1
EXHIBIT 99.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
COHO ENERGY, INC.
AND
HM 4 COHO, L.P.
COMMON STOCK
(PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE)
AUGUST 21, 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.....................................................................................1
Section 1.2 References and Titles...........................................................................7
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK
Section 2.1 Purchase of Shares..............................................................................7
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company...................................................8
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of Purchaser....................................................30
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Furnishing of Information......................................................................32
Section 4.2 Shareholder Approval; Proxy Statement..........................................................32
Section 4.3 Nasdaq Listing.................................................................................32
Section 4.4 Affirmative Covenants of the Company...........................................................32
Section 4.5 Negative Covenants of the Company..............................................................33
Section 4.6 Approvals......................................................................................35
Section 4.7 Shareholder Agreement, Financial Advisory Agreement and Monitoring Agreement...................35
Section 4.8 HSR Act Notification...........................................................................35
Section 4.9 Indemnification of Directors; Insurance........................................................36
Section 4.10 Notification of Certain Matters................................................................37
Section 4.11 Board of Directors.............................................................................37
-i-
3
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
Section 5.1 Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation................................................37
Section 5.2 Conditions Precedent to Obligation of Purchaser at the First Closing...........................38
Section 5.3 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Company at the First Closing............................39
Section 5.4 Conditions Precedent to Obligation of Purchaser at the Second Closing..........................39
Section 5.5 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Company at the Second Closing...........................40
ARTICLE VI
CLOSINGS
Section 6.1 Closings.......................................................................................41
Section 6.2 Actions to Occur at the First Closing..........................................................41
Section 6.3 Actions to Occur at the Second Closing.........................................................42
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination....................................................................................43
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination..........................................................................44
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Indemnification of Purchaser............................................................................44
8.2 Indemnification of Company..............................................................................44
8.3 Defense of Third-Party Claims...........................................................................44
8.4 Direct Claims...........................................................................................45
8.5 Tax Related Adjustments.................................................................................46
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Survival of Provisions.........................................................................46
Section 9.2 No Waiver; Modification in Writing.............................................................46
Section 9.3 Specific Performance...........................................................................47
Section 9.4 Severability...................................................................................47
Section 9.5 Fees and Expenses..............................................................................47
Section 9.6 Parties in Interest............................................................................48
Section 9.7 Notices........................................................................................48
Section 9.8 Counterparts...................................................................................49
Section 9.9 Entire Agreement...............................................................................49
Section 9.10 Governing Law..................................................................................50
-ii-
4
Section 9.11 Public Announcements...........................................................................50
Section 9.12 Assignment.....................................................................................50
Section 9.13 Director and Officer Liability.................................................................50
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement
Exhibit B Form of Legal Opinion of Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P.
Exhibit C Financial Advisory Agreement
Exhibit D Form of Monitoring and Oversight Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Indemnification Agreement
-iii-
5
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of August 21, 1998, by and between
Coho Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), and HM 4 Coho, L.P., a
Texas limited partnership (together with its permitted assigns, "Purchaser").
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, and unless the
context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
"Additional D&O Policies" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(b).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this
definition and this Agreement, the term "control" (and correlative terms) means
the power, whether by contract, equity ownership or otherwise, to direct the
policies or management of a Person.
"Agreement" means this Stock Purchase Agreement, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
"Alternative Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(e).
"Approval" means any approval, authorization, grant of authority,
consent, order, qualification, permit, license, variance, exemption, franchise,
concession, certificate, filing or registration, or any waiver of the foregoing,
or any notice, statement or other communication required to be filed with or
delivered to any Governmental Entity or any other Person.
"Articles of Amendment" means articles of amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to
100,000,000 to be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for their
approval at the Shareholders' Meeting.
"Articles of Incorporation" means the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company as amended to the date of this Agreement and as filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Texas.
"Authorized Preferred Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(c)(i).
6
"Benefit Program or Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(q)(i).
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee
authorized by such Board of Directors to perform any of its obligations
thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New
York or Dallas, Texas generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Bylaws" means the bylaws of the Company as amended to the date of this
Agreement.
"Closings" has the meaning provided therefor in Section 6.1.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date hereof.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
share.
"Commonly Controlled Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(q).
"Company" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
"Company Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Company Indemnified Costs" means any and all damages, losses, claims,
liabilities, demands, charges, suits, penalties, costs and expenses (including
court costs and reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred in investigating and
preparing for any litigation or proceeding) that any of the Company Indemnified
Parties incurs and that arise out of (i) any breach or default by Purchaser of
any of the representations or warranties under this Agreement or any agreement
or document executed in connection herewith or (ii) any breach by Purchaser of
any of the covenants or agreements under this Agreement or any other Transaction
Documents.
"Company Indemnified Parties" means each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and each officer, director, employee, stockholder and Affiliate of
the Company.
"Company Options" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).
"Company SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).
"Contracts" means all agreements, contracts, or other binding
commitments, arrangements or plans, written or oral (including any amendments
and other modifications thereto), to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or is otherwise bound.
"Credit Facility" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(i).
-2-
7
"Cure Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b)(i).
"Debt", without duplication, means (a) all indebtedness (including the
principal amount thereof or, if applicable, the accreted amount thereof and the
amount of accrued and unpaid interest thereon) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, whether or not represented by bonds, debentures, notes or other
securities, for the repayment of money borrowed, (b) all deferred indebtedness
of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the payment of the purchase price of
property or assets purchased, (c) all obligations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to pay rent or other payment amounts under a lease of real or
personal property which is required to be classified as a capital lease or a
liability on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, (d)
any outstanding reimbursement obligation of the Company or its Subsidiaries with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (e) any payment obligation
of the Company or its Subsidiaries under any interest rate swap agreement,
forward rate agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement or other financial
agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of limiting or managing
interest rate risks, (f) all indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Lien
existing on property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether or not
indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed, (g) all guaranties,
endorsements, assumptions and other contingent obligations of the Company or its
Subsidiaries in respect of, or to purchase or to otherwise acquire, indebtedness
for borrowed money of others, (h) all other short-term and long-term liabilities
of the Company or its Subsidiaries of any nature, other than accounts payable
and accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (i) all
premiums, penalties and change of control payments required to be paid or
offered in respect of any of the foregoing as a result of the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents regardless if any of
such are actually paid.
"Environmental Laws" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(A).
"ERISA" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(q)(i).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"Financial Advisory Agreement" means that certain Financial Advisory
Agreement between the Company and HMCo dated August 21, 1998 attached as Exhibit
C hereto.
"First Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"First Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"GAAP" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).
"Governmental Entity" means any agency, bureau, commission, court,
authority, department, official, political subdivision, tribunal or other
instrumentality of any government, whether (i) regulatory, administrative or
otherwise, (ii) federal, state or local or (iii) domestic or foreign.
-3-
8
"Hazardous Materials" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(B).
"HMCo" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
"HSR Act" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d)(iii).
"Indemnification Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.9(a).
"Indemnified Parties" means the Purchaser Indemnified Parties or the
Company Indemnified Parties, as the case may be.
"Indemnifying Party" means any person who is obligated to provide
indemnification hereunder.
"Initial Shares" means the Shares to be purchased and sold at the First
Closing.
"Intangible Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(t).
"IRS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p)(ii).
"knowledge" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(j).
"Law" means any constitutional provision, statute or other law,
ordinance, rule, regulation or interpretation of any thereof and any Order of
any Governmental Entity (including environmental laws).
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
encumbrance, charge or security interest of any kind in or on such asset or the
revenues or income thereon or therefrom.
"Litigation" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k).
"Material Adverse Effect" or "Material Adverse Change" means any
effect, change, event or occurrence that is materially adverse to the business,
operations, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operations, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole.
"Material Contracts" has the meaning given it in Section 3.1(l)(i).
"Monitoring Agreement" means that certain Monitoring and Oversight
Agreement to be entered into between the Company and HMCo. in the form of
Exhibit D hereto.
"Nasdaq" means the Nasdaq Stock Market.
"Oil and Gas Properties" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(bb).
-4-
9
"Order" means any decree, injunction, judgment, order, ruling,
assessment or writ.
"PBGC" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(q)(ii).
"Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(q)(i).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, limited liability company, joint
venture, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d)(iii).
"Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
"Purchaser" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereto.
"Purchaser Designees" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
"Purchaser Indemnified Costs" means any and all damages, losses,
claims, liabilities, demands, charges, suits, penalties, costs and expenses
(including court costs and reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred in
investigating and preparing for any litigation or proceeding) that any of the
Purchaser Indemnified Parties incurs and that arise out of (i) any breach or
default by the Company of any of the representations or warranties under this
Agreement or any agreement or document executed in connection herewith, (ii) any
breach by the Company of any of the covenants or agreements (other than breaches
of covenants to be performed by the Company after the Closing) of the Company
under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document executed in connection
herewith or (iii) are incurred in connection with any litigation or proceedings
brought by any shareholder of the Company (whether such action is brought in
such shareholder's name or derivatively on behalf of the Company) in respect of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Purchaser Indemnified Parties" means Purchaser and each officer,
director, employee, stockholder and Affiliate of Purchaser.
"Purchaser's Expenses" means all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs
and expenses incurred by Purchaser in connection with its due diligence efforts
or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) fees, costs
and expenses of its accountants and counsel and (ii) fees paid to any
Governmental Entity, but expressly excluding any fees paid to Credit Suisse
First Boston Corporation, Purchaser's financial advisor.
"Release" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(C).
"Remaining Shares" means the Shares purchased and sold at the Second
Closing.
-5-
10
"Remedial Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(D).
"Reserve Report" means the most recent reserve information prepared by
the Company's engineers estimating the proved reserves attributable to the Oil
and Gas Properties as of December 31, 1997 and described in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
"Rights Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(x).
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and any successor rule thereto.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Second Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"Second Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"Shareholder Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Shareholder
Agreement to be entered into among the Company, Purchaser and the other party
thereto, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Shareholders' Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
"Share Issuance" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c)(ii).
"Shares" means the shares of Common Stock purchased by Purchaser at
either of the Closings to this Agreement.
"Stock Plans" means the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended,
and the 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as amended.
"Subsidiary" means, (i) a corporation, a majority of whose stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time,
directly or indirectly, owned by the Company, by a Subsidiary of the Company or
by the Company and another Subsidiary, or (ii) any other Person (other than a
corporation) in which the Company, a Subsidiary or the Company and a Subsidiary,
directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has at least a
majority ownership interest.
"Tax" or "Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).
-6-
11
"Tax Return" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).
"Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Shareholders
Agreement and any other documents executed in connection herewith or therewith.
"Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(e).
Section 1.2 References and Titles. All references in this Agreement to
Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections, and other subdivisions
refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections,
and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise.
Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections, or
other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute
any part of such Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions, and
shall be disregarded in construing the language contained therein. The words
"this Agreement," "herein," "hereby," "hereunder," and "hereof," and words of
similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words "this Section," "this
subsection," and words of similar import, refer only to the Sections or
subsections hereof in which such words occur. The word "including" (in its
various forms) means "including without limitation." Pronouns in masculine,
feminine, or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other
gender and words, terms, and titles (including terms defined herein) in the
singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless
the context otherwise expressly requires. Unless the context otherwise requires,
all defined terms contained herein shall include the singular and plural and the
conjunctive and disjunctive forms of such defined terms.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK
Section 2.1 Purchase of Shares.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company will issue and sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser will purchase from the
Company, at the times indicated below, a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the sum of the following:
(i) at the First Closing, up to 5,095,098 Shares; and
(ii) at the Second Closing, a number of Shares equal
to 41,666,666 Shares minus the number of Shares, if any,
purchased at the First Closing.
(b) The purchase price payable for the Shares to be purchased
hereunder shall be $6.00 per Share (or $249,999,996 in the aggregate)
(collectively, the "Purchase Price").
-7-
12
(c) Delivery of the Shares shall be made at each Closing by
delivery to Purchaser, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor as
provided herein, of a share certificate representing the total number of Shares
to be purchased at such Closing by Purchaser hereunder.
(d) Payment of the Purchase Price for the Shares to be
purchased hereunder shall be made by or on behalf of Purchaser by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to an account of the Company (the number for
which account shall have been furnished to Purchaser at least two Business Days
prior to the applicable Closing Date).
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows (in each case as qualified by
matters reflected on the disclosure schedule dated as of the date of this
Agreement and delivered by the Company to Purchaser on or prior to the date of
this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedule") and made a part hereof by
reference):
(a) Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation or other entity duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is incorporated or organized and has the requisite corporate or other
such entity power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed
to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the
failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing, individually
or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has delivered (or, in the
case of the Company's Subsidiaries, made available) to Purchaser prior to the
execution of this Agreement complete and correct copies of its Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or comparable organizational documents)
of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to date.
(b) Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.1(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of each
Subsidiary of the Company, together with the jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization and the percentage of each Subsidiary's outstanding capital stock
(or other voting or equity securities or interests, as applicable) owned by the
Company or another Subsidiary of the Company. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.1(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all the outstanding shares of
capital stock (or other voting or equity securities or interests, as applicable)
of each Subsidiary of the Company have been validly issued and (with respect to
corporate Subsidiaries) are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly
or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all Liens. Except for the
capital stock of its Subsidiaries
-8-
13
and the partnership interests listed in Schedule 3.1(b)(iii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, the Company does not own, directly
or indirectly, any capital stock (or other voting or equity securities or
interests, as applicable) of any corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture or other entity.
(c) Capital Structure.
(i) The authorized capital stock of Company consists
of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Authorized Preferred Stock"). (A)
25,603,512 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, (B) no
shares of Authorized Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, (C) no
shares of Common Stock are held by the Company in its treasury and (D)
no shares of Common Stock are held by any of the Company's
Subsidiaries.
(ii) As of the date hereof, there are no bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued or outstanding having
the right to vote on any matters on which holders of Common Stock or
Authorized Preferred Stock may vote, including without limitation the
approval of the Articles of Amendment and issuance of the Remaining
Shares to the Purchaser (the "Share Issuance").
(iii) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(c)(iii) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding warrants,
stock options, stock appreciation rights or other rights to receive any
capital stock of the Company granted under the Stock Plans or
otherwise. Schedule 3.1(c)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and correct list, as of the date hereof, of the
number, class and series of shares subject to all warrants, options,
stock appreciation rights or other rights to receive any of the capital
stock of the Company (collectively, "Company Options"), and the
exercise or base prices thereof. Except for the Company Options and,
except as set forth above or in Schedule 3.1(c)(iii) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding securities, options,
warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or
undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause
to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock (or
other voting or equity securities or interests, as applicable) of the
Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such
security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement,
arrangement or undertaking. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(c)(iii)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock (or
other voting or equity securities or interests, as applicable) of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(iv) All outstanding shares of capital stock (or
other voting or equity securities or interests, as applicable) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are, and all shares
-9-
14
which may be issued will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive or
similar rights.
(v) Except as contemplated hereby or in the other
Transaction Documents or as set forth in Schedule 3.1(c)(iii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there are not as of the date hereof and
there will not be at the time of either Closing any shareholder
agreements, voting agreements or trusts, proxies or other agreements or
contractual obligations to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party or bound with respect to the voting or disposition of any shares
of the capital stock (or other voting or equity securities or
interests, as applicable) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
and, to the Company's knowledge, as of the date hereof, there are no
other shareholder agreements, voting agreements or trusts, proxies or
other agreements or contractual obligations among the shareholders of
the Company with respect to the voting or disposition of any shares of
the capital stock (or other voting or equity securities or interests,
as applicable) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) Authority; No Violations; Approvals.
(i) The Board has approved this Agreement and each of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and declared this Agreement to be
in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company. The Company
has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate each of the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of each of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, other than the approval of the Articles of Amendment and the
Share Issuance by the requisite votes of the shareholders of the
Company as provided in Section 4.2. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, constitutes
a valid and binding obligation of Company enforceable in accordance
with its terms, subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(ii) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(d)(ii) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof will not,
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any material
obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under, or give rise to
a right of purchase under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
under, or otherwise result in a material detriment to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries under, any provision of (A) the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws or any provision of the comparable charter or
organizational documents of any of
-10-
15
its Subsidiaries, (B) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, lease, other agreement or Approval applicable to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) any joint venture or other
ownership arrangement or (D) assuming the Approvals referred to in
Section 3.1(d)(iii) are duly and timely obtained or made, any Law or
Order applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of
clause (B) or (D), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights,
Liens, detriments, Laws or Orders that, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to (x)
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (y) impair the ability
of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction
Documents in any material respect, or (z) delay in any material respect
or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by
any of the Transaction Documents.
(iii) No Approval from any Governmental Entity is
required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any
other Transaction Document by the Company or the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for:
(A) if applicable, the filing of a notification report by Company under
the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the "HSR Act"), and the expiration or termination of the applicable
waiting period with respect thereto; (B) the filing with the SEC of (x)
a proxy statement in preliminary and definitive form relating to the
meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held in connection
with the approval of the Articles of Amendment and the Share Issuance
(the "Proxy Statement") and (y) such reports under Section 13(a) of the
Exchange Act and such other compliance with the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder, as may be required in connection with
this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby; (C) such Approvals as may be required
by any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws; (D) such
Approvals as may be required by any foreign securities, corporate or
other Laws; and (E) any such Approval the failure of which to be made
or obtained has not had and could not reasonably be expected (1) impair
the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the
Transaction Documents in any material respect or (2) delay in any
material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents.
(e) SEC Documents. The Company has made available to Purchaser
a true and complete copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and
definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the SEC since December 31,
1995 and prior to or on the date of this Agreement (the "Company SEC
Documents"), which are all the documents (other than preliminary materials) that
the Company was required to file with the SEC between December 31, 1995 and the
date of this Agreement. As of their respective dates, the Company SEC Documents
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act,
or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the
SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company
SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The
-11-
16
financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents
complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or,
in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by Rule 10-01 of
Regulation S-X of the SEC) and fairly present in accordance with applicable
requirements of GAAP (subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to
normal, recurring adjustments, none of which are material) the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of their
respective dates and the consolidated results of operations and the consolidated
cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods
presented therein. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, there are
no agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Company and any party
who is or was at any time prior to the date hereof but after December 31, 1996
an Affiliate of the Company that are required to be disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents.
(f) Information Supplied. None of the information included or
incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the date mailed to
shareholders of the Company or at the time of the Shareholders' Meeting or as of
either Closing, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not misleading. If at any time prior to the Shareholders Meeting any event with
respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to other
information in the Proxy Statement, shall occur which is required to be
described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, the Proxy Statement, such
event shall be so described, and such amendment or supplement shall be promptly
filed with the SEC and, as required by Law, disseminated to the shareholders of
the Company. The Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to the Company or its
Subsidiaries, will comply as to form in all material respects with the
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(g) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed
in Schedule 3.1(g) to the Company Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in, or
reflected in the financial statements included in, the Company SEC Documents, or
except as contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 1997, each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business only in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice, and there has not occurred: (i) any event
that would have been prohibited by Section 4.5 if the terms of such Section had
been in effect as of and after December 31, 1997; (ii) any material casualties
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any material loss, damage or
destruction to any of their respective properties or assets, including the Oil
and Gas Properties; or (iii) any event, circumstance or fact that has had or
could reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, (y) impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under
any of the Transaction Documents in any material respect, or (z) delay in any
material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents.
(h) No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Except as disclosed
in the Company SEC Documents, there are no material liabilities or obligations
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether
accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
-12-
17
determinable or otherwise, required by GAAP to be recognized or disclosed on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or
in the notes thereto, other than: (i) liabilities adequately provided for on the
balance sheet of the Company dated as of March 31, 1998 (including the notes
thereto) contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three
months ended March 31, 1998; (ii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since March 31, 1998; and (iii)
liabilities arising under the Transaction Documents.
(i) No Default. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with
notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of
any term, condition or provision of (i) Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
the Company or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license or any
other contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is bound, or (iii)
any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the case
of clause (ii) and (iii), for violations or defaults that, individually or in
the aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to (x) have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (y) impair the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (z) delay in any material respect or prevent the consummation of any
of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents. The
Company (i) is not in breach of or default under any financial covenant under
the Company's Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among the Company,
its Subsidiaries, Banque Paribas, Houston Agency, and the other parties thereto
dated December 18, 1997 (the "Credit Facility") and (ii) does not have any
reason to believe that it will be in breach of or default under any financial
covenant under the Credit Facility as of the next date on which the Company is
required to be in compliance with any such financial covenant (other than any
breaches or defaults which the Company reasonably believes will be waived by the
lenders under the Credit Facility).
(j) Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Company and each of
its Subsidiaries has in effect all Approvals of all Governmental Entities
necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses, and there has
occurred no default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice
or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) under any
such Approval, except for failures to obtain, or for defaults or violations
under, Approvals which failures, defaults or violations, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) impair the ability of the Company
to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any
material respect, or (iii) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction
Documents. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, the businesses of
the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws and
Orders, except for possible noncompliance, which individually or in the
aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have any effect
referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above. No investigation or review by
any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company, any
-13-
18
of its Subsidiaries, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
other Transaction Documents, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries any intention to conduct the same, other than those the outcome
of which, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably
be expected to have any effect referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above.
For purposes of this Agreement "knowledge" means the actual knowledge of the
officers, directors or senior managers of Purchaser or the Company, as the case
may be, after reasonable inquiry.
(k) Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents or Schedule 3.1(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no
suit, action, proceeding or indemnification claim, at law or in equity, pending
before any Governmental Entity, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries ("Litigation"), and
the Company is not a party to any Litigation, and the Company and its
Subsidiaries have no knowledge of any facts that are likely to give rise to any
Litigation, that (in any case) has had or could reasonably be expected to (i)
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) impair the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any
material respect, or (iii) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction
Documents, nor is there any Order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator
outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has had or
could reasonably be expected to have any effect referred to in clause (i), (ii)
or (iii) above. Schedule 3.1(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains an
accurate and complete list of all Litigation and all Orders to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or properties are bound.
(l) Certain Agreements; Contract Interests.
(i) Except as disclosed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1998
and Schedule 3.1(l)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no
(A) employment or consulting Contracts (unless such employment or
consulting Contracts are terminable without liability or penalty on 30
days or less notice), (B) Contracts under which any party thereto
remains obligated to provide goods or services having a value, or to
make payments aggregating (for Debt or otherwise), in excess of
$1,000,000 per year, (C) other Contracts that are material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or their respective
business, and (D) Contracts with Affiliates, in any such case, to which
the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or to which the Company or any
Subsidiary or their respective assets is bound (such Contracts
disclosed or required to be disclosed, the "Material Contracts"). Each
Material Contract is a valid and binding obligation of the Company or
one of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, of each
party thereto other than the Company or its respective Subsidiary and
is in full force and effect without amendment.
-14-
19
(ii) The Company or the relevant Subsidiary and, to
the knowledge of the Company, each other party to the Material
Contracts, has performed in all material respects the obligations
required to be performed by it under the Material Contracts and is not
(with or without lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) in
breach or default thereunder.
(iii) Schedule 3.1(l)(iii) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule identifies, as to each Material Contract listed thereon, (A)
whether the consent of the other party thereto is required, (B) whether
notice must be provided to any party thereto (and the length of such
notice) and (C) whether any payments are required (and the amount of
such payments), in each case in order for such Material Contract to
continue in full force and effect upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction
Documents, and (D) whether such Material Contract can be canceled by
the other party without liability to such other party due to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other
Transaction Documents.
(iv) A complete copy of each written Material
Contract and a written description of each oral Material Contract has
been made available to Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement.
(v) Except as disclosed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 or in Schedule
3.1(l)(v) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or of
its Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or written agreement, plan or
arrangement with any employee (whether an employee, consultant or an
independent contractor) of the Company or its Subsidiary (A) the
benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially
altered, upon, or result from, the occurrence of a transaction
involving the Company or its Subsidiary of the nature of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) providing severance
benefits longer than 45 days or other benefits after the termination of
employment or other contractual relationship regardless of the reason
for such termination and regardless of whether such termination is
before or after a change of control, (C) under which any person may
receive payments subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code
or (D) any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting
of benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of
the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(vi) The Company has made available to Purchaser (A)
true and correct copies of all loan or credit agreements, notes, bonds,
mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments pursuant to
which any Debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is outstanding
or may be incurred and (B) accurate information regarding the
respective principal amounts currently outstanding thereunder.
(m) Title to Properties. Except as disclosed in the Company
SEC Documents or on Schedule 3.1(m), to the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company and its Subsidiaries have
-15-
20
or will have good and defensible title to all the producing oil and gas
properties described in the Company SEC Documents as being owned by them or to
be owned by them at the time of each Closing, title investigations have been
conducted with respect to such properties in accordance with customary practices
in the oil and gas industry, free and clear of any Liens except for (i) Liens
for taxes not yet due, and (ii) other Liens that, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Intentionally omitted.
(o) Status of Shares. Subject to receipt of the approval of
the Share Issuance and the Articles of Amendment by the Company's shareholders
as contemplated by Section 4.2, the issuance and sale of the Shares have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and
such Shares, when delivered to Purchaser at the Closing against payment therefor
as provided herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
the issuance and sale of the Shares is not and will not be subject to preemptive
rights of any other shareholder of the Company.
(p) Taxes. Except as disclosed in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 or Schedule 3.1(p) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule:
(i) Each of the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and
any affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a member has (A)
duly filed on a timely basis (taking into account any extensions) all
U.S. federal income Tax Returns (as hereinafter defined), and all other
material Tax Returns, required to be filed or sent by or with respect
to it, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all
material respects, (B) duly paid or deposited on a timely basis all
Taxes (as hereinafter defined) that are shown to be due and payable on
or with respect to such Tax Returns (including all required estimated
Tax payments sufficient to avoid material under payment penalties), and
all material Taxes that are otherwise due and payable (except for audit
adjustments not material in the aggregate or to the extent that
liability therefor is reserved for in the Company's most recent audited
financial statements) for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
may be liable, (C) established reserves that are adequate for the
payment of all material Taxes not yet due and payable with respect to
the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries through
the date hereof, and (D) complied in all material respects with all
applicable Laws relating to the reporting, payment and withholding of
Taxes that are required to be withheld from payments to employees,
independent contractors, creditors, shareholders or any other third
party and has in all material respects timely withheld from employee
wages and paid over to the proper governmental authorities all amounts
required to be so withheld and paid over.
(ii) Schedule 3.1(p)(ii) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth (A) the last taxable period through which the
federal income Tax Returns of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries
have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or for which
the statute of limitations for assessment has otherwise closed and (B)
any
-16-
21
affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group or Tax
Return in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or has been a
member or joins or has joined in the filing. Except to the extent being
contested in good faith, all material deficiencies asserted as a result
of such examinations and any examination by any applicable taxing
authority have been paid, fully settled or adequately provided for in
the Company's most recent audited financial statements. Except as
disclosed in or adequately provided for in the Company SEC Documents or
disclosed in Schedule 3.1(p)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no
audits or other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are
presently pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, with
regard to any Taxes for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
would be liable, and no material deficiency for any Taxes has been
proposed, asserted or assessed (whether by examination report or prior
to completion of examination by means of notices of proposed adjustment
or other similar requests or notices) pursuant to such examination
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any taxing authority
with respect to any period.
(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has executed or entered into (or prior to the close of business on the
Closing Date will execute or enter into) with the IRS or any taxing
authority (A) any agreement or other document extending or having the
effect of extending the period for assessment or collection of any
income or franchise Taxes for which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries would be liable or (B) a closing agreement pursuant to
Section 7121 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local,
foreign or other income tax Law, which will require any increase in
taxable income or alternative minimum taxable income, or any reduction
in tax credits, for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any
taxable period ending after the Closing Date.
(iv) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents
or Schedule 3.1(p)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to an agreement that
provides for the payment of any amount that would constitute a
"parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or
that would constitute compensation whose deductibility is limited under
Section 162(m) of the Code.
(v) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, is bound
by or has any obligation under, any tax sharing or allocation agreement
or similar agreement or arrangement.
(vi) There are no requests for rulings or outstanding
subpoenas from any taxing authority for information with respect to
Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge
of the Company, no material reassessments (for property or ad valorem
tax purposes) of any assets or any property owned or leased by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been proposed in written form.
(vii) No consent to the application of Section
341(f)(2) of the Code has been made or filed by or with the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company
-17-
22
nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to make any adjustment pursuant
to Section 481(a) of the Code (or any predecessor provision) by reason
of any change in any accounting method of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any application pending with any taxing authority requesting permission
for any changes in any accounting method of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the IRS nor any
other taxing authority has proposed in writing, and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise required to make, any such
adjustment or change in accounting method.
(viii) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(p)(viii)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no material excess loss
accounts or deferred intercompany transactions between the Company
and/or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
Section 1.1502-13 or 1.1502-19, respectively.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" (and, with correlative
meaning, "Taxes") means (i) any net income, alternative or add-on minimum tax,
gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer,
franchise, profits, license, withholding on amounts paid by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, payroll, employment, excise, production, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, property, environmental or windfall profit tax, custom,
duty or other tax, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any
kind whatsoever, together with any interest and/or any penalty, addition to tax
or additional amount imposed by any taxing authority, (ii) any liability of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the payment of any amounts of the type
described in (i) as a result of being a member of an affiliated or consolidated
group, or arrangement whereby liability of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries for payment of such amounts was determined or taken into account
with reference to the liability of any other person for any period and (iii)
liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the payment
of any amounts of the type described in (i) or (ii) as a result of any express
or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person.
"Tax Return" means all returns, declarations, reports,
estimates, information returns and statements required to be filed by or with
respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes,
including (i) any consolidated federal income tax return in which Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is included and (ii) any state, local or foreign income tax
returns filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis (for purposes of
determining Tax liability) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
included.
(q) Employee Benefit Matters.
(i) Schedule 3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule provides a description of each of the following which is
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company for the benefit
of the employees of the Company, former employees of the Company,
directors of the Company, former directors of the Company, or any
agents, consultants, or similar representatives providing services to
or for the Company, or has been
-18-
23
so sponsored, maintained or contributed to within six years prior to
the First Closing Date for the benefit of such individuals:
(A) each "employee benefit plan," as such
term is defined in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") (including,
but not limited to, employee benefit plans, such as foreign
plans, which are not subject to the provisions of ERISA)
("Plan");
(B) each personnel policy, stock option
plan, stock purchase plan, stock appreciation rights, phantom
stock plan, collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or
arrangement, incentive award plan or arrangement, vacation
policy, severance pay plan, policy or agreement, deferred
compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation
or supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement,
employment agreement and each other employee benefit plan,
agreement, arrangement, program, practice or understanding
which is not described in Section 3.1(9)(i) ("Benefit Program
or Agreement").
(ii) True, correct and complete copies of each of the
Plans, related trusts, insurance or group annuity contracts and each
other funding or financing arrangement relating to any Plan, including
all amendments thereto, have been furnished to Purchaser. There has
also been furnished to Purchaser, with respect to each Plan required to
file such report and description, the most recent report on Form 5500
and the summary plan description. True, correct and complete copies or
descriptions of all Benefit Programs and Agreements have also been
furnished to Purchaser. The Purchaser has also been furnished a recent
actuarial report or valuation for each Plan subject to Title IV of
ERISA. Additionally, the most recent determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service for each of the Plans intended to be qualified
under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and any outstanding determination letter application for such
plans has been furnished.
(iii) Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule
3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
(A) The Company has substantially performed
all obligations, whether arising by operation of law or by
contract, required to be performed by it in connection with
the Plans and the Benefit Programs and Agreements, and to the
knowledge of the Company there have been no defaults or
violations by any other party to the Plans, Benefit Programs
or Agreements;
(B) All reports and disclosures relating to
the Plans required to be filed with or furnished to
governmental agencies, Plan participants or Plan beneficiaries
have been filed or furnished in accordance with applicable Law
in a timely manner, and each Plan and each Benefit Program or
Agreement has been administered in substantial compliance with
its governing documents;
-19-
24
(C) Each of the Plans intended to be
qualified under section 401 of the Code satisfies the
requirements of such section and has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service
regarding such qualified status and has not, since receipt of
the most recent favorable determination letter, been amended
or, to the knowledge of the Company, operated in a way which
would adversely affect such qualified status;
(D) Each Plan, Benefit Program, and
Agreement has been administered in material compliance with
its terms, the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and
all other applicable laws and the terms of all applicable
collective bargaining agreements;
(E) There are no actions, suits or claims
pending (other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the
knowledge of the Company threatened against, or with respect
to, any of the Plans, Benefit Programs or Agreements or their
assets;
(F) All contributions required to be made to
the Plans by the Company on behalf of the Company or its
employees pursuant to their terms and provisions have been
made timely;
(G) No Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA;
(H) As to any Plan intended to be qualified
under section 401 of the Code, there has been no termination
or partial termination of the Plan within the meaning of
section 411(d)(3) of the Code;
(I) No act, omission or transaction has
occurred which would result in imposition on the Company of
(1) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section
409 of ERISA, (2) a civil penalty assessed pursuant to
subsections (c), (i) or (l) of section 502 of ERISA or (3) a
Tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code;
(J) To the knowledge of Company, there is no
matter pending (other than routine qualification determination
filings) with respect to any of the Plans before the Internal
Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC;
(K) Each trust funding a Plan, which trust
is intended to be exempt from federal income taxation pursuant
to section 501(c)(9) of the Code, satisfies the requirements
of such section and has received a favorable determination
letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding such exempt
status and has not, since receipt of the most recent favorable
determination letter, been amended or operated in a way which
would materially adversely affect such exempt status;
-20-
25
(L) With respect to any employee benefit
plan, within the meaning of section 3(3) of ERISA, which is
not listed in Schedule 3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure
Statement but which is sponsored, maintained or contributed
to, or has been sponsored, maintained or contributed to within
six years prior to the First Closing Date, by any corporation,
trade, business or entity under common control with the
Company, within the meaning of section 414(b), (c) or (m) of
the Code or section 4001 of ERISA ("Commonly Controlled
Entity"), (1) no withdrawal liability, within the meaning of
section 4201 of ERISA, has been incurred, which withdrawal
liability has not been satisfied, (2) no liability to the PBGC
has been incurred by any Commonly Controlled Entity, which
liability has not been satisfied, (3) no accumulated funding
deficiency, whether or not waived, within the meaning of
section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code has been
incurred, and (4) all contributions (including installments)
to such plan required by section 302 of ERISA and section 412
of the Code have been timely made; and
(M) The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (1) require the Company to make a
larger contribution to, or pay greater benefits under, any
Plan, Benefit Program or Agreement than it otherwise would or
(2) create or give rise to any additional vested rights or
service credits under any Plan, Benefit Program, or Agreement.
(iv) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.1(q)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not a party to any
agreement, nor has it established any policy or practice, requiring it
to make a payment or provide any other form of compensation or benefit
to any person performing services for the Company upon termination of
such services which would not be payable or provided in the absence of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(v) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.1(q)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no payments have or are expected to
be made under the Plans, Benefit Programs and Agreements which, in the
aggregate, would result in all or part of such payments not being
deductible by the payor under sections 280G and or 162(m) of the Code.
(vi) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.1(q)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not a party to or is
bound by any severance agreement involving $50,000 or more.
(vii) Each Plan which is an "employee welfare benefit
plan", as such term is defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, may be
unilaterally amended or terminated in its entirety without liability
except as to benefits accrued thereunder prior to such amendment or
termination.
-21-
26
(viii) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule
3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Plan, Benefit Program or
Agreement provides retiree medical or retiree life insurance benefits
to any person and the Company is not contractually or otherwise
obligated (whether or not in writing) to provide any person with life
insurance or medical benefits upon retirement or termination of
employment, other than as required by the provisions of section 601
through 608 of ERISA and section 4980B of the Code.
(ix) As to each Plan described on Schedule 3.1(q) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule which is a multiemployer plan within
the meaning of section 3(37) of ERISA, Schedule 3.1(i) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule accurately describes the dollar amount of
withdrawal liability which would be owed by the Company to such Plan if
the Company ceased contributing to such Plan immediately after
consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(x) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.1(q)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Plan, Benefit Program or
Agreement provides that payments pursuant to such Plan, Benefit Program
or Agreement may be made in securities of the Company or a Commonly
Controlled Entity, nor does any trust maintained pursuant to any Plan,
Benefit Program or Agreement hold any securities of the Company or a
Commonly Controlled Entity.
(r) Schedule 3.1(r) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth by number and employment classification the approximate numbers of
employees employed by the Company as of the date of this Agreement, and, except
as set forth therein, none of said employees are subject to union or collective
bargaining agreements with the Company. Except as otherwise set forth in
Schedule 3.1(r) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not at any
time on or after January 1, 1995 had or, to the knowledge of Company, been
threatened with any work stoppages or other labor disputes or controversies with
respect to its employees which had a material adverse effect on the Company.
(s) Labor Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(s) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Documents:
(i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other current
labor agreement with any labor union or organization, and there is no
current union representation question involving employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor does the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries know of any activity or proceeding of any labor
organization (or representative thereof) or employee group (or
representative thereof) to organize any such employees;
(ii) there is no unfair labor practice charge or
grievance arising out of a collective bargaining agreement or other
grievance procedure against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, threatened, that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or could reasonably be expected
-22-
27
to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (B) impair the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the
Transaction Documents in any material respect, or (C) delay in any
material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents;
(iii) there is no complaint, lawsuit or proceeding in
any forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee, any
applicant for employment or any classes of the foregoing alleging
breach of any express or implied contract of employment, any Law
governing employment or the termination thereof or other
discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the
employment relationship against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, threatened, that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or could reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(iv) there is no strike, dispute, slowdown, work
stoppage or lockout pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, threatened, against or involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, has had
or could reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(v) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in
compliance with all applicable Laws respecting employment and
employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages, hours
of work and occupational safety and health, except for non-compliance
that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not
reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents; and
(vi) There is no proceeding, claim, suit, action or
governmental investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened, in respect to which any current
or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is or may be entitled to claim indemnification from
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any provision of the
comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its
Subsidiaries, as provided in any indemnification agreement to which the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or pursuant to
applicable Law that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could
reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse
-23-
28
Effect on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents.
(t) Intangible Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries
possess or have adequate rights to use all material trademarks, trade names,
patents, service marks, brand marks, brand names, computer programs, databases,
industrial designs and copyrights necessary for the operation of the businesses
of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Intangible
Property"), except where the failure to possess or have adequate rights to use
such properties, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not
reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
(ii) impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of
the Transaction Documents in any material respect, or (iii) delay in any
material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents. All of the Intangible Property
is owned or licensed by the Company or its Subsidiaries free and clear of any
and all Liens, except those that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had
and could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company, (ii) impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
under any of the Transaction Documents in any material respect, or (iii) delay
in any material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents, and neither the Company nor
any such Subsidiary has forfeited or otherwise relinquished any Intangible
Property which forfeiture, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could
reasonably be expected to have any effect referred to in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above. To the knowledge of the Company, the use of the Intangible Property
by the Company or its Subsidiaries does not, in any material respect, conflict
with, infringe upon, violate or interfere with or constitute an appropriation of
any right, title, interest or goodwill, including any intellectual property
right, trademark, trade name, patent, service xxxx, brand xxxx, brand name,
computer program, database, industrial design, copyright or any pending
application therefor of any other person and there have been no claims made and
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any
claim or otherwise knows that any of the Intangible Property is invalid or
conflicts with the asserted rights of any other person or has not been used or
enforced or has failed to have been used or enforced in a manner that would
result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability of any of the
Intangible Property, except for any such conflict, infringement, violation,
interference, claim, invalidity, abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability
that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably be
expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) impair the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction
Documents in any material respect, or (iii) delay in any material respect or
prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents.
(u) Environmental Matters.
For purposes of this Agreement:
-24-
29
(A) "Environmental Laws" means all federal, state and
local laws (including common laws), rules, regulations, ordinances,
orders, decrees of any Governmental Entity, whether now in existence or
hereafter enacted and in effect at the time of Closing, relating to
pollution or the protection of human health, safety or the environment
of any jurisdiction in which the applicable party hereto owns or
operates assets or conducts business or owned or operated assets or
conducted business (whether or not through a predecessor entity)
(including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface,
subsurface strata, natural resources or wildlife), including laws and
regulations relating to Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous
Materials or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling
of solid waste or Hazardous Materials, and any similar laws, rules,
regulations, ordinances, orders and decrees of any foreign jurisdiction
in which the applicable party hereto owns or operates assets or
conducts business;
(B) "Hazardous Materials" means (x) any radioactive
materials, asbestos in any form that is or could become friable, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls or transformers
or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing
polychlorinated biphenyls, (y) any chemicals, materials or substances
which are now defined as or included in the definition of "solid
wastes," "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous
materials," "extremely hazardous substances," "restricted hazardous
wastes," "toxic substances" or "toxic pollutants," or words of similar
import, under any Environmental Law and (z) any other chemical,
material, substance or waste, exposure to which is now prohibited,
limited or regulated under any Environmental Law in a jurisdiction in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates (for purposes of
this Section 3.1(t)).
(C) "Release" means any spill, effluent, emission,
leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, escaping, dumping, injection,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the
indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property owned,
operated or leased by the applicable party or its Subsidiaries; and
(D) "Remedial Action" means all actions, including
any capital expenditures, required by a Governmental Entity or required
under any Environmental Law, or voluntarily undertaken to (w) clean up,
remove, treat, or in any other way ameliorate or address any Hazardous
Materials or other substance in the indoor or outdoor environment; (x)
prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize the further
Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten
to endanger the public or employee health or welfare of the indoor or
outdoor environment; (y) perform pre-remedial studies and
investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care pertaining or
relating to a Release; or (z) bring the applicable party into
compliance with any Environmental Law.
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or on
Schedule 3.1(u) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
-25-
30
(i) The operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been conducted, are and, as of each Closing Date,
will be, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where the
failure to so comply, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and
could not reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained
and will maintain all permits, licenses and registrations, or
applications relating thereto, and have made and will make all filings,
reports and notices required under applicable Environmental Laws for
the continued operations of their respective businesses, except such
matters the lack or failure of which, individually or in the aggregate,
has not had and could not reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any
material respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries are not
subject to any outstanding written orders issued by, or contracts with,
any Governmental Entity or other person respecting (A) Environmental
Laws, (B) Remedial Action, (C) any Release or threatened Release of a
Hazardous Material or petroleum or petroleum products or (D) an
assumption of responsibility for environmental liabilities of another
person, except such orders or contracts the compliance with which,
individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not reasonably
be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (y)
impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any
of the Transaction Documents in any material respect, or (z) delay in
any material respect or prevent the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents;
(iv) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not
received any written communication alleging, with respect to any such
party, the violation of or liability under any Environmental Law, which
violation or liability, individually or in the aggregate, has not had
and could not reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has any contingent liability in connection with any existing Release of
any Hazardous Material or petroleum or petroleum products into the
indoor or outdoor environment (whether on-site or off-site) or employee
or third party exposure to Hazardous Materials that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to (A) have a
Material Adverse Effect
-26-
31
on the Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents;
(vi) The operations of the Company or its
Subsidiaries involving the generation, transportation, treatment,
storage or disposal of hazardous or solid waste, as defined and
regulated under 40 C.F.R. Parts 260-270 (in effect as of the date of
this Agreement) or any applicable state equivalent, are in compliance
with applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to so
comply, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and could not
reasonably be expected to (A) have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, (B) impair the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (C) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents; and
(vii) To the knowledge of the Company, there is not
now on or in any property of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
property for which the Company or its Subsidiaries is potentially
liable any of the following: (A) any underground storage tanks or
surface impoundments or (B) any on-site disposal of Hazardous Material,
any of which ((A) or (B) preceding), individually or in the aggregate,
has had or could reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, (y) impair the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents in any material
respect, or (z) delay in any material respect or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
Transaction Documents.
(v) Insurance. Schedule 3.1(v) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth an insurance schedule of the Company's and each of its
Subsidiaries' directors' and officers' liability insurance. The Company
maintains insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as are in accordance
with normal industry practice for companies engaged in businesses similar to
those of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (taking into account the cost
and availability of such insurance).
(w) Vote. Pursuant to Section 4.2, the Company will seek, at
the Shareholders' Meeting, the approval of (i) the Share Issuance by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast by the holders of Common
Stock present at the Shareholders' Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, and
(ii) the Articles of Amendment by the affirmative vote of the holders of the
greater of (A) a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon or (B) two-thirds of the shares of Common Stock present
at the Shareholders' Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
There are no approvals required of the holders of any class or series of capital
stock of the Company necessary to approve this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby other than as set forth in the preceding sentence.
-27-
32
(x) Amendment to Rights Agreement. The Board has taken, or
will take, all necessary action to amend the Rights Agreement, dated as of
September 13, 1994, as amended (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and
Chemical Bank, as Rights Agent, so that none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
cause (i) the rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement to become
exercisable under the Rights Agreement or (ii) the distribution of Rights
Certificates (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
(y) Texas Business Combination Law. The Board has approved the
acquisition of the Shares by Purchaser prior to Purchaser's "share acquisition
date" (as defined in Article 13.02 of the Texas Business Corporation Act) in
accordance with the provisions of Article 13.03(A)(1) of the Texas Business
Corporation Act.
(z) No Brokers or Finders. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.1(z), no agent, broker, finder or investment or commercial banker, or other
Person or firm engaged by or acting on behalf of the Company in connection with
the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement is or will be
entitled to any brokerage or finder's or similar fee or other commission as a
result of this Agreement, other than any such fees or commissions that have been
disclosed to Purchaser and as to which the Company shall have full
responsibility.
(aa) Oil and Gas Operations. In those instances in which the
Company serves as operator of a well that is currently a producing well or
undergoing drilling operations, it has drilled and completed (if applicable)
such well, and operated and produced such well, in accordance with generally
accepted oil and gas field practices and in compliance in all material respects
with applicable oil and gas leases and all applicable Laws, except where any
failure or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. All proceeds from the sale of oil, gas and other
hydrocarbons produced by the Company are being received by the Company in a
timely manner and are not being held in suspense for any reason (except for
amounts, individually or in the aggregate, not in excess of $2,000,000 and held
in suspense in the ordinary course of business).
(bb) Marketing of Production. Except for Contracts listed in
the Company SEC Documents or on Schedule 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule (with respect to all of which Contracts the Company represents that it
or its Subsidiaries are receiving a price for all production sold thereunder
which is computed in accordance with the terms of the relevant Contract), there
exist no Material Contracts for the sale of production from the leasehold and
other interests in oil gas and other mineral properties owned by the Company or
its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Oil and Gas Properties") other than (i)
Contracts pertaining to the sale of production at a price equal to or greater
than a price that is the market price from time to time existing in the areas
where the Oil and Gas Properties subject to such agreement or arrangement are
located, and (ii) Contracts that are cancelable on 60 days notice or less
without penalty or detriment.
(cc) Prepayments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
obligated, by virtue of a prepayment arrangement, make-up right under a
production sales Contract containing a "take
-28-
33
or pay" or similar provision, production payment or any other arrangement, to
deliver hydrocarbons, or proceeds from the sale thereof, attributable to any of
its properties at some future time without then or thereafter being entitled to
received payment of the contract price therefor, except where any such
arrangement would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) Gas Imbalances. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
Documents, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has (i) any obligation to
deliver gas from the Oil and Gas Properties (or cash in lieu thereof) to other
owners of interests in those properties as a result of past production by the
Company, any Subsidiary or any of their predecessors in excess of the share to
which they were entitled nor (ii) any right to receive deliveries of gas from
the Oil and Gas Properties (or cash in lieu there) from other owners of
interests in those properties as a result of past production by the company, any
Subsidiary or any of their predecessors of less than the share to which they
were entitled; in either case where any such gas imbalance would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ee) Customers and Suppliers. None of the current customers or
suppliers of the Company has refused, or communicated in writing to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company that it will or may refuse, to purchase or
supply products or services from or to the Company or has communicated in
writing that it will or may substantially reduce the amount of production, goods
or services that it is willing to purchase from or supply to the Company where
any such refusal or reduction would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Reserve Report. The Company acknowledges and agrees that
Purchaser has been provided with a copy of the Reserve Report. The Company's and
each Subsidiary's ownership of the Oil and Gas Properties described in the
Reserve Report entitle the respective owner to receive a percentage of the oil,
gas and other hydrocarbons produced from each well or unit equal to not less
than the percentage set forth in the Reserve Report as the "Net Revenue
Interest" for such well or unit and cause the respective owner to be obligated
to bear a percentage of the cost of operation of such well or unit not greater
than the percentage set forth in the Reserve Report as the "Working Interest"
for such well or unit, and to the extent such percentages of production which
the respective owner is entitled to receive, and shares of expenses which the
respective owner is obligate to bear, may change after the date of such report,
such changes were properly reflected (based on reasonable assumptions) in
preparing such report. The underlying historical information used for
preparation of the Reserve Report was, at the time of delivery, true and correct
in all material respects.
(gg) Nonconsent Operations. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.1(gg) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no operations on the Oil
and Gas Properties in which the Company's or any Subsidiary's commitment would
have exceeded $5,000,000, being conducted as of January 1, 1998, or any time
thereafter, in which the Company or any subsidiary has elected not to
participate.
-29-
34
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of Purchaser.
(a) Organization, Standing and Power. Purchaser is a limited
partnership duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Texas and has all requisite corporate power and authority
to own, lease, and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now
being conducted.
(b) Authority. Purchaser represents and warrants to the
Company that, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Company in Section 3.1(d) hereof, (i) the purchase of the Shares to be purchased
by it has been duly and properly authorized and this Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by it or on its behalf and constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity;
(ii) the purchase of the Shares to be purchased by it does not conflict with or
violate (A) its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (B) any law applicable
to it in a manner that could materially hinder or impair the completion of any
of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (iii) the purchase of Shares to be
purchased by it does not impose any penalty or other onerous condition on
Purchaser that could materially hinder or impact the completion of any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Litigation. As of the time of the execution of this
Agreement, there is no claim, action, suit, inquiry, judicial or administrative
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against it
relating to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document.
(d) Investment Intent. Purchaser represents and warrants to
the Company that the Shares to be acquired by it hereunder are being acquired
for its own account for investment and with no intention of distributing or
reselling such Shares or any part thereof or interest therein in any transaction
which would be in violation of the securities Laws of the United States of
America or any state or any foreign country or jurisdiction.
(e) Transfer Restrictions. If Purchaser should decide to
dispose of any of the Shares to be purchased by it, Purchaser understands and
agrees that it may do so only pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act. In connection with any offer, resale, pledge or other transfer
(individually and collectively, a "Transfer") of any Shares other than pursuant
to an effective registration statement, the Company may require that the
transferor of such Shares provide to the Company an opinion of counsel which
opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company,
to the effect that such Transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or
in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and any State or foreign securities Laws. Purchaser agrees to the
imprinting, so long as appropriate, of substantially the following legend on
certificates representing the Shares:
-30-
35
THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (THE "SHARES") EVIDENCED
HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION
HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER (INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, A "TRANSFER") THE
SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY, EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (B) PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT SUCH AS THE
EXEMPTION SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF
AVAILABLE). IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS TO BE MADE OTHER THAN PURSUANT
TO CLAUSE (A) ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH
TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL
OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM
THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A
TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAW.
The legend set forth above may be removed if and when the Shares, as
the case may be, represented by such certificate are disposed of pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act or the opinion of
counsel referred to above has been provided to the Company. The share
certificates shall also bear any additional legends required by applicable
federal, state or foreign securities Laws, which legends may be removed when, in
the opinion of counsel to the Company, the same are no longer required under the
applicable requirements of such securities Laws. Purchaser agrees that, in
connection with any Transfer of Shares by it pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, Purchaser will comply with all
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Company makes no
representation, warranty or agreement as to the availability of any exemption
from registration under the Securities Act with respect to any resale of Shares.
(f) Purchaser Status. Purchaser represents and warrants to,
and covenants and agrees with the Company that (i) at the time it was offered
the Shares, it was, (ii) at the date hereof, it is, and (iii) at each Closing
Date, it will be, an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act, and has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in
business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the Company and
an investment in the Shares, and is able to bear the economic risk of such
investment.
-31-
36
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Furnishing of Information. As long as Purchaser owns Shares
representing at least 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, from and after the Closing Date the Company will promptly furnish
to Purchaser all reports filed by it pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (or if the Company is not at the time required to file reports
pursuant to said Section 13(a) or 15(d), annual and quarterly reports comparable
to those required by Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act).
Section 4.2 Shareholder Approval; Proxy Statement. The Company shall
take all actions necessary in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the
Bylaws, the rules of Nasdaq and other applicable Law to call a meeting of its
shareholders (the "Shareholders' Meeting") to be held as promptly as practicable
after the date hereof for the purpose of approving the Share Issuance and the
Articles of Amendment. The Company and Purchaser shall consult with each other
in connection with Shareholders' Meeting. The Company shall cause the Board (a)
to recommend to the Company's shareholders approval of the Share Issuance and
the Articles of Amendment, (b) not to withdraw, modify or change such
recommendation and (c) to continue to recommend to the shareholders of the
Company the approval and the adoption of such matters. The record date for the
Shareholders' Meeting shall not be on or prior to the First Closing Date. As
promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall
prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement with respect to the approval
and adoption by the Company's shareholders of the Share Issuance and the
Articles of Amendment. As promptly as practicable after the clearance of the
Proxy Statement by the SEC but subject to the fourth sentence of this Section
4.2, the Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to its shareholders of record at
least 20 calendar days prior to the Shareholders' Meeting and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to solicit and obtain the affirmative vote of the
requisite percentage of the shareholders of the Company with respect to approval
of the Share Issuance and the Articles of Amendment.
Section 4.3 Nasdaq Listing. The Company shall submit a listing
application with Nasdaq with respect to the Shares within five business days
after the date hereof and Purchaser shall be entitled to review and comment on
such listing application and the submission of any other materials to Nasdaq in
connection with the listing of the Shares. The Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause the Shares to be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject
to official notice of issuance.
Section 4.4 Affirmative Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby
covenants and agrees that, until the earlier of the Second Closing or the
termination of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 4.4 to the
Company Disclosure Schedule, and unless otherwise expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or consented to in writing by Purchaser, the Company will and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
-32-
37
(a) operate its business in the usual and ordinary course
consistent with past practices except as contemplated by this Agreement or as
provided in or contemplated by the Company Disclosure Schedule;
(b) use all reasonable efforts to preserve substantially
intact its business organization, maintain its rights and franchises, retain the
services of its respective officers and key employees and maintain its
relationships with its respective customers and suppliers;
(c) maintain and keep its properties and assets in as good a
repair and condition as at present, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain supplies and inventories in
quantities consistent with its customary business practices;
(d) use all reasonable efforts to keep in full force and
effect insurance and bonds comparable in amount and scope of coverage to that
currently maintained;
(e) immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore
with respect to any Alternative Transaction (as hereinafter defined). For
purposes of this Agreement, "Alternative Transaction" shall mean any sale or
lease of a material portion of the Company's assets, merger, consolidation,
share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the acquisition in any manner, directly or
indirectly, of a material interest in any voting stock, interests or other
securities of, or a material portion of the assets of, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.5 Negative Covenants of the Company. Except as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise consented to in writing by Purchaser
or as set forth on Schedule 4.5 to the Company Disclosure Schedule, from the
date of this Agreement until earlier of the Second Closing or the termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall not do, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to do, any of the following:
(a) acquire or agree to acquire (whether pursuant to a
definitive agreement, a non-binding letter of intent or otherwise), by merging
or consolidating with, by purchasing an equity interest in or a portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership,
association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise
acquire or agree to acquire any assets of any other Person (other than the
purchase of assets from suppliers or vendors in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past practice);
(b) sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets or any assets of any of its
Subsidiaries, except for pledges or dispositions of assets in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice;
(c) initiate, solicit or encourage (including by way of
furnishing information or assistance), or take any other action to facilitate,
directly or indirectly, any inquiries or the making
-33-
38
of any proposal or offer relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to
lead to, any Alternative Transaction, or enter into discussions or negotiate
with any person or entity in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an
Alternative Transaction, or agree to, or endorse, any Alternative Transaction,
or authorize or permit any of the officers, directors, employees or agents of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker, financial
advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by the Company or
any of the Company's Subsidiaries to take any such action, and the Company shall
immediately notify Purchaser of all relevant terms of any such inquiries or
proposals received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such
officer, director, employee, agent, investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney, accountant or other representative relating to any proposed
Alternative Transaction and if such inquiry or proposal is in writing, the
Company shall immediately deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser a copy
of such inquiry or proposal; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
subsection (c) shall prohibit the Board from complying with Rule 14e-2 or Rule
14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Alternative
Transaction;
(d) release any third party from its obligations under any
existing standstill agreement or arrangement relating to an Alternative
Transaction or otherwise under any confidentiality or other similar agreement
relating to information material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) adopt or propose to adopt any amendments to its Articles
of Incorporation or Bylaws; reclassify any shares of its capital stock; adopt
resolutions authorizing a liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization, or other reorganization of the Company or any
Subsidiary; or make any other material changes in its capital structure;
(f) (i) change any of its significant accounting policies or
(ii) make or rescind any express or deemed election relating to Taxes, settle or
compromise any claim, action, suit, Litigation, audit or controversy relating to
Taxes, or change any of its methods of reporting income or deductions for
federal or other income Tax purposes from those employed in the preparation of
the federal or other income Tax Returns or other Tax Returns for the taxable
year ending December 31, 1997, except, in the case of either clause (i) or
clause (ii), as may be required by Law or GAAP;
(g) other than borrowings in the ordinary course under the
Credit Facility, incur any Debt, whether or not evidenced by a note, bond,
debenture or similar instrument or under any financing lease, whether pursuant
to a sale-and-leaseback transaction or otherwise, which would exceed $5,000,000;
(h) make any loans or advances to any Person, other than (i)
advances to employees in the ordinary and usual course of business and (ii)
transactions among or between the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to
cash management conducted in the ordinary and usual course of the Company's
business;
-34-
39
(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution
with respect to its capital stock, other than dividends paid by any Subsidiary
to the Company or another Subsidiary in the ordinary and usual course of the
Company's business;
(j) issue, sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or
granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase,
or otherwise) any of its capital stock or other securities other than as
contemplated herein or pursuant to awards issued and outstanding as of the date
hereof under the Stock Plans or purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital
stock, employee or director stock options, warrants or other equity securities
or debt securities;
(k) enter into, adopt, or (except as may be required by law)
amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or any Benefit Plan;
approve or implement any employment severance arrangements (other than payments
made under the Company's severance policy in accordance with past practice) or
retain or discharge any officers and executive management personnel; authorize
or enter into any employment, severance, consulting services or other agreement
with any officers and executive management personnel; or change the compensation
or benefits provided to any director, officer, or employee as of August 1, 1998;
(l) materially amend, terminate, or fail to use all
commercially reasonable efforts to renew any Material Contract (provided that
the Company or its Subsidiaries shall not be required to renew any Material
Contract on terms that are less favorable to the Company or its Subsidiaries),
or default in any material respect (or take or omit to take any action that,
with or without the giving of notice of passage of time, would constitute a
material default) under any Material Contract; or
(m) agree in writing or otherwise to do any of the foregoing.
Section 4.6 Approvals. The Company and Purchaser each agree to
cooperate and use their best efforts to obtain (and will immediately prepare all
registrations, filings and applications, requests and notices preliminary to
all) Approvals that may be necessary or which may be reasonably requested by the
Company or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
Section 4.7 Shareholder Agreement, Financial Advisory Agreement and
Monitoring Agreement. On or before the First Closing Date, the Company and
Purchaser shall enter into the Shareholder Agreement, the Financial Advisory
Agreement and the Monitoring Agreement.
Section 4.8 HSR Act Notification. To the extent it is determined that
the HSR Act will be applicable to the acquisition of the Shares by Purchaser,
each of the parties hereto shall (a) file or cause to be filed, as promptly as
practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and in no event
later than ten Business Days after the date of this Agreement, with the Federal
Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice, all reports and
other documents required to be filed by such party under the HSR Act concerning
the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) promptly comply with or cause to be
complied with any requests by the Federal Trade Commission or the United States
Department of Justice for additional information concerning the
-35-
40
Transaction, in each case so that the waiting period applicable to this
Agreement and the Transaction contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall expire
as soon as practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Each
party hereto agrees to request, and to cooperate with the other party or parties
in requesting, early termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR
Act.
Section 4.9 Indemnification of Directors; Insurance.
(a) At or prior to the First Closing, the Company shall enter
into indemnification agreements with each of its directors substantially in the
form of Exhibit E hereto with such changes thereto as may be agreed upon by
Purchaser and the Company (each an "Indemnification Agreement"). In addition, at
or prior to the Second Closing the Company shall enter into Indemnification
Agreements with each of the Purchaser Designees.
(b) At or prior to the First Closing Date, the Company shall
obtain directors' and officers' liability insurance policies providing an
aggregate of $25,000,000 in additional coverage to the coverage provided by the
Company's current directors' and officers' insurance policy (the "Additional D&O
Policies"). The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to ensure
that the Additional D&O Policies shall, in addition to customary coverage,
provide coverage for any claims arising out of or relating to the activities of
any of the Company's directors and the Purchaser Designees in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall provide coverage for
Purchaser and any of its Affiliates with respect to any claims brought against
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates arising out of or relating to any act or
omission of any director of the Company in his or her capacity as a director of
the Company.
(c) The Company shall, from and after the date of this
Agreement and for four years from the First Closing Date, maintain in effect the
current directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
Company (provided that the Company may substitute therefor policies no less
favorable in terms and amounts of coverage so long as substitution does not
result in gaps of lapses in coverage) with respect to matters occurring on or
prior to the First Closing Date; provided, however, that in no event shall the
Company be required to expend pursuant to this Section more than an amount per
year equal to 150% of current annual premiums paid by the Company for such
insurance and, in the event the cost of such coverage shall exceed that amount,
the Company shall purchase as much coverage as possible for such amount, and in
any event the Company shall provide the Covered Parties with the same terms and
amounts of coverage as the Company provides to those persons who are directors
and officers of the Company at the time such policies terminate.
(d) The Company shall amend its existing insurance coverage
under the Company's current policies of directors' and officers' liability
insurance, or obtain comparable replacement policies on terms no less favorable
in terms of coverage and amounts than those in effect on the date hereof, so
that Purchaser's purchase of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall not
constitute a "change of control" of the Company or otherwise cause any director
of the Company or any of persons who become directors of the Company on or after
the First Closing Date to be excluded from the coverage provided by such
insurance policies.
-36-
41
(e) In the event the Company or any of its successors or
assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets
to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so
that the successors and assigns of the Company shall assume the obligations set
forth in this Section 4.9. The rights of the Covered Parties under this Section
shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any rights to indemnity that such
persons may have under the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or any other
provisions herein or in other agreements.
Section 4.10 Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give
prompt notice to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the
Company, of (a) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event that causes
any representation or warranty contained in any Transaction Document to be
untrue or inaccurate at any time from the date of this Agreement to either
Closing Date and (b) any failure of the Company or Purchaser to comply with or
satisfy, in any material respect, any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it under any Transaction Document.
Section 4.11 Board of Directors. As of the date of this Agreement the
Board is comprised of the individuals listed on Schedule 4.11 to the Company
Disclosure Schedule. The Company shall take, or cause to be taken, such action
as may be necessary or advisable, including increasing the size of the Board by
one member, to ensure that simultaneously with the Second Closing the Board
shall consist of nine individuals, including (a) two individuals designated by
Purchaser (the "Purchaser Designees"), and (b) the individuals listed in
Schedule 4.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule less one director whose
resignation shall be agreed upon by Purchaser and the Company. The Company shall
take, or cause to be taken, such action as may be necessary or advisable to
ensure that simultaneously with the Second Closing each of the audit and
compensation committees and the executive committee, if any, of the Board shall
include one or more of the Purchaser Designees.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
Section 5.1 Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation. The
respective obligations of Purchaser and the Company to effect the transactions
contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to each Closing
Date of the following conditions:
(a) Approvals. All Approvals of, or expirations of waiting
periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity necessary for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been filed, occurred,
or been obtained, including the expiration or termination of any applicable
waiting period under the HSR Act.
(b) No Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or other order issued by any court
of competent jurisdiction or other legal
-37-
42
restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be in effect.
(c) No Action. No action shall have been taken nor any
statute, rule, or regulation shall have been enacted by any Governmental Entity
that makes the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal.
Section 5.2 Conditions Precedent to Obligation of Purchaser at the
First Closing. The obligation of Purchaser to effect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated at the First Closing is subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived, in whole or in
part, by Purchaser:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty of the
Company contained herein that is qualified by a materiality standard or a
Material Adverse Effect qualification shall not be further qualified hereby) as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the First Closing Date as though made on
and as of the First Closing Date, and Purchaser shall have received a
certificate to the foregoing effect signed on behalf of the Company and its
Subsidiaries by the chief executive officer or by the chief financial officer of
the Company.
(b) Performance of Obligations. The Company shall have
performed in all material respects (provided that any covenant or agreement that
is qualified by a materiality standard or Material Adverse Effect qualification
shall not be further qualified hereby) all obligations required to be performed
by it or them under this Agreement prior to the First Closing Date, and
Purchaser shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of
the Company and its Subsidiaries by the chief executive officer or by the chief
financial officer of the Company.
(c) Consents Under Agreements. Purchaser shall have been
furnished with evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the consent or approval
of each person that is a party to a Material Contract (including evidence of the
payment or any required payment) and whose consent or approval shall be required
in order to permit the consummation of each of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or to prevent a breach of such Contract or the creation of a
right to terminate such Contract, and such consent or approval shall be in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser.
(d) Legal Opinion. Purchaser shall have received from
Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P., corporate counsel to the Company, and its
Subsidiaries, an opinion dated the First Closing Date, in substantially the form
attached as Exhibit B hereto, which opinion, if requested by Purchaser, shall
expressly provide that they may be relied upon by Purchaser's lenders,
underwriters, or other sources of financing with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(e) Nasdaq Listing. The Initial Shares shall have been
approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
-38-
43
(f) Closing Deliveries. All documents, instruments,
certificates or other items required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to
Section 6.2(b) shall have been delivered.
Section 5.3 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Company at the First
Closing. The obligation of the Company to effect the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement to be consummated at the First Closing is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived, in whole or in part, by
the Company:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty of Purchaser
contained herein that is qualified by a materiality standard or a Material
Adverse Effect qualification shall not be further qualified hereby) as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the First Closing Date as though made on and as
of the First Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate to
the foregoing effect signed on behalf of Purchaser by the chief executive
officer or by the chief financial officer of Purchaser.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Purchaser. Purchaser shall
have performed in all material respects (provided that any covenant or agreement
that is qualified by a materiality standard shall not be further qualified
hereby) the obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement
prior to the First Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a
certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Purchaser by the chief executive
officer or by the chief financial officer of Purchaser.
(c) Nasdaq Listing. The Initial Shares shall have been
approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
(d) Closing Deliveries. All documents, instruments,
certificates or other items required to be delivered by Purchaser pursuant to
Section 6.2(a) shall have been delivered.
Section 5.4 Conditions Precedent to Obligation of Purchaser at the
Second Closing. The obligation of Purchaser to effect the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated at the Second Closing is
subject to the following conditions when waived, in whole or in part, by
Purchaser:
(a) Shareholder Approval. The shareholders of the Company
shall have approved the Share Issuance and the Articles of Amendment by the
requisite votes at the Shareholders' Meeting.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty of the
Company contained herein that is qualified by a materiality standard or a
Material Adverse Effect qualification shall not be further qualified hereby) as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Second Closing Date as though made
on and as of the Second Closing Date, and Purchaser shall have received a
certificate to the foregoing effect signed on behalf
-39-
44
of the Company and its Subsidiaries by the chief executive officer or by the
chief financial officer of the Company.
(c) Performance of Obligations. The Company shall have
performed in all material respects (provided that any covenant or agreement that
is qualified by a materiality standard or Material Adverse Effect qualification
shall not be further qualified hereby) all obligations required to be performed
by it or them under this Agreement prior to the Second Closing Date, and
Purchaser shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of
the Company and its Subsidiaries by the chief executive officer or by the chief
financial officer of the Company.
(d) Nasdaq Listing. All of the Shares shall have been approved
for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
(e) Legal Opinion. Purchaser shall have received from
Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx, L.L.P. corporate counsel to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, an opinion dated the Second Closing Date, in substantially the
form attached as Exhibit B hereto, which opinion, if requested by Purchaser,
shall expressly provide that they may be relied upon by Purchaser's lenders,
underwriters, or other sources of financing with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(f) Closing Deliveries. All documents, instruments,
certificates or other items required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to
Section 6.3(b) shall have been delivered.
Section 5.5 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Company at the
Second Closing. The obligation of the Company to effect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated at the Second Closing is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived, in whole
or in part, by the Company.
(a) Shareholder Approval. The shareholders of the Company
shall have approved Share Issuance and the Articles of Amendment by the
requisite votes at the Shareholders' Meeting.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all material respects (provided that any representation or warranty of Purchaser
contained herein that is qualified by a materiality standard or a Material
Adverse Effect qualification shall not be further qualified hereby) as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Second Closing Date as though made on and
as of the Second Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate
to the foregoing effect signed on behalf of Purchaser by the chief executive
officer or by the chief financial officer of Purchaser.
(c) Performance of Obligations of Purchaser. Purchaser shall
have performed in all material respects (provided that any covenant or agreement
that is qualified by a materiality standard shall not be further qualified
hereby) the obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement
prior to the Second Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a
certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Purchaser by the chief executive
officer or by the chief financial officer of Purchaser.
-40-
45
(d) Nasdaq Listing. All of the Shares shall have been approved
for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
(e) Closing Deliveries. All documents, instruments,
certificates or other items required to be delivered by Purchaser pursuant to
Section 6.3(a) shall have been delivered.
ARTICLE VI
CLOSINGS
Section 6.1 Closings. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article V, the purchase and sale of the Shares to be
purchased by Purchaser hereunder will take place at two closings (the
"Closings"). The closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Shares pursuant
to Section 2.1(a)(i) (the "First Closing"), if any, and the closing of the
purchase and sale of the Remaining Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(ii) (the
"Second Closing") shall occur (a) at the offices of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P., 0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on the
thirteenth Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver (subject to
applicable Law) of each of the conditions to the obligations of the parties to
effect the transactions to occur at each such Closing as set forth in Sections
5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5, respectively, or (b) at such other location and time
as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto. The failure of the First
Closing to occur because all of the conditions to the parties' obligations to
effect the First Closing have not been satisfied or waived shall not prevent the
Second Closing from occurring. The date on which the First Closing is required
to take place is herein referred to as the "First Closing Date" and the date on
which the Second Closing is required to take place is herein referred to as the
"Second Closing Date." All closing transactions at the First Closing shall be
deemed to have occurred simultaneously, and all closing transactions at the
Second Closing shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously.
Section 6.2 Actions to Occur at the First Closing.
(a) At the First Closing, Purchaser shall deliver to the
Company the following:
(i) Purchase Price. The Purchase Price for the
Initial Shares in accordance with Article II hereof;
(ii) Shareholder Agreement. Counterparts of the
Shareholder Agreement executed by Purchaser;
(iii) Monitoring Agreement. Counterparts of the
Monitoring Agreement executed by Xxxxx, Muse & Co. Partners, L.P.
("HMCo"); and
(iv) Certificates. The certificates described in
Sections 5.3(a) and 5.3(b).
-41-
46
(b) At the First Closing, the Company shall deliver to
Purchaser (or to its designee as indicated otherwise) the following:
(i) Share Certificates. Certificates representing the
Initial Shares;
(ii) Shareholder Agreement. Counterparts of the
Shareholder Agreement executed by the Company;
(iii) Monitoring Agreement. Counterparts of the
Monitoring Agreement executed by the Company;
(iv) Purchaser's Expenses. An amount equal to
Purchaser's Expenses incurred through the First Closing Date in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby as provided in
Section 9.5 by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account of Purchaser (which amount and account number shall have been
furnished to the Company at least two Business Days prior to the
Closing Date);
(v) Certificates. The certificates described in
Sections 5.2(a) and 5.2(b);
(vi) Consents Under Agreements. The original of each
consent or approval, if any, pursuant to Section 5.2(c); and
(vii) Legal Opinion. The opinion of counsel referred
to in Section 5.2(d).
Section 6.3 Actions to Occur at the Second Closing.
(a) At the Second Closing, Purchaser shall deliver to the
Company the following:
(i) Purchase Price. An amount equal to the Purchase
Price for the Remaining Shares in accordance with Article II hereof;
and
(ii) Certificates. The certificates described in
Sections 5.5(b) and 5.5(c).
(b) At the Second Closing, the Company shall deliver to
Purchaser (or to its designee as indicated otherwise) the following:
(i) Share Certificates. Certificates representing the
Remaining Shares;
(ii) Purchaser's Expenses. An amount equal to
Purchaser's Expenses incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby between the First Closing Date and the Second
Closing Date as provided in Section 8.5 by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account of Purchaser (which amount of such costs
and expenses and account number shall have been furnished to the
Company at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date);
-42-
47
(iii) Certificates. The certificates described in
Sections 5.4(b) and 5.4(c); and
(iv) Legal Opinion. The opinion of counsel referred
to in Section 5.4(e).
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to
either Closing:
(a) by mutual consent of Purchaser and the Company;
(b) by either Purchaser or the Company:
(i) in the event of a breach by the other party of
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement which (A) would give rise to the failure of a condition set
forth in Section 5.2(a) or 5.2(b) or Section 5.3(a) or 5.3(b) with
respect to the First Closing, or Section 5.4(b) or 5.4(c) or Section
5.5(b) or 5.5(c), with respect to the Second Closing, as applicable,
and (B) cannot be or has not been cured within 20 days (the "Cure
Period") following receipt by the breaching party of written notice of
such breach (it is acknowledged and agreed that there shall not be a
Cure Period for breaches of the covenants set forth in the third
sentence of Section 4.2 or in Section 4.5(c));
(ii) if a court of competent jurisdiction or other
Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree, or ruling or
taken any other action (which order, decree, or ruling Purchaser and
the Company shall use their best efforts to lift), in each case
permanently restraining, enjoining, or otherwise prohibiting the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such order, decree,
ruling, or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
(iii) if the required approval of the shareholders of
the Company shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to
obtain the required vote upon a vote held at a duly held meeting of
shareholders, or at any adjournment thereof; or
(iv) if the Closing shall not have occurred by the
later of (A) the first anniversary of the date hereof, and (B) the date
to which the Closing Date is extended pursuant to Section 6.1;
provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this clause (iv) shall not be available to any party whose breach of
this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of
the Closing to occur on or before such date.
The right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 7.1 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf
-43-
48
of any party hereto, any person controlling any such party or any of their
respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal
counsel, agents, or other representatives whether prior to or after the
execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the
contrary, a party that is in material breach of this Agreement shall not be
entitled to terminate this Agreement except, in the case of a default by the
Company, with the consent of Purchaser, or in the case of a default by
Purchaser, with the consent of the Company.
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of
this Agreement, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other
party specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is
made, and this Agreement (except for the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section
4.9, Article VIII and Article IX, which shall survive such termination) shall
forthwith become null and void. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.5, in the
event of a termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Purchaser as
provided above, there shall be no liability on the part of the Company or
Purchaser, except for liability arising out of a breach of, or misrepresentation
under, this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Indemnification of Purchaser. Subject to the provisions of this
Article VIII, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser
Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Purchaser Indemnified Costs.
8.2 Indemnification of Company. Subject to the provisions of this
Article VIII, Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from
and against any and all Company Indemnified Costs.
8.3 Defense of Third-Party Claims. An Indemnified Party shall give
prompt written notice to any person who is obligated to provide indemnification
hereunder (an "Indemnifying Party") of the commencement or assertion of any
action, proceeding, demand, or claim by a third party (collectively, a
"third-party action") in respect of which such Indemnified Party shall seek
indemnification hereunder. Any failure so to notify an Indemnifying Party shall
not relieve such Indemnifying Party from any liability that it, he, or she may
have to such Indemnified Party under this Section 8.3 unless the failure to give
such notice materially and adversely prejudices such Indemnifying Party. The
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume control of the defense of,
settle, or otherwise dispose of such third-party action on such terms as it
deems appropriate; provided, however, that:
(a) The Indemnified Party shall be entitled, at its own
expense, to participate in the defense of such third-party action (provided,
however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay the attorneys' fees of one
counsel (provided that if any such third-party action is brought in a
jurisdiction other than Texas, the Indemnifying Party shall also pay the
attorney's fees of one local counsel) to
-44-
49
the Indemnified Party if (i) the employment of separate counsel shall have been
authorized in writing by any such Indemnifying Party in connection with the
defense of such third-party action, (ii) the Indemnifying Parties shall not have
employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to have charge
of such third-party action, (iii) counsel to the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to the Indemnified
Party that are different from or additional to those available to the
Indemnifying Party, (iv) counsel to the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party shall have advised their respective clients in writing, with a copy
delivered to the other party, that there is a conflict of interest that could
make it inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct to have
common counsel), or (v) the third-party action is a proceeding brought by a
shareholder of the Company (in such shareholder's name or derivatively on behalf
of the Company) in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) The Indemnifying Party shall obtain the prior written
approval of the Indemnified Party before entering into or making any settlement,
compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of the validity of such third-party
action or any liability in respect thereof if, pursuant to or as a result of
such settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment, injunctive or other
equitable relief would be imposed against the Indemnified Party or if, in the
opinion of the Indemnified Party, such settlement, compromise, admission, or
acknowledgment could have a material adverse effect on its business;
(c) No Indemnifying Party shall consent to the entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional
term thereof the giving by each claimant or plaintiff to each Indemnified Party
of a release from all liability in respect of such third-party action; and
(d) The Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to control
(but shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of), and
the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to have sole control over, the defense
or settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of any third-party
action (i) as to which the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense within
a reasonable length of time; or (ii) to the extent the third-party action seeks
an order, injunction, or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party
which, if successful, would materially adversely affect the business,
operations, assets, or financial condition of the Indemnified Party; provided,
however, that the Indemnified Party shall make no settlement, compromise,
admission, or acknowledgment that would give rise to liability on the part of
any Indemnifying Party without the prior written consent of such Indemnifying
Party.
The parties hereto shall extend reasonable cooperation in connection with the
defense of any third-party action pursuant to this Article VIII and, in
connection therewith, shall furnish such records, information, and testimony and
attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials, and appeals as
may be reasonably requested.
8.4 Direct Claims. In any case in which an Indemnified Party seeks
indemnification hereunder which is not subject to Section 8.3 because no
third-party action is involved, the Indemnified Party shall notify the
Indemnifying Party in writing of any Indemnified Costs which
-45-
50
such Indemnified Party claims are subject to indemnification under the terms
hereof. The failure of the Indemnified Party to exercise promptness in such
notification shall not amount to a waiver of such claim unless the resulting
delay materially prejudices the position of the Indemnifying Party with respect
to such claim.
8.5 Tax Related Adjustments. The Company and Purchaser agree that any
payment of Indemnified Costs made hereunder will be treated by the parties on
their Tax Returns as an adjustment to the Purchase Price. If, notwithstanding
such treatment by the parties, any payment of Indemnified Costs is determined to
be taxable income rather than adjustment to Purchase Price and counsel to the
Indemnified Party shall have advised the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Counsel in writing thereof, then the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify the
Indemnified Party for any Taxes payable by the Indemnified Party or any
subsidiary by reason of the receipt of such payment (including any payments
under this Section 8.5), determined at an assumed marginal tax rate equal to the
highest marginal tax rate then in effect for corporate taxpayers in the relevant
jurisdiction.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Survival of Provisions. The representations, warranties and
covenants (including the indemnification obligations) of the Company and
Purchaser made herein or in any other Transaction Document shall remain
operative and in full force and effect pursuant to their terms regardless of (a)
any investigation made by or on behalf of Purchaser or the Company, as the case
may be, or (b) acceptance of any of the Shares and payment by Purchaser
therefor.
Section 9.2 No Waiver; Modification in Writing. No failure or delay on
the part of the Company or a Purchaser in exercising any right, power or remedy
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The
remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any
remedies that may be available to the Company or Purchaser at law or in equity.
The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may
not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures
from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of the
Company, on the one hand, and Purchaser or its permitted assigns, on the other
hand, provided that notice of any such waiver shall be given to each party
hereto as set forth below. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to
any provision of this Agreement, or any waiver of any provision of this
Agreement, shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by
this Agreement, no notice to or demand on any party hereto in any case shall
entitle the other party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances.
-46-
51
Section 9.3 Specific Performance. The parties recognize that in the
event the Company should refuse to perform under the provisions of this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document, monetary damages alone will not be
adequate. Purchaser shall therefore be entitled, in addition to any other
remedies which may be available, including money damages, to obtain specific
performance of the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any action to
enforce this Agreement or any other Transaction Document specifically, the
Company hereby waive the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.
Section 9.4 Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of
applicable law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this
Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination
that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being
enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions
contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest
extent possible.
Section 9.5 Fees and Expenses.
(a) At each Closing pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(iv) and
6.3(b)(ii), the Company shall pay to Purchaser an amount equal to the
Purchaser's Expenses incurred through the applicable Closing Date in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Concurrently with a termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 7.1(b)(ii), (iii) or (iv) by the Purchaser or the Company (and as a
condition to any such termination by the Company), the Company shall pay to
Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount equal to the
Purchaser's Expenses.
(c) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
7.1(b)(iii) by the Purchaser or the Company, and within one year of such
termination definitive documentation with respect to an Alternative Transaction
has been entered into or 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock has been
acquired pursuant to a tender or exchange offer in connection with an
Alternative Transaction, then the Company shall pay $3,000,000 to Purchaser in
immediately available funds within three Business Days after the occurrence of
such event.
(d) Pursuant to the terms of the Financial Advisory Agreement,
the Company is paying to HMCo a transaction fee of $1,250,000 by wire transfer
of immediately available funds concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement. At the First Closing, the Company shall pay to HMCo a transaction fee
in the amount of $1,250,000 by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If
the shareholders of the Company shall have approved the Share Issuance and the
Articles of Amendment on or before December 31, 1998, the Company shall pay HMCo
a transaction fee in the amount of $7,500,000 ($8,750,000 if the First Closing
shall not have occurred) by wire transfer of immediately available funds on the
Second Closing Date. If the shareholders of the Company
-47-
52
shall not have approved the Share Issuance and the Articles of Amendment on or
before December 31, 1998, the Company shall pay HMCo a transaction fee of
$7,500,000 ($8,750,000 if the First Closing shall not have occurred) in
immediately available funds on December 31, 1998; provided however, that the
Company may elect to pay such transaction fee by delivering to HMCo the amount
of $2,500,000 ($3,750,000 if the First Closing shall not have occurred) in cash
by wire transfer of immediately available funds and by issuing to HMCo 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock; provided that such shares shall have been approved for
listing on Nasdaq and that all other Approvals with respect to the issuance of
such shares shall have been received.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or as provided by Law,
all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred
by Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents shall be borne solely
and entirely by the Company in addition to its own such costs and expenses.
Section 9.6 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and, except as provided below, inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto
and their successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, except as set
forth in Section 4.9 (which is expressly intended for the benefit of the Covered
Parties and shall be enforceable by any of the Covered Parties or any of their
respective heirs and representatives) and Article VIII which is intended for the
benefit of all Indemnified Parties, express or implied, is intended to confer
upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or
by reason of this Agreement.
Section 9.7 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or mailed
by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):
(a) If to Purchaser, to:
HM 4 Coho, L.P.
c/o Hicks, Muse, Xxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
-48-
53
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) If to the Company, to:
Coho Energy, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: President
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any of the above addresses may be changed at any time by notice given
as provided above; provided, however, that any such notice of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt. All notices, requests or instructions
given in accordance herewith shall be deemed received on the date of delivery,
if hand delivered, on the date of receipt, if telecopied, three Business Days
after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, and one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by
Federal Express or other recognized overnight courier.
Section 9.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered
(including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, all of which
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered
to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the
same counterpart.
Section 9.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (which term shall be
deemed to include the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and the other certificates,
documents and instruments delivered hereunder) constitutes the entire agreement
of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, letters of intent and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. There are no representations or warranties, agreements,
or covenants other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement.
-49-
54
Section 9.10 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS.
Section 9.11 Public Announcements. The Company, on the one hand, and
Purchaser, on the other, shall consult with each other before issuing any press
release or otherwise making any public statements with respect to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby, except for statements required by Law
or by any listing agreements with any national securities exchange or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or made in disclosures filed
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Section 9.12 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto, whether by operation of Law or otherwise; provided, however, that upon
notice to the Company, (a) Purchaser may assign or delegate any or all of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate thereof and (b)
nothing in this Agreement shall limit Purchaser's ability to make a collateral
assignment of its rights under this Agreement to any institutional lender that
provides funds to Purchaser without the consent of the Company. The Company
shall execute an acknowledgment of such collateral assignments in such forms as
Purchaser's lenders may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however,
that unless written notice is given to the Company that any such collateral
assignment has been foreclosed upon, the Company shall be entitled to deal
exclusively with Purchaser as to any matters arising under this Agreement or any
of the other agreements delivered pursuant hereto. In the event of such an
assignment, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding on Purchaser's assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of this
Section shall be null and void.
Section 9.13 Director and Officer Liability. The directors, officers,
and stockholders of Purchaser and its Affiliates shall not have any personal
liability or obligation arising under this Agreement (including any claims that
the Company may assert) other than as an assignee of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
-50-
55
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first
written above.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXX
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------------
HM 4 COHO, L.P.
By: Xxxxx, Muse Fund IV LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
-----------------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------------
[Signature Page - Stock Purchase Agreement]
56
EXHIBIT A
---------
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),
dated as of __________ 1998, is entered into by and between Coho Energy, Inc., a
Texas corporation (the "Company"), HM 4 Coho, L.P., a Texas limited partnership
("Purchaser"), and Energy Investment Partnership No. 1, a Texas general
partnership ("EIP"). Purchaser and EIP are each referred to herein as a
"Holder."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, EIP and the Company entered into a prior Shareholder Agreement
dated May 12, 1998 (the "Original Agreement"), and in connection with an equity
investment in the Company by Purchaser the parties desire to amend and restate
the prior agreement in its entirety as follows:
AGREEMENT
Now, therefor, in consideration of the premises, mutual covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
"Advice" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.5 hereof.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person who, directly
or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with that
Person.
"Affiliated Group", with respect to any Person, means such Person and
each Affiliate and Associate (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 promulgated under
the Exchange Act) of such Person and each other Person with whom such Person is
acting "as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of" shares (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, regardless of whether the Company shall at
any time be subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act).
"Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement, as
such from time to time may be amended.
57
"Common Stock" means shares of the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per
share, of the Company, and any capital stock into which such Common Stock
thereafter may be changed.
"Common Stock Equivalents" means, without duplication with any other
Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, any rights, warrants, options,
convertible securities or indebtedness, exchangeable securities or indebtedness,
or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly
or indirectly, Common Stock of the Company and securities convertible or
exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company, whether at the time of issuance
or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of some future event.
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.
"Demand Registration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.1
hereof.
"Demand Request" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.1.
hereof.
"EIP" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
"EIP Designee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"Excluded Registration" means a registration under the Securities Act
of (i) securities registered on Form S-8 or any similar successor form and (ii)
securities registered to effect the acquisition of or combination with another
Person.
"Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof and shall include any direct or indirect transferee of a Holder who shall
elect to become a party to this Agreement and also shall include Xxxxx, Muse &
Co. Partners, L.P. if such entity receives shares of Common Stock pursuant to
Section 9.5(d) of the Stock Purchase Agreement. "Holders" shall mean each Holder
collectively. If at any time there is more than one Holder, except as otherwise
specifically set forth in this Agreement, any notices, designations, consents,
or similar actions to be taken by the Holder or Holders hereunder shall be taken
by Holders who own a majority of shares of Common Stock owned by all Holders.
"Holder Designee" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1.1
hereof.
"Inspectors" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4 hereof.
"Material Adverse Effect" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3.1.4 hereof.
"NASD" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4 hereof.
-2-
58
"Original Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the first
recital hereof.
"Other Registrable Shares" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3.1.4 hereof.
"Person" or "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.
"Purchaser Designee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
"Records" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4 hereof.
"Registrable Shares" means at any time the shares of Common Stock of
the Company owned by the Holder or Holders whether owned on the date hereof or
acquired hereafter; provided, however, that Registrable Shares shall not include
any shares (x) the sale of which has been registered pursuant to the Securities
Act and which shares have been sold pursuant to such registration, or (y) which
have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 of the SEC under the
Securities Act.
"Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.6
hereof.
"Requesting Holder" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1.1
hereof.
"Required Filing Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3.1.1(b) hereof.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"Seller Affiliates" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.7.1
hereof.
"Stock Purchase Agreement" means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement
dated August 21, 1998 between Purchaser and the Company.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests with voting power,
under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or
indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or
by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, and (ii) any other
Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, a subsidiary of such
Person or such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority
ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.
-3-
59
"Suspension Notice" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.5
hereof.
Section 1.2 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) "or" is not exclusive;
(3) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural
include the singular;
(4) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(5) "herein," "thereof" and other words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision.
ARTICLE 2
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN ACTIVITIES
Section 2.1 Board of Directors.
2.1.1 Board Representation. Concurrently with the execution of the
Original Agreement, the Company caused two nominees of EIP to be appointed to
the Board of Directors of the Company (each, an "EIP Designee"). Pursuant to the
terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, at the Second Closing (as defined in such
agreement) the Company shall cause the size of the Board of Directors of the
Company to be increased to nine members and cause two nominees of Purchaser
(each, a "Purchaser Designee" and, together with the EIP Designees, the "Holder
Designees") be to elected or appointed to the Board of Directors. For the
purposes of this Article 2, the term "EIP" shall include any Holders that become
Holders by being transferees of EIP and the term "Purchaser" shall include any
Holders that become Holders by being transferees of Purchaser. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall also take all actions necessary to ensure that a
Purchaser Designee (in addition to the existing EIP Designee) is appointed to
the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and,
if established, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Each Holder
Designee shall serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the
Company and until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until
their earlier death, resignation or removal from office. The Company agrees to
continue to cause two EIP Designees and two Purchaser Designees to be nominated
for election to the Board of Directors of the Company at each annual meeting of
the Company's shareholders after such Second Closing. The Holders agree that no
Holder Designee shall be a director or officer of an independent exploration and
production company that could reasonably be viewed as a competitor of the
Company. To the extent the Company's proxy statement for any annual meeting of
shareholders includes a recommendation regarding the election of any other
nominees to the Company's Board of Directors, the Company agrees to include a
recommendation of its Board of Directors that the shareholders also vote in
favor
-4-
60
of the Holders' nominees. The Company shall appoint an EIP Designee and a
Purchaser Designee serving on the Company's Board of Directors to be members of
the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and, if
established, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company
shall ensure that the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as in
effect immediately following the date hereof do not, at any time thereafter,
conflict in any respect with the provisions of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Vacancies. If, prior to his election to the Board of Directors of
the Company pursuant to Section 2.1.1 hereof, any Holder Designee shall be
unable or unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, then EIP or
Purchaser, as the case may be, shall be entitled to nominate a replacement who
shall then be an EIP or Purchaser Designee, as the case may be, for purposes of
this Section 2. If, following an election or appointment to the Board of
Directors of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1.1 hereof, any Holder Designee
shall resign or be removed or be unable to serve for any reason prior to the
expiration of his term as a director of the Company, then EIP or Purchaser, as
the case may be, shall, within 30 days of such event, notify the Board of
Directors of the Company in writing of a replacement Holder Designee, and the
Company shall cause such replacement Holder Designee to be appointed to the
Board of Directors of the Company and each applicable committee thereof to fill
the unexpired term of the Holder Designee who such new Holder Designee is
replacing.
2.1.3 Termination of Rights. The right of EIP to designate directors
under Section 2.1.1 shall terminate upon the first to occur of (i) the
termination of this Agreement, (ii) such time as EIP elects in writing to
terminate its rights under this Article 2, or (iii) such time as EIP and its
respective Affiliates cease to own at least 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock
(such number of shares to be appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits,
stock dividends, recapitalizations, or other changes to the Common Stock). The
right of Purchaser to designate directors under Section 2.1.1 shall terminate
upon the first to occur of (i) the termination of this Agreement, (ii) such time
as Purchaser elects in writing to terminate its rights under this Article 2, or
(iii) such time as Purchaser (which for the purposes of this clause (iii) shall
mean HM4 Coho, L.P. only) and its Affiliates cease to own at least 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock and (B) any single Holder (and Affiliates
thereof) that became a Holder by being a transferee of Purchaser shall not own
at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. In addition, from and
after any time at which EIP or any single transferee or group of related
transferees of EIP ceases to own at least 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock and
Purchaser and its respective Affiliates or any single transferee or group of
related transferees of Purchaser or its Affiliates continue to own at least 5%
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, EIP shall cease to have the right to
designate any Holder Designees and Purchaser shall have the right to designate
four Holder Designees, unless or until such time as Purchaser's right to
designate directors has terminated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding
sentence.
2.1.4 Costs and Expenses. The Company will pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Holder Designees in connection with their
participation in meetings of the Board of Directors (and committees thereof) of
the Company and the Boards of Directors (and committees thereof) of the
Subsidiaries of the Company.
-5-
61
2.2 Other Activities of the Holder; Fiduciary Duties. It is understood
and accepted that the Holders and their Affiliates have interests in other
business ventures which may be in conflict with the activities of the Company
and its Subsidiaries and that, subject to applicable law, nothing in this
Agreement shall limit the current or future business activities of the Holders
or their Affiliates whether or not such activities are competitive with those of
the Company and its Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied,
shall relieve any officer or director of the Company (including any designee of
a Holder pursuant to Section 2.1.1) or any of its Subsidiaries of any fiduciary
or other duties or obligations they may have to the Company's shareholders.
ARTICLE 3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 3.1 Demand Registration.
3.1.1 Request for Registration.
(a) At any time one or more Holders may request the Company,
in writing (a "Demand Request"), to effect the registration under the
Securities Act of all or part of its or their Registrable Shares (a
"Demand Registration"); provided that the Registrable Shares proposed
to be sold by the Holders requesting a Demand Registration (the
"Requesting Holders," which term shall include parties deemed
"Requesting Holders" pursuant to Section 3.1.5 hereof) represent, in
the aggregate, more than 20% of the total number of Registrable Shares
held by all Holders.
(b) Each Demand Request shall specify the number of
Registrable Shares proposed to be sold. Subject to Section 3.1.6, the
Company shall file the Demand Registration within 30 days after
receiving a Demand Request (the "Required Filing Date") and shall use
all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to be declared
effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable after such filing;
provided, that the Company need effect only five Demand Registrations;
provided, further, that if any Registrable Shares requested to be
registered pursuant to a Demand Request under this Section 3.1 are
excluded from a registration pursuant to Section 3.1.4 below, the
Holders shall have the right, with respect to each such exclusion, to
one additional Demand Registration under this Section 3.1 with respect
to such excluded Registrable Shares.
3.1.2 Effective Registration and Expenses. A registration will not
count as a Demand Registration until it has become effective (unless (i) the
Requesting Holders withdraw all their Registrable Shares, (ii) the Company has
performed its obligations hereunder in all material respects and (iii) there has
not been any event, change or effect which, individually or in the aggregate,
has had or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, prospects, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Company, in which case such demand will count as a
Demand Registration unless the Requesting Holders pay all Registration Expenses,
as hereinafter defined, in connection with such withdrawn registration);
provided, that if, after it has become effective, an offering of Registrable
Shares pursuant to a
-6-
62
registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction, or other order or
requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court, such registration
will be deemed not to have been effected and will not count as a Demand
Registration. Subject to the following sentence, in the event that a Demand
Request is made by a Holder that is subsequently withdrawn by that Holder, all
Registration Expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be borne by that
Holder and such withdrawn Demand Request shall not be counted as a Demand
Registration in determining the number of Demand Registrations to which the
Holders are entitled pursuant to Section 3.1.1(b). In the event that a Demand
Request is made by a Holder that is subsequently withdrawn by that Holder, all
Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company if (i) the Company has not
performed its obligations hereunder in all material respects or (ii) there has
been any event, change or effect which, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, prospects, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Company; and in such case a withdrawn Demand
Request shall not be counted as a Demand Registration in determining the number
of Demand Registrations to which the Holders are entitled pursuant to Section
3.1.1(b).
3.1.3 Selection of Underwriters. The offering of Registrable Shares
pursuant to a Demand Registration shall be in the form of a "firm commitment"
underwritten offering. The Requesting Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Shares to be registered in a Demand Registration shall select the investment
banking firm or firms to manage the underwritten offering; provided that such
selection shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
3.1.4 Priority on Demand Registrations. No securities to be sold for
the account of any Person (including the Company) other than a Requesting Holder
and the holders of the Other Registrable Shares shall be included in a Demand
Registration unless the managing underwriter or underwriters shall advise the
Requesting Holders in writing that the inclusion of such securities will not
materially and adversely affect the price or success of the offering (a
"Material Adverse Effect"). Furthermore, in the event the managing underwriter
or underwriters shall advise the Requesting Holders that even after exclusion of
all securities of other Persons pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence,
the amount of Registrable Shares proposed to be included in such Demand
Registration by Requesting Holders and the holders of the Other Registrable
Shares is sufficiently large to cause a Material Adverse Effect, the Registrable
Shares of the Requesting Holders and the holders of the Other Registrable Shares
to be included in such Demand Registration shall equal the number of shares
which the Requesting Holders are so advised can be sold in such offering without
a Material Adverse Effect and such shares shall be allocated pro rata among the
Requesting Holders and the holders of Other Registrable Shares on the basis of
the number of Registrable Shares held by the Requesting Holders and the number
of shares owned by holders of Other Registrable Shares who have requested shares
to be included in such registration. The term "Other Registrable Shares" shall
mean shares of Common Stock that the Company has a contractual obligation to
register the offer and sale of in a Demand Registration pursuant to a validly
existing registration rights or similar agreement in effect on the date of this
Agreement (collectively the "Other Registration Rights Agreements").
-7-
63
3.1.5 Rights of Nonrequesting Holders. Upon receipt of any Demand
Request, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within 10 days) give
written notice of such proposed Demand Registration to all other Holders and all
holders of Other Registrable Shares, who shall have the right, exercisable by
written notice to the Company within 15 days of their receipt of the Company's
notice, to elect to include in such Demand Registration such portion of their
Registrable Securities with respect to Holders and Other Registrable Shares with
respect to holders of Other Registrable Shares as they may request. All Holders
requesting to have their Registrable Shares included in a Demand Registration in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be "Requesting
Holders" for purposes of this Section 3.1.
3.1.6 Deferral of Filing. The Company may defer the filing (but not the
preparation) of a registration statement required by Section 3.1 until a date
not later than 180 days after the Required Filing Date (or, if longer, 180 days
after the effective date of the registration statement contemplated by clause
(ii) below) if (i) at the time the Company receives the Demand Request, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries are engaged in confidential negotiations or
other confidential business activities, disclosure of which would be required in
such registration statement (but would not be required if such registration
statement were not filed), and the Board of Directors of the Company determines
in good faith that such disclosure would be materially detrimental to the
Company and its shareholders or would have a material adverse effect on any such
confidential negotiations or other confidential business activities, or (ii)
prior to receiving the Demand Request, the Board of Directors had determined to
effect a registered underwritten public offering of the Company's securities for
the Company's account and the Company had taken substantial steps (including,
but not limited to, selecting a managing underwriter for such offering) and is
proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering. A deferral of the
filing of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.1.6 shall be
lifted, and the requested registration statement shall be filed forthwith, if,
in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, the
negotiations or other activities are disclosed or terminated, or, in the case of
a deferral pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, the proposed
registration for the Company's account is abandoned. In order to defer the
filing of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.1.6, the Company
shall promptly (but in any event within 10 days), upon determining to seek such
deferral, deliver to each Requesting Holder and each holder of Other Registrable
Shares that requested the inclusion of shares in the Demand Registration a
certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company stating that the
Company is deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 3.1.6 and a general
statement of the reason for such deferral and an approximation of the
anticipated delay. Within 20 days after receiving such certificate, the holders
of a majority of the Registrable Shares held by the Requesting Holders and for
which registration was previously requested may withdraw such Demand Request by
giving notice to the Company; if withdrawn, the Demand Request shall be deemed
not to have been made for all purposes of this Agreement. The Company may defer
the filing of a particular registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.1.6
only once.
Section 3.2 Piggyback Registrations.
3.2.1 Right to Piggyback. Each time the Company proposes to register
any of its equity securities (other than pursuant to an Excluded Registration)
under the Securities Act for sale to the public (whether for the account of the
Company or the account of any securityholder of the
-8-
64
Company) or proposes to make such an offering of equity securities pursuant to a
previously filed registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act (such as a "universal shelf" registration statement) and the form
of registration statement to be used permits the registration of Registrable
Shares, the Company shall give prompt written notice to each Holder of
Registrable Shares (which notice shall be given not less than 30 days prior to
the effective date of the Company's registration statement), which notice shall
offer each such Holder the opportunity to include any or all of its or his
Registrable Shares in such registration statement, subject to the limitations
contained in Section 3.2.2 hereof. Each Holder who desires to have its or his
Registrable Shares included in such registration statement shall so advise the
Company in writing (stating the number of shares desired to be registered)
within 20 days after the date of such notice from the Company. Any Holder shall
have the right to withdraw such Holder's request for inclusion of such Holder's
Registrable Shares in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.2.1
by giving written notice to the Company of such withdrawal. Subject to Section
3.2.2 below, the Company shall include in such registration statement all such
Registrable Shares so requested to be included therein; provided, however, that
the Company may at any time withdraw or cease proceeding with any such
registration if it shall at the same time withdraw or cease proceeding with the
registration of all other equity securities originally proposed to be
registered.
3.2.2 Priority on Registrations. If the Registrable Shares requested to
be included in the registration statement by any Holder differ from the type of
securities proposed to be registered by the Company and the managing underwriter
advises the Company that due to such differences the inclusion of such
Registrable Shares would cause a Material Adverse Effect, then (i) the number of
such Holder's or Holders' Registrable Shares to be included in the registration
statement shall be reduced to an amount which, in the judgment of the managing
underwriter, would eliminate such Material Adverse Effect or (ii) if no such
reduction would, in the judgment of the managing underwriter, eliminate such
Material Adverse Effect, then the Company shall have the right to exclude all
such Registrable Shares from such registration statement provided no other
securities of such type are included and offered for the account of any other
Person in such registration statement. Any partial reduction in number of
Registrable Shares to be included in the registration statement pursuant to
clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be effected pro rata
based on the ratio which such Holder's requested shares bears to the total
number of shares requested to be included in such registration statement by all
Persons who have requested that their shares be included in such registration
statement. If the Registrable Shares requested to be included in the
registration statement are of the same type as the securities being registered
by the Company and the managing underwriter advises the Company that the
inclusion of such Registrable Shares would cause a Material Adverse Effect, the
Company will be obligated to include in such registration statement, as to each
Holder, only a portion of the shares such Holder has requested be registered
equal to the ratio which such Holder's requested shares bears to the total
number of shares requested to be included in such registration statement by all
Persons who have requested that their shares be included in such registration
statement. If the Company initiated the registration, then the Company may
include all of its securities in such registration statement before any of such
Holder's requested shares are included. If another securityholder initiated the
registration, then the Company may not include any of its securities in such
registration statement unless all Registrable Shares requested to be included in
the registration statement by all Holders are included in such registration
statement. If as a result of the provisions of this Section 3.2.2 any Holder
shall not be entitled to include all
-9-
65
Registrable Securities in a registration that such Holder has requested to be so
included, such Holder may withdraw such Holder's request to include Registrable
Shares in such registration statement. No Holder may participate in any
registration statement hereunder unless such Person (x) agrees to sell such
Person's Registrable Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Company and (y) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements; provided, however, that no such Person shall be required to make
any representations or warranties in connection with any such registration other
than representations and warranties as to (i) such Person's ownership of his or
its Registrable Shares to be sold or transferred free and clear of all liens,
claims, and encumbrances, (ii) such Person's power and authority to effect such
transfer, and (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws
as may be reasonably requested; provided further, however, that the obligation
of such Person to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall
be several, not joint and several, among such Persons selling securities, and
the liability of each such Person will be in proportion to, and provided further
that such liability will be limited to, the net amount received by such Person
from the sale of his or its Registrable Shares pursuant to such registration.
3.3 Holdback Agreement. Unless the managing underwriter otherwise
agrees, each of the Company and the Holders agrees, and the Company agrees, in
connection with any underwritten registration, to use its reasonable efforts to
cause its Affiliates to agree, not to effect any public sale or private offer or
distribution of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents during the ten
business days prior to the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any
underwritten registration and during such time period after the effectiveness
under the Securities Act of any underwritten registration (not to exceed 120
days) (except, if applicable, as part of such underwritten registration) as the
Company and the managing underwriter may agree.
3.4 Registration Procedures. Whenever any Holder has requested that any
Registrable Shares be registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will
use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale
of such Registrable Shares in accordance with the intended method of disposition
thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as possible:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on any
appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to such Registrable
Shares and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration
statement to become effective;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, post-effective
amendments, and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus
used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration
statement effective for a period of not less than 180 days (or such lesser
period as is necessary for the underwriters in an underwritten offering to sell
unsold allotments) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
-10-
66
(iii) furnish to each seller of Registrable Shares and the underwriters
of the securities being registered such number of copies of such registration
statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in
such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), any
documents incorporated by reference therein and such other documents as such
seller or underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such seller or the sale of such
securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section
3.5 and the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws, the Company consents to the use of the prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto by each seller and the underwriters in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by the registration
statement of which such prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part);
(iv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify
such Registrable Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the managing underwriter reasonably requests; use its
commercially reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification
(or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such registration
statement is required to be kept effective; and do any and all other acts and
things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each seller to
consummate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such seller in
such jurisdictions (provided, however, that the Company will not be required to
(A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) consent to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction);
(v) promptly notify each seller and each underwriter and (if requested
by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing (A) when a prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with
respect to a registration statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective, (B) of the issuance by any state securities or other
regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or exemption from
qualification of any of the Registrable Shares under state securities or "blue
sky" laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, and (C) of the
happening of any event which makes any statement made in a registration
statement or related prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any
changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that they
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and
file with the SEC and furnish a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so
that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares,
such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(vi) if requested by the managing underwriter or any seller promptly
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as the managing underwriter or any seller reasonably requests to be
included therein, including, without limitation, with respect to the Registrable
Shares being sold by such seller, the purchase price being paid therefor by the
underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of
the Registrable
-11-
67
Shares to be sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of
such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(vii) as promptly as practicable after filing with the SEC of any
document which is incorporated by reference into a registration statement (in
the form in which it was incorporated), deliver a copy of each such document to
each seller;
(viii) cooperate with the sellers and the managing underwriter to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not
bear any restrictive legends unless required under applicable law) representing
securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to
be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing
underwriter or such sellers may request and keep available and make available to
the Company's transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration
statement a supply of such certificates;
(ix) promptly make available for inspection by any seller, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration
statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative
retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably necessary to
enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested
by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement; provided,
that, unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in the registration statement or the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of
competent jurisdiction, the Company shall not be required to provide any
information under this subparagraph (x) if (A) the Company believes, after
consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company
to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information
or (B) if either (1) the Company has requested and been granted from the SEC
confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the SEC
or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Company reasonably
determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the
Inspectors in writing unless prior to furnishing any such information with
respect to (A) or (B) such Holder of Registrable Securities requesting such
information agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form
and subject to customary exceptions; and provided, further that each Holder of
Registrable Securities agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of
such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company at its expense, to undertake appropriate action
and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
(x) furnish to each seller underwriter a signed counterpart of (A) an
opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company, and (B) a comfort letter or
comfort letters from the Company's independent public accountants, each in
customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by
opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the sellers or managing
underwriter reasonably requests;
(xi) cause the Registrable Shares included in any registration
statement to be (A) listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then
-12-
68
listed, or (B) authorized to be quoted and/or listed (to the extent applicable)
on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
("NASDAQ") or the NASDAQ National Market System if the Registrable Shares so
qualify;
(xii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Shares included in any
registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration
statement;
(xiii) cooperate with each seller and each underwriter participating in
the disposition of such Registrable Shares and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD");
(xiv) during the period when the prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, promptly file all documents required to be filed with
the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(xv) notify each seller of Registrable Shares promptly of any request
by the SEC for the amending or supplementing of such registration statement or
prospectus or for additional information;
(xvi) prepare and file with the SEC promptly any amendments or
supplements to such registration statement or prospectus which, in the opinion
of counsel for the Company or the managing underwriter, is required in
connection with the distribution of the Registrable Shares;
(xvii) enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in
the managing underwriter's customary form) as are customary in connection with
an underwritten registration; and
(xviii) advise each seller of such Registrable Shares, promptly after
it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop
order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or
the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly
use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its
withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued.
3.5 Suspension of Dispositions. Each Holder agrees by acquisition of
any Registrable Shares that, upon receipt of any notice (a "Suspension Notice")
from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3.4(v)(C), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable
Shares until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus, or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that
the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated by reference in the
prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the
Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Shares current at the
time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such
notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of registration statements
set forth in Section 3.4(ii) hereof shall be extended by the number of days
during the period from and including the date of the giving of the Suspension
Notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Shares covered
by such registration
-13-
69
statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus or the Advice. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts and take such actions as are reasonably necessary to render the Advice
as promptly as practicable.
3.6 Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of or compliance with this Article 3, including, without limitation,
(i) all registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses associated with
filings required to be made with the NASD (including, if applicable, the fees
and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" as such term is defined
in Schedule E of the By-Laws of the NASD, and of its counsel), as may be
required by the rules and regulations of the NASD, (iii) fees and expenses of
compliance with securities or "blue sky" laws (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel in connection with "blue sky" qualifications of the
Registrable Shares), (iv) rating agency fees, (v) printing expenses (including
expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Shares in a form eligible
for deposit with Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the
printing of prospectuses is requested by a holder of Registrable Shares), (vi)
messenger and delivery expenses, (vii) the Company's internal expenses
(including without limitation all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), (viii) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with any listing of the Registrable Shares, (ix) fees and
expenses of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses of the Company's
independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special
audit or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance),
(x) securities acts liability insurance (if the Company elects to obtain such
insurance), (xi) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the
Company in connection with such registration, (xii) the fees and expenses of
other Persons retained by the Company and (xiii) reasonable fees and expenses of
one firm of counsel for the sellers (which shall be selected by the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Shares being included in any particular registration
statement) (all such expenses being herein called "Registration Expenses"),
subject to Section 3.1.2, will be borne by the Company whether or not any
registration statement becomes effective; provided that, except as expressed
otherwise provided above, in no event shall Registration Expenses include any
underwriting discounts or commissions and transfer taxes.
3.7 Indemnification.
3.7.1 The Company agrees to indemnify and reimburse, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, each seller of Registrable Shares, and each of its
employees, advisors, agents, representatives, partners, officers, and directors
and each Person who controls such seller (within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act) and any agent or investment advisor thereof
(collectively, the "Seller Affiliates") (A) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, and expenses, joint or several (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees and disbursements except as limited by 3.7.3) based
upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement,
prospectus, or preliminary prospectus relating to the offer and sale of
Registrable Shares, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any
omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage, and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the
extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation or
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
-14-
70
threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon, arising out of, related to or
resulting from any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission, and (C) against any and all costs and expenses (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) as may be reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing, or defending against any litigation, or investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from
any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission,
to the extent that any such expense or cost is not paid under subparagraph (A)
or (B) above; except insofar as the same are made in reliance upon and in strict
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such seller
or any Seller Affiliate for use therein or arise from such seller's or any
Seller Affiliate's failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or
prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has
furnished such seller or Seller Affiliate with a sufficient number of copies of
the same. The reimbursements required by this Section 3.7.1 will be made by
periodic payments during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when
bills are received or expenses incurred.
3.7.2 In connection with any registration statement in which a seller
of Registrable Shares is participating, each such seller will furnish to the
Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably
requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or
prospectus and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such seller will
indemnify the Company and its directors and officers and each Person who
controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements
except as limited by Section 3.7.3) resulting from any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, or any preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information or
affidavit so furnished in writing by such seller or any of its Seller Affiliates
specifically for inclusion in the registration statement; provided that the
obligation to indemnify will be several, not joint and several, among such
sellers of Registrable Shares, and the liability of each such seller of
Registrable Shares will be in proportion to, and provided further that such
liability will be limited to, the net amount received by such seller from the
sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to such registration statement; provided,
however, that such seller of Registrable Shares shall not be liable in any such
case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such registration statement
or prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such seller has
furnished in writing to the Company information expressly for use in such
registration statement or prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished
to the Company.
3.7.3 Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (A) give
prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to
which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give such notice
shall not limit the rights of such Person) and (B) unless in such indemnified
party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and
indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such
indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided,
-15-
71
however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the
right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such
claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Person unless (X) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or
expenses, or (Y) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense
of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person. If such
defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party as permitted hereunder, the
indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made
by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be
unreasonably withheld). If such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party
pursuant to the provisions hereof, such indemnifying party shall not settle or
otherwise compromise the applicable claim unless (1) such settlement or
compromise contains a full and unconditional release of the indemnified party or
(2) the indemnified party otherwise consents in writing. An indemnifying party
who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not
be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all
parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim.
3.7.4 Each party hereto agrees that, if for any reason the
indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 3.7.1 or Section 3.7.2 are
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party in connection with the actions which resulted in
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party
and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties, relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.7.4 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Holders or any underwriters or all of them were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
Section 3.7.4. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or, except as provided in Section 3.7.3, defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.7.4, no Holder shall
be required to contribute an amount greater than the dollar amount by which the
proceeds received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable
Shares exceeds the amount of damages which such Holder has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such statement or omission. No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations in this
Section 3.7.4 to contribute shall be several in proportion to the amount of
Registrable Shares registered by them and not joint.
-16-
72
If indemnification is available under this Section 3.7, the
indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent
provided in Section 3.7.1 and Section 3.7.2 without regard to the relative fault
of said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable
consideration provided for in this Section 3.7.4.
3.7.5 The indemnification and contribution provided for under this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, or
controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of
securities.
3.8 Other Registration Rights. If compliance by the Company with any
provision of this Agreement would cause the Company to breach any provisions of
the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 8,
1994 by and among the Company, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (the
"Xxxxxxx Agreement") or the Stock Purchase Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common
Stock of COHO ENERGY, INC. issued to Amoco Corporation on December 18, 1997 (the
"Amoco Warrant"), then the provisions set forth in the Xxxxxxx Agreement or the
Amoco Warrant, as applicable, shall control, and the Company, in such case,
shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Agreement due to the Company's
compliance with such provision in the Xxxxxxx Agreement or the Amoco Warrant, as
applicable, and the Company's failure to comply with the applicable provisions
of this Agreement. Except for as set forth in the Xxxxxxx Agreement or the Amoco
Warrant, as applicable, no holder of Other Registrable Shares has priority
rights for inclusion in a Demand Registration that are inconsistent with the
terms of this Agreement. The Company shall not grant or amend any registration
rights after the date of this Agreement that would in any way diminish the
rights of the Holders hereunder, and any such registration rights shall be
granted or amended only if such rights are subordinate to or pari passu with the
rights of the Holders hereunder.
ARTICLE 4
TERMINATION
The provisions of this Agreement, unless earlier terminated pursuant to
their terms, shall terminate on the twentieth anniversary of the date of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 5.1 Limitations on Certain Transactions. Each Holder, severally
and not jointly, covenants and agrees with the Company that, for the period
commencing on the date hereof and terminating on May 11, 2000, it will not,
directly or indirectly, except as specifically permitted by this Article 5 or
unless specifically requested or permitted in writing by the Company's Board of
Directors:
-17-
73
(a) deposit any shares of Common Stock in a voting trust or grant any
proxy with respect to any shares of Common Stock to any Person not designated by
the Company (other than a Holder or any Affiliate or partner of a Holder) or
subject any shares of Common Stock to any arrangement or agreement with respect
to the voting of such shares of Common Stock; or
(b) act with one or more Persons (other than another Holder or any
Affiliate or partner of a Holder) as a partnership, limited partnership,
syndicate or "group" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of
Common Stock.
No Holder shall, prior to May 12, 2000, directly or indirectly, (i)
sell or transfer, or offer to sell or transfer, shares of Common Stock that
represent more than 10% of the fully diluted common equity of the Company to any
single Person or Affiliated Group or (ii) sell or transfer, or offer to sell or
transfer, to any holder of 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, shares
of Common Stock that represent more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of
the Company; provided, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to sales
or transfers (i) to any investment banking firm acting as an underwriter
pursuant to a public offering conducted in accordance with Article 3, (ii)
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer by any Person with respect to which the
Board of Directors of the Company shall have recommended acceptance or shall
have taken no position, (iii) pursuant to a merger or other business combination
involving the Company or (iv) to a Holder or any Affiliate or Partner of a
Holder.
Section 5.2 Restrictive Legends.
(a) Each certificate representing restricted securities (as
defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) shall be
stamped with the following legend:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR
CONVEYED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH.
(b) Each certificate representing shares of Common Stock shall
also be stamped with the following legend:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS
AND THE CORPORATION WHICH INCLUDES RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN SALES OF THE
SECURITIES. COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.
(c) Each Holder consents to the Company's making a notation on
its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the shares
of Common Stock to implement the restrictions on transfers established
in this Agreement.
-18-
74
(d) In the event that any shares referred to in Section 5.2(a)
shall cease to be restricted securities, the Company shall, upon the
written request of the holder thereof, issue to such holder a new
certificate evidencing such shares without the first paragraph of the
legend required by Section 5.2(a) endorsed thereon. In the event that
any shares referred to in Section 5.2(a) shall cease to be subject to
the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement, the Company
shall, upon the written request of the holder thereof, issue to such
holder a new certificate evidencing such shares without the second
paragraph of the legend required by Section 5.2(a).
Section 5.3 Rule 144. The Company shall take all commercially
reasonable actions necessary to enable a Holder of Registrable Shares to sell
such securities without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to the
provisions of Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Shares,
the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements.
ARTICLE 6
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
Section 6.1 Resolution of Disputes between the Parties.
(a) Negotiation. The parties shall attempt in good faith to
resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement
promptly by negotiations between executives who have authority to
settle the controversy. Any party may give the other party written
notice of any dispute not resolved in the normal course of business.
Within five days after the effective date of such notice, executives of
the parties shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to
meet and shall meet at such time and place, and thereafter as often as
they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to
attempt to resolve the dispute. The first of such meetings shall take
place within 7 days of the effective date of the disputing party's
notice. If the matter has not been resolved within 60 days of the
disputing party's notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and
place for an initial meeting within five days of such notice, either
party may initiate mediation of the controversy or claim as provided
hereinafter. If a negotiator intends to be accompanied at a meeting by
an attorney, the other negotiator shall be given at least three
business days' notice of such intention and may also be accompanied by
an attorney. All negotiations pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be
treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for the purposes of
federal and state rules of evidence and procedure.
(b) Mediation. If the dispute has not been resolved by
negotiation as provided herein, the parties may endeavor to settle the
dispute by mediation under the then current CPR Model Procedure for
Mediation of Business Disputes. The neutral third party shall be
selected by the parties from the CPR Panels of Neutrals. If the parties
encounter difficulty in agreeing upon a neutral third party, they shall
seek the assistance of CPR in the selection process.
-19-
75
(c) Arbitration. Any dispute arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or the breach, termination or validity hereof or
thereof, which has not been resolved by non-binding procedures as
provided in Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) hereof within 60 days of the
initiation of either or both of such procedures, shall be finally
settled by arbitration conducted expeditiously in accordance with the
CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes;
provided that if one party has requested the other to participate in a
non-binding procedure and the other has failed to participate, the
requesting party may initiate arbitration before the expiration of such
period. The arbitration shall be conducted by three independent and
impartial arbitrators. Each party shall appoint one arbitrator and a
third arbitrator not appointed by the parties shall be appointed from
the CPR Panels of Neutrals. The arbitration shall be governed by the
United States Arbitration Act and any judgment upon the award decided
upon by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction
thereof. The arbitrators are not empowered to award damages in excess
of compensatory damages and each party hereby irrevocably waives any
damages in excess of compensatory damages. Each party hereby
acknowledges that compensatory damages include (without limitation) any
benefit or right of indemnification given by another party to the other
under this Agreement. Any arbitration conducted pursuant to this
Section 6.1(c) shall be held at a mutually acceptable location in
Dallas, Texas, the United States of America.
6.2 Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. Each of the parties hereby (a)
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Federal
District Court for the Northern District of Texas, sitting in Dallas County,
Texas, the United States of America, for the purposes of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (b) waives, and agrees
not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that (i) it is
not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court or of any other court
to which proceedings in such court may be appealed, (ii) such suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or (iii) the venue of such suit,
action or proceeding is improper and (c) expressly waives any requirement for
the posting of a bond by the party bringing such suit, action or proceeding.
Each of the parties consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for
notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and
sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 6.2
shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted
by law.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Notices. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made
by hand delivery, by telex, by telecopier or registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows (or at such
other address as may be substituted by notice given as herein provided):
-20-
76
If to the Company:
Coho Energy, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: President
If to any Holder, at its address listed on the signature pages hereof.
Any notice or communication hereunder shall be deemed to have been
given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when answered
back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and five calendar
days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail (except that a notice
of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually
received by the addressee).
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in
it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice
or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given,
whether or not the addressee receives it.
Section 7.2 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS,
WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
Section 7.3 Successors and Assigns. Whether or not an express
assignment has been made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
provisions of this Agreement that are for the Holders' benefit as the holders of
any securities are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, all subsequent
holders of securities and such subsequent holders shall be deemed to be Holders
and to have become parties to this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly
provided herein. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, each Holder,
and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, any transferee
of a Holder may elect in writing, at the time of the transfer, to not be a
Holder hereunder, in which case such transferee shall not be entitled to any
benefits of, nor subject to any obligations under, this Agreement. A Holder
shall notify the Company in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock
transferred and the name, address and telephone and facsimile numbers of any
transferror in advance of such transfer.
Section 7.4 Duplicate Originals. All parties may sign any number of
copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together shall represent the same agreement.
Section 7.5 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall
be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
-21-
77
Section 7.6 Specific Performance. The Company and the Holder or Holders
recognize that if the Company refuses to perform under the provisions of this
Agreement, monetary damages alone will not be adequate to compensate the Holder
or Holders for its or their injury. The Holder or Holders shall therefore be
entitled, in addition to any other remedies that may be available, to obtain
specific performance of the terms of this Agreement.
Section 7.7 No Waivers; Amendments.
7.7.1 No failure or delay on the part of the Company or any Holder in
exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or
remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the Company or
any Holder at law or in equity or otherwise.
7.7.2 Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but
only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Company and
the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Shares.
Section 7.8 No Affiliate Liability. The partners, officers, directors,
shareholders and Affiliates of a Holder shall not have any personal liability or
obligation to any Person arising under this Agreement; provided that this
sentence shall not relieve any designee of a Holder pursuant to Section 2.1.1 of
any liability that may result from a breach of a director's fiduciary duty to
the Company's shareholders.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
-22-
78
SIGNATURES TO SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the date first written above.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
ENERGY INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
NO. 1
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title: Co-Managing Partner
Address:
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
HM 4 COHO, L.P.
By: Xxxxx, Muse Fund IV LLC,
its general partners
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
Address:
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
79
EXHIBIT B
---------
FORM OF OPINION OF
SELLER'S COUNSEL
All capitalized terms used in this opinion and not otherwise defined
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated August 19, 1998, between Coho Energy, Inc. and HM 4 Coho, L.P. (the
"Purchase Agreement").
The opinion shall be substantially to the following effect:
1. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Texas. Each Significant Subsidiary
of the Company has been duly organized and is a validly existing entity under
the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation. Each of the Company
and the Significant Subsidiaries has all corporate requisite power and authority
to own, lease and license its respective properties and conduct its business as
now being conducted.
2. The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver the Purchase Agreement, the Financial Advisory Agreement, the Monitoring
Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement
(collectively, the "Transaction Documents") and to perform the obligations
contemplated thereby. The execution and delivery by the Company of each of the
Transaction Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Company. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of the Company and is enforceable in accordance with its terms.
3. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction
Documents, nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder,
violates or conflicts with, results in a breach of, or constitutes a default
under (i) the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or similar
organizational documents of any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any provision of
statutory law or regulations, (iii) any judgment, decree or order known to us of
any court or any other agency of government that is applicable to the Company or
the Company's property, or (iv) any agreement known to us to which the Company
is a party or by which the Company's property is bound and that is required to
be filed as an exhibit to the Company SEC Documents.
4. No approvals or authorizations by, or filings or qualifications
with, any Governmental Entity are required in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Transaction Documents or any other agreements or documents
executed and delivered pursuant thereto by the Company, except such as have been
duly obtained or made.
5. To our knowledge, there is no action, suit, investigation or
proceeding that is pending or threatened against or affecting the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries in any court or before any
80
Governmental Entity, arbitration board or tribunal that involves any of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
6. To our knowledge, there is no litigation, governmental or other
action, suit, proceeding or investigation before any Governmental Entity pending
or threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which is of a
character required to be disclosed in the Company SEC Documents that has not
already been disclosed therein.
7. All the shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and not subject
to any preemptive or similar rights.
8. The Shares to be delivered by the Company on the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, have been duly and validly
authorized, and, when delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the
Purchase Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and to our knowledge, will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
9. The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in Section 3.1(c)(i) of the
Purchase Agreement.
10. The Shares have been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Stock
Market - National Market System.
-2-
81
EXHIBIT C
---------
FINANCIAL ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS FINANCIAL ADVISORY AGREEMENT, dated August 21, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), is made and entered into between Coho Energy, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxx, Muse & Co. Partners, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership (together with its successors, "HMCo").
WHEREAS, an affiliate of HMCo, HM 4 Coho, L.P., a Texas partnership
("Purchaser"), is, as of the date of this Agreement, entering into an agreement
(the "Purchase Agreement") with the Company to purchase a portion of the capital
stock of the Company ( the "Transaction"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that HMCo render, and HMCo has
rendered, financial advisory services to the Company and its subsidiaries in
connection with the negotiation of the transaction; and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that HMCo render financial advisory,
investment banking, and other similar services to the Company and its
subsidiaries with respect to any future proposals for (a) the acquisition by any
person or group of beneficial ownership of (i) a majority of the combined voting
power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, or (ii) a majority of the Company's
outstanding capital stock, (b) a reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation or similar business combination or transaction or sale or other
disposition (whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions)
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole (unless the holders of the outstanding securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors prior to such
transaction continue to own at least a majority of the securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such
transaction upon the completion of such transaction), (c) the sale of oil and
gas properties of the Company or its subsidiaries involving consideration of
$100 million or more, (d) any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries
involving consideration of $100 million or more of (i) a majority of the voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities of any corporation entitled to
voting generally in the election of directors or (ii) a majority of the
ownership interests of an entity other than a corporation (whether by merger,
tender offer, exchange offer or similar extraordinary transaction), or (e) any
acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries of oil and gas properties or
other assets involving consideration of $100 million or more (collectively,
"Additional Transactions");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the services rendered and to be
rendered by HMCo to the Company and its subsidiaries and to evidence the
obligations of the Company to HMCo and the mutual covenants herein contained,
the Company and HMCo hereby agree as follows:
82
1. Retention.
(a) The Company hereby acknowledges that it has retained HMCo
for the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries, and HMCo acknowledges that
it has acted, as financial advisor to the Company and its subsidiaries in
connection with the Transaction.
(b) The Company acknowledges that, effective as of the First
Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), it has retained HMCo as the
exclusive financial advisor in connection with any Additional Transactions that
may be consummated during the term of this Agreement, and that the Company will
not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, retain any other person or entity
to provide such services in connection with any such Additional Transaction,
unless the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "CEO") and HMCo mutually
agree that the retention by the Company of a second financial advisor in
addition to HMCo would be appropriate with respect to a given Additional
Transaction; and provided, that the Company, at the discretion of the CEO, may
elect not to retain a financial advisor with respect to a particular Additional
Transaction and in such event HMCo shall not be entitled to receive the fee set
forth in Section 3(b) below. HMCo agrees that it shall provide such financial
advisory, investment banking, and other similar services in connection with any
such Additional Transaction as may be requested from time to time by the board
of directors of the Company.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall continue until the earlier to
occur of (a) the tenth anniversary of the date hereof or (b) the date on which
Purchaser and its affiliates cease to own beneficially, directly or indirectly,
at least five percent of the outstanding equity securities of the Company or its
successors; provided that no termination of this Agreement shall eliminate the
obligations of the Company under Section 3(a) hereof.
3. Compensation. (a) As compensation for HMCo's services as a financial
advisor to the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the Transaction,
the Company is paying HMCo a cash fee of $1,250,000 by wire transfer of
immediately available funds concurrently herewith and hereby irrevocably agrees
to pay HMCo:
(i) a cash fee of $1,250,000 by wire transfer of
immediately available funds on the First Closing Date (as defined in
the Purchase Agreement);
(ii) if the shareholders of the Company shall have
approved the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on or
before December 31, 1998, a cash fee of $7,500,000 by wire transfer of
immediately available funds on the Second Closing Date (as defined in
the Purchase Agreement); and
(iii) if the shareholders of the Company shall not
have approved the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement
on or before December 31, 1998, a fee of $7,500,000 ($8,750,000 if the
First Closing shall not have occurred (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) by wire transfer of immediately available funds on December
31, 1998; provided however, that the Company may elect to satisfy such
obligation through the
2
83
payment of $2,500,000 ($3,750,000) if the First Closing shall not have
occurred) by wire transfer of immediately available funds and the
issuance to HMCo of 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Company; and provided further that such shares shall
have been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market National
Market System and that the Company shall have received all other
required consents and approvals to the issuance of such shares.
(b) As compensation for HMCo's financial advisory, investment
banking, and other similar services rendered in connection with any Additional
Transaction pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof, the Company shall pay to HMCo, at
the closing of any such Additional Transaction, a fee payable in cash in an
amount equal to the amount of fees then charged by first tier investment banking
firms for similar advisory services rendered in connection with transactions
similar to such Additional Transaction; provided, however, that (c) such fee
shall be divided equally between HMCo and any additional financial advisor
retained by the Company as provided in the first sentence of Section 1(b) and
(d) HMCo shall not be entitled to a fee with respect to any Additional
Transaction for which the CEO elects not to retain a financial advisor.
4. Reimbursement of Expenses. In addition to the compensation to be
paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse HMCo,
promptly following demand therefor, together with invoices or reasonably
detailed descriptions thereof, for all reasonable disbursements and
out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by
HMCo (a) as financial advisor to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in
connection with the Transaction or (b) in connection with the performance by it
of the services contemplated by Section 1(b) hereof.
5. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each
of HMCo, its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, partners,
members, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act of 1933 or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), if any,
agents and employees (HMCo, its affiliates, and such other specified persons
being collectively referred to as "Indemnified Persons" and individually as an
"Indemnified Person") from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses,
damages and expenses incurred by any Indemnified Person (including those
resulting from the negligence of the Indemnified Person and fees and
disbursements of the respective Indemnified Person's counsel) which (a) are
related to or arise out of (i) actions taken or omitted to be taken (including
any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) actions taken or omitted to be taken by an
Indemnified Person with the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' consent or in
conformity with the Company's or any such subsidiaries' instructions or the
Company's or any such subsidiaries' actions or omissions or (b) are otherwise
related to or arise out of HMCo's engagement, and will reimburse each
Indemnified Person for all costs and expenses, including fees of any Indemnified
Person's counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating,
preparing for, defending, or appealing any action, formal or informal claim,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, whether or not in connection with
pending or threatened litigation, caused by or arising out of or in connection
with HMCo's acting pursuant to the engagement, whether or not any Indemnified
Person is named as a party thereto and whether or not any liability results
therefrom. The Company will not however, be responsible for any claims,
liabilities, losses,
3
84
damages, or expenses pursuant to clause (b) of the preceding sentence that have
resulted primarily from HMCo's bad faith, gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Company also agrees that neither HMCo nor any other Indemnified
Person shall have any liability to the Company or any of its subsidiaries for or
in connection with such engagement except for any claims, liabilities, losses,
damages, or expenses incurred by the Company or any such subsidiary to the
extent the same have resulted from HMCo's bad faith, gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Company further agrees that it will not, and the Company will
cause its subsidiaries to not, without the prior written consent of HMCo, settle
or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or
threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification
may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or
potential party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of HMCo and
each other Indemnified Person hereunder from all liability arising out of such
claim, action, suit or proceeding. THE COMPANY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE
FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO ANY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, LOSSES,
DAMAGES, OR EXPENSES THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM OR ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED
FROM THE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE OR THE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE
OF HMCO OR ANY OTHER INDEMNIFIED PERSON.
The foregoing right to indemnity shall be in addition to any rights
that HMCo and/or any other Indemnified Person may have at common law or
otherwise and shall remain in full force and effect following the completion or
any termination of the engagement. The Company hereby consents, and shall cause
its subsidiaries to consent, to personal jurisdiction and to service and venue
in any court in which any claim which is subject to this agreement is brought
against HMCo or any other Indemnified Person.
It is understood that, in connection with HMCo's engagement, HMCo may
also be engaged to act for the Company or any of its subsidiaries in one or more
additional capacities, and that the terms of this engagement or any such
additional engagement may be embodied in one or more separate written
agreements. This indemnification shall apply to the engagement specified in the
first paragraph hereof as well as to any such additional engagement(s) (whether
written or oral) and any modification of said engagement or such additional
engagement(s) and shall remain in full force and effect following the completion
or termination of said engagement or such additional engagements.
The Company further understands that if HMCo is asked to furnish the
Company or any of its subsidiaries a financial opinion letter or to act for the
Company or any such subsidiary in any other formal capacity, such further action
may be subject to a separate agreement containing provisions and terms to be
mutually agreed upon.
6. Confidential Information. In connection with the performance of the
services hereunder, HMCo agrees not to divulge any confidential information,
secret processes or trade secrets disclosed by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to HMCo solely in its capacity as a financial advisor, unless the
Company consents to the divulging thereof or such information, secret processes,
or trade secrets are publicly available or otherwise available to HMCo without
restriction
4
85
or breach of any confidentiality agreement or unless required by any
governmental authority or in response to any valid legal process.
7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any
choice-of-law provisions thereof.
8. Assignment. This Agreement and all provisions contained herein shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided, however, neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights, interests, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned (other
than with respect to the rights and obligations of HMCo, which may be assigned
to any one or more of its principals or affiliates) by any of the parties
without the prior written consent of the other parties.
9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and the signature of any
party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to,
any other counterpart.
10. Other Understanding. All discussions, understandings, and
agreements theretofore made between any of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof are merged in this Agreement, which alone fully and
completely expresses the agreement of the parties hereto.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
5
86
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
87
XXXXX, MUSE & CO. PARTNERS, L.P.
By: HM PARTNERS INC.,
its General Partner
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
88
EXHIBIT D
---------
FORM OF
MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT AGREEMENT
THIS MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into effective as of ____________, 1998, between Coho Energy, Inc., a
Texas corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxx, Muse & Co. Partners, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership (together with its successors, "HMCo").
1. Retention. The Company hereby acknowledges that they have retained
HMCo, and HMCo acknowledges that, subject to reasonable advance notice in order
to accommodate scheduling, HMCo will provide financial oversight and monitoring
services to the Company as requested by the Company during the term of this
Agreement.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall continue until the earlier of
(i) the tenth anniversary of the date hereof or (ii) the date on which HM 4
Coho, L.P. and its affiliates cease to own beneficially, directly or indirectly,
at least five percent of the outstanding equity securities of the Company, its
successors or affiliates.
3. Compensation.
(a) As compensation for HMCo's services under this Agreement,
the Company shall pay to HMCo an annual fee of $250,000 (the "Monitoring Fee").
(b) The Monitoring Fee shall be payable in quarterly
installments on the fifteenth (15th) day of each January, April, July and
October during the term of this Agreement (each a "Payment Date"), beginning
with the first Payment Date following the date hereof. The amount of each such
quarterly installment shall be the Monitoring Fee divided by 4 (the "Quarterly
Fee Amount") prorated on a daily basis for any partial calendar quarter during
the term of this Agreement.
(c) All past due payments in respect of the Monitoring Fee
shall bear interest at the lesser of the highest rate of interest which may be
charged under applicable law or the prime commercial lending rate per annum of
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. or its successors (which rate is a reference rate and
is not necessarily its lowest or best rate of interest actually charged to any
customer) (the "Prime Rate") as in effect from time to time, plus 5%, from the
due date of such payment to and including the date on which payment is made to
HMCo in full, including such interest accrued thereon.
4. Reimbursement of Expenses. In addition to the compensation to be
paid pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Company agrees to pay or reimburse HMCo
for all "Reimbursable Expenses", which shall consist of all reasonable
disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation costs of
travel, postage, deliveries, communications, etc.) incurred
89
by HMCo or its affiliates for the account of the Company or in connection with
the performance by HMCo of the services contemplated by Section 1 hereof.
Promptly (but not more than 10 days) after request by or notice from HMCo, the
Company shall pay HMCo, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
account described on Exhibit A hereto (or such other account as HMCo may
hereafter designate in writing), the Reimbursable Expenses for which HMCo has
provided the Company invoices or reasonably detailed descriptions. All past due
payments in respect of the Reimbursable Expenses shall bear interest at the
lesser of the highest rate of interest which may be charged under applicable law
or the Prime Rate plus 5% from the Payment Date to and including the date on
which such Reimbursable Expenses plus accrued interest thereon, are fully paid
to HMCo.
5. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each
of HMCo, its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, partners,
members, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act of 1933 or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), if any,
agents and employees (HMCo, its affiliates, and such other specified persons
being collectively referred to as "Indemnified Persons" and individually as an
"Indemnified Person") from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses,
damages and expenses incurred by any Indemnified Person (including those
resulting from the negligence of the Indemnified Person and fees and
disbursements of the respective Indemnified Person's counsel) which (A) are
related to or arise out of (i) actions taken or omitted to be taken (including
any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) actions taken or omitted to be taken by an
Indemnified Person with the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' consent or in
conformity with the Company's or any such subsidiaries' instructions or the
Company's or any such subsidiaries' actions or omissions or (B) are otherwise
related to or arise out of HMCo's engagement, and will reimburse each
Indemnified Person for all costs and expenses, including fees of any Indemnified
Person's counsel, as they are incurred, in connection with investigating,
preparing for, defending, or appealing any action, formal or informal claim,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, whether or not in connection with
pending or threatened litigation, caused by or arising out of or in connection
with HMCo's acting pursuant to the engagement, whether or not any Indemnified
Person is named as a party thereto and whether or not any liability results
therefrom. The Company will not however, be responsible for any claims,
liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses pursuant to clause (B) of the
preceding sentence that have resulted primarily from HMCo's bad faith, gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also agrees that neither HMCo nor
any other Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries for or in connection with such engagement except for any
claims, liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses incurred by the Company or any
such subsidiary to the extent the same have resulted from HMCo's bad faith,
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company further agrees that it will
not, and the Company will cause its subsidiaries to not, without the prior
written consent of HMCo, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any
Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such claim, action, suit
or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of HMCo and each other Indemnified Person
2
90
hereunder from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding. THE COMPANY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL
BE APPLICABLE TO ANY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, LOSSES, DAMAGES, OR EXPENSES THAT HAVE
RESULTED FROM OR ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE OR THE
SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF HMCO OR ANY OTHER INDEMNIFIED
PERSON.
The foregoing right to indemnity shall be in addition to any rights
that HMCo and/or any other Indemnified Person may have at common law or
otherwise and shall remain in full force and effect following the completion or
any termination of the engagement. The Company hereby consents, and shall cause
its subsidiaries to consent, to personal jurisdiction and to service and venue
in any court in which any claim which is subject to this agreement is brought
against HMCo or any other Indemnified Person.
It is understood that, in connection with HMCo's engagement, HMCo may
also be engaged to act for the Company or any of its subsidiaries in one or more
additional capacities, and that the terms of this engagement or any such
additional engagement may be embodied in one or more separate written
agreements. This indemnification shall apply to the engagement specified in the
first paragraph hereof as well as to any such additional engagement(s) (whether
written or oral) and any modification of said engagement or such additional
engagement(s) and shall remain in full force and effect following the completion
or termination of said engagement or such additional engagements.
The Company further understands that if HMCo is asked to furnish the
Company or any of its subsidiaries a financial opinion letter or to act for the
Company or any such subsidiary in any other formal capacity, such further action
may be subject to a separate agreement containing provisions and terms to be
mutually agreed upon.
6. Confidential Information. In connection with the performance of the
services hereunder, HMCo agrees not to divulge any confidential information,
secret processes or trade secrets disclosed by the Company to HMCo solely in its
capacity as a financial advisor, unless the Company consents to the divulging
thereof or such information, secret processes, or trade secrets are publicly
available or otherwise available to HMCo without restriction or breach of any
confidentiality agreement or unless required by any governmental authority or in
response to any valid legal process.
7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any
choice-of-law provisions thereof.
8. Assignment. This Agreement and all provisions contained herein shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided, however, neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights, interests, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned (other
than with respect to the rights and obligations of HMCo, which may be assigned
to any one or more of its principals or affiliates) by any of the parties
without the prior written consent of the other parties.
3
91
9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and the signature of any
party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to,
any other counterpart.
10. Other Understandings. All discussions, understandings, and
agreements heretofore made between any of the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof are merged in this Agreement, which alone fully and
completely expresses the Agreement of the parties hereto. All calculations of
the Reimbursable Expenses shall be made by HMCo and, in the absence of
mathematical error, shall be final and conclusive.
4
92
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------
93
XXXXX, MUSE & CO. PARTNERS, L.P.
By: HM PARTNERS INC.,
its General Partner
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------
94
EXHIBIT A
---------
Wire Transfer Instructions
--------------------------
Chase Bank of Texas
ABA #: 000000000
Account #: 08805113824
Credit: Xxxxx, Muse & Co. Partners, L.P.
Reference: Payment of Monitoring Fees or Expenses
by Coho Energy, Inc.
A-1
95
EXHIBIT E
FORM
OF
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of _________________, 199__, by and between Coho Energy, Inc., a Texas
corporation (including any successors thereto, the "Company"), and
_______________________ ("Indemnitee").
RECITALS:
A. Competent and experienced persons are reluctant to serve or to
continue to serve corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities
unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or
indemnification (or both) against claims and actions against them arising out of
their service to and activities on behalf of those corporations.
B. The current uncertainties relating to the availability of adequate
insurance for directors and officers have increased the difficulty for
corporations to attract and retain competent and experienced persons.
C. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that the continuation of present trends in litigation will make it more
difficult to attract and retain competent and experienced persons, that this
situation is detrimental to the best interests of the Company's stockholders,
and that the Company should act to assure its directors and officers that there
will be increased certainty of adequate protection in the future.
D. It is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to obligate
itself contractually to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law in order to induce them to serve or continue
to serve the Company.
E. Indemnitee is willing to serve and continue to serve the Company on
the condition that he be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.
F. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Indemnitee is
agreeing to serve or to continue to serve as a director or officer of the
Company.
AGREEMENTS:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises,
Indemnitee's agreement to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of
the Company, and the covenants contained in this Agreement, the Company and
Indemnitee hereby covenant and agree as follows:
96
1. Certain Definitions:
For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Affiliate: shall mean any Person that directly, or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with the Person specified.
(b) Change of Control: shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events:
(i) The acquisition after the date of this
Agreement by any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (x) the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company
Common Stock") or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that
for purposes of this paragraph (i), the following acquisitions shall not
constitute a Change of Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company or
any Subsidiary thereof, (B) any acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary
thereof, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (D) any
acquisition by one or more Affiliates of Hicks, Muse, Xxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
(the "HMC Group"), or (E) any acquisition by any entity or its security holders
pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B), and (C) of
paragraph (iii) below; or
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date of this
Agreement, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to the date of this Agreement (A) who
is a member of the HMC Group, or (B) whose election, or nomination for election
by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of
the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board, shall be considered as though
such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another entity (a "Business
Combination"), other than a Business Combination with one or more members of the
HMC Group, in each case, unless, immediately following such Business
Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who
were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or other equity
interests and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to
-2-
97
vote generally in the election of directors (or similar governing body), as the
case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more Subsidiaries) in proportions not materially different from
their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such
Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or any
Subsidiary of either of them) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or
more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the entity
resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such
ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority
of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the
entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of
the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company
of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(c) Claim: shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, securities laws
actions, suits and proceedings and also any cross claim or counterclaim in any
action, suit or proceeding), whether civil, criminal, arbitral, administrative
or investigative in nature, or any inquiry or investigation (including
discovery), whether conducted by the Company or any other Person, that
Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any action,
suit or proceeding.
(d) Expenses: shall mean all costs, expenses (including
attorneys' and expert witnesses' fees), and obligations paid or incurred in
connection with investigating, defending (including affirmative defenses and
counterclaims), being a witness in, or participating in (including on appeal),
or preparing to defend, be a witness in, or participate in, any Claim relating
to any Indemnifiable Event.
(e) Indemnifiable Event: shall mean any actual or alleged act,
omission, statement, misstatement, event or occurrence related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or
is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee,
agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee
benefit plan, trust, or other enterprise, or by reason of any actual or alleged
thing done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that Indemnitee's service on behalf of or with
respect to any Subsidiary or employee benefits plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company.
(f) Indemnifiable Liabilities: shall mean all Expenses
and all other liabilities, damages (including, without limitation, punitive,
exemplary, and the multiplied portion of any
-3-
98
damages), judgments, payments, fines, penalties, amounts paid in settlement, and
awards paid or incurred that arise out of, or in any way relate to, any
Indemnifiable Event.
(g) Reviewing Party: shall mean (i) a member or members of the
Board who are not parties to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is
seeking indemnification or (ii) if a Change of Control has occurred and
Indemnitee so requests, or if the members of the Board so elect, or if all of
the members of the Board are parties to such Claim, Special Counsel.
(h) Special Counsel: shall mean special, independent legal
counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld), and who has not otherwise performed material
services for the Company or for Indemnitee within the last three years (other
than as Special Counsel under this Agreement or similar agreements).
(i) Subsidiary: shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by
that Person.
2. Indemnification and Expense Advancement.
(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee and hold Indemnitee
harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law, as soon as practicable but in
any event no later than 30 days after written demand is presented to the
Company, from and against any and all Indemnifiable Liabilities. Any such demand
shall include an affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee's good faith belief
that such indemnification is permitted under this Agreement and an undertaking
by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay to the Company the amount of any
Indemnified Liabilities paid to Indemnitee if it shall ultimately be determined
that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Indemnified
Liabilities. Such undertaking need not be secured, and shall be accepted without
reference to financial ability to make repayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the
condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written
opinion, in any case in which Special Counsel is involved) that Indemnitee is
not permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall require any determination under this Section 2(a) to be made by
the Reviewing Party prior to the disposition or conclusion of the Claim against
the Indemnitee.
(b) If so requested by Indemnitee, the Company shall advance
to Indemnitee all reasonable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by law (or, if applicable, reimburse Indemnitee for any and all
reasonable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and previously paid by Indemnitee)
within ten business days after such request (an "Expense Advance"). The Company
shall be obligated from time to time at the request of Indemnitee to make or pay
an Expense Advance in advance of the final disposition or conclusion of any
Claim. In connection with any request for an Expense Advance, if requested by
the Company, Indemnitee or Indemnitee's counsel shall submit an affidavit
stating that the Expenses to which the Expense Advances relate are reasonable.
Any dispute as to the reasonableness of any Expense shall not delay an Expense
Advance by the Company. If, when, and to the extent that the Reviewing Party
determines that (i) Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified with
respect to a Claim under applicable law or (ii) the
-4-
99
amount of the Expense Advance was not reasonable, the Company shall be entitled
to be reimbursed by Indemnitee and Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the
Company without interest (which agreement shall be an unsecured obligation of
Indemnitee) for (x) all related Expense Advances theretofore made or paid by the
Company in the event that it is determined that indemnification would not be
permitted or (y) the excessive portion of any Expense Advances in the event that
it is determined that such Expenses Advances were unreasonable, in either case,
if and to the extent such reimbursement is required by applicable law; provided,
however, that if Indemnitee has commenced legal proceedings in a court of
competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee could be
indemnified under applicable law, or that the Expense Advances were reasonable,
any determination made by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law or that the Expense Advances
were unreasonable shall not be binding, and the Company shall be obligated to
continue to make Expense Advances, until a final judicial determination is made
with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed), which determination shall be conclusive and binding. If
there has been a Change of Control, the Reviewing Party shall be Special
Counsel, if Indemnitee so requests. If there has been no determination by the
Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee
substantively is not permitted to be indemnified in whole or part under
applicable law or that any Expense Advances were unreasonable, Indemnitee shall
have the right to commence litigation in any court in the states of Texas or New
York having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper
seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such
determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, and the Company
hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any
determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding
on the Company and Indemnitee.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall require the
Company to indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any Claim initiated by
Indemnitee, other than a Claim solely seeking enforcement of the Company's
indemnification obligations to Indemnitee or a Claim authorized by the Board.
3. Change of Control. The Company agrees that, if there is a Change of
Control and if Indemnitee requests in writing that Special Counsel be the
Reviewing Party, then Special Counsel shall be the Reviewing Party. In such a
case, the Company agrees not to request or seek reimbursement from Indemnitee of
any indemnification payment or Expense Advances unless Special Counsel has
rendered its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee that the Company was
not or is not permitted under applicable law to indemnify Indemnitee or that
such Expense Advances were unreasonable. However, if Indemnitee has commenced
legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination
that Indemnitee could be indemnified under applicable law or that the Expense
Advances were reasonable, any determination made by Special Counsel that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law or that
the Expense Advances were unreasonable shall not be binding, and the Company
shall be obligated to continue to make Expense Advances, until a final judicial
determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal
therefore have been exhausted or lapsed), which determination shall be
conclusive and binding. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of Special
Counsel and to indemnify Special Counsel against any and all expenses (including
attorneys' fees), claims,
-5-
100
liabilities, and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Special
Counsel's engagement pursuant hereto.
4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys' and
expert witnesses' fees) and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two
business days of that request) advance those costs and expenses to Indemnitee
that are incurred by Indemnitee if Indemnitee, whether by formal proceedings or
through demand and negotiation without formal proceedings: (a) seeks to enforce
Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement, (b) seeks to enforce Indemnitee's
rights to expense advancement or indemnification under any other agreement or
provision of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date (the
"Articles of Incorporation"), or Bylaws (the "Bylaws") now or hereafter in
effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, or (c) seeks recovery under
any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
Company, in each case regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately prevails;
provided that a court of competent jurisdiction has not found Indemnitee's claim
for indemnification or expense advancements under the foregoing clauses (a), (b)
or (c) to be frivolous, presented for an improper purpose, without evidentiary
support, or otherwise sanctionable under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure No. 11
or an analogous rule or law, and provided further, that if a court makes such a
finding, Indemnitee shall reimburse the Company for all amounts previously
advanced to Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 4. Subject to the provisos
contained in the preceding sentence, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
Company waives any and all rights that it may have to recover its costs and
expenses paid pursuant to this paragraph 4 from Indemnitee.
5. Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some, but not all, of
Indemnitee's Indemnifiable Liabilities, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. Contribution.
(a) Contribution Payment. To the extent the indemnification
provided for under any provision of this Agreement is determined (in the manner
hereinabove provided) not to be permitted under applicable law, the Company, in
lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall, to the extent permitted by law,
contribute to the amount of any and all Indemnifiable Liabilities incurred or
paid by Indemnitee for which such indemnification is not permitted. The amount
the Company contributes shall be in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of the Company and any
and all other parties (including officers and directors of the Company other
than Indemnitee) who may be at fault (collectively, including the Company, the
"Third Parties"), on the other hand.
(b) Relative Fault. The relative fault of the Third Parties
and the Indemnitee shall be determined (i) by reference to the relative fault of
Indemnitee as determined by the court or other governmental agency or (ii) to
the extent such court or other governmental agency does not apportion relative
fault, by the Reviewing Party after giving effect to, among other things, the
relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to prevent or
correct the relevant events, of each party, and other relevant equitable
considerations. The Company and Indemnitee agree that it would
-6-
101
not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation that does take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 6(b).
7. Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the
Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified under any provision of this Agreement or to receive contribution
pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by law the
burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so
entitled.
8. No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of
any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval), or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent,
or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment shall not create a
presumption (other than any presumption arising as a matter of law that the
parties may not contractually agree to disregard) that Indemnitee did not meet
any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court
has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.
9. Non-exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder shall be in
addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Bylaws or Articles of
Incorporation or the Texas Business Corporation Act or otherwise. To the extent
that a change in the Texas Business Corporation Act (whether by statute or
judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be
afforded currently under this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto
that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded
by that change. Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement shall not be diminished
by any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or of any other
agreement or instrument to which Indemnitee is not a party, and shall not
diminish any other rights that Indemnitee now or in the future has against the
Company.
10. Liability Insurance. Except as otherwise agreed to by the Company
and Indemnitee in a written agreement, to the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, Indemnitee shall be covered by that policy or those policies, in
accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any Company director or officer.
11. Period of Limitations. No action, lawsuit, or proceeding may be
brought against Indemnitee or Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors, or personal
or legal representatives, nor may any cause of action be asserted in any such
action, lawsuit or proceeding, by or on behalf of the Company, after the
expiration of two years after the statute of limitations commences with respect
to Indemnitee's act or omission that gave rise to the action, lawsuit,
proceeding or cause of action; provided, however, that, if any shorter period of
limitations is otherwise applicable to any such action, lawsuit, proceeding or
cause of action, the shorter period shall govern.
12. Amendments. No supplement, modification or amendment of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties
hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless
in a writing signed by the party granting the waiver. No
-7-
102
waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall
constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor
shall that waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
13. Other Sources. Indemnitee shall not be required to exercise any
rights that Indemnitee may have against any other Person (for example, under an
insurance policy) before Indemnitee enforces his rights under this Agreement.
However, to the extent the Company actually indemnifies Indemnitee or advances
him Expenses, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of Indemnitee and
shall be entitled to enforce any such rights which Indemnitee may have against
third parties. Indemnitee shall assist the Company in enforcing those rights if
it pays his costs and expenses of doing so. If Indemnitee is actually
indemnified or advanced Expenses by any third party, then, for so long as
Indemnitee is not required to disgorge the amounts so received, to that extent
the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to indemnify Indemnitee or
advance Indemnitee Expenses.
14. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by merger or
consolidation), spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. This
Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to
serve as an officer or director of the Company or another enterprise at the
Company's request.
15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during
the term hereof, that provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall
be construed and enforced as if that illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision had never comprised a part hereof; and the remaining provisions shall
remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement.
Furthermore, in lieu of that illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision, there
shall be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar
in terms to the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible
and be legal, valid, and enforceable.
16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas applicable to
contracts made and to be performed in that state without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws.
17. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
18. Notices. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits notice to be
given by one party to the other, such notice must be in writing to be effective
and shall be deemed delivered and received by the party to whom it is sent upon
actual receipt (by any means) of such notice. Receipt of a notice by the
Secretary of the Company shall be deemed receipt of such notice by the Company.
19. Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the complete
understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, other
-8-
103
than any indemnification rights that Indemnitee may enjoy under the Articles of
Incorporation, the Bylaws or the Texas Business Corporation Act.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but in making proof
hereof it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such
counterpart.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
-9-
104
EXECUTED as of the date first written above.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
INDEMNITEE
---------------------------------
--------------------
S-1
