SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
This Settlement Agreement and Release (the “Agreement”) is executed effective as of May __, 2011, by and among The Blackhawk Fund, a Nevada corporation (“Blackhawk”) and Terminus, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Terminus”, together with Blackhawk, the “Company”) and Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd., a British Virgin Islands company (the “Investor”). The Company and the Investor are collectively referred to as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2008, pursuant to the terms of that certain Subscription Agreement between the Company and Investor (the “Subscription Agreement”) the Company issued Investor (i) a secured promissory note (the “Note”), pursuant to which it promised to pay, to the order of Investor, the principal amount of Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000), together with interest incurred thereon, as therein provided and (ii) Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares of Blackhawk Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Blackhawk Series A Shares”), convertible into shares of Blackhawk common stock at the per share conversion price set forth in the Blackhawk Series A Certificate of Designation;
WHEREAS, to secure payment for the Note, concurrent with the Closing Date, Terminus pledged 10,000,000 shares of Blackhawk Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share to Investor (the “Pledged Shares”) pursuant to a share pledge agreement of even date therewith (the “Pledge Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2009, the Company and the Investor amended the Note pursuant to a First Amendment to Secured Promissory Note (the “First Amendment”);
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2010, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between Blackhawk and the Investor (the “Purchase Agreement”), Blackhawk issued an 8% $50,000 convertible promissory note due 2015 to the Investor (“Note 2”, together with the Note, the “Notes”) to the Investor;
WHEREAS, on July 10, 2010, the Company and the Investor further amended the Note pursuant to a Second Amendment to Secured Promissory Note (the “Second Amendment”);
WHEREAS, the Investor contends that the Company is currently in default under the Note;
WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating negotiations to sell the Pledged Shares (the “Potential Transaction”); and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Company’s negotiations regarding the Potential Transaction, the Investor and the Company wish to settle and resolve all disputes arising under the Notes (including all amendments thereto), the Subscription Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, and any and all documents related thereto (collectively, the “Financing Documents”) or otherwise relating to the Investor’s and its affiliates’ debt or Equity Interests in the Company, whether common stock, preferred stock, or otherwise, and, in connection therewith, the Investor wishes to release the Company, certain other persons, and their respective affiliates from any claims arising out of such arrangements or the Potential Transaction upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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6.4. The Parties acknowledge that they have been advised by their respective attorneys and are familiar with and understand the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542 as well as all provisions of federal law, if any, that may provide any right or benefit that is similar in any material respect to California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:
A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.
The Parties hereby voluntarily and expressly waive and relinquish each and every right or benefit which they may have under California Civil Code Section 1542 and all provisions of federal law, if any, that may provide any right or benefit that is similar in any material respect to the rights and benefits afforded under California Civil Code Section 1542, to the full extent that they may lawfully waive such rights. The Parties acknowledge that they may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which they presently know or believe to be true regarding the subject matter of the dispute and the other matters herein released, but agree that they have taken that possibility into account and that it is their intention hereby to fully, finally and forever settle and release the matters, disputes and differences, now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising out of or in any way relating to the matters released pursuant to this Agreement, and to terminate any and all rights, duties, and obligations of the Parties under the Financing Documents.
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7.1.
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Funds. The Company shall have delivered a wire transfer pursuant to the instructions provided by the Investor in the amount of $275,000.
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8.1.
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Notes. The Investor shall have delivered the original executed Notes to the Company, marked “Paid In Full.” In furtherance thereof, upon the execution of this Agreement, the Investor shall deliver the original executed Notes to counsel for the Company, to be held in escrow pending performance by the Company of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. Upon Closing (including satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement), the Investor hereby authorizes counsel for the Company to xxxx the original executed Notes as “Paid In Full” and deliver the same to the Company.
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8.2.
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Series A Shares: The Investor shall have delivered the original certificate representing the Blackhawk Series A Shares along with a duly endorsed, medallion guaranteed stock assignment separate from certificate, for purposes of assigning and transferring all of Investor’s right, title, and interest in and to the Blackhawk Series A Shares to Blackhawk. In furtherance thereof, upon the execution of this Agreement, the Investor shall deliver the original certificate representing the Blackhawk Series A Shares along with a duly endorsed, medallion guaranteed stock assignment separate from certificate to counsel for the Company, to be held in escrow pending performance by the Company of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. Upon Closing (including satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement), the Investor hereby authorizes counsel for the Company to deliver the original certificate representing the Blackhawk Series A Shares along with a duly endorsed, medallion guaranteed stock assignment separate from certificate to the Company.
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8.3.
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Pledged Certificate: The Investor shall have delivered the original Certificate No. BFC00003, in the name Terminus, representing the Pledged Shares, to Terminus. In furtherance thereof, upon the execution of this Agreement, the Investor shall deliver the original Certificate No. BFC00003, in the name Terminus, representing the Pledged Shares, to counsel for the Company, to be held in escrow pending performance by the Company of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. Upon Closing (including satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement), the Investor hereby authorizes counsel for the Company to deliver the original Certificate No. BFC00003, in the name Terminus, representing the Pledged Shares to Terminus.
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8.4.
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Other Documents: The Investor shall have delivered to the Company all other original transaction documents relating to the Financing Documents, including, without limitation, any and all undated director resignations, irrevocable proxies, and side letter agreements (collectively, the “Side Documents”). In furtherance thereof, upon the execution of this Agreement, the Investor shall deliver the original Side Documents to counsel for the Company, to be held in escrow pending performance by the Company of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. Upon Closing (including satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement), the Investor hereby authorizes counsel for the Company to deliver the original Side Documents to the Company.
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9.1. Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is authorized and qualified to do business in each state where, because of the nature of the activities or assets, such qualification is required, except those states where failure to so qualify will not have a material adverse effect; the Company has adequate authority, power, and legal right to enter into, execute, deliver and perform the terms of the Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and in doing so, the Company will not violate any law or the provisions of any articles, charter or bylaws. The Agreement, upon its execution and delivery, will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject only to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws generally affecting the enforcement of creditor’s rights.
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10. Representations and Warranties of the Investor. To induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Investor represents and warrant to the Company as follows:
10.6. No Reliance; Voluntary Execution. The Investor has not relied upon any other representations or warranties made by the Company in executing this Agreement and the Investor is relying solely on its own judgment in connection therewith. The Investor is executing this Agreement voluntarily and without coercion.
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The Company:
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The Blackhawk Fund
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Terminus, Inc.
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0000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000-0000
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Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
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The Investor:
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Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd.
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0000 Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
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Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
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Fax: (000) 000-0000
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or at such other address as any party designates for such purpose in a written notice to the other parties. Notices will be deemed to have been given on the date notice is sent by rapid transmission or three business days after notice is placed in the mail, properly addressed, postage prepaid.
11.3. Representation by Counsel. The Parties acknowledge that they are executing and delivering this Agreement with full knowledge of any and all rights which they may have with respect to the claims and causes of action herein settled and released. The Parties acknowledge that they are represented by and have consulted with attorneys of their own choosing to the extent desired before executing and delivering this Agreement in order to review this document and the claims and causes of action being settled and released hereby and thereby, and that they have had a reasonable and sufficient opportunity to do so.
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11.5. Governing Law. The Parties agree that the validity, effect and construction of this Agreement as well as any rights, duties and obligations thereunder, and any disputes concerning any of the provisions of this Agreement or over the negotiation or execution thereof, shall be interpreted under, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to conflict of laws provisions.
11.6. Dispute Resolution. Any and all disputes between any of the Parties concerning any of the provisions of this Agreement or the rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be exclusively resolved in an action or proceeding brought in Orange County, California. The Parties hereby waive all objections and irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court sitting in Orange County, California. The prevailing party in any proceeding instituted to resolve any dispute between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be entitled, in addition to any award rendered, to all reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding.
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(a) As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any person which directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as used in the immediately preceding sentence means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
(b) As used in this Agreement, the term “Equity Interest” means, with respect to any person, (i) capital stock, member interests, partnership interests, other equity interests, rights to profits or revenue and any other similar interest of such person, (ii) any security or other interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing and (iii) any right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire any of the foregoing.
(c) the term “person” means any natural person, firm, limited partnership, general partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, company, trust, other organization (whether or not a legal entity), public body or governmental authority.
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11.15. Other Documents. The Parties agree that they shall execute any and all other and further documents which are or become necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Agreement.
COMPANY:
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THE BLACKHAWK FIND
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By:
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Title: President
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TERMINUS, INC.
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By:
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Title: President
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INVESTOR:
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PROFESSIONAL OFFSHORE OPPORTUNITY
FUND, LTD. |
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By:
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Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title: Manager
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