of its business as currently conducted or
as proposed to be conducted.
3.12 Title to Personal
Properties.
(a) Other
than as provided in Schedule 3.12(a), all
the buildings, plants, machinery, leasehold improvements, structures,
facilities, equipment, vehicles and other personal properties and assets (“Personal Properties”) owned by
each Acquired Company as of the date of this Agreement, including all properties
and assets reflected as owned on the Acquired Interim Balance Sheet other than
any sold in the ordinary course of business since the date thereof or comprising
part of the Restructured Legacy Businesses or the Excluded HemcoNic Assets
(“Owned Personal
Property”), are owned by an Acquired Company with good and valid title ,
free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens.
(b) With
respect to Personal Properties that are leased other than those comprising part
of the Restructured Legacy Businesses or the Excluded HemcoNic Assets (“Leased Personal Property”), an
Acquired Company has a valid leasehold interest in such Leased Personal Property
and all such leases are in full force and effect and constitute valid and
binding obligations of the other party(ies) thereto. Neither any Acquired
Company nor any other party thereto is in breach in any material respect of any
of the terms of any such lease.
(c) Other
than the Acquired Companies, holders of Permitted Liens (solely to the extent of
such Permitted Liens) and lessors of Leased Personal Property (solely to the
extent of their interest in such Leased Personal Property), no Person has any
interest in any Personal Properties used by any Acquired Company. Without
limiting the foregoing, neither any Seller nor any of its Affiliates has any
interest in any Personal Properties used in the businesses of any Acquired
Company.
(d) The
Owned Personal Property and Leased Personal Property are all the Personal
Property required by the Acquired Companies for the operation of their business,
including without limitation the operation of the Bonanza mine and the Hemco and
Vesmisa xxxxx, and are structurally sound, in good operating condition and
repair (subject to normal wear and tear given the use and age of such assets),
and usable in the ordinary course of business and, to the Knowledge of Sellers,
conform to all Laws and Authorizations relating to their construction, use and
operation.
3.13 Real Property/Surface
rights.
(a) Schedule 3.13(a)
contains (i) a list of all real property and interests in real property owned in
fee by any Acquired Company other than those comprising part of the Restructured
Legacy Businesses or the Excluded HemcoNic Assets, including surface rights (the
“Owned Real Property”),
and (ii) a list of all real property and interests in real property, including
surface rights, leased by any Acquired Company (including, without limitation,
all Mineral Leases) (the “Leased Real Property” and
together with the Owned Real Property, the “Real Property”). The Real
Property listed on Schedule 3.13(a)
includes all interests in real property used in or necessary for the conduct of
the businesses and operations of the Acquired Companies as currently conducted
and as proposed to be conducted.
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(b) With
respect to each parcel of Owned Real Property:
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(i)
|
An
Acquired Company has good and marketable title to each such parcel of
Owned Real Property free and clear of all Liens, except (A) Permitted
Liens and (B) zoning and building restrictions, easements, covenants,
rights-of-way and other similar restrictions of record, none of which
materially impairs in any manner the current or proposed use of such Owned
Real Property.
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(ii)
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The
legal description for such parcel of Owned Real Property contained in the
deed thereof describes the property fully and accurately. All buildings,
structures and facilities located on, and improvements to, such parcel of
Owned Real Property are located within the boundary lines of such Owned
Real Property and do not encroach on any easement, right of way or other
encumbrance which burdens any portion of the Owned Real Property. No
structures, facilities or other improvements on any parcel adjacent to the
Owned Real Property encroach onto any portion of the Owned Real
Property.
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(iii)
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The
Acquired Companies have in their sole possession the originals of the
deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which any Acquired Company
acquired such parcel of Owned Real Property, and all title insurance
policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys relating
thereto.
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(iv)
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There
are no outstanding options or rights of first refusal to purchase such
parcel of Owned Real Property, or any portion thereof or interest
therein.
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(c) With
respect to Leased Real Property, Sellers have delivered to Buyer a true and
complete copy of every lease and sublease pursuant to which any Acquired Company
is a party or by which it is bound. An Acquired Company has peaceful,
undisturbed and exclusive possession of the Leased Real Property.
(d) The
uses for which the buildings, facilities and other improvements located on the
Real Property are zoned do not restrict, or impair, the use of the Real Property
for purposes of the businesses of the Acquired Companies.
(e) No
Governmental Entity having the power of eminent domain over the Real Property
has commenced or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, intends to exercise the power of
eminent domain or a similar power with respect to all or any part of the Real
Property. There are no pending or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened
condemnation, fire, health, safety, building, zoning or other land use
regulatory proceedings, lawsuits or administrative actions relating to any
portion of the Real Property or any other matters which do or may adversely
affect the current use, occupancy or value thereof. Neither any Seller nor any
Acquired Company has received notice of any pending or threatened proceedings
affecting any portion of the Real Property.
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(f) The
Real Property and all present uses and operations of the Real Property comply in
all material respects with all Laws, covenants, conditions, restrictions,
easements, disposition agreements and similar matters affecting the Real
Property. The Real Property and its continued use, occupancy and operation as
used, occupied and operated in the conduct of the businesses of the Acquired
Companies do not constitute a nonconforming use and is not the subject of a
special use permit under any Law.
(g) The
Real Property is in suitable condition for the Acquired Companies’ businesses as
currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Acquired Company has
good and valid rights of ingress and egress to and from all Real Property from
and to the public street systems for all usual street, road and utility
purposes.
(h) No
Person other than an Acquired Company is in possession of any of the Real
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 an Acquired Company the right of use or occupancy of the Real Property or
any portion thereof. No easement, utility transmission line or water main
located on the Real Property adversely affects the use of the Real Property or
any improvement on the Real Property.
(i)
All utilities used
in the operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the businesses of the
Acquired Companies, are operable and adequate to service the Real Property in
the operation of the businesses of the Acquired Companies. To Sellers’
knowledge, no fact or condition exists which could result in the termination or
material reduction of the current access from the Real Property to existing
roads or utility services presently serving the Real Property.
(j)
No Acquired Company has
experienced any material disruption in utility services during the past twelve
months.
3.14 Mining Concessions, Mines
and Related Matters. Without limiting the generality of any of Sellers’
other representations and warranties:
(a) Schedule 3.14(a)
contains a list of all the Mining Concessions or Mines owned by the Nicaraguan
Companies (collectively, the “HemcoNic Properties”). Other
than as set forth on Schedule 3.14(a), no
Acquired Company owns or has any option to purchase or other ownership interest
in any Mining Concession or Mine;
(b) Schedule 3.14(b) sets
out an up to date, true and accurate map of and lists in all material respects:
(i) the interest of the Nicaraguan Companies in each of the HemcoNic Properties,
and (ii) the agreement or document pursuant to which each of such HemcoNic
Properties was acquired by each Nicaraguan Company;
(c) Schedule 3.14(c) sets
out an up to date, true and accurate map of and lists in all material respects
the forestry surface rights included in the Excluded HemcoNic
Assets;
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(d) The
Mining Concessions in the HemcoNic Property: (i) have been properly granted and
issued by the appropriate Governmental Body; (ii) are clear of all Liens and are
not the subject of any unsatisfied penalties or unresolved disputes; (iii) are
not subject to the rights or claims of any third party; and (iv) except as set
forth on Schedule
3.14(d), do not overlap any third-party claim such as may entitle such
third party to explore or mine any substance likely to be granted under a Mining
Concession on the same property;
(e) Neither
any Seller nor any of its Affiliates owns any Mining Concession or Mines within
a distance of five (5) kilometers from the boundaries of the HemcoNic
Properties;
(f) Each
of the Nicaraguan Companies has conducted all exploration and evaluation
activities with respect to the HemcoNic Property in accordance with generally
accepted mining practices and applicable Laws;
(g) The
Nicaraguan Companies have good and defensible title to the HemcoNic Properties
free and clear of any Liens;
(h) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.14(h),
there are no royalties, overriding royalties, superficial payments and other
burdens on production in connection with the HemcoNic Property. All filings or
reports with Governmental Entities and all expenses relating to the ownership of
the HemcoNic Properties have been timely and properly submitted or paid as
applicable (or are pending submission or payment, as applicable) in the last
twelve months and are otherwise current and up-to-date and comply with the terms
set forth in the Mining Concession or the contracts concerning the Mining
Concession;
(i)
None of the HemcoNic Properties is subject to any
preferential purchase, consent or similar right which would become operative as
a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Seller
Documents;
(j)
No Person other than an Acquired
Company has any right (whether preferential, subordinated, previous or
subsequent) that may limit, conflict with or otherwise affect the HemcoNic
Properties;
(k) Each
Nicaraguan Company possesses all necessary (i) rights and interests relating to
the HemcoNic Properties granting such Nicaraguan Company the right and ability
to explore for minerals, ore and metals as currently conducted, (ii) easements
or other access rights to the HemcoNic Properties, and (iii) facilities to
conduct mining activities relating to the HemcoNic Properties;
(l)
All terms of, and all requirements in connection with the
HemcoNic Properties have been met, including the timely payment of all annual
fees and compliance with all environmental obligations and all works performed
by the Acquired Companies; and
(m) No
Acquired Company is a party to any type of direct or indirect xxxxxx, forward
sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps or similar arrangements (including
on a total return basis) with respect to any minerals of the type produced, or
expected to be produced, by the HemcoNic Property.
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(n) Sellers
are not aware of any fact or circumstances that would adversely affect the
manner in which income tax is currently calculated on the Acquired Companies’
net profit.
3.15 Intellectual
Property.
(a) As
used in this Agreement, “Intellectual Property” means:
(i) inventions (whether or not patentable), trade secrets, technical data,
databases, customer lists, designs, tools, methods, processes, technology,
ideas, know-how, source code and other proprietary information and materials
(“Proprietary
Information”); (ii) trademarks and service marks (whether or not
registered), trade names, logos, trade dress and other proprietary indicia and
all goodwill associated therewith; (iii) documentation, advertising copy,
marketing materials, web-sites, specifications, mask works, drawings, graphics,
databases, recordings and other works of authorship, whether or not protected by
Copyright; (iv) computer programs, whether in source code or object code, and
materials relating thereto and any translations thereof; and (v) all forms of
legal rights and protections that may be obtained for, or may pertain to, the
Intellectual Property set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) in any country of
the world (“Intellectual
Property Rights”), including all letters patent, patent applications,
provisional patents, design patents, PCT filings, invention disclosures and
other rights to inventions or designs, all registered and unregistered
copyrights in both published and unpublished works (“Copyrights”), all trademarks,
service marks and other proprietary indicia (whether or not registered) (“Marks”), trade secret rights,
mask works, moral rights or other literary property or authors rights, and all
applications, registrations, issuances, divisions, continuations, renewals,
reissuances and extensions of the foregoing.
(b) Each
Acquired Company owns, free and clear of Liens, or has valid and enforceable
rights to use all Intellectual Property Rights required for its businesses as
they are currently conducted or proposed to be conducted, including without
limitation the name “Hemco” and variations thereof and the name “RNC” and
variations thereof.
(c) No
Seller has any Knowledge of any challenges (or any basis therefor) with respect
to the validity or enforceability of any Acquired Company Intellectual Property.
To Sellers’ Knowledge, no Acquired Company, by conducting its business as
currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted, has infringed or infringes
upon, or otherwise unlawfully used or uses, any Intellectual Property Rights of
a third party. To Sellers’ Knowledge, no Person has infringed or is infringing
any Intellectual Property Rights of any Acquired Company or has otherwise
misappropriated or is otherwise misappropriating any Acquired Company
Intellectual Property.
(d) With
respect to any Acquired Company’s Proprietary Information, any receipt or use
by, or disclosure to, a third party of Proprietary Information owned by any
Acquired Company has been pursuant to the terms of binding written
confidentiality agreement between such Acquired Company and such third
party.
3.16 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. From the Acquired Balance Sheet Date to the date of this
Agreement (with respect to the representations and warranties made as of the
date of this Agreement) and to the Closing Date (with respect to the
representations and warranties made as of the Closing Date) except as disclosed
in Schedule
3.16 or in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past
practice and excluding the Restructured Legacy Businesses or the Excluded
HemcoNic Assets (in relation only to paragraphs (c) and (g) below):
17
(a) there
has not been any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, prospects or results of operations of Hemco and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(b) no
Acquired Company has amended or changed its Charter Documents;
(c) neither
Hemco nor any of its Subsidiaries has declared, set aside or paid any dividend
or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to any
Equity Security or any other security, except for the payment of dividends in
the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice and the
payment of a dividend in connection with the Excluded HemcoNic Assets or removal
of the Restructured Legacy Businesses (together “Permitted
Dividends”);
(d) no
Acquired Company has split, combined or reclassified any Equity Security or
other security, or issued, or authorized for issuance, any Equity Security or
other security;
(e) no
Acquired Company has altered any term of any outstanding Equity Security or
other security;
(f)
no Acquired Company has (i) increased or modified the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable by such Acquired Company to any current or
former directors, employees, contractors or consultants of any Acquired Company,
(ii) increased or modified any bonus, severance, termination, pension, insurance
or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for or with any
current or former directors, employees, contractors or consultants of any
Acquired Company, or (iii) entered into any employment, severance or termination
agreement;
(g) other
than any sale in the ordinary course of business or the sale of the Excluded
HemcoNic Assets, neither Hemco nor any of its Subsidiaries has sold, leased,
transferred or assigned any property or assets of Hemco or any such
Subsidiary;
(h) no
Acquired Company has incurred, assumed or guaranteed any
Indebtedness;
(i)
no Acquired Company has created or assumed any Lien on any asset, except
for Liens arising under lease financing arrangements existing as of the Acquired
Balance Sheet Date and Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable with respect to
which such Acquired Company maintains adequate reserves;
(j)
no Acquired Company has made any loan, advance or capital contribution to,
or investment in, any Person other than loans or advances in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice;
(k) no
Acquired Company has entered into any Material Contract; (i) no Material
Contract has been modified, (ii) no rights under any Material Contract have been
waived or accelerated and (iii) no Contract that would be required to be listed
as a Material Contract pursuant to Section 3.17 hereof if such Contract were in
effect on the date hereof has been terminated or cancelled;
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(l) there
has not been any labor dispute, other than individual grievances, or any
activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to organize
any employees of any Acquired Company;
(m) there
has not been any material change to the relationship between any Acquired
Company and any small-scale contract miners;
(n) there
has not been any violation of or conflict with any Law to which the business,
operations, assets or properties of any Acquired Company are
subject;
(o) neither
any Seller nor any Acquired Company has agreed or entered into any arrangement
to take any action which, if taken prior to the date hereof, would have made any
representation or warranty set forth in this Agreement or in the other Seller
Documents untrue or incorrect;
(p) there
has not been any material damage, destruction or loss with respect to the
property and assets of any Acquired Company, whether or not covered by
insurance;
(q) no
Acquired Company has made any change in accounting practices;
(r) other
than in the ordinary course of its business, no Acquired Company has made any
Tax election, changed its method of Tax accounting, changed the timing of
payment of or accruals for Taxes or settled any claim for Taxes;
(s) each
Acquired Company has sufficient working capital for its normal operations,
consistent with historical working capital reserves, as of the Closing Date;
and
(t) no
Acquired Company has agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the
foregoing.
3.17 Contracts.
(a) Schedule 3.17(a)
contains a complete and accurate list of each material Contract or series of
related Contracts to which any Acquired Company is a party or is subject, or by
which any of their respective assets are bound.
(b) Each
Contract required to be listed in Schedule 3.17(a)
(collectively, the “Material
Contracts”) is in all material respects in full force and effect and
valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(c) No
Acquired Company is, and to Sellers’ 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 Material Contract, and no
Acquired Company 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 Material Contract.
19
(d) Sellers
have delivered accurate and complete copies of each Material Contract to
Buyer.
(e) All
Contracts other than Material Contracts to which any Acquired Company is a party
or is subject, or by which any of their respective assets are bound, are in all
material respects valid and enforceable in accordance with their terms. No
Acquired Company is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of
any obligation, covenant or condition contained therein, and no event has
occurred which with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would constitute a default thereunder by any Acquired Company, except in either
case where such default individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be
expected have a Material Adverse Effect on any Acquired Company.
(f)
Schedule 3.17(f)
contains a complete and accurate copy of the technical report entitled
“Technical Report, Hemco Nicaragua S.A., Bonanza Mine, RAAN” dated May 31, 2010
prepared by Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Consulting (“Report”). All statements of
fact regarding the Acquired Companies and their businesses contained in the
Report as of the date of the Report were true and accurate in all material
respects and are not misleading in any material respect. All expressions of
opinion, intention or expectation regarding the Acquired Companies and their
businesses attributed to Sellers or the Acquired Companies or any of their
directors, officers or senior management contained in the Report (other than
those of third party consultants) as of the date of the Report were honestly
given, expressed or held and subject of due care and attention and were fairly
based upon facts within the knowledge of Sellers, the Acquired Companies or any
of their directors, officers and senior management and were made on reasonable
grounds after due and proper consideration. There are no facts known to any of
Sellers (having made reasonable enquiry) which are not disclosed in the Report
which by their omission would or might reasonably be considered to: (i)
materially adversely affect the importance or materiality of the information
contained therein; (ii) make any statement therein (whether of fact or opinion,
including opinion of third party consultants) false or misleading in any
material adverse respect; (iii) materially adversely invalidate or qualify any
assumption made in support of any statement therein (whether of fact or opinion,
including opinion of third party consultants).
3.18 Litigation.
(a) Other
than as disclosed in Schedule 3.18(a),
there is no action, suit or proceeding, claim, arbitration, litigation or
investigation (each, an “Action”) (i) pending or, to
Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened against or affecting any Acquired Company except
for immaterial employee claims, or (ii) that challenges or seeks to prevent,
enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No
event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis
for any such Action. There is no Action against any current or, to Sellers’
Knowledge, former director or employee of any Acquired Company with respect to
which such Acquired Company has or is reasonably likely to have an
indemnification obligation.
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(b) There
is no unsatisfied judgment, penalty or award against or affecting any Acquired
Company or any of its respective properties or assets. Except as disclosed in
Schedule
3.18(b), there is no Order to which any Acquired Company or any of its
respective properties or assets are subject. Each Acquired Company is in
compliance with the terms of each Order set forth in Schedule 3.18(b). No
event has occurred or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with
or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Order.
3.19 Employee
Benefits.
(a) There
are no Benefit Plans sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be
contributed to by any Acquired Company for the benefit of any present or former
directors, employees, contractors or consultants of any Acquired Company
(collectively, “Acquired
Company Benefit Plans”), except for statutory Nicaraguan requirements
relating to Nicaraguan state – operated plans. No Acquired Company has any
intent or commitment to create any additional Acquired Company Benefit
Plan.
(b) Full
payment has been made of all amounts which any Acquired Company was required to
have paid as a contribution to any Acquired Company Benefit Plan and no Acquired
Company is in default in performing any of its contractual obligations relating
to any of the Acquired Company Benefit Plans.
(c) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other
Seller Documents will not (either alone or in conjunction with any other event)
(i) entitle any current or former director, employee, contractor or consultant
of any Acquired Company to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other
payment, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount
of compensation due to any such director, employee, contractor or consultant, or
result in the payment of any other benefits to any Person or the forgiveness of
any Indebtedness of any Person.
3.20 Labor and Employment
Matters.
(a) Schedule 3.20(a) sets
forth (i) (A) a list of all directors, employees, contractors and consultants
(1) of Management and (2) entitled to annual compensation of $30,000 or more
from any Acquired Company (including title and position) as of the date hereof,
and (B) the base compensation and benefits of each such director, employee,
contractor and consultant. There are no former directors, employees, contractors
and consultants of any Acquired Company who are receiving benefits, or scheduled
to receive benefits in the future, from any Acquired Company.
(b) Except
as disclosed in Schedule 3.20(b), no
Acquired Company is a party or subject to any labor union or collective
bargaining agreement. There are no pending or threatened strikes, labor
disputes, work stoppages, requests for representation, pickets, work slow-downs
due to labor disagreements or any actions or arbitrations which involve the
labor or employment relations of any Acquired Company. No event has occurred or
circumstance exist that may provide the basis of any work stoppage or other
labor dispute.
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(c) Each
Acquired Company has complied in all material respects with each, and is not in
violation in any material respect of any, Law relating to anti-discrimination
and equal employment opportunities and there are, and have been, no violations
of any other Law respecting the hiring, hours, wages, occupational safety and
health, employment, promotion, termination or benefits of any employee or other
Person. Each Acquired Company has filed and/or posted all reports, information
and notices required under any Law respecting the hiring, hours, wages,
occupational safety and health, employment, promotion, termination or benefits
of any employee or other Person, and will timely file prior to Closing all such
reports, information and notices required by any Law to be given prior to
Closing.
(d) Each
Acquired Company has paid or properly accrued in the ordinary course of business
all wages and compensation due to employees, including all vacations or vacation
pay, holidays or holiday pay, sick days or sick pay, and bonuses.
(e) Neither
any Seller nor any Acquired Company is a party to any Contract which restricts
any Acquired Company from relocating, closing or terminating any of its
operations or facilities or any portion thereof. No Acquired Company has during
the past twelve months effectuated a redundancy or lay-off in either case
affecting any site of employment or facility of any Acquired Company and
exceeding ten employees. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the other Seller Documents will not create liability for any
act by any Seller or any Acquired Company on or prior to the Closing under any
Law respecting reductions in force or the impact on employees on plant closings
or sales of businesses.
(f) No
Acquired Company has any employees working or performing services in the United
States.
3.21 Environmental.
(a) As
used in this Agreement, the following words and terms have the following
definitions:
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(i)
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“Environment” the global
system made up of natural and artificial elements, whose physical,
chemical and biological nature, along with their cultural interactions,
are in constant change by all human or natural actions, which govern and
condition the existence and further development of life and each one of
its forms.
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(ii)
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“Environmental Action”
means any claim, proceeding or other Action brought or threatened under
any Environmental Law or otherwise asserting that any Acquired Company has
incurred any Pre-Closing Environmental
Liability.
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(iii)
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“Environmental Clean-up
Site” means any location which is listed on a Governmental Entity’s
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.
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(iv)
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“Environmental Laws”
means any and all applicable Laws and Authorizations issued, promulgated
or entered into by any Governmental Entity relating to the Environment,
human health, 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, and all amendments or regulations promulgated
thereunder; applicable statutes 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.
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(v)
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“Environmental Permits”
means any Authorization under Environmental Law, and includes any and all
Orders issued or entered into by a Governmental Entity under Environmental
Law.
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(vi)
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“Hazardous Substances”
means all explosive materials, radioactive materials, hazardous materials,
toxic materials, wastes, chemicals, petroleum, petroleum by-products and
petroleum products (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), asbestos
and asbestos containing materials, and all other materials, chemicals and
substances that 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.
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(vii)
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“Release” means any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of Hazardous
Substances into the Environment.
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(b) Each
Acquired Company has obtained, and is in compliance in all material respects
with, all Environmental Permits required in connection with its operations and
the Real Property. Each Environmental Permit, together with the name of the
Governmental Entity issuing such Environmental Permit, is set forth in Schedule 3.21(b). All
such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect and all
renewal applications for such Environmental Permits have been timely filed with
the appropriate Governmental Entity. None of such Environmental Permits will be
terminated or impaired or become terminable as a result of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Seller Documents. Each Acquired
Company is currently, in compliance with all Environmental Laws. Neither any
Seller nor any Acquired Company has received notice alleging that any Acquired
Company is not in such compliance with Environmental Laws.
(c) Except
as disclosed in the Knight Piesold report dated May 2010:
(i) there
are no past, pending or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened Environmental Actions
against or affecting any Acquired Company, and no Seller is aware of any facts
or circumstances which could be expected to form the basis for any Environmental
Action against any Acquired Company.
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(ii) no
Acquired Company has entered into or agreed to any Order, and no Acquired
Company 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.
(iii) no
Lien has been attached to, or asserted against, the assets, Real Property or
rights of any Acquired Company pursuant to any Environmental Law, and, to
Sellers’ Knowledge, no such Lien has been threatened. To Sellers’ Knowledge,
there are no facts, circumstances or other conditions that could be expected to
give rise to any Liens on or affecting any Real Property of any Acquired
Company.
(iv) no
Hazardous Substances are present in, on, about or migrating to or from any Real
Property that could be expected to give rise to an Environmental Action against
any Acquired Company.
(v) no
Acquired Company has received any information request from, nor has any Acquired
Company been named a potentially responsible party for any site by, any
Governmental Entity.
(vi) none
of the Real Property is an Environmental Clean-up Site.
(d) Sellers
have provided 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 any Acquired Company, any
Seller or any of its Affiliates (solely with respect to the Real Property or any
other real property formerly owned, operated or leased by any Acquired
Company).
3.22 Insurance.
(a) Except
for the insurances listed in Schedule 3.22(a) and
payments to the Nicaragua government workers compensation scheme (the “Policies”) no Acquired Company
maintains, or is obliged by Law or any Contracts to maintain, any insurance
policy or fidelity bond and Schedule 3.22(a)
contains a list of all pending claims and the claims history for each Acquired
Company during the current year and the preceding three years (including with
respect to insurance obtained but not currently maintained). All premiums due
under the Policies have been paid in full or, with respect to premiums not yet
due, accrued. There are no pending claims under any of such Policies as to which
coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the insurer or in respect of
which the insurer has reserved its rights. No Seller has any Knowledge of any
threatened termination of, or material premium increase with respect to, any
Policy and none of such Policies provides for retroactive premium
adjustments.
3.23 Brokers or Finders.
No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or
other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon any agreement entered into by or on behalf of any Seller or
any Acquired Company.
3.24 Bank Accounts. Schedule 3.24 sets
forth the name of each bank, safe deposit company or other financial institution
in which any Acquired Company has an account, lock box or safe deposit box and
the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon or have access
thereto.
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3.25 Powers of Attorney.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.25, there
are no outstanding powers of attorney executed by or on behalf of any Acquired
Company in favor of any Person, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or any Seller or Lough.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
represents and warrants to Sellers as follows:
4.1 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, has all
requisite power to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts any business
so as to require such qualification. Buyer is not in default under its Charter
Documents.
4.2 Authority and
Enforceability. Buyer has the requisite power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Buyer and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by Buyer, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Buyer,
enforceable against it in accordance with its 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.
4.3 No Conflicts;
Authorizations.
(a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer do not, and the performance by
Buyer of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Buyer 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, (i) violate
the provisions of any of the Charter Documents of Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries, (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, or require a consent to assignment,
under any Contract (A) to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, (B)
of which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a beneficiary or (C) by which Buyer
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets is bound, (iii)
violate or conflict with any Law, Authorization or Order applicable to Buyer or
any of its Subsidiaries, or give any Governmental Entity or other Person the
right to challenge any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement 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 Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries.
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(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
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.4 Shares. Buyer shall
use its commercial best efforts to ensure that the UG Common Stock to be
delivered to the Contractor pursuant to the Management Services Agreement and
the Plan Shares (as hereinafter defined) shall, subject at all times to the
requirements of Rule 144 promulgated under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and other securities laws applicable to the holder(s) thereof,
not be subject to a restricted or holding period lasting longer than six (6)
months after Closing and all such shares shall be fully-paid and non-assessable
shares.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
OF SELLERS
5.1 Conduct of Business Pending
the Closing. During the period from the date of this Agreement and
continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the
Closing, except in order to implement the transactions contemplated by Section
5.3 or with the prior written consent of Buyer, each Seller shall cause each
Acquired Company to:
(a) maintain
its corporate existence, pay its debts and Taxes when due, pay or perform other
obligations when due, and 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, Authorizations
and Contracts;
(b) use
its reasonable best efforts consistent with past practices and policies to
preserve intact its present business organization, keep available the services
of its present employees and preserve its relationships with customers,
suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others having business
dealings with it, to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business be
substantially unimpaired on the Closing Date;
(c) maintain
the facilities and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same state of
repair, order and conditions as they are on the date hereof, reasonable wear and
tear excepted;
(d) maintain
its books and records in accordance with past practice, and use its reasonable
best efforts to maintain in full force and effect all Authorizations and
Policies;
(e) promptly
notify Buyer of any event or occurrence not in the ordinary course of business;
and
(f) use
its reasonable best efforts to conduct its business in such a manner that on the
Closing Date the representations and warranties of each Seller contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct, as though such representations and
warranties were made on and as of such date, and each Seller shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause all of the conditions to the obligations of
Buyer under this Agreement to be satisfied as soon as practicable following the
date hereof.
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5.2 Negative Covenants.
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement including in order to implement
the transactions contemplated by Section 5.3 (in relation only to Section
5.2(b), 5.2(f), 5.2(o) and 5.2(s)), no Seller shall permit any Acquired Company
to, without the prior written consent of Buyer:
(a) adopt
or propose any amendment to the Charter Documents of any Acquired
Company;
(b) except
for Permitted Dividends, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or other property) with respect to any
Equity Security or other security;
(c) issue
or authorize for issuance any Equity Security or other security, or make any
change in any issued and outstanding Equity Security or other security, or
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any Equity Security or other
security;
(d) (i)
other than pursuant to a written agreement, (A) modify the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable by any Acquired Company to any of its
current or former directors, employees, contractors or consultants, or (B)
modify any bonus, severance, termination, pension, insurance or other payment or
arrangement made to, for or with any current or former directors, employees,
contractors or consultants of any Acquired Company, or (ii) enter into any
employment (other than offer letters and letter agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice with employees who are
terminable “at-will”), severance or termination agreement;
(e) establish,
adopt or enter into any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or any collective
bargaining, thrift, compensation or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy
or arrangement for the benefit of any current or former directors, employees,
contractors or consultants of any Acquired Company;
(f) other
than sales of inventory or minerals, in each case in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, sell, lease, transfer or assign any
property or assets of any Acquired Company;
(g) assume,
incur or guarantee any Indebtedness, except for endorsements for collection in
the ordinary course of business, or, except as permitted under Section 5.5
hereof, modify the terms of any existing Indebtedness;
(h) mortgage,
pledge or permit to become subject to Liens (other than Permitted Liens) any
properties or assets of any Acquired Company;
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(i) other
than travel loans or advances in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any Person;
(j) cancel
any debts or waive any claims or rights of substantial value;
(k) (i)
amend, modify or terminate, or waive, release or assign any rights under, any
Material Contract, (ii) enter into any Contract which, if in effect on the date
hereof, would have been required to be set forth in Schedule as a Material
Contract, or (iii) otherwise take any action or engage in any transaction that
is material to the Acquired Companies taken as a whole;
(l)
(i) make any capital
expenditure, or commit to make any capital expenditure (including any cost or
expense for geophysical items, including acquisition, processing, reprocessing
or interpretation) that in any one case exceeds $250,000 or capital expenditures
which in the aggregate exceed $250,000, or (ii) except as permitted by clause
(i), acquire any assets, properties or rights other than inventory in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(m) make
any filings or registrations, with any Governmental Entity, except routine
filings and registrations made in the ordinary course of business;
(n) be
party to (i) any merger, acquisition, consolidation, recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving any Acquired Company
or (ii) any purchase of all or any substantial portion of the assets or Equity
Securities or other securities of any Acquired Company;
(o) sell,
lease or sublease, transfer, farm out or otherwise dispose of any property
(including any Real Property or HemcoNic Properties) (except for Permitted Liens
and sales of Minerals in the ordinary course of business), or enter into any
hedging or derivative Contracts (financial, commodity or
otherwise);
(p) mortgage,
pledge or otherwise encumber any property (including any Real Property or
Mineral Interest) (except for Permitted Liens and sales of Minerals in the
ordinary course of business);
(q) engage
in any line of business in which it is not engaged as of the date
hereof;
(r) enter
into, or otherwise be a party to, any Contract relating to the voting,
registration or transfer of any Equity Security or any other security of any
Person;
(s) take
any actions outside the ordinary course of business;
(t)
make any changes in its
accounting methods, principles or practices;
(u) make
any Tax election, adopt or change its method of Tax accounting, change the
timing of payment of or accruals for Taxes, file any amended Tax Return, or
settle any claim relating to Taxes (except for Forestry Credit claims) or
surrender any right to claim a Tax refund;
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(v) 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 any Seller not to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;
or
(w) agree
or otherwise commit, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the
foregoing.
5.3 Management Restructuring
Transactions. Prior to the Closing Date, Sellers and Management agree to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to
assist and cooperate with other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper
or advisable to transfer the Restructured Legacy Businesses to Affiliates of
Sellers or third parties.
5.4 Access to
Information. Sellers shall, and shall cause each Acquired Company to,
afford to Buyer’s officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel,
consultants, advisors and agents (“Representatives”) free and
full reasonable access to and the right to inspect, during normal business
hours, all of the Real Property, properties, assets, records, Contracts and
other documents related to the Acquired Companies, 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 Acquired
Companies as Buyer shall desire to make. Seller shall furnish to Buyer all such
documents and copies of documents and records and information with respect to
each Acquired Company and copies of any working papers relating thereto as Buyer
may request. Without limiting the foregoing, Sellers shall permit Buyer and its
Representatives to conduct environmental due diligence of each Acquired Company
and the Real 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 each Acquired Company and the Real
Property.
5.5 Intercompany Liabilities;
Indebtedness; Release of Liens.
(a) On
or prior to the Closing, Sellers shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to,
settle all intercompany accounts that are unpaid as of the Closing Date between
any Acquired Company, on the one hand, and Sellers and any of their Affiliates
(other than the Acquired Companies), on the other hand; provided, however, the Vesubio
Loan may remain outstanding at the Closing.
(b) Except
as otherwise provided in Section 5.5(a), on or prior to the Closing Date,
Sellers shall extinguish (i) all Indebtedness of any Acquired Company, and (ii)
all guarantees by any Acquired Company of any Indebtedness of any Seller or any
of its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies).
(c) Prior
to the Closing Date, Sellers shall have caused to be released all Liens in and
upon any of the properties and assets of any Acquired Company.
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5.6 Confidentiality.
(a) From
and after the Closing, each Seller 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 any Acquired Company, except to the extent that such Seller
can show that such information (i) is in the public domain through no fault of
any Seller or any of its Affiliates or (ii) is lawfully acquired by such Seller
or any of its Affiliates after the Closing from sources which are not prohibited
from disclosing such information by a legal, contractual or fiduciary
obligation. If any Seller 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 Seller shall promptly notify Buyer in
writing and shall disclose only that portion of such information which such
Seller is advised by its counsel in writing is legally required to be disclosed,
provided that such Seller
shall exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain an appropriate protective
order or other reasonable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded
such information.
(b) Each
Seller will retain any of its books and records that relate to any Acquired
Company in accordance with such Seller’s record retention policies as presently
in effect. During the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the
seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, each Seller shall not dispose of or
permit the disposal of any such books and records not required to be retained
under such policies without first giving 60 days’ prior written notice to Buyer
offering to surrender the same to Buyer at Buyer’s expense.
5.7 Consents. Sellers shall, and
shall cause each Acquired Company to, obtain all Consents; provided that no Indebtedness
shall be repaid, and no Contract shall be amended nor any right thereunder be
waived, and no money or other consideration shall be expended, to obtain any
such Consent.
5.8 Notification of Certain
Matters.
(a) Each
Seller shall give prompt notice to Buyer of (i) 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 is reasonably likely to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on any Acquired Company, or that
would cause or constitute a breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements contained herein, (ii) 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 is reasonably likely to result in the
failure of any condition precedent to Buyer’s obligations, (iii) 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 transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, (iv) any notice or other communication from any Governmental
Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the other Seller Documents, or (v) any Actions commenced relating to such Seller
or any Acquired Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would
have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.18; provided however, that (A) the
delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.8(a) shall not limit or
otherwise affect any remedies available to Buyer or prevent or cure any
misrepresentations, breach of warranty or breach of covenant, and (B) disclosure
by a Seller shall not be deemed to amend or supplement any of the Schedules
relating to ARTICLE III hereof or constitute an exception to any
representation or warranty.
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(b) From
the date hereof to and including the Closing Date, Sellers will cause each
Acquired Company to (i) provide to Buyer a monthly management report in scope
and detail consistent with the management reports that have historically been
provided to such Acquired Company’s senior management and as previously
delivered to Buyer, and (ii) timely prepare, and promptly deliver to Buyer
monthly or quarterly, as relevant, financial statements, to include a detailed
cost breakout of such Acquired Company’s performance by location and department
and a monthly aging of accounts receivable, and otherwise to be in scope and
detail consistent with such financial statements that have historically been
provided to such Acquired Company’s senior management as previously delivered to
Buyer. Such financial statements shall fairly present the financial position,
assets and Liabilities of each Acquired Company as at the date thereof and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods then ended, in
accordance with the accounting policies and procedures consistent with those
historically used by each Acquired Company in the preparation of such financial
statements.
5.9 No Shorting. Each
Seller covenants and agrees that, for a period commencing on the date hereof and
terminating eighteen months after the Closing Date, such Seller and its
Affiliates will not (and will cause its Affiliates not to), directly or
indirectly, effect or agree to effect any short sale (as defined in Rule 200
under Regulation SHO of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)),
whether or not against the box, establish any “put equivalent position” (as
defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) with respect to UG Common
Stock, borrow or pre-borrow any shares of UG Common Stock, or grant any other
right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to UG
Common Stock or with respect to any security that includes, relates to or
derives any significant part of its value from UG Common Stock or otherwise seek
to hedge its position in UG Common Stock.
5.10 Vesubio Loan. Sellers
hereby grant Buyer or Universal Gold Mining Corp. or any other of Affiliates of
Buyer (the granting to such other Affiliates of Buyer only with the consent of
Sellers, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) the right to
acquire from Sellers’ Affiliate the loan to Vesubio from such Sellers’ Affiliate
in the principal amount of $2,500,000 with an interest rate of 12% per annum and
payable over a 30-month period (the “Vesubio Loan”) at a purchase
price equal to the face value plus any accrued but unpaid interest
thereon.
5.11 GAAP Financial
Statements. Sellers shall provide assistance to Buyer in the preparation
of Hemco’s audited financial statements for the past two fiscal years in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis throughout the period involved that is reasonably
calculated to permit Buyer to publicly disclose such audited financial
statements within seventy-five (75) days of the Closing Date.
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ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF BUYER AND SELLERS
6.1 Regulatory
Approvals.
(a) Each
of Buyer and Sellers shall promptly apply for, and take all reasonably necessary
actions to obtain or make, as applicable, all Authorizations, Orders,
declarations and filings with, and notices to, any Governmental Entity or other
Person required to be obtained or made by it for the consummation the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Seller Documents. 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 transaction of this Agreement and the
other Seller Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Sellers and Buyer shall, as promptly as practicable and before the expiration of
any relevant legal deadline, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days
following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, file with any
Governmental Entity any filings, reports, information and documentation required
for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to any Antitrust
Laws. Each of Sellers and Buyer shall furnish to each other’s counsel such
necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may request in
connection with its preparation of any filing or submission that may be
necessary under any Antitrust Laws. Buyer and Sellers shall be equally
responsible for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with
such filings, and for any local counsel fees.
(b) Each
of Buyer and Sellers shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain
promptly any clearance required under the any Antitrust Laws for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Buyer and Sellers
shall keep the other apprised of the status of any communications with, and any
inquiries or requests for additional information from, any Governmental Entities
and shall comply promptly with any such inquiry or request. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) Buyer shall not be required to (A) consent to the divestiture,
license or other disposition or holding separate (through the establishment of a
trust or otherwise) of any of its or its Affiliates’ (including Universal Gold
Mining Corp.) assets or any assets of any Acquired Company or (B) consent to any
other structural or conduct remedy or enter into any settlement or agree to any
Order regarding antitrust matters respecting the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and (ii) Buyer and its Affiliates (including Universal Gold
Mining Corp.) shall have no obligation to contest, administratively or in court,
any ruling, order or other action of any Governmental Entity or any other Person
respecting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that that
each of Buyer and Sellers shall both promptly respond to any request of any
Governmental Entity for additional information.
(c) Buyer
and Sellers shall instruct their respective counsel to cooperate with each other
and use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate and expedite the
identification and resolution of any issues arising under the Antitrust Laws at
the earliest practicable dates. Such commercially reasonable efforts and
cooperation include, but are not limited to, counsel’s undertaking (i) to keep
each other appropriately informed of communications from and to personnel of the
reviewing Governmental Entity, and (ii) to confer with each other regarding
appropriate contacts with and response to personnel of such Governmental
Entity.
6.2 Public Announcements.
Neither Buyer nor any Seller shall, and Sellers shall cause each Acquired
Company not to, issue any press releases or otherwise make any public statements
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the
prior written consent of the other party; provided that Buyer
or any of its Affiliates (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.), may without
such approval, (i) make such press releases, public filings or other public
announcements as it believes are required pursuant to any listing rules or any
listing agreement with any securities exchange or stock market or pursuant to
any applicable securities Laws, on the latest day permissible pursuant to such
rules, agreements or Laws, provided that Buyer
or its Affiliates shall use reasonable commercial efforts to provide a draft
copy of any such proposed disclosure to Sellers for its review and comment
sufficiently in advance of intended filing or disclosure, and (ii) provide to
potential financiers or investors, existing shareholders and other financing
sources such information regarding Sellers and the Acquired Companies as those
persons may require or request, including without limitation for the purposes of
Section 7.2(g) hereof; 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.
32
6.3 Tax
Matters.
(a) Preparation and Filing of
Pre-Closing and Post-Closing Period Tax Returns.
(i) Buyer’s
Responsibilities. Buyer shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and file,
or cause to be filed, all Tax Returns of each Acquired Company for all periods
ending on or prior to the Closing Date which are filed after the Closing Date
and all Tax Returns of each Acquired Company for Tax periods which begin before
the Closing Date and end after the Closing Date. Buyer shall permit Sellers to
review and comment on each such Tax Return described in the preceding sentence
prior to filing.
(ii) Sellers’
Responsibilities. Sellers will be responsible for filing all Tax Returns
for periods beginning and ending prior to the Closing Date if such Tax Returns
are required to be filed on or prior to the Closing Date. Sellers and the
Acquired Companies will not take any position on such Tax Returns that relate to
any Acquired Company that would adversely affect any Acquired Company after the
Closing Date.
(b) Cooperation in Filing Tax
Returns. Buyer and Sellers shall, and shall each cause its Subsidiaries
and Affiliates (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.) to, provide to the other
such cooperation and information, as and to the extent reasonably requested, in
connection with the filing of any Tax Return, amended Tax Return or claim for
refund, determining liability for Taxes or a right to refund of Taxes, or in
conducting any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes
(including claims for Forestry Credits). Such cooperation and information shall
include providing copies of all relevant portions of relevant Tax Returns,
together with relevant accompanying schedules and relevant work papers, relevant
documents relating to rulings and other determinations by Taxing Authorities,
and relevant records concerning the ownership and Tax basis of property, which
any such party may possess. Each party will retain all Tax Returns, schedules,
work papers, and all material records and other documents relating to Tax
matters, of each Acquired Company for the Tax period first ending after the
Closing Date and for all prior Tax periods until the later of either (i) the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (and, to the extent notice
is provided with respect thereto, any extensions thereof) for the Tax periods to
which the Tax Returns and other documents relate or (ii) eight years following
the due date (without extension) for such Tax Returns. Thereafter, the party
holding such Tax Returns or other documents may dispose of them provided that such party shall
give to the other party notice under Section 10.3 prior to doing so. Each party
shall make its employees reasonably available on a mutually convenient basis at
its cost to provide explanation of any documents or information so
provided.
33
(c) Tax Benefits of Excluded
HemcoNic Assets. Buyer and Sellers shall, and shall each cause its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.) to, use
their best efforts to ensure that (i) any tax benefit associated with the
Excluded HemcoNic Assets (including without limitation the Forestry Credits)
shall accrue to the benefit of HemcoNic in respect of the year ending December
31, 2010; and (ii) the Forestry Note shall be assigned by HemcoNic (at no cost
to any Acquired Company) for no consideration to Sellers or as they may direct
on or subsequent to January 1, 2011.
(d) Section
338. At Buyer’s election, Buyer may make an election under Section 338(g) of the
Code (and corresponding elections under state, local or foreign Law) with
respect to any Acquired Company chosen by Buyer (each, a “Section 338
Election”).
6.4 Additional
Agreements. Sellers and Buyer shall prepare and negotiate in good faith
the following agreements for execution and delivery in connection with the
Closing, in each case in form and substance to be mutually and reasonably
acceptable to Sellers and Buyer:
(a) a
Cooperation Agreement relating to the sale of certain Excluded HemcoNic Assets
and ongoing cooperation following the Closing Date (the “Cooperation
Agreement”);
(b) a
Transition Services Agreement relating to the provision of certain use of office
space and information technology and other administrative support services
following the Closing Date (the “Transition Services
Agreement”);
(c) a
Seller’s Release containing releases by Sellers of certain claims against the
Acquired Companies following the Closing (the “Seller Release”);
and
(d) a
Management Services Agreement relating to the provision for 18 months following
the Closing Date of certain management services by Xxxxx, Xxxxxx and Xxxx to
Hemco or other Affiliate (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.) of Buyer, which
agreement shall provide for an aggregate monthly fee of $50,000 per month plus
the delivery of 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Universal Gold Mining Corp.
(the “UG Common Stock”)
for such services, in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex B (the “Management Services
Agreement”). In the event that the aggregate value of such 1,000,000
shares of UG Common Stock, based on the price at which each share of UG Common
Stock is issued under the financing contemplated by Section 7.2(g) hereof, is
less than $400,000, then such number of additional shares shall be delivered to
Sellers so that the product of the total number of shares so delivered and such
price at which each share of UG Common Stock is issued is at least
$400,000.
6.5 Further Assurances.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Sellers and Buyer shall execute such
documents and other instruments and take such further actions as may be
reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
34
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of
Buyer and Sellers. The obligations of Buyer and Sellers 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) No
temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other Order
preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the other Seller Documents shall be in effect.
(b) No
Law shall have been enacted or shall be deemed applicable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Seller Documents which makes the
consummation of such transactions illegal.
7.2 Conditions to Obligation of
Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to consummate the Acquisition is subject
to the satisfaction (or waiver by Buyer in its sole discretion) of the following
further conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of each Seller 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, and Buyer shall have received a
certificate dated the Closing Date signed by each Seller to such
effect.
(b) Each
Seller shall have performed or complied with all obligations and covenants
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied by such Seller with at or
prior to the Closing Date, including without limitation the obligations and
covenants set forth in Sections 5.3 and 5.5. Buyer shall have received a
certificate dated the Closing Date signed by each Seller to such
effect.
(c) There
shall have been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, prospects or results of operations of the Acquired
Companies taken as a whole.
(d) No
Action shall be pending or threatened before any court or other Governmental
Entity (i) seeking to prevent consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) seeking to impose any material limitation
on the right of Buyer or its Affiliates (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.)
to own the Management Shares and to control the Acquired Companies or (iii)
seeking to restrain or prohibit Buyer’s ownership or operation (or that of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.)) of all or
any material portion of the business or assets of the Acquired Companies, taken
as a whole, or compel Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including
Universal Gold Mining Corp.) to dispose of or hold separate all or any material
portion of the business or assets of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole,
or of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. No such Order shall be in
effect.
35
(e) No
Law shall have been enacted or shall be deemed applicable to the Acquisition
which has any of the effects set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) in Section
7.2(d).
(f) Sellers
shall have obtained the Consent of each Person whose Consent is required under
the Contracts set forth in Schedule 3.6(a) and
shall have provided evidence of each such Consent in form and substance
satisfactory to Buyer.
(g) Buyer
shall have obtained financing sufficient to fund the Purchase Price for the
acquisition of the Management Shares contemplated hereunder.
7.3 Conditions to Obligation of
Sellers. The obligation of Sellers to consummate the Acquisition is
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Sellers holding a majority of the
Management Shares) 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, and Seller shall have received a
certificate dated the Closing Date signed on behalf of Buyer by the sole
stockholder of Buyer to such effect.
(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 Date, and Sellers shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Buyer by the sole stockholder of Buyer to such effect.
(c) 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 or (ii)
cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded
following consummation. No such Order shall be in effect.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
8.1 Termination.
(a) This
Agreement may be terminated and the Acquisition abandoned at any time prior to
the Closing:
|
(i)
|
by
mutual written consent of Buyer and
Sellers;
|
|
(ii)
|
by
Buyer or Sellers if:
|
|
(A)
|
the
Closing does not occur on or before December 31, 2010;
or
|
36
|
(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 Acquisition, which Order or other action is
final and non-appealable;
|
|
(iii)
|
by
Buyer if:
|
|
(A)
|
the
condition at Section 7.2(g) hereof shall not have been
fulfilled;
|
|
(B)
|
any
other condition to the obligations of Buyer hereunder becomes incapable of
fulfillment other than as a result of a material breach by Buyer of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, and such condition is
not waived by Buyer; or
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|
(C)
|
there
has been a material breach by any Seller of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any Schedule hereto,
or if any representation or warranty of any Seller shall have become
untrue in any material respect, in either case such that the conditions
set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied and,
in either case, such breach is not curable, or, if curable, is not cured
within ten days after written notice of such breach is given to Sellers by
Buyer;
|
|
(iv)
|
by
Sellers if:
|
|
(A)
|
any
condition to the obligations of Sellers hereunder becomes incapable of
fulfillment other than as a result of a material breach by Sellers of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, and such condition is
not waived by Sellers; or
|
|
(B)
|
there
has been a material breach by Buyer of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, or if any material
representation or warranty of Buyer shall have become untrue, in either
case such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) or Section
7.3(b) would not be satisfied and, in either case, such breach is not
curable, or, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice
of such breach is given to Buyer by
Sellers.
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(b) The
party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(ii),
8.1(a)(iii) or 8.1(a)(iv) shall give written notice of such termination to the
other parties hereto.
8.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in
Section 8.1, this Agreement shall immediately become null and void and there
shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Buyer or Sellers or their
respective officers, directors, stockholders or Affiliates (including Universal
Gold Mining Corp.), except as set forth in Section 8.3; provided that the provisions
of Section 6.2 (Public Announcements) and Section 8.3 (Remedies)
and ARTICLE X of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
survive any termination of this Agreement.
37
8.3 Remedies. Any
party terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 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 Buyer
shall not be entitled to recover damages pursuant to this Section 8.3 in the
event that it has not fulfilled the condition set forth in Section 7.2(g),
unless such non-fulfillment is due to, arises out of or is in connection with
any breach, non-fulfillment or delay by any of Sellers of any of their
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement
or any of their fraud or willful misrepresentation; provided further, 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
8.1.
8.4 Exclusivity. In
consideration of the time, effort and expense incurred to date and anticipated
to be incurred by Buyer and its Representatives in connection with its
consideration of the Acquisition, until December 31, 2010, each Seller and Lough
shall not, and shall cause their Representatives (including, without limitation,
the financial and other advisors that Sellers or its Affiliates has engaged or
may engage in connection with its consideration of strategic alternatives with
respect to the Acquired Companies) not to, directly or indirectly, other than in
relation to Buyer and its Representatives: (i) initiate, solicit, facilitate,
propose, continue, undertake, knowingly encourage any inquiries, proposals,
negotiations, discussions or offers with respect to any Prohibited Transaction
(as defined below); (ii) provide any information or provide any due diligence
(e.g., electronic data room) access to any person to facilitate a possible
Prohibited Transaction; (iii) enter into or consummate any agreement or
understanding providing for any Prohibited Transaction; or (iv) assist,
participate in, facilitate or knowingly encourage any effort or attempt by any
Affiliates to do or seek any of the foregoing. “Prohibited Transaction” means
any transfer, disposal or creation, directly or indirectly, of any interest in
the stock or (other than in the ordinary course of business) assets of any
Acquired Company, including, without limitation, the transfer of any interest in
the HemcoNic Property.
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Survival.
(a) Except
as set forth in Section 9.1(b), all representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement, or in any Schedule, certificate or other document delivered
pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the Closing for a period of 18
months.
(b) The
representations and warranties of Sellers contained in Section 3.1(Ownership and
Good Standing of the Belizean Companies), 3.2 (Ownership and Good Standing of
the Nicaraguan Companies), 3.5 (Authority and Enforceability), 3.9 (Taxes) and
the representations and warranties of Buyer contained in Sections 4.1
(Organization and Good Standing), 4.2 (Authority and Enforceability) and 4.3 (No
Conflicts; Authorizations) 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).
38
(c) The
covenants and agreements which by their terms do not contemplate performance
after the Closing Date shall survive the Closing for a period of 18 months. The
covenants and agreements which by their terms contemplate performance after the
Closing Date shall survive the Closing in accordance with their terms until 60
days following the expiration of any applicable statute of
limitations.
(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 a Notice of Claim for indemnification under Section 9.2 or 9.3 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.
9.2 Indemnification
by Sellers.
(a) Each
Seller hereby agrees to severally indemnify and defend Buyer and its Affiliates,
including Universal Gold Mining Corp. (including, following the Closing, the
Acquired Companies and their Subsidiaries) and their respective stockholders,
members, managers, officers, directors, employees, agents, Affiliates,
successors and assigns (collectively, the “Buyer Indemnitees”) against,
and shall hold them harmless from and against, any and all losses (other than
loss of profits and consequential 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 9.2) (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
Seller contained in this Agreement or any other Seller Document, to be
true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or as of
the Closing Date;
|
|
(ii)
|
any
breach of any covenant, obligation or other agreement of any Seller
contained in this Agreement, any Schedule hereto, or any other Seller
Document;
|
|
(iii)
|
any
matters in respect of any business or assets or liabilities of Sellers or
any of their Affiliates not relating to the HemcoNic
Property;
|
|
(iv)
|
any
matters in respect of the Restructured Legacy Businesses or the Excluded
HemcoNic Assets;
|
39
|
(v)
|
the
matter set forth on Schedule
9.2(a)(v), in excess of
$100,000;
|
|
(vi)
|
any
fees, expenses or other payments incurred or owed by any Seller, any
Acquired Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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
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|
(vii)
|
all
other items provided in this Agreement to be at the cost, expense or
liability of any Seller.
|
provided that, this Section
9.2 shall not apply with respect to any Loss relating to Taxes to the extent
that indemnification payments for such Loss have been made pursuant to Section
9.9. Any and all Losses hereunder shall bear interest from the date incurred
until paid at the rate of 4.0% per annum.
(b) Other
than with respect to any Loss related to the Restructured Legacy Businesses, or
the Excluded HemcoNic Assets, which shall be unlimited, Sellers shall not be
liable for any Loss or Losses pursuant to Section 9.2(a)(i) (“Buyer Warranty Losses”) (i)
unless and until the aggregate amount of all Buyer Warranty Losses incurred by
the Buyer Indemnitees exceeds $500,000, in which event Sellers shall be liable
for all Buyer Warranty Losses from the first dollar, and (ii) to the extent that
Buyer Warranty Losses exceed $500,000 in the aggregate; provided that nothing
contained in this Section 9.2(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.
(c) The
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement reflect the contractual
agreement of Buyer and Sellers regarding risk allocation with respect to Losses
and other matters. By agreeing to these provisions, neither of any
Seller nor any Acquired Company is acknowledging any wrongdoing or liability
with respect to any matter, and these provisions shall not act as a waiver or
otherwise limit any defenses that may be available to Sellers or any Acquired
Company with respect to any Third Party Claims.
9.3 Indemnification
by Buyer.
(a) Buyer
shall indemnify and defend Sellers and their respective Affiliates and their
respective stockholders, members, managers, officers, directors, employees,
agents, administrators, personal representatives, 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 or any certificate or other document furnished
or to be furnished to Seller in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, to be true and correct in all respects as
of the date of this Agreement or as of the Closing Date;
|
40
|
(ii)
|
any
breach of any covenant or agreement of Buyer contained in this Agreement
or any other document furnished or to be furnished to Sellers in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
|
|
(iii)
|
any
Tax imposed on a Seller as a result of Buyer making a Section 338
Election, except to the extent that such tax would not have been imposed
but for the breach or inaccuracy of any representation in Section 3.9(m);
and
|
|
(iv)
|
all
other items provided in this Agreement to be at the cost, expense or
liability of Buyer.
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(b) Buyer
shall not be liable for any Loss or Losses pursuant to Section 9.3(a)(i) (“Seller Warranty Losses”) (i)
unless and until the aggregate amount of all Seller Warranty Losses incurred by
the Seller Indemnitees exceeds $500,000, 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 $500,000 in the aggregate.
(c) The
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement reflect the contractual
agreement of Buyer and Sellers regarding risk allocation with respect to Losses
and other matters. By agreeing to these provisions, neither Buyer nor
any of its Subsidiaries is acknowledging any wrongdoing or liability with
respect to any matter, and these provisions shall not act as a waiver or
otherwise limit any defenses that may be available to Buyer or its Subsidiaries
with respect to any Third Party Claims.
9.4 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 IX other than Section 9.9
(“Third Party Claim”),
the Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Indemnitor in writing (“Notice of Claim”) of such
Third Party 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 or prejudice 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 9.4, 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 (reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee) 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, (B) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in
writing by the Indemnitor, or (C) 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.
41
(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)
|
the
Third Party Claim involves a material customer or supplier of any Acquired
Company;
|
|
(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;
|
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(vi)
|
the
Indemnitor has 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
IX.
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(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.
42
(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 terms and conditions of this
Agreement). The Indemnitor will not consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement except with the written consent of the Indemnitee (not
to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); 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 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
(subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement).
(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 9.4 or (ii) the Indemnitor
is not entitled to assume the Third Party Defense pursuant to this Section 9.4,
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 10.9 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 IX 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.
43
(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.
9.5 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.
9.6 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 Indemnitee has reasonable grounds to believe that such a
claim may be made.
9.7 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 Sellers 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.
9.8 Effect of
Investigation; Waiver.
(a) 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,
including but not limited to Buyer’s notification to Management with respect to
Buyer’s satisfaction of any due diligence investigation pursuant to the Letter
of Intent, dated September 29, 2010. 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.
44
(b) Each
Seller acknowledges and agrees that, upon and following the Closing, no Acquired
Company shall have any liability or obligation to indemnify, save or hold
harmless or otherwise pay, reimburse or make any Seller whole for or on account
of any indemnification or other claims made by any Buyer Indemnitee
hereunder. No Seller shall have any right of contribution against any
Acquired Company with respect to any such indemnification or other
claim.
9.9 Tax
Indemnification.
(a) From
and after the Closing Date, Sellers shall be responsible for, shall pay or cause
to be paid, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Tax Indemnitee
against, and reimburse such Tax Indemnitee for, on a Grossed-Up Basis, any
Losses resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused
by:
|
(i)
|
any
Tax arising directly or indirectly from a breach or inaccuracy of a
representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.9, 3.14(n)
and 3.16(r); and
|
|
(ii)
|
any
Tax imposed on or relating to any company or asset that is included in the
Restructured Legacy Businesses or the Excluded HemcoNic
Assets.
|
(b) Except
as otherwise provided in Section 9.10, payment in full of any amount due under
Section 9.9(a) shall be made to the Tax Indemnitee in immediately available
funds at least five Business Days before the date for payment of the Taxes to
which such payment relates is due.
9.10 Procedures
Relating to Indemnification of Tax Claims.
(a) If
any Taxing Authority or other Person asserts a Tax Claim, then the party hereto
first receiving notice of such Tax Claim promptly shall provide written notice
of such Tax Claim to the other parties hereto; provided that that the failure
of Buyer to give such prompt notice to Seller of any such Tax Claim shall not
relieve Seller of any of its obligations under this Section
9.10. Such notice shall specify in reasonable detail the basis for
such Tax Claim and shall include a copy of any relevant correspondence received
from the Taxing Authority or other Person.
(b) Sellers
shall have the right to defend or prosecute, at its sole cost, expense and risk,
only those Tax Claims with respect to Taxes set forth in Section
9.9(a). In order to defend or prosecute any such Tax Claim, each
Seller shall notify Buyer that it elects to defend or prosecute such Tax Claim
(“Election Notice”)
within 30 days after (i) the date on which such Seller received notice of any
such Tax Claim from Buyer (with respect to Tax Claims as to which Buyer first
received notice from a Taxing Authority or any other Person), or (ii) the date
on which such Seller delivered to Buyer notice of any such Tax Claim (with
respect to Tax Claims as to which such Seller first received notice from a
Taxing Authority or any other Person). With respect to any Tax Claim as to which
any Seller has provided an Election Notice to Buyer, such Seller shall defend or
prosecute such Tax Claim by all appropriate proceedings, which proceedings shall
be defended or prosecuted diligently by such Seller to a Final Determination;
provided that such Seller
shall not, without the prior written consent of Buyer, enter into any compromise
or settlement of such Tax Claim that would result in any Tax detriment to any
Tax Indemnitee. Each Seller shall inform Buyer of all developments and events
relating to such Tax Claim (including providing to Buyer copies of all written
materials relating to such Tax Claim), and Buyer or its authorized
representatives shall be entitled, at the expense of Buyer, to attend, but not
participate in or control, all conferences, meetings and proceedings relating to
such Tax Claim.
45
(c) If,
with respect to any Tax Claim, any Seller fails to deliver an Election Notice to
Buyer within the period provided in Section 9.10(b) or fails diligently to
defend or prosecute such Tax Claim to a Final Determination, then Buyer shall at
any time thereafter have the right (but not the obligation) to defend or
prosecute such Tax Claim, at the sole cost, expense and risk of such Seller.
Buyer shall have full control of such defense or prosecution and such
proceedings, including any settlement or compromise thereof. Each Seller shall
cooperate in good faith with Buyer and its authorized representatives in order
to contest effectively such Tax Claim. Each Seller may attend, but not
participate in or control, any defense, prosecution, settlement, or compromise
of any Tax Claim controlled by Buyer pursuant to this Section 9.10(c), and shall
bear its own costs and expenses with respect thereto. In the case of any Tax
Claim that is defended or prosecuted by Buyer pursuant to this Section 9.10(c),
Buyer shall be entitled upon demand to prompt payment from Sellers for any and
all costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with such defense or
prosecution (including attorneys’, accountants’, and experts’ fees and
disbursements, settlement costs, court costs, and any other costs or expenses
for investigating, defending or prosecuting such Tax Claim), in each case on a
Grossed-Up Basis.
9.11 Other
Rights and Remedies Not Affected. The indemnification rights
of the parties under this ARTICLE IX 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.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Definitions. When
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to
them in this Section 10.1, or in the applicable Section of this Agreement to
which reference is made in this Section 10.1.
“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.
“Antitrust Laws” means the
antitrust and competition Laws of all applicable jurisdictions.
46
“Authorization” means any
authorization, approval, consent, certificate, license, permit or franchise of
or from any Governmental Entity or pursuant to any Law.
“Benefit Plan” means any
health, retirement, pension or fringe benefit plan or program, or stock
purchase, stock option, severance pay, employment, change-in-control, vacation
pay, company awards, salary continuation, sick leave, excess benefit, bonus or
other incentive compensation, life insurance, or other employee benefit plan,
contract, program, policy or other arrangement.
“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.
“Buyer Company” means Buyer,
and each of Buyer’s domestic and foreign Subsidiaries, and “Buyer Companies” means,
collectively, Buyer and all such Subsidiaries.
“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 equity or other
interest that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits
and losses, or distribution of assets, of the issuing entity.
“Charter Documents” means, with
respect to any entity, the certificate of incorporation, the articles of
incorporation, by-laws, 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, as amended.
“Contract” means any agreement,
contract, license, lease, commitment, arrangement or understanding, written or
oral, including any sales order or purchase order.
“Equity Securities” means (a)
shares of Capital Stock, and (b) options, warrants, purchase rights,
subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights or other Contracts that,
directly or indirectly, could require the issuer thereof to issue, sell or
otherwise cause to become outstanding shares of Capital Stock.
“Final Determination” means (a)
a decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent
jurisdiction, which decision, judgment, decree or other order has become final
after all allowable appeals by either party to the action have been exhausted or
the time for filing such appeals has expired and is not subject to further
review or modification, (b) any settlement or other agreement entered into in
connection with an administrative or judicial proceeding, or (c) the expiration
of the time for instituting suit with respect to a claimed
deficiency.
“Governmental Entity” means any
entity or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to 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 non-governmental regulatory body to the extent that the rules and
regulations or orders of such body have the force of Law.
47
“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 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.
“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 a Person or any
similar phrase means, with respect to any fact or matter, the actual knowledge
of the directors and executive officers of the Person or its Subsidiaries,
together with such knowledge that such directors or executive officers could be
expected to discover after due investigation concerning the existence of the
fact or matter in question. Knowledge of Sellers means the Knowledge
of any individual Seller.
“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.
“Lien” means, with respect to
any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest,
option, adverse claim or other encumbrance or third party right in respect of
such property or asset.
“Material Adverse Effect” on a
Person means a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, prospects or results of operations of that Person and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Mines” means excavations in
the soil and sub-soil from which ores or other Minerals are removed, excluding
any such removal for exploration works or evaluation purposes.
“Mining Concession” mean any
mining exploration concession, claim, lease, permit or other right to explore
for, exploit, develop, mine or produce minerals or any interest therein which a
Person owns or has a right or option to acquire or use.
“Mineral Leases” means.
agreements between a property owner and another party who is allowed to explore
for and extract minerals that are found on the Mining Concessions for a stated
time in exchange for periodic payments to the landowner.
48
“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.
“Permitted Liens” means (a)
Liens for current real or personal property taxes not yet due and payable and
with respect to which any Acquired Company maintains adequate reserves, (b)
workers’, carriers’ and mechanics’ or other like liens incurred in the ordinary
course of business with respect to which payment is not due and that do not
impair the conduct of the businesses of any Acquired Company or the present or
proposed use of the affected property and (c) Liens that are immaterial in
character, amount, and extent and which do not detract from the value or
interfere with the present or proposed use of the properties they
affect.
“Person” means an individual, a
corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an
unincorporated association, a Governmental Entity or any agency, instrumentality
or political subdivision of a Governmental Entity, or any other entity or
body.
“Pre-Closing Environmental
Liabilities” means Liabilities based upon or arising out of (a) the
ownership or operation of the businesses of any Acquired Company at any time on
or prior to the Closing, or (b) the ownership, operation or condition of the
Real Property or any other real property currently or formerly owned, operated
or leased by any Acquired Company 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) the
presence or Release of any Hazardous Substance at, on or under any Real Property
or any other real property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by
any of the Acquired Companies at any time on or prior to the Closing or (iv) the
use, generation, storage, transportation, treatment, sale or other off-site
disposal of Hazardous Substances generated by or otherwise used in the
businesses of any Acquired Company.
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with
respect to any party, any Person, of which (a) 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 (b) 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.
49
“Tax Claim” means any written
claim with respect to Taxes made by any Taxing Authority or other Person that,
if pursued successfully, could serve as the basis for a claim for
indemnification of a Tax Indemnitee or Sellers under this
Agreement.
“Tax Indemnitee” means Buyer
and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and its successors and assigns (including,
following the Closing, the Acquired Companies).
“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, unless another unit is indicated by a preceding letter.
10.2 Other
Defined Terms. The following terms have the meanings assigned
to such terms in the Sections of the Agreement set forth below:
3.7
|
|
Acquired
Balance Sheet
|
3.7
|
Acquired
Balance Sheet Date
|
3.7
|
Acquired
Companies
|
3.2(a)
|
Acquired
Company Benefit Plans
|
3.19(a)
|
Acquired
Financial Statements
|
3.7
|
Acquired
Interim Balance Sheet
|
3.7
|
Acquired
Interim Financial Statements
|
3.7
|
Acquired
Subsidiary Shares
|
3.4(b)
|
Action
|
3.18(a)
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
Applicable
Survival Period
|
9.1(d)
|
Belizean
Companies
|
3.1(a)
|
Buyer
|
Preamble
|
Buyer
Indemnitees
|
9.2(a)
|
Buyer
Warranty Losses
|
9.2(b)
|
Closing
|
2.3
|
Closing
Date
|
2.3
|
Consents
|
3.6(a)
|
Cooperation
Agreement
|
6.5(a)
|
Copyrights
|
3.15(a)
|
Election
Notice
|
9.10(b)
|
Environment
|
3.21(a)(i)
|
Environmental
Action
|
3.21(a)(ii)
|
Environmental
Clean-up Site
|
3.21(a)(iii)
|
Environmental
Laws
|
3.21(a)(iv)
|
Environmental
Permits
|
3.21(a)(v)
|
Exchange
Act
|
5.9
|
50
Excluded
HemcoNic Assets
|
3.8(b)
|
Forestry
Credits
|
3.9(b)
|
Forestry
Note
|
2.4(i)
|
Hazardous
Substances
|
3.21(a)(vi)
|
Hemco
|
Recitals
|
Hemco
Shares
|
3.3(e)
|
HemcoNic
|
Recitals
|
HemcoNic
Interests
|
Recitals
|
HemcoNic
Properties
|
3.14(a)
|
HemcoNic
Shares
|
3.4(b)
|
IFRS
|
3.7
|
Intellectual
Property
|
3.15(a)
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
3.15(a)
|
Leased
Personal Property
|
3.12(b)
|
Leased
Real Property
|
3.13(a)
|
Liabilities
|
3.8(a)
|
Losses
|
9.2(a)
|
Lough
|
Preamble
|
Management
|
Recitals
|
Management
Shares
|
Recitals
|
Management
Services Agreement
|
6.4(d)
|
Marks
|
3.15(a)
|
Xxxxxx
|
Preamble
|
Material
Contracts
|
3.17(b)
|
Matuzulen
|
Recitals
|
Nicaraguan
Companies
|
3.2(a)
|
Nicaragua
GAAP
|
3.7
|
Notice
of Claim
|
9.4(a)
|
Owned
Personal Property
|
3.12(a)
|
Owned
Real Property
|
3.13(a)
|
Permitted
Dividends
|
3.16(c)
|
Personal
Properties
|
3.12(a)
|
Plan
Shares
|
2.5(b)
|
Policies
|
3.22(a)
|
Prohibited
Transaction
|
8.4
|
Proprietary
Information
|
3.15(a)
|
Purchase
Price
|
2.1
|
Purchase
Price Balance
|
2.2
|
Real
Property
|
3.13(a)
|
Release
|
3.21(a)(vii)
|
Report
|
3.17(f)
|
Representatives
|
5.4
|
Restructured
Legacy Businesses
|
3.8(a)
|
Xxxx
|
Preamble
|
Section
338 Election
|
3.6(d)
|
Seller
Documents
|
3.5
|
51
Seller
Indemnitees
|
9.3(a)
|
Seller
Release
|
6.4(c)
|
Seller
Warranty Losses
|
9.3(b)
|
Sellers
|
Preamble
|
Third
Party Claim
|
9.4(a)
|
Third
Party Defense
|
9.4(b)
|
Transition
Services Agreement
|
6.4(b)
|
TWL
|
Preamble
|
UG
Common Stock
|
6.4(d)
|
Vesubio
|
Recitals
|
Vesubio
Loan
|
5.10
|
10.3 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:
If
to Buyer, to:
|
With
a required copy to:
|
Universal
Gold Mining Corp.
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx (New York) LLP
|
x/x
Xxxxxx
|
0000
Xxxxxx of the Americas, 00xx Xxxxx
|
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
Xxx
Xxxx, New York 10022 USA
|
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000 XXX
|
Attention: Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
Facsimile: x0-000-000-0000
|
Telephone: x0-000-000-0000
|
Telephone: x0-000-000-0000
|
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
|
Email: xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
|
If
to any Seller, to:
|
With
a required copy to:
|
Optica
Nicaraguense 0
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, XXX
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
Xxxxx
0000, 67 Yonge Street
|
Managua,
Nicaragua
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0 Xxxxxx
|
Attn: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
Attn: Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
|
Email:
xxxxxx@xxxxx.xx
|
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
|
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.
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10.4 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.
(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.
10.5 Expenses. Each
party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all legal,
accounting, financial advisory, consulting and all other fees and expenses of
third parties, whether or not the Acquisition is consummated.
10.6 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, in whole or in part or from time to time,
to Universal Gold Mining Corp. or one or more of the Affiliates of Universal
Gold Mining Corp., any Acquired Companies or any of their assets, including all
or a portion of the Management Shares and Acquired Subsidiary Shares, or any of
Buyer’s rights hereunder, 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 successors and
assigns.
10.7 Guaranty. In
recognition of the benefits flowing to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx (“Xxxxx”) from the consummation
of the transactions consummated under this Agreement, Lough hereby
unconditionally and absolutely guarantees the due and punctual payment and
performance by TWL of all of TWL’s obligations (financial or otherwise) to Buyer
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Lough agrees that Buyer need
not pursue any remedy against TWL for breach of this Agreement prior to
proceeding directly against Lough under this Agreement . The
obligations of Lough under this Section 10.7 are absolute and
unconditional. This Section 10.7 is a guaranty of payment, and not
merely a guaranty of collection. Lough hereby represents and warrants
to Buyer that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the fulfillment
by Lough of his obligations hereunder do not and will not conflict with or
constitute a violation of any Law or conflict with, result in a breach or
acceleration of, or require notice to or the consent of any third party under
any contract, agreement or other obligation to which Lough is a party or by
which he is bound or his assets are affected.
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10.8 Governing
Law. This Agreement and the Exhibits 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.
10.9 Consent to
Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of any New York State court or the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York sitting, in either case, in the New York
County (the Borough of Manhattan) and any appellate court thereof for the
purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated by this Agreement or for the recognition or enforcement
of any judgment, and each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees
that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in
such Federal court. Each of Sellers and Buyer agrees that a final
judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment in any other manner
provided by law. 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 or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to
jurisdiction in this Section 10.9. Each party irrevocably and unconditionally
waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any
New York State court or 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 or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum, and further waives any immunity from
jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process with respect to itself
or its property. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE)
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF SUCH PARTY IN THE
NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
10.10 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in 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
parties hereto. The parties agree that the delivery of this Agreement may be
effected by means of an exchange of facsimile signatures with original copies to
follow by mail or courier service.
10.11 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 IX 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.
54
10.12 Entire
Agreement; Flip
Sale.
(a) This
Agreement and the documents, instruments and other agreements specifically
referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto set forth the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions
contemplated herein. All Schedules referred to herein are intended to be and
hereby are specifically made a part of this Agreement. The Letter of Intent,
dated September 29, 2010, is hereby deemed terminated and such Letter of Intent
and any and all other previous agreements and understandings between or among
the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are
superseded by this Agreement.
(b) In
the event that Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer (including Universal Gold Mining
Corp.) sells or agrees to sell any Acquired Company or any of material assets of
the Acquired Companies outside of the ordinary course of business within 12
months of the Closing Date, then Buyer shall pay to Sellers 50% of Buyer’s
after-tax profits realized on such sale; provided that any sale of the
Excluded HemcoNic Assets or any permitted transfer or assignment under this
Agreement to an Affiliate of Buyer (including Universal Gold Mining Corp.)
pursuant to Section 10.6 shall not constitute a flip sale for purposes of this
Section 10.12.
10.13 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.
10.14 Severability. 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.
10.15 Specific
Performance. Each Buyer and Sellers agrees 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.
10.16 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
words “include,” “includes,” and “including,” when used in this Agreement, shall
be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” unless otherwise
specified.
55
(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. Any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise requiring this
Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any party by virtue of the
authorship of this Agreement shall not apply to the construction and
interpretation hereof.
(h) All
accounting terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings
given to them under IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be.
10.17 Limitations
on Liability. Each of Buyer and Sellers acknowledges and agrees that (i)
any and all representations and warranties of a Seller herein as it relates to
the facts and circumstances personal to another Seller is to the best of its
knowledge without any investigation or enquiry; (ii) any and all representations
and warranties of a Seller herein as it relates to the facts and circumstances
personal to a Seller is several and not joint and several; and (iii) any
liability for breaches of the representations and warranties made by Sellers in
ARTICLE III hereof or by Buyer in ARTICLE IV hereof shall be limited to the
Purchase Price received by it in the case of a breach or breaches by each Seller
and the Purchase Price paid in the case of a breach or breaches by
Buyer.
[Signature
page follows immediately]
56
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Share Purchase Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
BUYER:
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N.C.G.A.
PROJECT ACQUISITION CORP.
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By: Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP, in Trust, as Sole Shareholder
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
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Title:
Partner
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SELLERS:
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TWL
INVESTMENTS LTD.
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By:
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/s Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Title:
Director
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
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/s Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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