UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of July 22, 2007, among ASA OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC, as the Company, ASALLIANCES BIOFUELS, LLC, as the Seller, THE SECURITYHOLDERS NAMED HEREIN and VERASUN ENERGY CORPORATION, as Purchaser
Exhibit
2.1
EXECUTION
COPY
dated
as of July 22, 2007,
among
ASA
OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC,
as
the Company,
ASALLIANCES
BIOFUELS, LLC,
as
the Seller,
THE
SECURITYHOLDERS NAMED HEREIN
and
VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION,
as
Purchaser
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I PURCHASE AND SALE OF UNITS; DEBT PAYMENTS
|
1
|
||
SECTION
1.1.
|
Purchase
and Sale
|
1
|
|
SECTION
1.2.
|
Purchase
Price
|
2
|
|
SECTION
1.3.
|
Debt
Payments
|
2
|
|
SECTION
1.4.
|
Taxes
|
2
|
|
SECTION
1.5.
|
Purchase
Price Allocation
|
2
|
|
ARTICLE
II CLOSING
|
3
|
||
SECTION
2.1.
|
Closing
|
3
|
|
SECTION
2.2.
|
Payments
|
3
|
|
SECTION
2.3.
|
Deliveries
to Purchaser
|
4
|
|
SECTION
2.4.
|
Deliveries
to Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives
|
5
|
|
SECTION
2.5.
|
Proceedings
at Closing
|
5
|
|
ARTICLE
III SECURITYHOLDERS’ REPRESENTATIVES
|
5
|
||
SECTION
3.1.
|
Securityholders’
Representatives
|
5
|
|
SECTION
3.2.
|
Engagement
of Agents
|
6
|
|
SECTION
3.3.
|
Payment
of Expenses
|
6
|
|
SECTION
3.4.
|
Compensation
|
7
|
|
SECTION
3.5.
|
Exculpation
|
7
|
|
SECTION
3.6.
|
Successors;
Removal
|
7
|
|
SECTION
3.7.
|
Survival
|
8
|
|
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SECURITYHOLDERS AND
SELLER
|
8
|
||
SECTION
4.1.
|
Securityholders
|
8
|
|
SECTION
4.2.
|
Seller
|
10
|
|
ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
12
|
||
SECTION
5.1.
|
Organization;
Power and Authority
|
12
|
|
SECTION
5.2.
|
Authorization;
Execution and Validity
|
12
|
|
SECTION
5.3.
|
Absence
of Conflicts
|
13
|
|
SECTION
5.4.
|
Governmental
Approvals
|
13
|
|
SECTION
5.5.
|
Capitalization
of the Company
|
13
|
|
SECTION
5.6.
|
Financial
Statements
|
14
|
|
SECTION
5.7.
|
Liabilities
|
14
|
|
SECTION
5.8.
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
15
|
|
SECTION
5.9.
|
Subsidiaries;
Investments
|
16
|
|
SECTION
5.10.
|
Derivatives
|
17
|
|
SECTION
5.11.
|
Real
Property
|
17
|
|
SECTION
5.12.
|
Title
to Tangible Assets
|
18
|
|
SECTION
5.13.
|
Material
Contracts
|
18
|
|
SECTION
5.14.
|
Intellectual
Property
|
18
|
|
SECTION
5.15.
|
Litigation
|
19
|
|
SECTION
5.16.
|
Labor
and Employment Matters
|
19
|
|
SECTION
5.17.
|
Employee
Benefits
|
20
|
i
SECTION
5.18.
|
Taxes
|
20
|
|
SECTION
5.19.
|
Permits;
Compliance with Laws
|
21
|
|
SECTION
5.20.
|
Environmental
Laws
|
21
|
|
SECTION
5.21.
|
Insurance
|
22
|
|
SECTION
5.22.
|
Affiliated
Transactions
|
22
|
|
SECTION
5.23.
|
Fees
|
23
|
|
ARTICLE
VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
|
23
|
||
SECTION
6.1.
|
Organization;
Power and Authority
|
23
|
|
SECTION
6.2.
|
Authorization;
Execution and Validity
|
23
|
|
SECTION
6.3.
|
Absence
of Conflicts
|
23
|
|
SECTION
6.4.
|
Governmental
Approvals
|
24
|
|
SECTION
6.5.
|
Capitalization
of Purchaser
|
24
|
|
SECTION
6.6.
|
SEC
Documents.
|
25
|
|
SECTION
6.7.
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
26
|
|
SECTION
6.8.
|
Derivatives
|
26
|
|
SECTION
6.9.
|
Litigation
|
27
|
|
SECTION
6.10.
|
Labor
and Employment Matters
|
27
|
|
SECTION
6.11.
|
Employee
Benefits
|
27
|
|
SECTION
6.12.
|
Taxes
|
27
|
|
SECTION
6.13.
|
Permits;
Compliance with Laws
|
27
|
|
SECTION
6.14.
|
Environmental
Laws
|
28
|
|
SECTION
6.15.
|
Insurance
|
28
|
|
SECTION
6.16.
|
Fees
|
28
|
|
SECTION
6.17.
|
Sophisticated
Purchaser; Access to Information; Investment Intent
|
28
|
|
SECTION
6.18.
|
Financing
|
29
|
|
SECTION
6.19.
|
No
Vote Required
|
29
|
|
ARTICLE
VII COVENANTS
|
29
|
||
SECTION
7.1.
|
Cooperation;
Certain Consents and Approvals
|
29
|
|
SECTION
7.2.
|
Transfer
of Agreements and Newco
|
31
|
|
SECTION
7.3.
|
Conduct
of Business
|
31
|
|
SECTION
7.4.
|
Access
to Information
|
33
|
|
SECTION
7.5.
|
Certain
Confidential Information
|
33
|
|
SECTION
7.6.
|
Return
of Information
|
34
|
|
SECTION
7.7.
|
Seller’s
and Securityholders’ Representatives’ Access to Documents; Preservation of
Books and Records
|
34
|
|
SECTION
7.8.
|
Limited
Representations
|
35
|
|
SECTION
7.9.
|
Employees
and Employee Benefits
|
35
|
|
SECTION
7.10.
|
Directors
and Officers Indemnification
|
37
|
|
SECTION
7.11.
|
Litigation
Support and Cooperation
|
38
|
|
SECTION
7.12.
|
Access
|
39
|
|
SECTION
7.13.
|
Listing
Application
|
39
|
|
SECTION
7.14.
|
Non-Solicitation;
Transfer Restrictions
|
39
|
|
SECTION
7.15.
|
Takeover
Statutes
|
39
|
|
SECTION
7.16.
|
Tax
Matters
|
40
|
|
SECTION
7.17.
|
Terminated
Affiliate Contracts
|
40
|
|
ii
ARTICLE
VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASER’S OBLIGATIONS
|
41
|
||
SECTION
8.1.
|
Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.2.
|
Performance
of Covenants
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.3.
|
Certificates
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.4.
|
HSR
Clearance
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.5.
|
No
Order
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.6.
|
Certified
Resolutions
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.7.
|
Deliveries
|
41
|
|
SECTION
8.8.
|
Secretary’s
Certificates
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.9.
|
Assignments
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.10.
|
Outstanding
Indebtedness
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.11.
|
Consents
and Approval
|
42
|
|
SECTION
8.12.
|
Terminated
Affiliate Contracts
|
42
|
|
ARTICLE
IX CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER AND THE
SECURITYHOLDERS
|
42
|
||
SECTION
9.1.
|
Accuracy
of Representations and Warranties
|
42
|
|
SECTION
9.2.
|
Performance
of Covenants
|
42
|
|
SECTION
9.3.
|
Certificate
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.4.
|
HSR
Clearance
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.5.
|
No
Order
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.6.
|
Delivery
of Consideration
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.7.
|
Certified
Resolutions
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.8.
|
Deliveries
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.9.
|
Secretary’s
Certificate
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.10.
|
Listing
Application
|
43
|
|
SECTION
9.11.
|
Registration
Rights Agreement
|
43
|
|
ARTICLE
X TERMINATION
|
44
|
||
SECTION
10.1.
|
Termination
of Agreement
|
44
|
|
SECTION
10.2.
|
Effect
of Termination
|
44
|
|
ARTICLE
XI INDEMNIFICATION
|
45
|
||
SECTION
11.1.
|
Survival
of Representations and Warranties and Covenants
|
45
|
|
SECTION
11.2.
|
Securityholders’
Indemnification Obligations
|
45
|
|
SECTION
11.3.
|
Purchaser’s
Indemnification Obligations
|
46
|
|
SECTION
11.4.
|
Third
Party Claims; Procedures
|
47
|
|
SECTION
11.5.
|
Limitations
on Indemnification
|
48
|
|
SECTION
11.6.
|
Exclusive
Remedy
|
50
|
|
SECTION
11.7.
|
Insurance
|
50
|
|
SECTION
11.8.
|
Cooperation;
Access to Documents and Information
|
50
|
|
ARTICLE
XII DEFINITIONS
|
51
|
||
SECTION
12.1.
|
Certain
Definitions
|
51
|
|
SECTION
12.2.
|
Other
Defined Terms
|
59
|
|
ARTICLE
XIII GENERAL
|
60
|
||
SECTION
13.1.
|
Amendments
|
60
|
|
SECTION
13.2.
|
Waivers
|
61
|
|
SECTION
13.3.
|
Notices
|
61
|
iii
SECTION
13.4.
|
Successors
and Assigns; Parties in Interest
|
62
|
|
SECTION
13.5.
|
Severability
|
62
|
|
SECTION
13.6.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
63
|
|
SECTION
13.7.
|
Governing
Law
|
63
|
|
SECTION
13.8.
|
Remedies
|
63
|
|
SECTION
13.9.
|
Consent
to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial or Jury
|
63
|
|
SECTION
13.10.
|
Expenses
|
64
|
|
SECTION
13.11.
|
Survival
|
64
|
|
SECTION
13.12.
|
Release
of Information
|
64
|
|
SECTION
13.13.
|
Disclosure
Schedules
|
64
|
|
SECTION
13.14.
|
Certain
Rules of Construction
|
65
|
|
SECTION
13.15.
|
Counterparts
|
65
|
Exhibits:
Exhibit A | Debt Payment Allocation |
Exhibit B | Escrow Agreement |
Exhibit C | Assignments of Limited Liability Company Units |
Exhibit D | Noncompetition Agreement |
Exhibit E | Registration Rights Agreement |
iv
This
UNIT
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of July 22, 2007 (this
“Agreement”), is entered into by and among ASA OPCO HOLDINGS,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”),
ASALLIANCES BIOFUELS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Seller”), the SECURITYHOLDERS (as defined herein), and VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION, a South Dakota corporation
(“Purchaser”).
WHEREAS,
the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined herein) are engaged in the business
of production and distribution of ethanol and distillers grains and in related
activities;
WHEREAS,
Seller owns all of the outstanding Units (as defined herein) in the
Company;
WHEREAS,
the Units constitute all of the outstanding Equity Interests (as defined
herein)
in the Company;
WHEREAS,
the Securityholders own all of the outstanding Equity Interests in
Seller;
WHEREAS,
Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller is willing to sell
to
Purchaser, the Units, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the Securityholders desire to induce Purchaser to purchase the Units from
Seller;
WHEREAS,
capitalized terms used herein without definition have the respective meanings
set forth in Article XII;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the terms and provisions set
forth
herein, the mutual benefits to be gained by the performance thereof and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF UNITS; DEBT PAYMENTS
SECTION
1.1. Purchase and Sale. Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, on the Closing
Date,
(i) Seller shall sell, transfer and deliver the Units to Purchaser and (ii)
Purchaser shall acquire and accept the Units from Seller.
SECTION
1.2. Purchase Price. In
consideration of the sale, transfer and delivery of the Units, the total
“Purchase Price” shall be Seven Hundred Twenty Five Million
Dollars ($725,000,000), which amount includes (i) the full amount available
under the Bank Credit Agreement of Two Hundred Seventy Five Million Dollars
($275,000,000), whether drawn or undrawn, which Bank Credit Agreement will
remain in full force and effect and (ii) the Closing Purchase
Price. On the Closing Date, Purchaser shall pay to Seller and/or its
Designated Recipients in accordance with Section 2.2 (i) an aggregate
amount in cash equal to Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000)
minus the aggregate amount of the Subordinated Note Amount and the Bridge
Note Amount (such amount, after such calculation, is hereinafter referred
to as
the “Cash Purchase Price”), and (ii)
13,801,384 shares of Purchaser Common Stock, (the “Common Stock Purchase
Price” and collectively with the Cash Purchase Price, the
“Closing Purchase Price”).
SECTION
1.3. Debt Payments.
(a) In
consideration of the repayment, cancellation and termination of the Subordinated
Notes, Purchaser shall deliver on the Closing Date to X.X. Xxxx Laminar
Portfolios, L.L.C. and to the Securityholders (or to the Securityholders’
Representatives on their behalf) in accordance with Section 2.2 who hold
the Subordinated Notes an aggregate amount in cash equal to sixty-two million,
five hundred thousand dollars ($62,500,000) plus accrued interest on the
Subordinated Notes (collectively, the “Subordinated
Note Amount”). The principal portion of the
Subordinated Note Amount to be received by X.X. Xxxx Laminar Portfolios,
L.L.C.
and each Securityholder who holds any Subordinated Notes is set forth next
to
the name of such Person as shown on Exhibit A .
(b) In
consideration of the repayment, cancellation and termination of the Bridge
Notes, Purchaser shall deliver on the Closing Date to X.X. Xxxx Laminar
Portfolios, L.L.C. and to each Securityholder who holds the outstanding Bridge
Notes (or to the Securityholders’ Representatives on their behalf) in accordance
with Section 2.2, an aggregate amount in cash equal to six million, nine
hundred seventy-seven thousand, three hundred two dollars and seventy-five
cents
($6,977,302.75) plus any additional amounts drawn prior to Closing and accrued
interest on the Bridge Notes (collectively, the “Bridge Note
Amount”). The principal portion of the Bridge Note Amount to
be received by X.X. Xxxx Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C. and each Securityholder
who
holds any Bridge Notes is set forth next to the name of such Person as shown
on
Exhibit A.
SECTION
1.4. Taxes. Purchaser and
Seller will each bear 50% of the cost of any documentary, stamp, sales and
excise or other similar Taxes payable in respect of the sale, transfer or
delivery of the Units, and the cancellation and termination of the Subordinated
Notes and the Bridge Notes.
SECTION
1.5. Purchase Price
Allocation. Prior to the Closing, Purchaser and Seller shall
negotiate in good faith to agree upon an allocation of the Cash Purchase
Price,
the Common Stock Purchase Price, the Subordinated Note Amount, the Bridge
Note
Amount, the amount drawn under the Bank Credit Agreement and any other
liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries that for Tax purposes are
treated as assumed by Purchaser (collectively, the “Tax Purchase
Price”) among the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. If the parties reach an agreement on the allocation of
the Tax Purchase Price prior to the Closing, (i) Purchaser shall prepare
and
deliver to Seller copies of Form 8594 and any required exhibits
2
thereto
which are consistent in all respects with such agreed allocation (the
“Asset Acquisition Statement”) within 30 days of the date of
this Agreement, and revised copies of the Asset Acquisition Statement (the
“Revised Statements”) from time to time so as to report any
matters on the Asset Acquisition Statement that need updating, (ii) the Tax
Purchase Price as finally determined shall be allocated in accordance with
the
Asset Acquisition Statement or, if applicable, the last Revised Statements
provided by Purchaser to Seller (each as revised to reflect any reasonable
comments received from Seller or the Securityholders), and (iii) all income
Tax
Returns and reports filed by Purchaser, Seller and each Securityholder shall
be
prepared consistently with such agreed allocation. If the parties are
unable to agree upon an allocation of the Tax Purchase Price prior to the
Closing, each party may prepare its own allocation of the Tax Purchase Price,
and there shall be no further obligation of either party under this Section
1.5.
ARTICLE
II
CLOSING
SECTION
2.1. Closing. The closing of
the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement (the
“Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxxx
L.L.P., 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 at 9:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas
time,
on August 22, 2007, or, if the conditions to the obligations of the parties
to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement set forth in Articles
VIII and IX are not satisfied or waived on such date (other than any conditions
to be satisfied through the making of payments or the delivery of documents
at
the Closing, but subject to satisfaction of those conditions), as soon as
practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions (but in no
event
more than two Business Days thereafter), or at such other time and date as
the
parties may agree (the “Closing Date”).
SECTION
2.2. Payments. At the Closing,
Purchaser shall pay (a) the Cash Purchase Price (less the Escrow Amount)
to
Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds (to such accounts
as
Seller shall have specified to Purchaser at least 48 hours prior to the
Closing), (b) the Subordinated Note Amount and the Bridge Note Amount to
the
Securityholders or the Securityholders’ Representatives by wire transfer of
immediately available funds (to such accounts as Securityholders’
Representatives shall have specified to Purchaser at least 48 hours prior
to the
Closing), and (c) the Escrow Amount to the Escrow Agent to be held in accordance
with an escrow agreement to be entered into with the Escrow Agent in
substantially the form as attached hereto as Exhibit B (the
“Escrow Agreement”). In addition, Purchaser shall
deliver to Seller, or its Designated Recipient, the number of shares of
Purchaser Common Stock set forth in Section 1.2. Such shares of
Purchaser Common Stock (i) shall be in the form of a Purchaser stock certificate
or certificates, registered in the name of Seller or the appropriate Designated
Recipient, (ii) shall be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange
(the “NYSE”) and (iii) shall bear a legend as reasonably agreed
upon by the parties. Seller shall notify Purchaser in writing of its
Designated Recipients within five Business Days prior to the Closing
Date.
3
SECTION
2.3. Deliveries to
Purchaser. At the Closing, Seller shall deliver, or shall cause
to be delivered, to Purchaser each of the following:
(a) Assignments
of Units, each substantially in the form of Exhibit C (the
“Assignment”), duly executed by Seller and an amendment to
Schedule A to the LLC Agreement reflecting the transfers contemplated thereby
duly executed in accordance with the LLC Agreement (collectively, the
“Assignment Documents”);
(b) reasonably
satisfactory evidence of the repayment, cancellation and termination of the
Subordinated Notes and the Bridge Notes (collectively, the “Payoff
Evidence”);
(c) the
certificates of officers of Seller and the Company referred to in Section
8.3;
(d) a
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company attesting to (i) the resolutions of the Board of Managers of
the Company referred to in Section 8.6 and (ii) the incumbency and signature
of
each officer of the Company who executed this Agreement;
(e) a
certificate from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect
to
the existence and good standing of the Company;
(f) resignations
by all members of the Board of Managers of the Company from their positions
as
managers of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries (or, if any such
resignations have not been obtained, evidence of the removal of such
managers);
(g) the
executed Escrow Agreement;
(h) noncompetition
agreements, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto,
executed by the parties set forth on Section 2.3(h) of the Disclosure Schedule
(the “Noncompetition Agreements”);
(i) the
executed FIRPTA Certificate; and
(j) a
registration rights agreement, in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto
(the “Registration Rights Agreement”), duly executed by the
Securityholders.
4
SECTION
2.4. Deliveries to Seller and the
Securityholders’ Representatives. At the Closing, Purchaser
shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to Seller and the
Securityholders’ Representatives each of the following:
(a) certificates
representing all shares of Purchaser Common Stock constituting the Common
Stock
Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2;
(b) the
certificate of an officer of Purchaser referred to in Section 9.3;
(c) a
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Purchaser attesting
to
(i) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser referred to in
Section 9.7 and (ii) the incumbency and signature of each officer of Purchaser
who executed this Agreement;
(d) a
certificate from the Secretary of State of the State of South Dakota with
respect to the existence and good standing of Purchaser;
(e) the
executed Escrow Agreement; and
(f) the
Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by Purchaser.
SECTION
2.5. Proceedings at
Closing. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be
executed and delivered by the parties at the Closing shall be deemed to have
been taken and executed and delivered simultaneously, and no proceedings
shall
be deemed taken nor any documents executed or delivered until all have been
taken, executed and delivered.
ARTICLE
III
SECURITYHOLDERS’
REPRESENTATIVES
SECTION
3.1. Securityholders’
Representatives. Each Securityholder, by executing this
Agreement, does hereby, for itself and its representatives and successors,
irrevocably constitute and appoint Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxx as its
agents
and representatives (in such capacity, the “Securityholders’
Representatives”), to take any and all actions required or permitted to
be taken by the Securityholders’ Representatives under or in connection with
this Agreement, and for the following additional purposes:
(a) To
execute and deliver such consents in connection with this Agreement or any
of
the transactions contemplated hereby as the Securityholders’ Representatives, in
their sole discretion, acting together, determine to be necessary or
desirable;
(b) To
enforce and protect the rights and interests of the Securityholders arising
out
of or under or in any manner relating to this Agreement or any other agreement,
document, instrument or certificate relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby and, in connection therewith, to assert, institute, investigate, defend,
contest, litigate, prosecute and appeal any claim with respect
thereto;
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(c) To
make, execute, acknowledge and deliver all such other agreements, guarantees,
orders, receipts, endorsements, notices, requests, instructions, certificates,
letters and other writings, and, in general, to do any and all things and
to
take any and all action that the Securityholders’ Representatives, in their sole
discretion, acting together, may consider necessary, proper or convenient
in
connection with or to carry out the activities described in paragraphs (a)
and
(b) above; and
(d) To
receive notices and take other actions pursuant to Article XI.
The
grant
of authority provided for in this Section 3.1: (i) is coupled with an
interest, shall be irrevocable and (to the maximum extent permitted by law)
shall survive the bankruptcy or liquidation of any Securityholder and shall
be
binding on its representatives and successors; and (ii) may be exercised
by the
Securityholders’ Representatives by signing separately as Securityholders’
Representatives for the applicable Securityholders or, after listing all
of the
applicable Securityholders executing an instrument, by the signing as
Securityholders’ Representatives for all of such
Securityholders. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, any and all actions of the Securityholders’ Representatives taken
pursuant to the authority granted by this Agreement shall be binding upon
and/or
effective against all Securityholders only if taken and/or executed jointly
by
each of the Securityholders’ Representatives.
SECTION
3.2. Engagement of Agents. In
connection with the performance of their responsibilities as Securityholders’
Representatives under this Agreement, the Securityholders’ Representatives shall
have the right at any time and from time to time to select and engage, at
the
cost and expense of the Securityholders, such attorneys, accountants, investment
bankers, advisors, consultants and clerical personnel and obtain such other
professional and expert assistance, as the Securityholders’ Representatives
determine is necessary or desirable.
SECTION
3.3. Payment of Expenses. The
Securityholders’ Representatives may invoice to the Securityholders such amount
or amounts as they shall determine are necessary to pay all known (or reasonably
anticipated) expenses that are required to be paid or borne by the
Securityholders pursuant to this Agreement, or are otherwise incurred by
the
Securityholders’ Representatives in the performance of their duties under this
Agreement (including, but not limited to, its own reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses) and shall pay all such expenses; provided, however,
that in no event shall such amounts exceed $1,000,000, without the prior
written
consent of a majority of the Securityholders. Each Securityholder
shall deliver to the Securityholders’ Representatives payment of his or its
ratable share of the amount of such invoiced amount in accordance with the
portion of the Purchase Price payable to each such
Securityholder. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the
contrary, in no event shall Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (including,
after
the Closing, the Company and its Affiliates) be responsible for or required
to
make any payment in respect of any expenses or other amounts (including in
respect of any Claims or Losses) owing to the Securityholders’
Representatives.
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SECTION
3.4. Compensation. Unless
otherwise agreed in writing by each of the Securityholders, the Securityholders’
Representatives shall not be entitled to any fee, commission or other
compensation for the performance of their services hereunder, but shall be
entitled, in accordance with Section 3.3, to the payment of all reasonable
expenses incurred by such party in its capacity as Securityholders’
Representatives.
SECTION
3.5. Exculpation. In performing
their responsibilities under this Agreement or any instruments, agreements
or
documents relating hereto, and in exercising or failing to exercise all or
any
of the powers conferred upon the Securityholders’ Representatives hereunder, (i)
the Securityholders’ Representatives assume and shall incur no responsibility
whatsoever to any Securityholder by reason of any error in judgment or other
act
or omission performed or omitted hereunder, excepting only responsibility
for
any act or failure to act that represents gross negligence or willful
misconduct, (ii) the Securityholders’ Representatives shall be entitled to rely
on the advice of counsel, public accountants or other independent experts
experienced in the matter at issue, and any error in judgment or other act
or
omission of the Securityholders’ Representatives pursuant to such advice shall
in no event subject the Securityholders’ Representatives to liability to any
Securityholder, and (iii) each Securityholder hereby, jointly and severally,
indemnifies and holds harmless the Securityholders’ Representatives from and
against any and all Claims and Losses resulting from the Securityholders’
Representatives actions performed pursuant to this Article III.
SECTION
3.6. Successors;
Removal.
(a) Each
Securityholders’ Representative shall have the power to appoint one or more
successor Securityholders’ Representative in accordance with this Section
3.6. A successor Securityholders’ Representative need not be a
Securityholder. Any successor Securityholders’ Representative shall
have all of the authority and responsibilities conferred upon or delegated
to
the Securityholders’ Representatives pursuant to this Article III.
(b) A
Securityholders’ Representative may be removed at any time pursuant to a written
instrument executed by all of the Securityholders originally appointing such
Securityholders’ Representative as set forth in Section 3.1 of this
Agreement.
(c) If
a Securityholders’ Representative has been removed or is unable or unavailable
to perform the duties hereunder, or a Securityholders’ Representative shall have
resigned without appointing a successor Securityholders’ Representative, a
successor Securityholders’ Representative shall be appointed by the mutual
agreement of Securityholders representing at least two-thirds of the Equity
Interests in the Company. In the event that the applicable
Securityholders fail to agree upon a successor Securityholders’ Representative
within 30 days of the removal, resignation or other termination of a
Securityholders’ Representative, a successor Securityholders’ Representative
shall be appointed by American Capital.
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SECTION
3.7. Survival. All of the
immunities and powers granted to the Securityholders’ Representatives under this
Agreement shall survive the Closing and continue thereafter in full force
and
effect.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
THE SECURITYHOLDERS AND SELLER
SECTION
4.1. Securityholders. Each of
the Securityholders hereby, severally, but not jointly, represents and warrants
to Purchaser that, on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as
of the
Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that address
matters
only as of a particular date or only with respect to a specific period of
time,
then only as of such date or with respect to such period), except as set
forth
in the Disclosure Schedule (the “Disclosure
Schedule”):
(a) Organization;
Power and Authority. Such Securityholder is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
in
which it is organized. Such Securityholder has all requisite power
and authority to own the Seller Units and conduct all necessary and appropriate
activities relating thereto.
(b) Authorization;
Execution and Validity. Such Securityholder has all
requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, perform
its
obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such
Securityholder, the performance by such Securityholder of its obligations
hereunder and the consummation by such Securityholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
action on the part of such Securityholder. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by such Securityholder and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of such Securityholder, enforceable against such
Securityholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability
Exceptions.
(c) Absence
of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by such Securityholder
of this Agreement, the performance by such Securityholder of its obligations
hereunder and the consummation by such Securityholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in any violation or breach of any
provision of the Organizational Documents of such Securityholder, (ii) result
in
any violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice
or
lapse of time or both) under, any term or provision of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease, franchise, permit, license, Contract or other instrument
or
document to which such Securityholder is a party or by which its properties
or
assets are bound, (iii) assuming that the filings and Consents referred to
in
Section 4.1(d) are made or obtained, result in any violation of any Law or
any
Order applicable to such Securityholder or its properties or assets or (iv)
result in the creation of, or impose on such Securityholder any obligation
to
create, any Lien upon the Units, except for any of the matters referred to
in
clauses (ii) or (iii) above which would not reasonably be expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to prevent, impede or otherwise affect in any material
respect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(d) Governmental
Approvals. There is no requirement applicable to such
Securityholder to obtain any Consent of, or to make or effect any declaration,
filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority for the valid execution
and delivery by such Securityholder of this Agreement, the due performance
by
such Securityholder of its obligations hereunder or the lawful consummation
by
such Securityholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i)
the
filing by or on behalf of the “ultimate parent entity” of the Company of
notification with the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) and
the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (the
“DOJ”) under the HSR Act and the expiration of the applicable
“waiting period” thereunder and (ii) any other requirement which, if not
satisfied, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to prevent, impede or otherwise affect in any material respect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Title
to Notes. Such Securityholder owns beneficially and of record
the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes and Bridge Notes shown
as
held by it on Exhibit A. Upon payment of the amounts
contemplated by Section 1.3 to such Securityholder, such Subordinated Notes
and
Bridge Notes will be fully repaid, canceled and terminated and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any future liability in respect
of any Subordinated Notes or Bridge Notes.
(f) Litigation. There
are no Legal Proceedings pending, or to such Securityholder’s knowledge,
threatened against such Securityholder (i) that question the validity of
this
Agreement or any action taken or to be taken by such Securityholder in
connection with, or which seek to enjoin or obtain monetary damages in respect
of, this Agreement or (ii) that would reasonably be expected, individually
or in
the aggregate, to adversely affect in any material respect the ability of
such
Securityholder to perform its obligations under and consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Sophisticated
Purchaser; Investment Intent.
(i) Such
Securityholder is an informed sophisticated entity with sufficient knowledge
and
experience in investment and financial matters and in the energy, ethanol
and
agricultural commodities industries to be capable of evaluating the risks
and
merits of such Securityholder’s investment in the Purchaser’s Common
Stock.
(ii) Such
Securityholder is receiving the Purchaser’s Common Stock for its own account for
the purpose of investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection
with
any distribution thereof. Such Securityholder has not agreed to
transfer the Purchaser’s Common Stock to any other Person or to grant any rights
in the Purchaser’s Common Stock to any other Person.
(iii) Such
Securityholder understands that the Purchaser’s Common Stock has not been
registered under the Securities Act or the applicable securities or blue
sky
laws of any State or other jurisdiction and, accordingly, must be held
indefinitely unless a subsequent sale or other transfer thereof is registered
under the Securities Act and such securities or blue sky laws or is exempt
from
registration thereunder.
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(iv) Such
Securityholder is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act.
(v) Such
Securityholder understands that the exemptions from registration under the
Securities Act and state securities or blue sky laws relied upon by Purchaser
in
connection with the issuance of the Purchaser’s Common Stock pursuant to this
Agreement are based in part on the matters addressed in this Section
4.1(g).
SECTION
4.2. Seller. Seller hereby
represents and warrants to Purchaser that, on and as of the date of this
Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except for the representations
and
warranties that address matters only as of a particular date or only with
respect to a specific period of time, then only as of such date or with respect
to such period), except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Organization;
Power and Authority. Seller is duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
organized. Seller has all requisite power and authority to own the
Units and conduct all necessary and appropriate activities relating
thereto.
(b) Authorization;
Execution and Validity. Seller has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, perform its obligations
hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller, the performance by Seller
of
its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
action on the part of Seller. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms,
subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(c) Absence
of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by Seller of this
Agreement, the performance by Seller of its obligations hereunder and the
consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i)
result in any violation or breach of any provision of the Organizational
Documents of Seller, (ii) result in any violation or breach of, or constitute
a
default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, any term
or
provision of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, franchise, permit,
license, Contract or other instrument or document to which Seller is a party
or
by which its properties or assets are bound, (iii) assuming that the filings
and
Consents referred to in Section 4.2(d) are made or obtained, result in any
violation of any Law or any Order applicable to Seller or its properties
or
assets or (iv) result in the creation of, or impose on Seller any obligation
to
create, any Lien upon the Units, except for any of the matters referred to
in
clauses (ii) or (iii) above which would not reasonably be expected, individually
or in the aggregate, to prevent, impede or otherwise affect in any material
respect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(d) Governmental
Approvals. There is no requirement applicable to Seller to
obtain any Consent of, or to make or effect any declaration, filing or
registration with, any Governmental Authority for the valid execution and
delivery by Seller of this Agreement, the due performance by Seller of its
obligations hereunder or the lawful consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing by or on behalf of the “ultimate
parent entity” of the Company of notification with the FTC and the Antitrust
Division of the DOJ under the HSR Act and the expiration of the applicable
“waiting period” thereunder and (ii) any other requirement which, if not
satisfied, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to prevent, impede or otherwise affect in any material respect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Title
to Units. Seller owns beneficially and of record, and has good
and valid title to the Units. Upon the sale, transfer and delivery of
the Units to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, Purchaser will acquire
all
interests of Seller in and to the Units, free and clear of any Liens, other
than
(i) Liens imposed on the Units as a result of actions taken by Purchaser
or (ii)
restrictions on transfer of the Units under federal and state securities
laws as
a result of the fact that the Units have not been registered or qualified
for
transfer under such laws. Other than this Agreement and the LLC
Agreement, such Units are not subject to any voting trust agreement or other
Contract, including any Contract restricting or otherwise relating to the
voting, dividend rights or disposition of such Units.
(f) Litigation. There
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to Seller’s knowledge, threatened against
Seller (i) that question the validity of this Agreement or any action taken
or
to be taken by Seller in connection with, or which seek to enjoin or
obtain monetary damages in respect of, this Agreement or (ii) that would
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to adversely affect
in
any material respect the ability of Seller to perform its obligations under
and
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Fees. Except
for fees to be paid by Seller or, prior to Closing, the Company to UBS
Securities LLC and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., Seller has not, and neither the
Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has on Seller’s behalf, paid or become obligated to
pay any fee or commission to any broker, finder or other intermediary in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which
Purchaser or the Company will have any liability or responsibility
whatsoever.
(h) Sophisticated
Purchaser; Investment Intent.
(i) Seller
is an informed sophisticated entity with sufficient knowledge and experience
in
investment and financial matters and in the energy, ethanol and agricultural
commodities industries to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of
Seller’s investment in the Purchaser’s Common Stock.
(ii) Seller
is receiving the Purchaser’s Common Stock for its own account for the purpose of
investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any
distribution thereof. Seller has not agreed to transfer the
Purchaser’s Common Stock to any other Person or to grant any rights in the
Purchaser’s Common Stock to any other Person.
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(iii) Seller
understands that the Purchaser’s Common Stock has not been registered under the
Securities Act or the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any State
or
other jurisdiction and, accordingly, must be held indefinitely unless a
subsequent sale or other transfer thereof is registered under the Securities
Act
and such securities or blue sky laws or is exempt from registration
thereunder.
(iv) Seller
is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities
Act.
(v) Seller
understands that the exemptions from registration under the Securities Act
and
state securities or blue sky laws relied upon by Purchaser in connection
with
the issuance of the Purchaser’s Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement are
based in part on the matters addressed in this Section 4.2(h).
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
THE COMPANY
The
Company hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser that, on and as of the
date
of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except for the
representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular
date
or only with respect to a specific period of time, then only as of such date
or
with respect to such period), except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule:
SECTION
5.1. Organization; Power and
Authority. The Company is a limited liability company duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of
Delaware and is qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by Law, except where
the
failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected, individually
or in
the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company
has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease
and operate its assets and properties and conduct its businesses and operations
as presently being conducted. The Company has furnished or made
available to Purchaser correct and complete copies of the Organizational
Documents of the Company.
SECTION
5.2. Authorization; Execution and
Validity. The Company has all requisite limited liability
company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform
its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited
liability company action on the part of the Company. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (to the
extent it relates to actions to be taken or covenants to be performed prior
to
or at Closing) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to
the
Enforceability Exceptions.
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SECTION
5.3. Absence of Conflicts. The
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the performance
by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in any violation or breach of or
give
rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation
or to loss of a material benefit under, or to any increased, additional,
accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, any
provision of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming that the Consents referred to in Section 5.3
of the
Disclosure Schedule are made or obtained, result in any violation or breach
of,
or constitute a 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
obligation or to loss of a benefit under, or to increased, additional,
accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, any
term
or provision of any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, franchise,
permit, license, Contract or other instrument or document to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which its or their respective
properties or assets are bound, (iii) assuming that the filings and Consents
referred to in Sections 5.3 of the Disclosure Schedule and in Section 5.4
are
made or obtained, result in any violation in any material respect of any
Law or
any Order applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or
their
respective properties or assets or (iv) result in the creation of, or impose
on
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any obligation to create, any Lien
upon
any properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION
5.4. Governmental Approvals. There is
no requirement applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to obtain
any material Consent of, or to make or effect any material declaration, filing
or registration with, any Governmental Authority for the valid execution
and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the due performance by the Company
of
its obligations hereunder or the lawful consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except for the filing by or on behalf of the “ultimate
parent entity” of the Company of notification with the FTC and DOJ under the HSR
Act and the expiration of the applicable “waiting period”
thereunder.
SECTION
5.5. Capitalization of the
Company. The Units are uncertificated securities that constitute
all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Company and there
are
no Equity Interests in the Company reserved for issuance. The Units
have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action
on
the part of the Company, have been validly issued and are not subject to
any
future capital calls (other than as provided in the Organizational Documents
of
the Company or under applicable Law). The limited liability company
records of the Company reflect that all of the Units are owned of record
by
Seller. None of the Units are subject to or issued in violation of
any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right,
subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act, the Organizational Documents of the Company
or
any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise
bound. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of the Company having the right
13
to
vote
(or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to
vote)
on any matters on which holders of Units may vote (“Voting Company
Debt”). Except as set forth in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure
Schedule, there are no outstanding options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible
or exchangeable securities or other Contracts, commitments or arrangements
of
any character (i) pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary
is or
may be obligated to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered
or
sold, any issued or unissued Equity Interests in, or any security convertible
or
exercisable for or exchangeable into any Equity Interest in, the Company
or any
Voting Company Debt, (ii) obligating the Company or any Subsidiary to
issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right,
security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking or (iii) that
give any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or right similar
to or
derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders of
Units. As of the date of this Agreement, there are not any
outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests in the Company
or
any Subsidiary.
SECTION
5.6. Financial Statements. Attached
as Section 5.6 of the Disclosure Schedule are (i) the audited combined
consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
as
of December 31, 2006, together with the related combined consolidated statements
of operations, changes in members’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the years then ended (collectively, the
“Company Audited Financial
Statements”), in each case accompanied by the report of the Company’s
independent public accountants with respect thereto, and (ii) the unaudited
combined consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of March 31, 2007 (the
“Company Latest Balance Sheet”), together
with the related unaudited combined consolidated statement of operations,
changes in members’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries for the three-month period then ended (the “Company
Unaudited Financial Statements” and, together with the Company Audited
Financial Statements, the “Company Financial
Statements”). The Company Financial Statements fairly
present in all material respects the combined consolidated financial position
of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated,
and the
combined consolidated results of operations, changes in members’ equity and cash
flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods
presented, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject, in the
case of
the Company Unaudited Financial Statements, to (i) the absence of footnotes
and
normal, recurring year-end audit adjustments, none of which, individually
or in
the aggregate, are material and (ii) the other exceptions set forth in Section
5.6 of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION
5.7. Liabilities. The Company
and its Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations of a type required
to be
reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for
liabilities or obligations (i) reflected or reserved against in the Company
Latest Balance Sheet or described in the notes thereto, (ii) incurred by
the
Company or its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business after the
date of
the Company Latest Balance Sheet and not in violation of this Agreement or
(iii)
described in Section 5.7 of the Disclosure Schedule. The Company
and its subsidiaries do not have any material off balance sheet
liabilities. No representation or warranty is made in this Section
5.7 with respect to any liability or obligation relating to (i) labor or
employee benefits matters, which are addressed exclusively in Sections 5.16
and
5.17, (ii) Taxes, which are addressed exclusively in Section 5.18 or (iii)
Permits, compliance with Laws or Environmental Laws, which are addressed
exclusively in Sections 5.19 and 5.20.
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SECTION
5.8. Absence of Certain
Changes. Except as set forth in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure
Schedule, since the date of the Company Latest Balance Sheet, there has not
been:
(a) any
event, occurrence or development which has had or would reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b) (i)
any injury or death to any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
working on any property or facility owned or leased by the Company or any
of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, any injury or death to any
contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries working on any property
or
facility owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii)
any
damage, destruction, loss or casualty to any properties or assets of the
Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, which is material to the businesses or operations
of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(c) the
creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any material properties
or
assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries other than in the Ordinary Course
of
Business;
(d) the
transfer, lease or other disposition of any material properties or assets
of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, except in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(e) any
material increase in compensation, severance or other employee benefits payable
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (i) directors or officers serving
as senior vice president or in more senior positions with the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries (“Company Senior Officers”), or (ii) those
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries employed at the Company’s
headquarters, which are listed in Section 5.8(e) of the Disclosure
Schedule;
(f) any
cancellation of any material indebtedness (individually or in the aggregate)
or
any waiver of any claims or rights of substantial value; or
(g) any
commitment or agreement to do any of the foregoing.
15
SECTION
5.9. Subsidiaries;
Investments.
(a) Section
5.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the name of each Subsidiary
of
the Company, (ii) the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation of each
such
Subsidiary, (iii) the authorized, issued and outstanding Equity Interests
in
each such Subsidiary and (iv) the names and ownership interest of the equity
holders or holders of Equity Interests in each such
Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Section 5.9(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, or have voting
rights with respect to, any capital stock or other Equity Interests in any
corporation, partnership or other Person.
(b) Each
Subsidiary of the Company is a limited liability company and is duly formed,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its
formation and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority
to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its businesses
as presently conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified
to
transact business as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its activities or the character
of
the assets and properties that it owns, leases or operates makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in
good
standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished or
made available to Purchaser correct and complete copies of the Organizational
Documents of each Subsidiary of the Company.
(c) Except
as set forth in Section 5.9(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, all of the issued
and
outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary of the Company (i) have been
duly authorized, (ii) are validly issued, (iii) are not subject to any future
capital calls (except as provided in the Organizational Documents of such
Subsidiary or under applicable Law) and (iv) are owned by the Company, directly
or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens or
restrictions on transfer under the Contracts listed in Section 5.9(c) of
the
Disclosure Schedule and restrictions on transfer of such Equity Interests
under
federal and state securities laws as a result of the fact that the Equity
Interests have not been registered or qualified for transfer under such
laws. None of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of the Company
are subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option,
right
of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right
under any provision of the Law governing such Subsidiary, the Organizational
Documents of such Subsidiary or any Contract to which the Company or such
Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound. There are not any bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company
having
the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having
the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Equity Interests in
such
Subsidiary may vote (“Voting Subsidiary
Debt”). There are no outstanding options, warrants, calls,
rights, convertible or exchangeable securities or other Contracts, commitments
or arrangements of any character (i) pursuant to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is or may be obligated to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to
be
issued, delivered or sold, any issued or unissued Equity Interests or any
security convertible for or exchangeable into any Equity Interest in any
Subsidiary of the Company or any Voting Subsidiary Debt, (ii) obligating
the
Company or any Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such
option,
warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking
or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or
right similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring
to
holders of any Equity Interest in any such Subsidiary.
16
SECTION
5.10. Derivatives. Except as
set forth in Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Financial
Statements, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any interest rate or commodity swap, cap, floor,
option agreement, future or forward contract or similar derivative financial
Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or would
reasonably be expected to have any material obligation or
liability.
SECTION
5.11. Real Property.
(a) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any Real Property, other than
Real
Property identified in Section 5.11(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule (the
“Company Owned Real Estate”). The Company or its Subsidiaries
have good and marketable title to the Company Owned Real Estate, free and
clear
of any Liens, other than Permitted Liens. Except as set forth in
Section 5.11(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, with respect to each parcel
of
Company Owned Real Estate, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of
the
Company has leased or otherwise granted to anyone the right to use or occupy
such parcel of Company Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof, (ii) there
are
no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal
to
purchase any such parcel of Company Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof
or
interest therein, (iii) all improvements on the Company Owned Real Estate
are in
good condition and repair given the stage of development and construction
at
such Company Owned Real Estate, and (iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no
condemnation or other proceeding in eminent domain, pending or threatened,
affecting any parcel of Company Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof
or
interest therein.
(b) Section
5.11(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list
of all
leasehold interests held by the Company or its Subsidiaries in any Real Property
used or occupied in connection with the businesses of the Company or its
Subsidiaries that is material to the businesses and operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Company
Leasehold Property”). The Company has
heretofore made available to Purchaser true and complete copies of all leases
(“Company Material Leases”) under which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds any Company Leasehold
Property. Each of the Company Material Leases constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary,
subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is in material default under any Company Material Lease,
nor
has any notice of default been received by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold their Company
Leasehold Property under each Company Material Lease free and clear of any
Liens, other than Permitted Liens and subject to the terms of such Company
Material Lease. There are no leases, subleases, licenses, concessions
or other agreements, written or oral, pursuant to which the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries has granted to any Person the right of use or occupancy
of any
portion of any parcel of Company Leasehold Property held by the Company or
any
of its Subsidiaries under a Company Material Lease.
17
SECTION
5.12. Title to Tangible
Assets. Except as set forth in Section 5.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries own and have good and valid title
to,
or have valid rights to use, all material tangible personal property and
assets
used by them in connection with the conduct of their respective businesses,
in
each case, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens.
SECTION
5.13. Material
Contracts. Except as set forth in Section 5.13A of the
Disclosure Schedule and except for any Contract listed or specifically referred
to in Section 5.10, Section 5.11, Section 5.14, Section 5.17, Section 5.21
and
Section 5.22 of the Disclosure Schedule and any Company Plan set forth in
Section 5.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule as of the date hereof, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise bound
by any
Material Contract. The Company has made available to Purchaser true
and correct copies of each Material Contract, together with all modifications
and amendments thereto, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a
party or by which it is bound (the “Company
Contracts”). All Company Contracts are valid, binding and in
full force and effect and are enforceable by the Company or the applicable
Subsidiary in accordance with their terms. The Company or the
applicable Subsidiary has performed all material obligations required to
be
performed by it to date under the Company Contracts, and it is not (with
or
without the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) in breach or
default
in any material respect thereunder and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no other
party to any Company Contract is (with or without the lapse of time or the
giving of notice, or both) in breach or default in any material respect
thereunder. None of the Company and the Subsidiaries has received any
notice of the intention of any party to terminate, to amend or to seek to
delay
performance of any Company Contract. To the Company’s Knowledge,
there are no circumstances existing as of the date hereof that would be
reasonably likely to give rise to a breach or default under the Material
Contracts relating to the construction of the Plants that are set forth on
Section 5.13B of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION
5.14. Intellectual
Property. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have a
valid right to use all Intellectual Property that is material to the conduct
of
the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement does not
and
will not conflict with, alter or impair any such rights. None of the
Company and the Subsidiaries is bound by or a party to any option, license
or
similar Contract relating to the Intellectual Property of any other Person
for
the use of such Intellectual Property in the conduct of the business of the
Company and the Subsidiaries, except as set forth in Section 5.14 of the
Disclosure Schedule and except for commercial “off-the-shelf” software license
agreements relating to computer software licensed to the Company or a Subsidiary
in the ordinary course of business. To the
18
Company’s
Knowledge, the conduct of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries
as
presently conducted does not violate, conflict with or infringe in any material
respect the Intellectual Property of any other Person. Except as set
forth in Section 5.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) no claims are
pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, against the Company or any
Subsidiary by any Person with respect to the ownership, validity,
enforceability, effectiveness or use in the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property and (ii) neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice asserting that the
conduct of their businesses infringes upon or violates any Intellectual Property
of any Person in any material respect. All material Intellectual
Property has been maintained in confidence in accordance with protection
procedures customarily used in the industry to protect rights of like
importance.
SECTION
5.15. Litigation. Section 5.15
of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list of all
Legal
Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries which (a) relate to or involve more than
$250,000, or (b) seek any material injunctive relief. Except as
set forth in Section 5.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is a party or subject to or in default under any
Order, or (ii) there is not any Legal Proceeding or claim by the Company
or any
Subsidiary pending, or which the Company or any Subsidiary is actively preparing
to initiate, against any other Person. As of the date hereof, there
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened
against the Company (i) that question the validity of this Agreement or any
action taken or to be taken by the Company in connection with, or which seek
to
enjoin or obtain monetary damages in respect of, this Agreement or (ii) that
would reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect
the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under and consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION
5.16. Labor and Employment
Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other similar
labor contract, nor is any such contract or agreement being
negotiated. To the Company’s Knowledge, there are no activities or
proceedings of any labor union to organize any employees of the Company or
any
of its Subsidiaries. No work stoppage or labor dispute or strike
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, threatened. Except as set forth on Section 5.16 of the
Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no material unfair labor practice complaints
or other material labor controversies pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge,
threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the
business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) the Company
and
its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable state and federal
Laws
respecting employment, except for such non-compliance as would not reasonably
be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in material liability
to
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (iii) there are no
pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened administrative charges,
complaints or other proceedings alleging discrimination, wrongful discharge,
violation of state and federal wage and hour laws, or any other matters relating
to the employment practices of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that
could
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in material
liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
19
SECTION
5.17. Employee
Benefits.
(a) A
true and correct copy of each Company Plan, a true and correct list of which
is
set forth on Section 5.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, has been made available
to Purchaser. With respect to each Company Plan, Seller has made
available to Purchaser a true and correct copy of (i) each such Company Plan
that has been reduced to writing and all amendments thereto, (ii) each trust
agreement, insurance contract or administration agreement relating to each
such
Company Plan, (iii) a written summary of each unwritten Company Plan, (iv)
the
most recent summary plan description or other written explanation of each
Company Plan provided to participants, (v) the most recent actuarial report
or
valuation relating to a Company Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, (vi) the
most
recent determination letter or opinion letter and request therefor, if any,
issued by the IRS with respect to any Company Plan intended to be qualified
under section 401(a) of the Code, (vii) any request for a determination
currently pending before the IRS as to qualification under Section 401(a)
of the
Code, (viii) all correspondence with the IRS, the Department of Labor, or
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation relating to any outstanding controversy
or
with respect to any other material matter that has been resolved in the previous
three years, and (ix) all forms and certificate samples used to comply with
Sections 4980, 9801 and 9802 of the Code. Each Company Plan complies
in form and has complied in operation in all material respects with all
applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable
Laws. Except as set forth in Section 5.17(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule, no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA)
has occurred with respect to any Company Plan for which the 30 day notice
requirement has not been waived. Neither the Company nor any of their
ERISA Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) has any actual or contingent liability
with respect to or has had any obligation to contribute to any Company
Multiemployer Plan within the past year. No action has been taken, or
is currently being considered, by the Company to terminate or withdraw from
any
Company Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA and there is no reason to believe
the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation would initiate the termination of any
such
Company Plan. Except to the extent set forth in Section 5.17(a) of
the Disclosure Schedule, no Company Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA
has, as of the last valuation preceding the date hereof, liabilities in excess
of the fair value of the trust assets relating thereto.
(b) To
the Company’s Knowledge, except as listed in Section 5.17(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule and except for routine contributions due and owing, with respect
to the
Company Plans, no event has occurred and there exists no condition or set
of
circumstances in connection with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or
ERISA Affiliates or Company Plan fiduciary could be subject to any material
liability under the terms of such Company Plans, ERISA, the Code or any other
applicable Law. All Company Plans that are intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code have been determined by the IRS to be so
qualified, or a timely application for such determination is now pending
and to
the Company’s Knowledge, there is no reason why any such Company Plan is not so
qualified in operation. Except as disclosed in Section 5.17(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company nor any of the Company’s Subsidiaries
or ERISA Affiliates has any liability or obligation under any welfare plan
to
provide benefits after termination of employment to any employee or dependent
other than as required by Section 4980B of the Code.
(c) Section
5.17(c) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all (i) material severance
and employment agreements with employees of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) severance programs and policies of the Company and each
of
its Subsidiaries with or relating to employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries and (iii) plans, programs, agreements and other arrangements
of the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries with or relating to employees of the
Company or its Subsidiaries containing change of control or similar
provisions.
(d) Except
as set forth in Section 5.17(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement, contract or arrangement
that could result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment, acceleration
or enhancement of any benefit as a result of the transactions contemplated
hereby including, without limitation, the payment of any “excess parachute
payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(e) There
is no Company Plan that is subject to the laws of a foreign government or
jurisdiction.
SECTION
5.18. Taxes. Except as set forth in
Section 5.18 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) (A)
all material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof have been timely filed,
(B)
all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects,
(C) all material Taxes owed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which
are
due and payable have been paid in full or will be paid in full prior to the
Closing Date, (D) all material Tax withholding and deposit requirements imposed
on or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been satisfied
in full in all respects, and (E) there are no Liens on any of the assets
of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure
(or
alleged failure) to pay any Tax assessments (other than Liens for taxes not
yet
due or for tax liabilities that are being contested in good faith);
(ii) no
claim has been made against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any
unpaid Taxes, and no assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted,
proposed, or threatened in writing with respect to any Tax Return of or with
respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
20
(iii) there
is not in force any waiver or agreement for any extension of time for the
assessment or payment of any Tax of or with respect to the Company or any
of its
Subsidiaries; and
(iv) the
Company has not elected to be taxable as a corporation for federal or state
income or franchise tax purposes and all of the Company’s Subsidiaries are and
have been since their inception entities that are disregarded as separate
from
the Company for federal and state income and franchise tax purposes (except
for
purposes of Texas franchise taxes); and
(v) the
Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any indemnity or other obligation
to
any third parties (other than a Governmental Authority) with respect to
Taxes.
SECTION
5.19. Permits; Compliance with
Laws. Section 5.19A sets forth a list of all material Permits
held by the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in
Section 5.19B of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries
hold
all Permits necessary to own, lease and operate its assets and properties
and to
conduct the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
as
currently conducted, none of the Company and the Subsidiaries has received
notice relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permits, and
none
of such Permits will be subject to suspension, modification, revocation or
nonrenewal as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their operations in compliance
in
all material respects with all applicable Laws and none of the Company and
the
Subsidiaries has received any written communication notice from any Governmental
Authority that alleges that the Company or a Subsidiary is not in compliance
in
any material respect with applicable Law; provided, however,
that the foregoing representations and warranties do not address labor,
employment and benefit plan matters which are the subject of Sections 5.16
and
5.17, Taxes which are the subject of Section 5.18 or environmental matters
which
are the subject of Section 5.20.
SECTION
5.20. Environmental
Laws. Except as set forth in Section 5.20 of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained, or have timely filed complete
applications for, all material Permits required under currently applicable
Environmental Laws to operate their facilities and conduct their respective
businesses as they are currently being, and as they are designed to be, operated
or conducted.
(b) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have operated their facilities and conducted
their
respective businesses substantially in compliance with all material applicable
Environmental Laws.
(c) No
written claim, notification, demand, request for information, citation or
Order
under any Environmental Law has been issued to or filed against the Company
or
its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority or any other third party,
except
for such claims, notifications, demands, requests, citations or Orders as
would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to result in material liability.
21
(d) No
investigation or review is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge threatened,
against the Company or its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority or
any
other third party under any applicable Environmental Law in connection with
the
operation of their facilities or the conduct of their respective businesses,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to result in material liability.
(e) There
are no past or present conditions or circumstances arising out of or relating
to
the Owned Real Estate, including on site releases of Hazardous Materials,
except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result
in material liability under any applicable Environmental Laws. There
have been no off site releases of Hazardous Material by the Company or its
Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to result in material liability under any applicable Environmental
Laws.
SECTION
5.21. Insurance. Section 5.21
of the Disclosure Schedule lists the insurance policies maintained by the
Company and its Subsidiaries that provide coverage for the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. All of such policies are in full force
and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid and none
of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in material default of any provision
thereof or has received notice of cancellation or termination
thereof. Except as described in Section 5.21 of the Disclosure
Schedule, the policies listed therein will continue in effect after the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement until the
termination or expiration thereof in accordance with their respective
terms.
SECTION
5.22. Affiliated
Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 5.22A of the
Disclosure Schedule, and except for compensation paid or payable by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to bona fide employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business, there are no Contracts,
arrangements, liabilities or obligations between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller, any Securityholder or any of their
Affiliates (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any current
or
former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries),
on the other hand (collectively, the “Terminated Affiliate
Contracts”), that will continue in effect or give rise to any material
obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the
Closing Date. Except as set forth in Section 5.22 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any loan
outstanding to, and since December 31, 2006 has not extended or maintained
credit to, any officer or employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. Following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Seller will hold no material assets other
than those set forth on Section 5.22B of the Disclosure Schedule.
22
SECTION
5.23. Fees. Except as set forth
in Section 5.23 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of
its
Subsidiaries has paid or become obligated to pay any fee or commission to
any
broker, finder or intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby. Any fees associated with the items disclosed in Section 5.23
of the Disclosure Schedule shall be paid by the Seller or the Securityholders
and the Company shall not have any obligation with respect to such
fees.
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
PURCHASER
Purchaser
hereby represents and warrants to Seller and each Securityholder that, on
and as
of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except for
the
representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular
date
or only with respect to a specific period of time, then only as of such date
or
with respect to such period), except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule
delivered by Purchaser to Seller and each Securityholders’ Representative (the
“Purchaser Disclosure Schedule”) or the Purchaser Reports filed
and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement:
SECTION
6.1. Organization; Power and
Authority. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of South Dakota
and is
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in
which such qualification is required by Law, except where the failure to
be so
qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties and conduct its business
and
operations as presently being conducted except as would not reasonably be
expected to cause a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
6.2. Authorization; Execution and
Validity. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its obligations
hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser
and the performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder have been duly
and
validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject
to the Enforceability Exceptions.
SECTION
6.3. Absence of Conflicts. The
execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement, the performance by
Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in any violation or breach of any
provision of the Organizational Documents of Purchaser or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) assuming that the Consents referred to in Section 6.3
of the
Purchaser Disclosure Schedule are made or obtained, result in any violation
or
breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time
or
both) under, any term or provision of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease, franchise, permit, license, Contract or other instrument
23
or
document to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
its or their respective properties or assets are bound, (iii) assuming that
the
filings and Consents referred to in Sections 6.3 of the Purchaser
Disclosure Schedule and in Section 6.4 are made or obtained, result in any
violation of any Law or any Order applicable to Purchaser or any of its
Subsidiaries or its or their respective properties or assets or (iv) result
in
the creation of, or impose on Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries any
obligation to create, any Lien upon any properties or assets of Purchaser
or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for any of the matters referred to in clauses
(ii)
or (iv) above which would not reasonably be expected to cause a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
6.4. Governmental Approvals. There is
no requirement applicable to Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to obtain
any
Consent of, or to make or effect any declaration, filing or registration
with,
any Governmental Authority for the valid execution and delivery by Purchaser
of
this Agreement, the due performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder
or
the lawful consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for
(i)
the filing by or on behalf of the “ultimate parent entity” of Purchaser of
notification with the FTC and DOJ under the HSR Act and the expiration of
the
applicable “waiting period” thereunder, (ii) filings required under the
Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act or applicable state securities
and
“Blue Sky” laws and (iii) any other requirement which, if not satisfied, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
6.5. Capitalization of Purchaser. The
authorized share capital of Purchaser consists of 250,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
par
value $0.01 per share. As of July 20, 2007, there were 78,260,308
shares of common stock issued, including 393,926 restricted shares, and
8,697,478 shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding
options. All such issued shares of common stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. As of July 20, 2007 there were no shares of preferred stock
issued. The Purchaser Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights. None of the shares of common stock of the
Purchaser are subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call
option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any
similar right under any provision of South Dakota law, the Organizational
Documents of the Purchaser or any Contract to which the Purchaser is a party
or
otherwise bound. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of the Purchaser having the right to vote (or convertible into,
or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on
which
holders of the shares of common stock may vote (“Voting Purchaser
Debt”). As of the date of this Agreement, there are not any
outstanding contractual obligations of the Purchaser or any Subsidiary to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests in the Purchaser
or
any Subsidiary.
24
SECTION
6.6. SEC Documents.
(a) Purchaser
has timely filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) all documents (including exhibits and any amendments
thereto) required to be so filed by it since June 13, 2006 pursuant to Sections
13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (collectively, the
“Purchaser Reports”). As of its respective date,
each Purchaser Report (i) complied in all material respects in accordance
with
the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make
the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading except for such statements, if any, as have been
modified by subsequent filings with the SEC prior to the date
hereof.
(b) Each
of the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference
into
the Purchaser Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly
presents in all material respects the consolidated financial position of
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the consolidated
statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity
included in or incorporated by reference into the Purchaser Reports (including
any related notes and schedules) fairly presents in all material respects
the
results of operations, cash flows or changes in stockholders’ equity, as the
case may be, of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries for the periods set forth
therein
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to (x) such exceptions as
may be
permitted by Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X of the SEC and (y) normal year-end
audit adjustments), in each case in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied during the periods involved, except
as may be noted therein, except for such consolidated balance sheets and
consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders
equity, if any, as have been modified or restated and have been included
in
subsequent filings with the SEC prior to the date hereof.
(c) Except
as and to the extent set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of Purchaser
and its Subsidiaries included in the Purchaser Form 10-K, including all notes
thereto, as of the date of such balance sheet, neither Purchaser nor any
of its
Subsidiaries had any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required to be reflected
on, or
reserved against in, the balance sheet of Purchaser or in the notes thereto
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, other than liabilities or obligations which do not
and are
not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Purchaser have made
all
certifications required by Section 302 and Section 906 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act
of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”) and any related rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC; at the time of filing, such certifications
were complete and correct, contained no qualifications or exceptions to the
matters certified therein and have not been modified or withdrawn; and Purchaser
is otherwise in compliance with all applicable effective provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the applicable effective listing and corporate governance
rules of the NYSE. Neither Purchaser nor any of its officers has
received notice from any Governmental Authority challenging or questioning
the
accuracy, completeness, form or manner of filing or submission of the
certifications required by the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and made by its Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
25
(e) Purchaser
has in place the “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules
13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) of the Exchange Act) required in order for the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Purchaser to engage in the
review and evaluation process mandated by the Exchange
Act. Purchaser’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably
designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial)
required to be disclosed by Purchaser in the reports that it files or submits
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all
such
information is accumulated and communicated to Purchaser’s management as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to
make
the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of
Purchaser referenced in Section 6.6(d).
(f) Purchaser
and its Subsidiaries maintain accurate books and records reflecting in all
material respects its assets and liabilities and maintain proper and adequate
internal accounting controls.
SECTION
6.7. Absence of Certain
Changes. Except as set forth in Section 6.7 of the Purchaser
Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in writing by Purchaser to the Company
prior
to the date hereof, since March 31, 2007, there has not been:
(a) any
event, occurrence or development which has had or would reasonably be expected
to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any
damage, destruction, loss or casualty to any properties or assets of Purchaser
or any of its Subsidiaries, which (after taking into account any available
insurance coverage or reserves reflected in the Purchaser Financial Statements)
is material to the businesses or operations of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole; or
(c) any
commitment or agreement to do any of the foregoing.
SECTION
6.8. Derivatives. Purchaser has
provided Seller with a true and complete listing, including the terms, of
all
interest rate or commodity swap, cap, floor, option agreement, future or
forward
contracts or similar derivative financial Contracts existing on the date
hereof
under which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries has or would reasonably
be
expected to have any material obligation or liability.
26
SECTION
6.9. Litigation. The Purchaser
Form 10-K, together with Section 6.9 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule,
sets
forth a correct and complete list of all Legal Proceedings pending or, to
Purchaser’s Knowledge, threatened in writing against Purchaser or any of its
Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material
Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, there are no Legal Proceedings
pending or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, threatened against Purchaser (i) that
question the validity of this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken
by
Purchaser in connection with, or which seek to enjoin or obtain monetary
damages
in respect of, this Agreement or (ii) that would reasonably be expected to
adversely affect in any material respect the ability of Purchaser to perform
its
obligations under and consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
6.10. Labor and Employment
Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the Purchaser’s
employees exists or is threatened or imminent, that would reasonably be expected
to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
6.11. Employee Benefits. The
Purchaser is in compliance in all respects with all presently applicable
provisions of ERISA and no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred
with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Purchaser
would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver
could apply, and except for such non-compliance or events that would not
reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect. The Purchaser does not expect to incur liability under (i)
Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any
“pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4791 of the Code, except for any such
liability that would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION
6.12. Taxes. The Purchaser has
filed all federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed
or
has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure
to so
file would not be reasonably be expected to result in a Purchaser Material
Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and
any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that
any
of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine
or
penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
6.13. Permits; Compliance with
Laws. Except as set forth in Section 6.13 of the Purchaser
Disclosure Schedule, Purchaser and its Subsidiaries hold all Permits necessary
to conduct the business and operations of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries,
taken
as a whole, as currently conducted, except for any such Permits the absence
of
which would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Affect. Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
operations in compliance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure
to
comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
27
SECTION
6.14. Environmental
Laws. Except as set forth in Section 6.14 of the Purchaser
Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Purchaser
and its Subsidiaries have obtained or filed applications for all Permits
required under applicable Environmental Laws to operate their facilities
and
conduct their respective businesses as they are currently being operated
or
conducted, except where the failure to obtain or apply for such Permits would
not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) Purchaser
and its Subsidiaries have operated their facilities and conducted their
respective businesses substantially in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws, except for such non-compliance as would not reasonably
be
expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No
written notification, demand, request for information, citation or order
under
any Environmental Law has been issued to or filed against Purchaser or its
Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority, except for such notifications,
demands, requests, citations or orders as would not reasonably be expected
to
have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
(d) To
Purchaser’s Knowledge, no investigation or review is pending against Purchaser
or its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority under any applicable
Environmental Law in connection with the operation of their facilities or
the
conduct of their respective businesses, except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
6.15. Insurance. All material
insurance policies maintained by Purchaser and its Subsidiaries that provide
coverage for the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries are in full force
and effect and none of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is in material
default of any provision thereof or has received notice of cancellation or
termination thereof, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in Section
6.15 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, and except as would not reasonably
be
expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, such policies will
continue in effect after the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement until the termination or expiration thereof in accordance
with
their respective terms.
SECTION
6.16. Fees. Except as set forth
in Section 6.16 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, neither Purchaser nor
any
of its Subsidiaries has paid or become obligated to pay any fee or commission
to
any broker, finder or intermediary in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION
6.17. Sophisticated Purchaser; Access to
Information; Investment Intent.
(a) Purchaser
is an informed, sophisticated entity with sufficient knowledge and experience
in
investment and financial matters and in the energy, ethanol and agricultural
commodities industries to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of
its
investment in the Units.
28
(b) Purchaser
is acquiring the Units for its own account for the purpose of investment
and not
with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution
thereof. Purchaser has not agreed to transfer the Units to any other
Person or to grant any rights in the Units to any other Person.
(c) Purchaser
understands that the Units have not been registered under the Securities
Act or
the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any state or other jurisdiction
and, accordingly, must be held indefinitely unless a subsequent sale or other
transfer thereof is registered under the Securities Act and such securities
or
blue sky laws or is exempt from registration thereunder.
(d) Purchaser
is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities
Act.
(e) Purchaser
understands that the exemptions from registration under the Securities Act
and
state securities or blue sky laws relied upon by Seller and the Securityholders
in connection with the sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement are based
in
part on the matters addressed in this Section 6.17.
SECTION
6.18. Financing. Purchaser has,
and will have as of the closing date, cash available sufficient to pay (or
cause
to be paid) the Cash Purchase Price and the Subordinated Note Amount and
the
Bridge Note Amount as specified in Section 2.2, together with all fees and
expenses incurred by or on its behalf in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION
6.19. No Vote Required. There
is no requirement, contractual, regulatory or otherwise, that the holders
of any
class or series of Purchaser capital stock approve any transaction contemplated
by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
SECTION
7.1. Cooperation; Certain Consents and
Approvals.
(a) From
the date hereof until the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do,
or
cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing
all things necessary, proper or advisable (subject to any applicable Laws)
to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as
practicable, including the preparation and filing of all forms, registrations
and notices required to be filed to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby, and the taking of such actions as are necessary to obtain any requisite
Consents, Orders, Permits, qualifications, exemptions or waivers from any
third
party or Governmental Authority. In addition, no party shall take any
action after the date hereof (other than any action required to be taken
under
this Agreement or to which the other parties shall have granted their consent)
that could reasonably be expected to materially delay the obtaining of, or
result in not obtaining, any Consent, Order, Permit, qualification, exemption
or
waiver from any Governmental Authority or other Person required to be obtained
prior to Closing.
29
(b) To
the extent permitted by applicable Law and subject to any limitations on
access
to information provided for in Section 7.4, each party shall consult with
the
other parties with respect to, and provide any information reasonably requested
by the other party in connection with, all material filings made with any
Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. If any party or any of its Affiliates receives a
request for information or documentary material from any Governmental Authority
with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby, then such party
shall endeavor in good faith to make, or cause to be made, as soon as reasonably
practicable and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, after consultation
with the other parties, an appropriate response in compliance with such
request.
(c) In
addition to and without limiting any of the other covenants of the parties
contained in this Section 7.1, Purchaser and the Company shall (i) take promptly
all actions necessary to make the filings required of them or their “ultimate
parent entities” under the HSR Act, (ii) comply, at the earliest
practicable date, with any request for additional information or documentary
material received by them, or any of their respective Affiliates from the
FTC or
the DOJ pursuant to the HSR Act or from any state attorney general or other
Governmental Authority in connection with antitrust matters, (iii) cooperate
with each other in connection with any filing under the HSR Act and in
connection with resolving any investigation or other inquiry concerning the
transactions contemplated hereby commenced by the FTC, DOJ, any state attorney
general or any other Governmental Authority, (iv) use commercially reasonable
efforts to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect
to
the transactions contemplated hereby under any antitrust Law and (v) advise
the
other parties promptly of any material communication received by such party
from
the FTC, DOJ, any state attorney general or any other Governmental Authority
regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and of any
understandings, undertakings or agreements (oral or written) such party proposes
to make or enter into with the FTC, DOJ, any state attorney general or any
other
Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby. Concurrently with the filing of notifications under the HSR
Act or as soon thereafter as practicable, Purchaser and the Company shall
each
request early termination of the applicable “waiting period” under the HSR
Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
neither Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates shall be required, in connection
with the matters covered by this Section 7.1, (i) to pay any amounts (other
than the payment of filing fees and expenses and fees of counsel), (ii) to
commence or defend any litigation, (iii) to hold separate (including by trust
or
otherwise) or divest any of their respective businesses, product lines or
assets, (iv) to agree to any limitation on the operation or conduct of their
respective businesses or (v) to waive any of the conditions set forth in
Article
VIII of this Agreement.
30
SECTION
7.2. Transfer of Agreements and
Newco. Prior to the Closing Date, the contracts and agreements
set forth on Section 7.2 of the Disclosure Schedule shall be assigned to
the Company. In addition, Seller shall cause the equity of ASAB
Newco, LLC to be transferred to the Company; provided, that,
notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no employment agreement
or
other Contract to which an employee or consultant of the Company or any of
its
Affiliates is a party shall be assigned to the Company unless the applicable
employee or consultant shall have waived all of such employee’s or consultant’s
rights and claims under such assigned employment agreement or Contract (i)
arising if such employee or consultant is terminated within six (6) months
after
the Closing Date or (ii) arising as a result of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
SECTION
7.3. Conduct of Business. From
the date hereof until the Closing Date, the Company shall (and shall cause
each
of its Subsidiaries to), unless Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing
or
except as described in Section 7.3 of the Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise
specifically contemplated by this Agreement:
(a) operate
its businesses only in the Ordinary Course of Business and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to keep intact its businesses and preserve its relationships
with customers and suppliers;
(b) maintain
its books, accounts and records in the usual, regular and ordinary manner,
on a
basis consistent with prior years, and not change any of its accounting
principles, except as required by GAAP;
(c) not
consummate any merger or consolidation with any Person or acquire a substantial
portion of the assets of any business or any Person or otherwise acquire
any
assets (other than inventory) that are material;
(d) not
amend or modify its Organizational Documents;
(e) not
redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests in the Company or a Company
Subsidiary, issue or sell any of its Equity Interests in the Company or a
Company Subsidiary, any Voting Company Debt or Voting Subsidiary Debt or
issue
or grant any options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible or exchangeable
securities or other Contracts, commitments or arrangements of any character
(i)
pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary would be obligated
to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any such
Equity Interests, any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable
into any such Equity Interest, any Voting Company Debt or Voting Subsidiary
Debt, (ii) obligating it to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking
or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or
right
similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to
holders
of Units or Equity Interests in any Company Subsidiary;
31
(f) (A) not
make any increase in compensation, severance or other employee benefits payable
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any increases that
(i) are
consistent with past practices of the Company or are required under the terms
of
any Company Plans or other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and (ii)
individually or in the aggregate could not result in a material liability
to the
Company, and (B) except in each case as required by applicable Law, not
enter into, adopt, extend (beyond the Closing Date), renew or amend any
collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization,
union or association;
(g) not
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any material assets used in the
Company’s business or business of any of its Subsidiaries to Seller or its
Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries);
(h) not
incur or assume any liabilities, obligations or indebtedness for borrowed
money
or guarantee any such liabilities, obligations or indebtedness, other than
in
the Ordinary Course of Business; provided, however, that in no
event shall the Company or any Subsidiary incur or assume any long-term
indebtedness for borrowed money (except for amounts under the Bank Credit
Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof);
(i) not
permit, allow or suffer any of its assets to become subjected to any Lien
that
would have been required to be set forth in Sections 5.11 or 5.12 of the
Disclosure Schedule, if existing on the date of this Agreement;
(j) not
cancel any material indebtedness (individually or in the aggregate) or waive
any
claims or rights of substantial value;
(k) except
as set forth on Section 7.3(k) of the Disclosure Schedule (the
“Construction Cost Estimate Schedule”) not make or incur any
material capital expenditure, other than capital expenditures made pursuant
to
the Company’s current capital budget previously furnished to
Purchaser;
(l) not
sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its assets that are
material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and the Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, except inventory and obsolete or excess equipment, sold
in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(m) not
enter into or renew or amend any lease of real property;
(n) not
enter into any new transactions that would be required to be disclosed on
Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Schedule or extend any existing arrangements
set
forth in Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Schedule;
(o) not
agree to take any action or actions prohibited by any of the foregoing clauses
(a) through (n); provided, however, that this Section 7.3
shall not be construed to prohibit any payments in the Ordinary Course of
Business; and
32
(p) at
all times comply with the operating guidelines set forth on Section 7.3(p)
of
the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION
7.4. Access to
Information. From the date hereof until the Closing Date, the
Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, make its management
personnel reasonably available to Purchaser and its representatives and,
subject
to and in compliance with any obligations of confidentiality or non-disclosure
provided by applicable Law or contained in any Contracts to which the Company
or
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound (provided that the Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to put in place an arrangement
to
enable the provision of reasonable access without violating such obligations
or
Law), provide Purchaser and its accountants, employees, attorneys and other
representatives reasonable access to, and permit such Persons to review,
during
normal business hours and upon reasonable prior written request, its properties,
books, Contracts, accounts, records and files, and shall provide such other
information to Purchaser and its representatives as they may reasonably request
which is (a) reasonably required in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and (b) not inconsistent with applicable
Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser acknowledges that none
of Seller, the Securityholders, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries
or
Affiliates shall be obligated to provide to Purchaser any information relating
to any offers or indications of interest received by Seller, the
Securityholders, the Company or their respective Affiliates or representatives
from any Person other than Purchaser to acquire the Company or any of its
Equity
Interests, properties or assets or any communications between Seller, the
Securityholders, the Company or their respective Affiliates or representatives
on the one hand and any such other Person on the other hand relating to such
offers or indications of interest or the transactions contemplated thereby
(it
being understood that Seller and the Securityholders may retain all such
documents, information and communications, which shall be the sole property
of
Seller and the Securityholders at all times prior to and after the
Closing). In addition, Purchaser acknowledges that unless otherwise
provided herein, Seller shall not be obligated to provide to Purchasers:
(i) any
work papers or similar materials prepared by its independent public accountants,
except to the extent that such accountants agree to provide access to such
work
papers or similar materials upon such terms and conditions as shall be
determined by such accountants in their sole discretion, and (ii) any documents
or information that are protected by the attorney-client privilege or work
product doctrines if such party determines in its reasonable discretion that
providing copies or access to such documents or information could give rise
to a
possible waiver of such privilege or doctrine (provided that the Company
shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to put in place an arrangement to
permit
such disclosure without loss of attorney client privilege).
SECTION
7.5. Certain Confidential
Information.
(a) Each
of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges that in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement such party and its Affiliates
have
received and will continue to receive certain Confidential Information (as
defined in the Confidentiality Agreement). Each of the parties hereto
acknowledges that such party and its Affiliates are bound by the Confidentiality
Agreement and agrees that it will not, and it will not permit any of its
Affiliates, directors, officers, independent accountants, agents or other
representatives to, use or disclose any Confidential Information except as
permitted by such agreement. The provisions of this Section 7.5 and
the Confidentiality Agreement, insofar as they relate to Confidential
Information with respect to the businesses, operations, properties, assets,
liabilities, financial condition and results of operations of the Company
and
its Subsidiaries, shall terminate upon the Closing. Except as
provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the provisions of this Section
7.5 shall survive the Closing or any termination of this Agreement.
33
(b) Seller
shall keep confidential, and cause its Affiliates and its and their officers,
directors, employees and advisors to keep confidential, all information relating
to the Company and the Subsidiaries, except as required by Law and except
for
information that is available to the public on the Closing Date, or thereafter
becomes available to the public other than, in each case, as a result of
a
breach of this Section 7.5. The covenant set forth in this Section
7.5(b) shall terminate two years after the Closing Date.
SECTION
7.6. Return of Information. If
this Agreement is terminated for any reason, each of Purchaser and the Company
will promptly destroy or return or cause to be destroyed or returned to the
other party all documents, materials and records (including records in
electronic form) obtained from such party or any of their Affiliates or any
other Person acting on their behalf in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, except (a) to the extent such party is advised in writing
by counsel that such return or destruction is prohibited by Law and (b) for
any
such documents, materials or records that may have been included in documents
submitted to the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, of either
party
or its Affiliates in connection with the evaluation or negotiation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and will continue to keep confidential
and not
use or disclose any information not returned because it is not included or
reflected in any documents, materials or records.
SECTION
7.7. Seller’s and Securityholders’
Representatives’ Access to Documents; Preservation of Books and
Records.
(a) For
a period of seven years from the Closing Date, (i) Purchaser shall cause
the
Company and its Subsidiaries not to dispose of or destroy any of the books
and
records of the Company or its Subsidiaries relating to periods prior to the
Closing (“Books and Records”) without first offering to turn
over possession thereof to Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives by
written notice to Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives at least 90
days prior to the proposed date of such disposition or destruction; (ii)
Purchaser shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to allow Seller and
the
Securityholders’ Representatives and their agents access to and to copy all
Books and Records; and (iii) Purchaser shall cause the Company and its
Subsidiaries to make available to Seller and the Securityholders’
Representatives upon written request (1) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’
34
personnel
to assist Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives in locating and
obtaining any Books and Records or other documents, and (2) any of the Company’s
and its Subsidiaries’ personnel whose assistance or participation is reasonably
required by Seller or the Securityholders’ Representatives or any of their
Affiliates in anticipation of, or preparation for, existing or future Legal
Proceedings or other matters in which Seller or the Securityholders’
Representatives or their Affiliates are or become involved. Any
access provided to the Seller and the Securityholders’ Representative shall be
conducted during normal business hours and in a manner so as to not unreasonably
interfere with the conduct of the business of the Company or the Purchaser
and
shall be at the Seller’s or the applicable Securityholder’s sole cost and
expense. In addition, the Seller and the Securityholders’
Representative shall reimburse the Company and the Purchaser for their
reasonable out of pocket expenses for providing such access.
(b) The
seven-year period referred to in Section 7.7(a) shall be extended if, prior
to
its termination, Seller or the Securityholders’ Representatives advise Purchaser
in writing that any Legal Proceeding or investigation is pending or threatened
at the termination of such seven-year period, in which case such extension
shall
continue until any such Legal Proceeding or investigation has been settled
through judgment or otherwise and/or is no longer pending or
threatened.
SECTION
7.8. Limited
Representations. (1) PURCHASER EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT (A) SELLER AND THE SECURITYHOLDERS HAVE NOT MADE AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
TO
HAVE MADE TO PURCHASER ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY
MADE BY SELLER AND THE SECURITYHOLDERS IN ARTICLE IV AND (B) THE COMPANY
HAS NOT
MADE AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE TO PURCHASER ANY REPRESENTATION
OR
WARRANTY OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY MADE BY THE COMPANY IN ARTICLE V, AND
(2)
SELLER AND THE SECURITYHOLDERS EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT PURCHASER
HAS NOT MADE AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE TO SELLER, THE SECURITYHOLDERS
OR THE COMPANY ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY
MADE BY
PURCHASER IN ARTICLE VI .
SECTION
7.9. Employees and Employee
Benefits.
(a) On
or prior to the date hereof, the Company, Seller and Purchaser have agreed
upon
a form of joint announcement to employees concerning this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and a communication plan concerning the
method
and timing of the delivery of such announcement. Contemporaneously
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties will deliver
such
announcement to employees in accordance with such communication
plan.
(b) On
and after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall be responsible with respect to
all
employees of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries for compliance with
the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (the “WARN
Act”) and any similar state or local Laws. Purchaser shall
not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and Subsidiaries not to, with
respect to any site of employment or facility of any of the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries, at any time during the 90-day period following the Closing
Date, take any employment action that would result in (i) a “plant closing” (as
defined in the WARN Act), (ii) a “mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN Act), or
(iii) any similar action under any
35
applicable
state or local Laws requiring notice to employees in connection with a plant
closing or layoff, in each case without complying fully with the notice and
other requirements of the WARN Act and any similar state or local Laws requiring
notice to employees. In addition, Purchaser hereby agrees to
indemnify the Securityholder Indemnified Parties and to defend and hold the
Securityholder Indemnified Parties harmless from and against any and all
Losses
which the Securityholder Indemnified Parties may incur in connection with
any
lawsuit, claim, arbitration, action or other proceeding brought against the
Securityholder Indemnified Parties under the WARN Act or any similar state
or
local Laws, which relates, in whole or in part, to any actions taken by
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries with regard to any site
of
employment or facility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Purchaser shall assume and agrees to honor
in
accordance with their terms all employment and severance agreements listed
on
Section 5.17(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, and all accrued benefits vested
thereunder, and Purchaser shall take no action to amend, modify or terminate
such agreements.
(d) For
a period of at least one year from and after the Closing Date or for such
longer
period as provided in any employment or severance agreement listed on Section
5.17(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, Purchaser shall maintain, or cause the
Company and its Subsidiaries to maintain, plans for the benefit of the employees
of the Company and its Subsidiaries that provide benefits that are not
materially less favorable in the aggregate (excluding benefits under incentive
compensation, bonus, stock option, equity incentive and defined benefit pension
plans and arrangements) to such employees than the benefits provided under
the
Company Plans immediately prior to the Closing.
(e) With
respect to each employee benefit plan of Purchaser (“Purchaser
Plan”) in which employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(“Company Employees”) participate after the Closing Date, for
purposes of determining vesting and entitlement to benefits, including for
severance benefits and vacation entitlement, service with the Company or
its
Subsidiaries (or predecessor employers to the extent the Company provides
past
service credit) shall be treated as service with Purchaser; provided,
however, that such service need not be recognized to the extent that such
recognition would result in a duplication of benefits or to the extent that
such
service was not recognized under the corresponding Company Plan. To
the extent permitted by applicable Law, Purchaser shall cause any and all
pre-existing condition (or actively at work or similar) limitations, eligibility
waiting periods and evidence of insurability requirements under Purchaser
Plans
to be waived with respect to such Company Employees and their eligible
dependents and shall provide them with credit for any co-payments, deductibles,
and offsets (or similar payments) made during the plan year including the
period
prior to the Closing Date for the purposes of satisfying any applicable
deductible, out-of-pocket, or similar requirements under any Purchaser Plans
in
which they are eligible to participate after the Closing Date.
36
(f) The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all provisions contained in this
Section 7.9 with respect to employees are included for the sole benefit of
the
respective parties hereto and shall not create any right (i) in any other
person, including, without limitation, any employees, former employees, any
participant in any Company Plan or any beneficiary thereof or (ii) to continued
employment with the Company or Purchaser.
SECTION
7.10. Directors and Officers
Indemnification.
(a) Purchaser
shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, for a period of six
years
from and after the Closing Date, to keep in effect in the Organizational
Documents of the Company and each such Subsidiary provisions providing for
indemnification of the officers, directors, managers, employees or agents
of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “D&O
Indemnified Parties”) that are at least as favorable as the provisions
of the Organizational Documents of the Company and each such Subsidiary in
effect as of immediately prior to the Closing.
(b) This
covenant is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by,
each
of the D&O Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs and
successors. The indemnification provided for herein shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a D&O Indemnified Party is
entitled, whether pursuant to Law, contract or otherwise. Purchaser
shall, or shall cause the Company to, pay all expenses, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any D&O Indemnified Party which is
the prevailing party in any action or proceeding to enforce the indemnity
and
other obligations provided for in this Section 7.10.
(c) If
the Company (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is
not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation
or
merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties
and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary
to effectuate the purposes of this Section 7.10, Purchaser shall cause the
Company to make proper provision so that the successors and assigns of the
Company shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 7.10 and
none
of the actions described in clauses (i) or (ii) above shall be taken until
such
provision is made.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 7.10, neither Purchaser, the Company
nor any
of their respective Affiliates shall be obligated to make any payment or
otherwise indemnify or hold harmless any such D&O Indemnified Party who is a
Seller in the event that the Company or such D&O Indemnified Party was aware
of such claim prior to the date hereof but did not notify Purchaser thereof
prior to the date hereof, provided that in any judicial, court or tribunal
proceeding relating to such claim, whether brought or initiated by the D&O
Indemnified Party or Purchaser, Purchaser shall have the burden of proving
that
that the Company or the D&O Indemnified Party was aware of such claim prior
to the date hereof. The amount of indemnification of any D&O
Indemnified Party provided under Section 7.10 shall be net of any amounts
actually recovered by the D&O Indemnified Party under insurance policies
with respect to such claim.
37
(e) To
the extent that the Company or any of is Subsidiaries would be liable to
any
D&O Indemnified Party under any indemnification agreement and the
allegations underlying such indemnification claim would constitute an
indemnifiable Loss pursuant to Section 11.2, then the Securityholders or
the
Seller, as the case may be, shall be liable therfor in accordance with Section
11.2 and nothing contained herein shall reduce or compromise Purchaser’s rights
under Article XI.
SECTION
7.11. Litigation Support and
Cooperation. If and for so long as any party hereto is actively
contesting or defending against any Claim or Legal Proceeding arising in
connection with (i) the transactions contemplated under this Agreement or
(ii)
any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice,
plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act or transaction on or
prior
to the Closing Date involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than
an action brought by one party to this Agreement against another party or
parties under the terms of this Agreement or in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby), each of the parties will cooperate with the contesting
or
defending party and its counsel in the contest or defense, make available
its
personnel, and provide such testimony and access to its books and records
(or in
the case of Purchaser, to Company’s book and records only) as shall be necessary
in connection with the contest or defense, all at the sole cost and expense
of
the contesting or defending party (unless the contesting or defending party
is
entitled to indemnification therefor under Article XI) subject to and in
compliance with any obligations of confidentiality or non-disclosure provided
by
applicable Law or contained in any Contracts to which the Company or any
of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by whom it is bound (provided that the Company
shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to put in place an arrangement to
enable
the provision of reasonable access without violating such obligations or
Law);
provided, however, that the obligations of the parties
contained in this Section 7.11 with respect to Claims or Legal Proceedings
of
the type described in clause (ii) above shall not apply until after the Closing
unless any such Claims or Legal Proceedings would reasonably be expected
to
prevent, impede or otherwise affect in any material respect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller
acknowledges that none of Purchaser, the Company and their respective
Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall be obligated to provide to Seller (i) any
work
papers or similar materials prepared by the independent public accountants
of
the Company, except to the extent that such accountants agree to provide
access
to such work papers or similar materials upon such terms and conditions as
shall
be determined by such accountants in their sole discretion, and (ii) any
documents or information that are protected by the attorney-client privilege
or
work product doctrines if the Company determines in its reasonable discretion
that providing copies or access to such documents or information could give
rise
to a possible waiver of such privilege or doctrine (provided that the Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to put in place an arrangement
to
permit such disclosure without loss of attorney-client privilege).
38
SECTION
7.12. Access. Until the
Closing, without the prior consent of the Company and, except for members
of the
Company’s Management Team, Purchaser may not contact any agents, representatives
(other than the Company’s outside counsel) or employees of the Company, or any
agents, representatives or employees of any of the Company’s suppliers, vendors
or customers.
SECTION
7.13. Listing
Application. Purchaser shall promptly prepare and submit to the
NYSE a listing application covering the Purchaser Common Stock issuable pursuant
to this Agreement and shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain, prior
to the
Closing Date, approval for the listing of such Purchaser Common Stock, subject
to official notice of issuance.
SECTION
7.14. Non-Solicitation; Transfer
Restrictions
(a) None
of the Seller, or any Securityholder shall, nor shall any Seller or
Securityholder authorize or permit any officer, director or employee of or
any
investment banker, attorney, accountant or other representative retained
by it
or the Company to, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage any other bid,
(ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any other bid or
(iii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish
to any person any information with respect to, or take any other action to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes,
or may
reasonably be expected to lead to, any other bid. Without limiting
the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set
forth
in the preceding sentence by any executive officer of Seller, any
Securityholder, or the Company or any investment banker, attorney or other
advisor or representative of Seller, any Securityholder or the Company, whether
or not such person is purporting to act on behalf of Seller, any Securityholder
or the Company or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this
Section 7.14 by Seller or the Securityholder, as
applicable. Seller, the Securityholders and the Company promptly
shall advise Purchaser orally and in writing of any other bid or any written
inquiry with respect to or which could lead to any other bid. As used
in this Section 7.14, “other bid” shall mean any proposal for a merger,
sale of securities (including by Seller or any Securityholder), sale of
substantial assets or similar transaction involving the Company or any
Subsidiary, other than (A) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and (B) the acquisition of inventory in the ordinary course of
business. Seller, the Securityholders and the Company shall, and
shall cause their officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys,
accountants and other representatives to, cease immediately all discussions
and
negotiations regarding any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be
expected to lead to, an other bid.
SECTION
7.15. Takeover Statutes. If any
takeover law restricting or purporting to restrict business combinations
is or
may become applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
each
of the Company and Purchaser and their respective Board of Directors or Board
of
Managers shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary
so
that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as
promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and
otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation
or such transactions. The Purchaser Board of Directors shall take all
actions, including the adoption of any resolutions, as may be necessary or
reasonably requested by Seller, the Securityholders or the Company to assure
that any charter and bylaw provisions in the nature of anti-takeover provisions,
if any, are, and at the Closing Date will be, inapplicable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
39
SECTION
7.16. Tax Matters. For any Tax
Return of the Company or its Subsidiaries that is filed after the Cut-Off
Date,
but which includes any period before the Cut-Off Date, (i) Purchaser will
pay
Seller any excess of (x) the Taxes paid by the Company and its Subsidiaries
with
respect to such Tax Return prior to the Cut-Off Date over (y) the Tax liability
payable by the Company or any Subsidiary shown on such Tax Return that is
allocable to the period through the Cut-Off Date, and (ii) Seller shall pay
to
Purchaser any excess of (x) the Tax liability payable by the Company or any
Subsidiary shown on such Tax Return that is allocable to the period through
the
Cut-Off Date over (y) the Taxes paid by the Company and its Subsidiaries
with
respect to such Tax Return prior to the Cut-Off Date. For this
purpose, (a) the Cut-Off Date means the date of this Agreement in the case
of
income, sales and use, and production Taxes or the Closing Date in the case
of
all other Taxes and (b) for a taxable period that includes but does not end
on
the Cut-Off Date, the Tax liability allocable to the period through the Cut-Off
Date shall be determined on a closing of the books method, except that property
taxes and similar taxes shall be allocated on a daily pro rata
basis. The Purchaser shall provide, or cause to be provided, to
Seller a substantially final draft of each Tax Return described in this Section
7.16 at least 30 days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return, for
review by the Seller. The Seller shall notify the Purchasers of any
reasonable objections the Seller may have to any items set forth in such
draft
Tax Return and the Purchasers and the Seller agree to consult and attempt
to
resolve in good faith any such objection; provided, however,
that in the event the parties are unable to resolve in good faith any such
objections, resolution of the objections shall be determined by a national
or
international public accounting firm mutually selected by the Purchaser and
the
Seller, whose determination shall be final and binding. At the
Closing, Seller shall provide to Purchaser a certificate under Section 1445
of
the Code certifying that it is a U.S. person exempt from withholding tax
under
the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (the “FIRPTA
Certificate”).
SECTION
7.17. Terminated Affiliate
Contracts. Seller and the Securityholders shall take all actions
necessary such that prior to or at the Closing each Terminated Affiliate
Contract shall be terminated and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall
have any obligations or liabilities thereunder.
40
ARTICLE
VIII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO PURCHASER’S OBLIGATIONS
The
obligation of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
on
the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Purchaser)
of the
following conditions at or prior to the Closing:
SECTION
8.1. Accuracy of Representations and
Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of
Seller, the Securityholders and the Company contained in Articles IV and
V shall
be true and correct, in each case on and as of the date of this Agreement
and
the Closing Date as if made on and as of such date (except for the
representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular
date
or only with respect to a specific period of time, which need only be true
and
correct, as of such date or with respect to such period), except to the extent
that the failure of any such representations and warranties to be true and
correct (without giving effect to any limitation on any representation or
warranty indicated by the words “Material Adverse Effect”, “in all material
respects”, “in any material respect”, “material” or “ materially”) would not in
the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
8.2. Performance of
Covenants. Seller, the Securityholders and the Company shall
have performed and complied in all material respects with the covenants and
provisions of this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by
them
between the date hereof and the Closing Date.
SECTION
8.3. Certificates. Purchaser
shall have received certificates to the effect set forth in Sections 8.1
and
8.2, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Seller, each Securityholder
and
the Company by their duly authorized officers.
SECTION
8.4. HSR Clearance. Any
“waiting period” applicable under the HSR Act to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall have expired or been terminated.
SECTION
8.5. No Order. No Order shall
be in effect prohibiting, enjoining or restraining the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
SECTION
8.6. Certified
Resolutions. Purchaser shall have received certificates of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date,
setting forth resolutions of the Board of Managers of the Company authorizing
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and certifying
that
such resolutions were duly adopted and have not been rescinded or amended
as of
the Closing Date.
SECTION
8.7. Deliveries. All of the
deliveries contemplated by Section 2.3 shall have been received by
Purchaser.
41
SECTION
8.8. Secretary’s
Certificates. Purchaser shall have received certificates of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company attesting as to the
incumbency and signature of each officer of the Company who executed this
Agreement.
SECTION
8.9. Assignments. Purchaser
shall have received the Assignment Documents.
SECTION
8.10. Outstanding
Indebtedness. Purchaser shall have received the Payoff
Evidence.
SECTION
8.11. Consents and
Approval. Seller, the Securityholders and the Company shall have
obtained those consents and approvals listed on Section 8.11 of the
Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION
8.12. Terminated Affiliate
Contracts. Each of the Terminated Affiliate Contracts shall have
been terminated, and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have
any
obligations or liabilities thereunder.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Purchaser may not rely on the failure of any condition set
forth
in this Article VIII to be satisfied if such failure (i) resulted from an
action
or inaction on the part of Seller, the Securityholders and the Company or
their
Affiliates requested or consented to by Purchaser or (ii) was caused by the
failure of Purchaser to act in good faith or comply with its obligations
under
this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO
THE
OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER AND THE SECURITYHOLDERS
The
obligation of Seller and the Securityholders to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver by the Securityholders) of the following conditions at or prior to
the
Closing:
SECTION
9.1. Accuracy of Representations and
Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of
Purchaser contained in Article VI shall be true and correct, in each case
on and
as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date as if made on and as
of
such date (except for the representations and warranties that address matters
only as of a particular date or only with respect to a specific period of
time
which need only be true and correct as of such date or with respect to such
period), except to the extent that the failure of any such representations
and
warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation
on
any representation or warranty indicated by the words “Material Adverse Effect”,
“in all material respects”, “in any material respect”, “material” or “
materially”) would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
9.2. Performance of
Covenants. Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all
material respects with the covenants and provisions in this Agreement required
herein to be performed or complied with by it between the date hereof and
the
Closing Date.
42
SECTION
9.3. Certificate. Seller and
the Securityholders’ Representatives shall have received a certificate to the
effect set forth in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof, dated the Closing Date,
signed on behalf of Purchaser by its duly authorized officers.
SECTION
9.4. HSR Clearance. Any
“waiting period” applicable under the HSR Act to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall have expired or been terminated.
SECTION
9.5. No Order. No Order shall
be in effect prohibiting, enjoining or restraining the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
9.6. Delivery of
Consideration. Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives
shall have received their appropriate portion of the Consideration.
SECTION
9.7. Certified
Resolutions. Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives
shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of Purchaser,
dated the Closing Date, setting forth the resolutions of the Board of Directors
of Purchaser authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and certifying that
such
resolutions were duly adopted and have not been rescinded or amended as of
the
Closing Date.
SECTION
9.8. Deliveries. All of the
deliveries contemplated by Section 2.4 shall have been received by Seller
and the Securityholders’ Representatives.
SECTION
9.9. Secretary’s
Certificate. Seller and the Securityholders’ Representatives
shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of
Purchaser attesting as to the incumbency and signature of each officer of
Purchaser who executed this Agreement.
SECTION
9.10. Listing Application. The
shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been authorized for
listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
SECTION
9.11. Registration Rights
Agreement. Purchaser and the Securityholders shall have entered
into a Registration Rights Agreement in the form of Exhibit E attached
hereto.
Notwithstanding
the forgoing, Seller and the Securityholders may not rely on the failure
of any
condition set forth in this Article IX to be satisfied if such failure was
caused by the failure of Seller or any Securityholder to act in good faith
or
comply with their obligations under this Agreement.
43
ARTICLE
X
TERMINATION
SECTION
10.1. Termination of
Agreement. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this
Agreement may be terminated at any time before the Closing, as
follows:
(a) Mutual
Consent. By mutual written consent of Seller and
Purchaser;
(b) (i)
By Purchaser if any of the conditions set forth in Article VIII shall have
become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived by
Purchaser;
(ii)
By
Seller if any of the
conditions set forth in Article IX shall have become incapable of fulfillment,
and shall not have been waived by Seller;
provided,
however, that a party may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
clause (b) if it (or in the case of Seller, Seller or the Company) is in
breach
of any representation, covenant or obligation of such party contained in
this
Agreement;
(c) Expiration
Date. By Seller, on the one hand, or Purchaser, on the other, if
the Closing shall not have occurred prior to or on the date 45 days from
the
date of this Agreement (which date may be extended by the mutual written
agreement of Seller and Purchaser); provided, however, in the event
that the conditions specified in Sections 8.4 and 9.4 have not been satisfied,
then the expiration date set forth in this paragraph (c) shall be extended
by an
additional 60 days, and neither Party shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement as a result of the failure of the satisfaction of the conditions
specified in Sections 8.4 and 9.4 prior to such date, unless written notice
is
given to Seller and the Purchaser indicated that the DOJ or FTC has determined
that it will not allow the transaction to proceed pursuant to the HSR Act,
in
which case, either Seller, on the one hand, or Purchaser on the other, may
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (c); and provided
further, that a party may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
paragraph (c) if the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date
is
attributable in whole or in any substantial part to the breach by such party
(or
in the case of Seller, Seller or the Company) of any representation covenant
or
obligation of such party contained in this Agreement; or
(d) Consummation
Prohibited. By Seller, on one hand, or Purchaser, on the other,
if consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby would violate any
non-appealable final Order of a Governmental Authority having competent
jurisdiction.
SECTION
10.2. Effect of Termination. If
this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, all further
obligations of the parties to this Agreement shall terminate and this Agreement
shall become null and void and without further liability of any party to
another
except that this Section 10.2, Sections 7.5 and 7.6 and Article XIII shall
survive any termination; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall relieve a breaching or defaulting party for liability arising
from
any breach or default by it that take place prior to the date of termination
of
this Agreement or impair the right of any party to compel specific performance
by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement.
44
ARTICLE
XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
11.1. Survival of Representations and
Warranties and Covenants. The representations and warranties
contained in Articles IV and V, and rights to indemnification in respect
thereof, shall survive the Closing and continue in effect (i) in the case
of all
representations and warranties other than those set forth in Sections 4.1(a),
4.1(b), 4.1(e), 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(e), 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.18, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
and
6.12, until the first anniversary of the Closing Date,
(ii) in the case of the representations and warranties set forth in Sections
4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.1(e), 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(e), 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2 and
6.5,
until the third anniversary of the Closing Date and (iii) in the case of
the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.18 and 6.12 until the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. All covenants and
agreements contained herein shall remain in full force and effect until the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, except for those covenants and agreements
that by their terms are to be performed in whole or in part subsequent to
the
Closing, which shall remain in full force and effect for a period of 12 months
following the date by which such covenant or agreement is required to be
performed.
SECTION
11.2. Securityholders’ Indemnification
Obligations.
(a) Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article XI, from and after the Closing
Date, each Securityholder shall, severally, but not jointly, indemnify and
hold
Purchaser and each of its officers, directors, managers, partners, members,
employees and agents (the “Purchaser Indemnified Parties”)
harmless from and against any and all Claims, judgments, causes of action,
liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, deficiencies, costs, penalties,
interest and expenses (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of
(a) any breach of any representation or warranty of Seller, the Company or
such
Securityholder contained in Articles IV or V for which notice is given to
the
Securityholders’ Representatives within the survival period specified in Section
11.1, (b) any breach of any agreement or covenant on the part of Seller or
such
Securityholder contained in this Agreement, or (c) any breach of any agreement
or covenant on the part of the Company contained in this Agreement, but only
to
the extent that such agreement or covenant is required to be performed prior
to
or at Closing. Any indemnification obligation of the Securityholders’
under this Article XI shall be paid first out of any funds held by the Escrow
Agent pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, and then, to the extent
that the Escrow Amount has been fully distributed or sufficient funds are
not
available to pay such claims, by the Securityholders.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the “Project Start-Up and Testing Activities,” as described in
Section 6.4 of the Lump-Sum Design-Build Agreement between XXX Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
LLC
and Xxxxx, Inc., dated February 6, 2006 (the “Project Start-Up and
Testing Activities”) with respect to the Bloomingburg Facility have not
commenced on or before January 24, 2008, the Securityholders shall pay to
Purchaser an amount equal to $73,400 per day (the “Delay
Amount”) during the period beginning on, and including, January 25,
2008, and ending on, and including, the day such Project Start-Up and Testing
Activities commence; provided, however that the last date on
which the Securityholders may be liable for Delay Amounts shall be April
6,
2008, and provided further, however, that the
provisions of Section 11.5(a) shall not apply to this Section 11.2(b) and
all
amounts paid pursuant to this Section 11.2(b) shall be disregarded for all
purposes of Section 11.5(a). Any such Delay Amounts shall be paid
first out of any funds held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of
the
Escrow Agreement (and Purchaser and the Securityholders shall instruct the
Escrow Agent to make such payment pursuant to the terms of the Escrow
Agreement), and then, to the extent that the Escrow Amount has been fully
distributed or sufficient funds are not available to pay such Delay Amounts,
by
the Securityholders in immediately available funds.
45
(c) Notice
of Claims. Any Purchaser Indemnified Party making a claim for
indemnification pursuant to this Section 11.2 must give written notice of
such
claim to the Securityholders’ Representatives promptly and in any event no later
than thirty (30) Business Days after the Purchaser Indemnified Party determines
that it has a basis, giving rise to such claim for indemnification;
provided, however, that failure to give such notification
shall not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except to the extent
(and only to the extent) the Securityholders’ Representatives shall have been
actually prejudiced as a result of such failure. Such notice must
contain a reasonably detailed description of the nature and amount of such
Loss. If the Securityholders’ Representatives do not notify the
Purchaser Indemnified Party within thirty (30) Business Days following receipt
of such notice that Seller disputes its liability to the Purchaser Indemnified
Party, such claim specified by the Purchaser Indemnified Party in such notice
shall be conclusively deemed a liability of Seller. So long as notice
referred to in the preceding sentence is provided on or prior to the expiration
of the survival period specified in Section 11.1, the Purchaser Indemnified
Parties’ rights to pursue recovery for the applicable Loss shall survive until
the matter is resolved by the Purchaser Indemnified Parties and the
Securityholders’ Representatives.
SECTION
11.3. Purchaser’s Indemnification
Obligations.
(a) Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article XI, from and after the Closing
Date, Purchaser shall indemnify and hold Seller, each Securityholder and
their
Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, managers, partners,
members, employees and agents (the “Securityholder Indemnified
Parties”) harmless from and against any and all Losses arising out of
(a) any breach of any representation or warranty of Purchaser contained in
Article VI of this Agreement for which notice is given within the survival
period specified in Section 11.1, (b) any breach of any agreement or covenant
on
the part of Purchaser contained in this Agreement or (c) any breach of any
agreement or covenant on the part of the Company contained in this Agreement,
but only to the extent that such agreement or covenant is required to be
performed after Closing. The Company and its Subsidiaries hereby release
and,
except to the extent that indemnification by Seller or any Securityholder
is
required pursuant to Section 11.2 above, Purchaser shall cause the Company
and
its Subsidiaries to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Securityholder
Indemnified Party from and against any Losses or potential Losses resulting
from
such Securityholder Indemnified Party’s relationship with the Company,
including, without limitation, those resulting from any Legal Proceeding
or
asserted by any third party.
46
(b) Notice
of Claims. Any Securityholder Indemnified Party making a claim
for indemnification pursuant to this Section 11.3 must give written notice
of
such claim to the Purchaser promptly and in any event no later than thirty
(30)
Business Days after the Securityholder Indemnified Party determines that
it has
a basis, giving rise to such claim for indemnification; provided,
however, that failure to give such notification shall not affect
the
indemnification provided hereunder except to the extent (and only to the
extent)
the Purchaser shall have been actually prejudiced as a result of such
failure. Such notice must contain a reasonably detailed description
of the nature and amount of such Loss. If the Purchaser does not
notify the Securityholder Indemnified Party within thirty (30) Business Days
following receipt of such notice that Purchaser disputes its liability to
the
Securityholder Indemnified Party, such claim specified by the Securityholder
Indemnified Party in such notice shall be conclusively deemed a liability
of the
Purchaser. So long as notice referred to in the preceding sentence is
provided on or prior to the expiration of the survival period specified in
Section 11.1, the Securityholder Indemnified Parties’ rights to pursue
recovery for the applicable Loss shall survive until the matter is resolved
by
the Securityholder Indemnified Parties and the Purchaser.
SECTION
11.4. Third Party Claims;
Procedures. If any third party asserts a Claim (a “Third
Party Claim”) against an Indemnified Party that could reasonably be
expected to give rise to a right on the part of the Indemnified Party to
indemnification under this Article XI, the Indemnified Party shall give notice
of such Third-Party Claim to the Indemnifying Party as soon as practicable
(but
in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after receiving written
notice
of such Third-Party Claim or otherwise acquiring actual knowledge of the
assertion thereof), and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume
the defense of such Third-Party Claim and may employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent or defend against such
Third-Party Claim; provided, however, that the failure to so
notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from
any
liability that the Indemnifying Party may have hereunder with respect to
such
Third-Party Claim, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is
prejudiced as a result of such failure, including where the failure to so
notify
the Indemnifying Party results in Losses to the Indemnifying Party or the
forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses that would otherwise be available
in the defense of such Third-Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party
elects not to assume the defense or fails to assume the defense in a timely
manner, then the Indemnified Party may employ counsel reasonably satisfactory
to
the Indemnifying Party to represent or defend it against any such Third-Party
Claim and the Indemnifying Party will pay the reasonable fees and disbursements
of such counsel; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party
shall not, in connection with any Legal Proceeding or separate but substantially
similar Legal Proceedings arising out of the same general allegations, be
liable
for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at
any
time for all Indemnified Persons, except to the extent that local counsel,
in
addition to its regular counsel, is required in order to effectively defend
against such Legal Proceeding. If the Indemnifying Party does assume
the defense of a Third-Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the
right
to participate in the defense of such Third-Party Claim at its
expense. If the Indemnified Party retains its own counsel, the
Indemnifying Party shall reasonably cooperate in providing information to
and
consulting with the Indemnified Party about the Third-Party
47
Claim. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, (x) the Sellers’ Representatives shall not be entitled to assume
the defense of any Third-Party Claim (and the Securityholders shall be liable
for the fees and expenses of counsel incurred by the Purchaser Indemnified
Party
in defending such Third-Party Claim) if (A) the Purchaser Indemnified Party
has been advised by counsel that there are one or more legal or equitable
defenses available and as a result, in the opinion of such Purchaser Indemnified
Party, counsel employed by the Sellers’ Representatives could not adequately
represent the interests of the Purchaser Indemnified Party because such
interests could be in conflict with those of the applicable Seller or
Securityholder, (B) such Third-Party Claim involves, or is reasonably likely
to
have a material adverse effect on, any matter beyond the scope of the
indemnification obligation of the Securityholders or (C) the Third-Party
Claim
seeks an order, injunction or other equitable relief or relief for other
than
money damages against the Purchaser Indemnified Party that the Purchaser
Indemnified Party reasonably determines, after conferring with its outside
counsel, cannot be separated from any related claim for money damages, and
(y)
the Purchaser shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Third-Party
Claim (and the Purchaser shall be liable for the fees and expenses of counsel
incurred by the Securityholder Indemnified Party in defending such Third-Party
Claim) if (A) the Securityholder Indemnified Party has been advised by
counsel that there are one or more legal or equitable defenses available
and as
a result, in the opinion of such Securityholder Indemnified Party, counsel
employed by the Purchaser could not adequately represent the interests of
the
Securityholder Indemnified Party because such interests could be in conflict
with those of the Purchaser, (B) such Third-Party Claim involves, or is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on, any matter beyond
the
scope of the indemnification obligation of the Purchaser or (C) the Third-Party
Claim seeks an order, injunction or other equitable relief or relief for
other
than money damages against the Securityholder Indemnified Party that the
Securityholder Indemnified Party reasonably determines, after conferring
with
its outside counsel, cannot be separated from any related claim for money
damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no
event
shall the Indemnified Party consent to the entry of judgment or enter into
any
settlement with respect to a Third-Party Claim for which it is seeking
indemnification without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying
Party.
SECTION
11.5. Limitations on
Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement:
(a) (i) No
Securityholder shall have any obligation to provide indemnification for Losses
of the type identified in Section 11.2 (excluding any Losses arising out of
a breach of the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1(e)
and
4.2(e), 5.2, 5.5 and 5.18 which shall not be subject to any limitation set
forth
in this Section 11.5(a)) (“Securityholder Covered Losses”),
except to the extent that (i) the Securityholder Covered Losses arising from
any
specific breach exceed $150,000 (the “Per-Occurrence Basket”),
in which case each Securityholder shall (subject to the other limitations
contained in Section 11.2 and elsewhere in this Section 11.5, including the
limitation provided for in clause (ii) below) be liable under this Article
XI
for all Securityholder Covered Losses arising from the applicable breach
(including the portion that is less than the Per-Occurrence Basket) and (ii)
the
aggregate amount of all Securityholder Covered Losses exceeds $7,250,000
(the
“Aggregate Basket”), in which case each Securityholder shall be
liable (subject to the limitations contained in Section 11.2) under this
Article
XI only for Securityholder Covered Losses which exceed the Aggregate
Basket.
48
(ii)
The Purchaser shall not have any
obligation to provide indemnification for Losses of the type identified in
Section 11.3 (excluding any Losses arising out of a breach of the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 6.2, 6.5 and
6.12, which shall not be subject to any limitation set forth in this Section
11.5(a)) (“Purchaser Covered Losses”, and together with the
Securityholder Covered Losses, the “Covered Losses”), except to
the extent that (i) the Purchaser Covered Losses arising from any specific
breach exceed the Per-Occurrence Basket, in which the Purchaser (subject
to the
other limitations contained in Section 11.3 and elsewhere in this Section
11.5,
including the limitation provided for in clause (ii) below) be liable under
this
Article XI for all Purchaser Covered Losses arising from the applicable breach
(including the portion that is less than the Per-Occurrence Basket) and (ii)
the
aggregate amount of all Purchaser Covered Losses exceeds the Aggregate Basket,
in which case Purchaser shall be liable (subject to the limitations contained
in
Section 11.3) under this Article XI only for Purchaser Covered Losses which
exceed the Aggregate Basket.
(b) The
maximum obligation of any Securityholder on one hand, and the Purchaser on
the
other, to provide indemnification for all Covered Losses incurred by any
Purchaser Indemnified Parties or Securityholder Indemnified Parties, as the
case
may be, shall be limited to (i) in the case of Securityholder Covered Losses,
an
aggregate amount equal to such Securityholder’s Pro Rata Share of $54,375,000
(except in the case of any Losses arising out of a breach of the representations
and warranties contained in Sections 4.1(e), 4.2(e), 5.2 and 5.5, where the
maximum obligation of any Securityholder shall be limited to such
Securityholder’s Pro Rata Share of the Closing Purchase Price), and (ii) in the
case of Purchaser Covered Losses, $54,375,000 (except in the case of any
Losses
arising out of a breach of the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 6.2 and 6.5, where the maximum obligation of the Purchaser shall
be
limited to the Closing Purchase Price).
(c) For
purposes of calculating the amount of Losses attributable to Covered Losses
hereunder, any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications in the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements shall be
disregarded.
49
SECTION
11.6. Exclusive Remedy. Unless
otherwise prohibited by applicable Law (pursuant to statutory or other
provisions that cannot be waived by the parties), from and after the Closing,
the remedies of the parties specifically provided for by this Article XI
shall
be the sole and exclusive post-closing monetary remedies of the parties for
all
matters covered or contemplated by this Agreement, other than claims for
fraud
or a suit for specific performance or other equitable remedy to require a
party
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and the parties waive any
and
all statutory or common law remedies they may have for such matters, including
any right of contribution or cost recovery, whether based in contract, tort,
strict liability or otherwise, other than claims for fraud or a suit for
specific performance or other equitable remedy to require a party to perform
its
obligations under this Agreement. In no event shall any party be
liable for special, punitive, exemplary, incidental, consequential or indirect
damages, lost profits, diminution in value, damage to reputation or loss
to
goodwill, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise,
except
to the extent such damages are payable by any Purchaser Indemnified Party
as a
result of a Third-Party Claim.
SECTION
11.7. Insurance. The amount of
any Losses for which indemnification is provided under this Agreement shall
be
net of any amounts recoverable by any Purchaser Indemnified Party with respect
to such Losses under insurance policies maintained by the Company, net of
reasonable out of pocket expenses actually incurred by such Purchaser
Indemnified Party in obtaining such recovery or proceeds. In the case
of any Third-Party Claims for which it is reasonably likely that a party
may
have a direct or indirect right of recovery against one or more third parties
(including, but not limited to, rights of recovery under insurance policies
or
indemnification arrangements with third parties), such party shall seek recovery
of such Third-Party Claims from such third parties for so long as pursuit
of
such recovery is commercially reasonable. To the extent that a party
obtains recovery in respect of any such Third-Party Claims from any third
parties, such party shall use the funds provided by such recovery (in lieu
of
funds provided by any other party pursuant to the indemnification provisions
of
this Article XI) to pay or otherwise satisfy such Third-Party Claims and
the
amount of any Losses with respect to any Third-Party Claim for which
indemnification is available under this Article XI shall be reduced by the
amount of such insurance proceeds or other such funds realized or paid to
the
Indemnified Party. If, after the making of any payment in respect of
a Third-Party Claim under this Article XI, the amount of the Losses to which
such payment relates is reduced by recovery, settlement or otherwise under
any
insurance coverage, or pursuant to any claim, recovery, settlement or payment
by
or against any other Person, the amount of such reduction will promptly be
repaid by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party. Each party
hereto shall take reasonable steps to mitigate its Losses upon and after
becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected to give rise
to
any Losses.
SECTION
11.8. Cooperation; Access to Documents and
Information. The parties shall cooperate with each other in
connection with resolving any Claims (including, but not limited to, Third-Party
Claims) as to which indemnification is or may be required to be provided
in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any Indemnified Party who desires to assert
a Claim
for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall (i) provide to the
Indemnifying Party, its agent, counsel, advisors, representatives and
consultants and all other parties involved in the defense of such Claim
reasonable access during regular business hours to all documents and information
reasonably
50
relevant
to such Claim which are in the possession of the Indemnified Party or its
Affiliates or can be obtained by the Indemnified Party without undue cost
or
expense as promptly as practicable and (ii) give the Indemnifying Party
reasonable access to the accounting and other appropriate personnel and the
independent accountants of the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates in order
to
permit the Indemnifying Party to obtain information reasonably required to
evaluate such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, an Indemnifying Party shall not be required to pay any
Losses
arising from a Claim for so long as the Indemnified Party is in breach in
any
material respect of its obligations in respect of such Claim provided for
in
this Section 11.7. In addition, in no event shall an Indemnifying
Party be liable to an Indemnified Party for any Losses arising from a Claim
to
the extent that such Losses could reasonably be expected to have been avoided or
reduced if the Indemnified Party had complied in a timely manner with its
obligations under this Section 11.7.
ARTICLE
XII
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
12.1. Certain Definitions. As
used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following
respective meanings:
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Subsidiary of such Person or (b)
any
other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or
is
under common control with, such Person. For the purposes of this
definition, “control” means the possession of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. However,
for the purposes of Section 5.22 hereof, the term “Affiliate” shall not include
any portfolio companies in which a Securityholder or its Affiliates own Equity
Interests or debt interests other than Seller and its Subsidiaries.
“Bank
Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated February 6,
2006, by and among ASA OPCO Holdings LLC, ASA Albion LLC, XXX Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
LLC,
XXX Xxxxxx, LLC, WestLB AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent, and
the
Lenders referred to therein, as subsequently amended.
“Bloomingburg
Facility” means the ethanol facility owned as of the date hereof by XXX
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Bridge
Notes” means those certain bridge notes issued pursuant to the Bridge
Note Purchase and Security Agreement, dated September 15, 2006, among the
Company and certain of the Securityholders.
51
“Business
Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or federal
holiday.
“Claim”
means any demand, claim or action that is asserted or arises in a Legal
Proceeding or otherwise.
“Class
A Units” means the Class A Units representing limited liability company
interests in Seller.
“Class
B Units” means the Class B Units representing limited liability company
interests in Seller.
“Class
C Units” means the Class C Units representing limited liability company
interests in Seller.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company’s
Knowledge” means the actual knowledge, after due inquiry and
investigation, of any of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx
and
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
“Company’s
Management Team” means Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X.
Xxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
“CompanyMaterial
Adverse Effect” means (i) a material adverse effect on the businesses,
results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) an event or circumstance affecting
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to prevent,
materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, but, in the case of clause (i) above,
excluding any such effect attributable to or resulting from (a) the public
announcement of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) any change in
Laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by any courts or
other
Governmental Authorities, (c) any change in general economic conditions or
in interest rates, (d) any change in conditions affecting the ethanol,
distiller’s grains, corn production, energy, oil and natural gas industries
generally, (e) any change in the overall businesses, results of operations
or financial condition of Seller, the Securityholders or any Affiliates thereof
(other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) or (f) any action or omission
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries taken in accordance with the terms
of
this Agreement or with the prior consent of Purchaser, unless in the case
of
clauses (b), (c) and (d), such changes have had, or would reasonably be
expected to have, a materially disproportionate impact on the businesses,
results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industries
in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.
“Company
Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA
Affiliates is or has been obligated to contribute or otherwise may have any
liability
52
“Company
Plan” means a “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA
(including a Company Multiemployer Plan)), a “welfare plan” (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other bonus, profit sharing, deferred
compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock
option, phantom stock, restricted stock, stock appreciation right, holiday
pay,
vacation, severance, medical, dental, vision, disability, death benefit,
sick
leave, fringe benefit, personnel policy, insurance or other plan, program,
agreement or arrangement in each case established or maintained by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of employees
of
the Company or its Subsidiaries or as to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or ERISA Affiliates has contributed or otherwise may have any liability in
respect of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Confidentiality
Agreement” means that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of
November 14, 2006, between the Company and Purchaser.
“Consent”
means any consent, approval or authorization required to be obtained from
any
Person or Governmental Authority.
“Consideration”
means the Purchase Price and the Subordinated Note Amount and the Bridge
Note
Amount.
“Contract”
means any written contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument,
lease, conditional sale contract, mortgage or insurance policy.
“Designated
Recipient” means the Person designated by Seller who is to receive the
shares of Purchaser Common Stock delivered as payment of the Common Stock
Purchase Price and whose name will be reflected on the stock certificate
representing such shares.
“Enforceability
Exceptions” means, with reference to the enforcement of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement or any other Contract, that the enforcement
thereof
is or may be subject to the effect of (i) applicable bankruptcy, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent
transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement
of the
rights and remedies of creditors or parties to executory contracts generally;
(ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the exercise of equitable
powers by a court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) applicable Law or
public
policy limiting the enforcement of provisions providing for the indemnification
of any Person.
“Environmental
Laws” means any Laws in effect on the date of this Agreement relating
to (i) health and safety matters or (ii) protection of the environment, persons
or the public welfare from actual or potential exposure (or the effects of
exposure) to any actual or potential release, discharge, spill or emission
of,
or regarding the manufacture, processing, production, gathering, transportation,
use, treatment, storage or disposal of, any Hazardous Materials including,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act
of 1980, 42 U.S. C. § 9601 et. seq., as amended and any state law
counterparts.
53
“Equity
Interests” means (i) with respect to any corporation, all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents of capital stock of such
corporation, however designated, and (ii) with respect to any partnership
or
limited liability company, all partnership or limited liability company
interests, units, participations or equivalents of partnership or limited
liability company interests of such partnership or limited liability company,
however designated.
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
which would be considered a single employer with the Company pursuant to
Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code and the regulations promulgated under
those
sections or pursuant to Section 4001(b) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Escrow
Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA.
“Escrow
Amount” means 4,127,476 shares of Purchaser Common Stock, to be
deposited with the Escrow Agent as contemplated by Section 2.2.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together
with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“GAAP”
means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental
Authority” means any federal, state, provincial or local government or
governmental regulatory body or court of competent jurisdiction and any of
their
respective subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, authorities or
tribunals.
“Hazardous
Materials” means any substance, material or waste that is defined as
hazardous or toxic by, or is otherwise regulated under, any applicable
Environmental Law on the date of this Agreement.
“HSR
Act” means Section 7A of the Xxxxxxx Act (Title II of the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976), as amended (including
any
successor statute).
“Indemnified
Party”
means a Securityholder Indemnified Party or a Purchaser Indemnified
Party.
“Indemnifying
Party”
means a party from whom an Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification
under the terms of this Agreement.
54
“Intellectual
Property” means all (i) United States and
foreign patents and patent applications of any kind, United States and foreign
works of authorship, mask-works, trademark copyrights and trademark copyright
and mask-work registrations and applications for registration and any rights
or
licenses in the foregoing, and (ii) unpatented inventions (whether or not
patentable), trade secrets, know-how and proprietary information, including
(in
whatever form or medium), discoveries, ideas, compositions, formulas, computer
programs (including source and object codes), computer software and computer
software documentation, database, drawings, designs, plans, proposals,
specifications, photographs, samples, models, processes, procedures, data,
information, manuals, reports, financial, marketing and business data, and
pricing and cost information, correspondence and notes, and any rights or
licenses in the foregoing.
“IRS”
means the Internal Revenue Service.
“Law”
means any federal, state, provincial or local law (including common law),
statute, rule, ordinance, code or regulation.
“Legal
Proceeding” means any judicial, administrative, investigative or
arbitral action, suit or proceeding (whether public or private and whether
civil, criminal or administrative) by or before any court or other Governmental
Authority or any tribunal.
“Lien”
means any lien, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, attachment,
levy, easement, covenant, condition, restriction, title and survey defect
and
other charge and encumbrance or other similar encumbrance.
“LLC
Agreement” means that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of
ASA OpCo Holdings, LLC, dated February 6, 2006, by ASAlliances Biofuels LLC,
as
the initial member.
“Material
Contract” means any Contract to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable) is a
party
or bound:
(a) that
contains a covenant not to compete or other covenant restricting the
development, manufacture, marketing or distribution of the products and services
of the Company or any Subsidiary or that otherwise materially limits the
conduct
of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently
conducted;
(b) a
Contract for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement;
(c) that
resulted in aggregate monetary payments by the Company and its Subsidiaries
or
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006,
or that can reasonably be expected to result in aggregate monetary payments
by
the Company and its Subsidiaries or Purchaser and its Subsidiaries during
the
current fiscal year, in an amount exceeding $250,000 or during the term thereof
in an aggregate amount exceeding $500,000; provided, however, that a
Contract that would otherwise be classified as a Material Contract pursuant
to
this section (a) shall not be so classified if such Contract may be terminated
by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Purchaser or one of its
Subsidiaries without penalty upon notice of not more than 45 days for an
aggregate cost of less than $100,000;
55
(d) that
resulted in aggregate monetary receipts by the Company and its Subsidiaries
or
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006,
or that can reasonably be expected to result in aggregate monetary receipts
by
the Company and its Subsidiaries or Purchaser and its Subsidiaries during
the
current fiscal year, in an amount exceeding $250,000 or during the term thereof
in an aggregate amount exceeding $500,000; provided, however, that a
Contract that would otherwise be classified as a Material Contract pursuant
to
this Section (b) shall not be so classified if such Contract may be terminated
by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Purchaser or one of its
Subsidiaries without penalty upon notice of not more than 45 days for an
aggregate cost of less than $100,000;
(e) (A)
that provides for the borrowing of funds, incurrence of indebtedness or guaranty
of any indebtedness of any Person by the Company or its Subsidiaries or
Purchaser or its Subsidiaries in excess of $250,000, including any indenture,
mortgage, loan, credit, sale-leaseback or similar Contract or (B) under which
the Company or a Subsidiary has, directly or indirectly, made or become
obligated to make any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution
to, or other investment in, any person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary,
in any such case which, individually, in excess of $250,000;
(f) that
provides for the sale or lease of, or grants preferential rights to purchase
or
lease or requires the consent of any party (other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) to transfer any material assets used in the businesses of the
Company and its Subsidiaries; or
(g) that
is otherwise material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries
or the
use or operation of their assets.
“Order”
means any order, judgment, injunction, ruling or decree of any court or other
Governmental Authority.
“Ordinary
Course of Business” means, with respect to the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries, the ordinary course of business contemplated by the current
operating plans of the Company or such Subsidiary or consistent with the
past
custom and practice of the Company or such Subsidiary, including, without
limitation making expenditures consistent with past practices and the
Construction Cost Estimate Schedule.
“Organizational
Documents” means (i) in the case of any Person organized as a
corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and by-laws of
such
corporation and the bylaws of such corporation (or, if applicable, the
memorandum and articles of association of such corporation), (ii) in the
case of
any Person organized as a limited liability company, the certificate of
formation or organization and the limited liability company agreement, operating
agreement or regulations of such limited liability company, (iii) in the
case of
any Person organized as a limited partnership, the certificate of limited
partnership and partnership agreement of such limited partnership and (iv)
in
the case of any other Person, all constitutive or organizational documents
of
such Person which address all matters relating to the business and affairs
of
such Person similar to the matters addressed by the documents referred to
in
clauses (i) through (iii) above in the case of Persons organized as
corporations, limited liability companies or limited partnerships.
56
“Permit”
means any permit, license, authorization or approval issued by a Governmental
Authority.
“Permitted
Lien” means any (i) mechanic’s, materialman’s, warehouseman’s,
carrier’s and similar liens for labor, materials or supplies incurred arising by
Contract or under applicable Law in the Ordinary Course of Business for amounts
which are not due and payable, (ii) purchase money security interests arising
in
the Ordinary Course of Business, (iii) Liens for Taxes, assessments and other
governmental levies, fees or charges which are not due and payable or which
are
being contested by appropriate proceedings, (iv) rights of landlords in respect
of any Leasehold Property provided for under leases set forth as Schedule
5.11(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, (v)
in
the case of any Owned Real Estate,
imperfections of title, Liens, claims, easements, covenants, conditions,
restrictions, title and survey defects and other charges and encumbrances
shown on the Company’s
or Subsidiary’s most recent surveys
or
title policies for the lots, parcels or tracts
of land
constituting such
Real
Property provided or made
available to
Purchaser, (vi) imperfections
of
title, easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, title and survey defects
and other charges and encumbrances the existence of which does not and would
not
reasonably be expected to impair materially the continued use and operation
of
the assets to which they relate in the conduct of the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted or as it is intended to be conducted
or (vii) Liens identified in Section 12.1 of the Disclosure Schedule or
Section 12.1 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule.
“Person”
means any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
“Purchaser
Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Purchaser.
“Purchaser
Form 10-K” means Purchaser’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
SEC on March 29, 2007.
“Purchaser
Form 10-Q” means Purchaser’s 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8,
2007.
“Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect” means (i) a material adverse
effect on the businesses, results of operations or financial condition of
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) an event or
circumstance affecting Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that would
reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or delay the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, but, in the case of clause
(i) above, excluding any such effect attributable to or resulting from (a)
the
public announcement of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) any change
in
Laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by any courts or
other
Governmental Authorities, (c) any change in general economic conditions or
in
interest rates, (d) any change in conditions affecting the ethanol, distiller’s
grains, corn production, energy, oil and natural gas industries generally
or (e)
any action or omission of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries taken in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or with the prior consent of
the
Company, unless in the case of clauses (b), (c) and (d), such changes have
had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a materially disproportionate
impact on the businesses, results of operations or financial condition of
Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants
in the industries in which Purchaser and its Subsidiaries operate.
57
“Real
Property” means any lot, parcel or tract of land in which any Person
has a property interest.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Securityholders”
means USRG ASA, LLC, D.E. Shaw Synoptic Portfolios 5, L.L.C., Midwest First
Financial, Inc., ACSAB, LLC, Cargill Biofuels Investments, LLC, ASAlliances
Holdings, L.P. and FDC Ethanol, LLC.
“Securityholders’
Pro Rata Share” means that portion of Losses which equals the product
of the total amount of Losses for which Purchaser is entitled to indemnification
and a fraction, the numerator of which is the portion of the Purchase Price
paid
to such Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement and the denominator of
which
equals the aggregate Purchase Price paid to all Securityholders.
“Seller
Units” means the Class A Units, the Class B Units and the Class C
Units.
“Subordinated
Notes” means the subordinated notes issued by the Company pursuant to
that certain Note and Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 6,
2006,
among the Company, American Capital, as Agent, and the purchasers named
therein.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any other Person
of which the parent, directly or indirectly, owns Equity Interests that (i)
represent more than 50% of the total number of outstanding common or other
residual Equity Interests (however denominated) of such Person, (ii) represent
more than 50% of the total voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests
of
such Person which are entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers
or
other persons performing similar functions for and on behalf of such Person,
(iii) are entitled to more than 50% of the dividends paid and other
distributions made by such Person prior to liquidation or (iv) are entitled
to
more than 50% of the assets of such Person or proceeds from the sale thereof
upon liquidation.
58
“Tax”
means all taxes, including any income, profits, franchise, withholding, ad
valorem, employment, sales and use, social security, disability, occupation,
property, severance, or excise tax, including any interest, penalty or addition
thereto, imposed by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority.
“Tax
Return” means any return, report or similar statement required to be
filed with respect to any Taxes, including, without limitation, any information
return, claim or refund, amended return and declaration of estimated
Tax.
“Units”
means the 100 units representing limited liability company interests of the
Company.
SECTION
12.2. Other Defined Terms. Each of
the terms set forth below has the meaning set forth in the provision set
forth
opposite such term in the following table:
Term
|
Provision
|
Aggregate
Basket
|
Section
11.5(a)
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
Asset
Acquisition Statement
|
Section
1.5
|
Assignment
|
Section
2.3(a)
|
Assignment
Documents
|
Section
2.3(a)
|
Books
and Records
|
Section
7.7
|
Bridge
Note Amount
|
Section
1.3(b)
|
Cash
Purchase Price
|
Section
1.2
|
Closing
|
Section
2.1
|
Closing
Date
|
Section
2.1
|
Closing
Purchase Price
|
Section
1.2
|
Common
Stock Purchase Price
|
Section
1.2
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
Company
Audited Financial Statements
|
Section
5.6
|
Company
Contracts
|
Section
5.13
|
Company
Employees
|
Section
7.9(e)
|
Company
Financial Statements
|
Section
5.6
|
Company
Latest Balance Sheet
|
Section
5.6
|
Company
Leasehold Property
|
Section
5.11(b)
|
Company
Material Leases
|
Section
5.11(b)
|
Company
Owned Real Estate
|
Section
5.11(a)
|
Company
Senior Officers
|
Section
5.8(e)
|
Company
Unaudited Financial Statements
|
Section
5.6
|
Construction
Cost Estimate Schedule
|
Section
7.3(k)
|
Covered
Losses
|
Section
11.4(a)
|
Cut-Off
Date
|
Section
7.16
|
59
Term
|
Provision
|
Delay
Amount
|
Section
11.2(b)
|
Disclosure
Schedule
|
Article
IV
|
D&O
Indemnified Parties
|
Section
7.10(a)
|
DOJ
|
Section
4.1(d)
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
Section
2.2
|
FIRPTA
Certificate
|
Section
7.16
|
FTC
|
Section
4.1(d)
|
Losses
|
Section
11.2(a)
|
NYSE
|
Section
2.2
|
OpCo
Holdings
|
Section
7.2
|
Payoff
Evidence
|
Section
2.3(b)
|
Per
Occurrence Basket
|
Section
11.5(a)
|
Project
Start-Up and Testing Activities
|
Section
11.2(b)
|
Purchaser
|
Preamble
|
Purchaser
Disclosure Schedule
|
Article
VI
|
Purchase
Price
|
Section
1.2
|
Purchaser
Covered Losses
|
Section
11.5(a)
|
Purchaser
Indemnified Parties
|
Section
11.2(a)
|
Purchaser
Plan
|
Section
7.9(e)
|
Purchaser
Reports
|
Section
6.6(a)
|
Registration
Rights Agreement
|
Section
2.3(g)
|
Revised
Statements
|
Section
1.5
|
Sarbanes
Oxley Act
|
Section
6.6(d)
|
SEC
|
Section
6.6(a)
|
Securityholder
Covered Losses
|
Section
11.5(a)
|
Securityholder
Indemnified Parties
|
Section
11.3(a)
|
Securityholders’
Representatives
|
Section
3.1
|
Seller
|
Preamble
|
Subordinated
Note Amount
|
Section
1.3(a)
|
Tax
Purchase Price
|
Section
1.5
|
Terminated
Affiliated Contracts
|
Section
5.22
|
Third-Party
Claim
|
Section
11.4
|
Voting
Company Debt
|
Section
5.5
|
Voting
Purchaser Debt
|
Section
6.5
|
Voting
Subsidiary Debt
|
Section
5.9(c)
|
WARN
Act
|
Section
7.9(b)
|
ARTICLE
XIII
GENERAL
SECTION
13.1. Amendments. This
Agreement may only be amended by an instrument in writing executed by each
of
the parties hereto.
60
SECTION
13.2. Waivers. The observance
of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance and either retroactively or prospectively) by the party entitled
to the
benefits of such term, but such waiver shall be effective only if it is in
a
writing signed by the party entitled to the benefits of such term and against
which such waiver is to be asserted; provided, however, that
in the case of a waiver by the Securityholders, such writing need only be
signed
by the Securityholders’ Representatives. Unless otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, no delay or omission on the part of any party
in
exercising any right or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a
waiver
thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any party of any right or privilege
under this Agreement operate as a waiver of any other right or privilege
under
this Agreement nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or
privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any
other right or privilege under this Agreement.
SECTION
13.3. Notices. Any notices or
other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and
shall be sufficiently given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given
upon
receipt) if sent by overnight mail, registered mail or certified mail, courier,
postage prepaid, or by hand, 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 any Securityholder, to the address set forth under such Securityholder’s name
on the signature page hereto.
With
a
copy to Securityholders’ Representatives to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
c/o
American Capital Energy Group
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
and
Xxxx
Xxxx
c/o
USRG
ASA, LLC
000
X.
00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
(b) If
the Company or Seller, to:
ASAlliances
Biofuels, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
President
and Chief Executive Officer
61
With
a
copy (which shall not constitute effective notice) to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx L.L.P.
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
(c) If
to Purchaser, to:
Verasun
Energy Corporation
000
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: General
Counsel
With
a
copy (which shall not constitute effective notice) to:
Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
SECTION
13.4. Successors and Assigns; Parties in
Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and
permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any party hereto without
(i) the prior written consent of the Securityholders’ Representatives in the
case of an assignment by Purchaser, (ii) the prior written consent of Purchaser
in the case of an assignment by Seller or any Securityholder and (iii) the
prior
written consent of each of the other parties in the case of the
Company. Any attempted assignment in violation of this
Section 13.4 shall be void. Nothing in this Agreement, express
or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person, other than the
parties hereto and the D&O Indemnified Parties (with respect to the
provisions of Section 7.9) and the Indemnified Parties (with respect to the
provisions of Article XI), any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, and no other Person shall
be
deemed a third-party beneficiary under or by reason of this
Agreement.
SECTION
13.5. Severability. If any
provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any
Person or circumstance, shall be declared judicially to be invalid,
unenforceable or void, such decision shall not have the effect of invalidating
or voiding the remainder of this Agreement, it being the intent and agreement
of
the parties that this Agreement shall be deemed amended by modifying such
provision to the extent necessary to render it valid, legal and enforceable
while preserving its intent or, if such modification is not possible, by
substituting therefor another provision that is valid, legal and enforceable
and
that achieves the same objective.
62
SECTION
13.6. Entire Agreement. This
Agreement (including the Disclosure Schedules and the Exhibits hereto, and
the
documents and instruments executed and delivered in connection herewith)
together with the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether
written or oral, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and there are no representations, understandings or agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof that are not fully expressed in this
Agreement (including the Disclosure Schedules and the Exhibits hereto, and
the
documents and instruments executed and delivered in connection herewith)
or the
Confidentiality Agreement. All Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules
attached to this Agreement are expressly made a part of, and incorporated
by
reference into, this Agreement.
SECTION
13.7. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of
the State of Delaware for contracts made and to be fully
performed in such state, without giving effect to any choice-of-law rules
that
would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
SECTION
13.8. Remedies. Each of the
parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) the provisions of this Agreement
are reasonable and necessary to protect the proper and legitimate interests
of
the other parties hereto and (ii) the other parties hereto would be irreparably
damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to preliminary
and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches of the provisions of
this
Agreement by other parties hereto without the necessity of proving actual
damages or of posting any bond, and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, which rights shall be cumulative and in addition to any
other
remedy to which the parties hereto may be entitled hereunder or at law or
equity.
SECTION
13.9. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial
or Jury.
(a) Each
party hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of
any Delaware state court or any Federal court located in the State of Delaware
in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat
such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any
such
court and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby in any court other than
any
Delaware state court or any Federal court sitting in the State of
Delaware.
(b) EACH
PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE
UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND
THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER
PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT,
IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH
PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER,
(III) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS
BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 13.9.
63
SECTION
13.10. Expenses. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties hereto shall bear
its
own expenses (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of its
counsel, accountants and other experts) incurred by it in connection with
the
preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
each of the other documents and instruments executed in connection with or
contemplated by this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION
13.11. Survival. Except as
otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the representations and warranties
made
in this Agreement or in any agreement, certificate or other document executed
in
connection herewith shall not survive the Closing.
SECTION
13.12. Release of
Information. The parties shall cooperate with each other in
releasing information concerning this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. No press releases or other public announcements
concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be made
by any
party without prior consultation with, and agreement of, the other parties,
except for any legally required communication by any party and then only
with
prior consultation with the other party.
SECTION
13.13. Disclosure
Schedules. For purposes of the representations and warranties of
each party contained herein, disclosure in any section of a Disclosure Schedule
delivered by such party of any facts or circumstances shall be deemed to
be
adequate disclosure of such facts or circumstances with respect to all other
representations or warranties made by such party, whether or not such disclosure
specifically identifies or purports to respond to one or more of such other
representations and warranties, if it is reasonably apparent on the face
of such
Disclosure Schedule that such disclosure pertains to the subject matter of
such
other representations and warranties. Any information provided in a
Disclosure Schedule is solely for informational purposes, and the inclusion
of
such information shall not be deemed to enlarge or enhance any of the
representations or warranties of the party providing the Disclosure Schedule
pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise alter in any way the terms of this
Agreement. The inclusion of any information in any section of the
Disclosure Schedule or other document delivered by the parties pursuant to
this
Agreement shall not be deemed to be an admission or evidence of the materiality
of such item, nor shall it establish a standard of materiality for any purpose
whatsoever.
64
SECTION
13.14. Certain Rules of
Construction. The article and section headings and the table of
contents contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and
shall in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of
any
provisions of this Agreement. Whenever the context may require, any
pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs
shall include the plural and vice versa. In addition, as used in this
Agreement, unless otherwise provided to the contrary, (a) all references to
days, months or years shall be deemed references to calendar days, months
or
years or (b) any reference to a “Section,” “Article” or “Exhibit” shall be
deemed to refer to a section or article of this Agreement, a Disclosure Schedule
or an exhibit attached to this Agreement. Unless the context
otherwise requires, the words “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of
similar import referring to this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words
“include,” “includes,” “including” or “such as” shall be deemed to be followed
by the words “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed
to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” The word
“extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject
or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply
“if”. The phrase “date hereof” or “date of this Agreement” shall be
deemed to refer to July 22, 2007. Unless otherwise specifically
provided for herein, the term “or” shall not be deemed to be
exclusive. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any
presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the
party
drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted. Unless a contrary
intent is apparent, any Contract, instrument or Law defined or referred to
herein or in any Contract or instrument that is referred to herein means
such
Contract, instrument or Law as from time to time amended, modified or
supplemented, including (in the case of Contracts or instruments) by waiver
or
consent and (in the case of Law) by succession of comparable successor Law
and
references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated
therein. References to a person are also to its permitted successors
and permitted assigns.
SECTION
13.15. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, which may be delivered in person, by facsimile or by
electronic image scan, and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument binding on all the parties, notwithstanding that all the parties
are
not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
[signature
pages follow]
65
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date first
above written.
SECURITYHOLDERS:
ACSAB,
LLC
a
Delaware limited liability company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Vice President | ||
66
ASALLIANCES
HOLDINGS, L.P.
a
Texas limited partnership
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chairman | ||
67
CARGILL
BIOFUELS INVESTMENTS, LLC
a
Delaware limited liability
company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | Vice President | ||
68
D.E.
SHAW SYNOPTIC PORTFOLIOS 5, L.L.C.
a
Delaware limited liability
company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||
69
FDC
ETHANOL, LLC
a
Minnesota limited liability
company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Title: | Vice President / Secretary | ||
70
MIDWEST
FIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
a
Nebraska
corporation
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | President | ||
71
USRG
ASA,
LLC
a
Delaware
limited
liability
company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Manager | ||
72
SELLER:
ASALLIANCES
BIOFUELS, LLC
a
Delaware limited liability company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | CEO | ||
73
COMPANY:
ASA
OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
a
Delaware limited liability company
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | CEO | ||
74
a
South Dakota corporation
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | CEO | ||
75
EXHIBIT
B
ESCROW
AGREEMENT
This
ESCROW AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”) is entered into as of ___________, 2007 (the “Closing
Date”), among ASAlliances Biofuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company
(the “Seller”), ASA OpCo Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “Company”), the Securityholders (as defined herein), VeraSun
Energy Corporation, a South Dakota corporation (the “Purchaser,” and
together with Seller, the Company and the Securityholders, sometimes
referred to
herein collectively as the “Parties”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Escrow
Agent”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Unit Purchase Agreement,
dated
as of July 22, 2007, among the Seller, the Company, the Securityholders
and the
Purchaser (the “Unit Purchase Agreement”).
WHEREAS,
under the terms of the Unit
Purchase Agreement the parties hereto are required to enter into
this Agreement
to secure the indemnification obligations of Securityholders. The
Escrow Agent is not a party to, has not received and will not be
responsible for
the Unit Purchase Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the Purchaser, Seller, the
Company and the Securityholders desire Escrow Agent to act as the
escrow agent
hereunder and to hold and distribute the Escrow Property (as hereinafter
defined) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the
Escrow Agent is
willing to accept such appointment on the terms set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 3.1 of the
Unit Purchase Agreement, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxx are the Securityholders’
Representatives for purposes of this Agreement.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
ESCROW
AND INDEMNIFICATION
1.1 Escrow.
(a) Definitions
of Primary Terms.
(i) The
term “Escrow Property” is defined as the Escrow Shares (as defined below) and
any Cash Escrow (as defined in Section 1.1(e)).
(ii) The
term “Escrow Shares” is defined as 4,127,476 shares of Purchaser Common Stock
that Purchaser shall withhold from the Securityholders after the
Closing
Date. The term Escrow Shares shall also refer to Additional Escrow
Shares (defined in Section 2.1(b), although the Additional Escrow
Shares may, in
certain instances, be referred to separately in this Agreement) and
the stock
certificates representing the Escrow Shares and Additional Escrow
Shares, when
appropriate.
1
(iii) The
term “Escrow Period” is defined as that time period beginning at the Closing
Date and ending on 5:00 p.m. Central Time on [ ],
2008.1
(iv) The
term “Initial Escrow Value” is defined as $54,375,000.
(b) Deposit
of Escrow Shares. On the Closing Date, Purchaser will deposit
with the Escrow Agent the Escrow Shares represented by certificates
in the
amounts and registered in the names of the Securityholders as set
forth on
Exhibit A attached hereto; provided, that the total value of
such Escrow Shares so deposited shall equal 110% of the Initial Escrow
Value.
(c) Delivery
of Stock Powers. Promptly after the Closing Date, but in any
event within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date, each
Securityholder
set forth on Exhibit A will deliver to the Escrow Agent at least four
duly endorsed stock power (a “Stock Power”) substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit B.
(d) Legends. Stock
certificates representing Escrow Shares will (until they are released
in
accordance with this Agreement) bear the following legend indicating
that they
are subject to this Agreement:
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN ESCROW
AGREEMENT
AMONG THE ISSUER, THE HOLDER THEREOF AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA. A
COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
ISSUER.”
(e) Cash
Escrow Amount.
(i) Cash
Escrow Amount Generally. Each Securityholder may, in its sole
discretion at any time, by causing the Securityholders’ Representatives to
deliver written instructions to the Escrow Agent with the amount
and number of
Escrow Shares to be exchanged, replace all (but not less than all)
of the Escrow
Shares in such Securityholder’s account with cash in an amount equal to (a) such
Securityholder’s pro rata portion of the Initial Escrow Value, minus (b) the
cash value of all Claims settled from such Securityholder’s account as of such
date (each referred to herein as a “Cash Escrow”). The Escrow
Agent will not be responsible for determining the amount of Cash
Escrow to be
deposited into the account.
(ii) Release
of Escrow Shares upon Receipt of Cash Escrow Amount. Within
seven (7) Business Days after receipt by the Escrow Agent of such
Cash Escrow
amount from a Securityholder, the Escrow Agent shall deliver the
Escrow Shares
to such Securityholder by mailing (by registered or certified mail,
return
receipt requested) by express courier to the
1
The Escrow Period will be 12 months and 1 day.
2
address
set forth opposite such Securityholder’s name on the Escrow Ledger (or such
other address as provided in writing by the Securityholders’ Representatives to
the Escrow Agent).
(iii) Investment
of Cash Escrow. Until the Release Date, a
Securityholder’s Cash Escrow, if any has been deposited with the Escrow Agent
pursuant to clause (i) above, shall be invested and reinvested by
the Escrow
Agent at the joint written direction of Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives, in the name of the Escrow Agent or its nominee,
in (i)
readily-marketable direct obligations of, or repurchase agreements
collateralized by direct obligations of, the United States Government
or backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, (ii)
certificates
of deposit, time deposits, money market accounts, or other interest
bearing
deposits of commercial banks with a maturity not more than five (5)
days after
purchase or (iii) any other investments agreed to by the Securityholders’
Representatives and the Purchaser. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled
to sell or redeem any such investment as necessary to make any distributions
required under this Agreement and shall not be liable or responsible
for any
loss resulting from any such sale or redemption.
Subject
to principles of best
execution, transactions shall be effected on behalf of the Cash Escrow
through
broker-dealers selected by JPMorgan Asset Management (“JPMAM”). In
this regard, JPMAM seeks to attain the best overall result for the
Cash Escrow,
taking into consideration quality of service and reliability. An
agency fee will be assessed in connection with each transaction.
The Escrow
Agent shall have the right to liquidate any investments held in order
to provide
funds necessary to make required payments under this Agreement. The
Escrow Agent shall have no liability for any loss sustained as a
result of any
investment in an investment made pursuant to the terms of this contract
or as a
result of any liquidation of any investment prior to its maturity
or for the
failure of the parties to give the Escrow Agent instructions to invest
or
reinvest the Cash Escrow. The Escrow Agent or any of its affiliates
may receive compensation with respect to any investment directed
hereunder. Receipt, investment and reinvestment of the Cash Escrow
shall be confirmed by Escrow Agent as soon as practicable by account
statement,
and any discrepancies in any such account statement shall be noted
by parties to
Escrow Agent within 30 calendar days after receipt thereof. Failure
to inform Escrow Agent in writing of any discrepancies in any such
account
statement within said 30-day period shall conclusively be deemed
confirmation of
such account statement in its entirety.
1.2 Indemnification. Purchaser
and the Purchaser Indemnified Parties are entitled to be indemnified
by the
Securityholders pursuant to the terms of Article 11 of the Unit Purchase
Agreement against certain Losses during the Escrow Period. All claims
for Losses under Article 11 of the Unit Purchase Agreement must be
initiated
prior to the expiration of the Escrow Period, unless otherwise specified
in the
Unit Purchase Agreement. Each of the Securityholders has agreed to
the use of the Escrow Shares or such Securityholder’s Cash Escrow, if any, as
applicable, as collateral for these indemnity obligations, subject
to the terms
and limitations set forth in Article 11 of the Unit Purchase Agreement
and in
this Agreement.
3
ARTICLE
II.
OWNERSHIP
INTERESTS IN ESCROW SHARES AND
RELEASE
OF THE ESCROW PROPERTY
2.1 Securityholders’
Interests in the Escrow Shares.
(a) Individual
Securityholder’s Interests. The Escrow Shares shall be evidenced
by certificates issued in the name of each Securityholder as shown
in Exhibit
A. All of the Escrow Shares shall be deemed to be issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Purchaser.
(b) Dividends. If
the Purchaser declares any cash dividends, dividends payable in other
property
or other distributions of any kind with respect to Escrow Shares
held by the
Escrow Agent, Purchaser will issue such distributions directly to
the
Securityholders; provided, that stock dividends that are issued in
order to effect a stock split of Purchaser’s Common Stock on Escrow Shares
declared during the Escrow Period (“Additional Escrow Shares”) will be
delivered promptly to the Escrow Agent, held in escrow and distributed
to the
Securityholders in the same manner and in the same proportions as
the Escrow
Shares. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Additional Escrow
Shares will be treated the same as the Escrow Shares. Unless and
until the Escrow Agent receives certificates representing Additional
Escrow
Shares, it may assume without inquiry that no Additional Escrow Shares
have
been, or are required to be, issued and that the stock certificates
that the
Escrow Agent possesses represent all of the Escrow Shares.
(c) Voting
and Other Rights of Ownership. While the Escrow Shares remain in the
possession of the Escrow Agent, each Securityholder beneficially
owning Escrow
Shares will retain and will be able to exercise with respect to such
Escrow
Shares: (i) voting rights, and (ii) all other incidents of ownership
of such
Escrow Shares which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement,
including the right to cause the tender of such Escrow Shares in
a tender offer
for Purchaser Common Stock. The Purchaser, not the Escrow Agent,
will be
responsible for furnishing any proxy forms or other information generally
distributed by Purchaser to its stockholders.
(d) No
Transfers or Encumbrances. Prior to the release of the Escrow
Shares by the Escrow Agent and delivery to each Securityholder pursuant
to
Section 2.3, Securityholders may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer,
nor
place any Encumbrance on, any Escrow Shares or any beneficial interest
therein,
except: (i)to limited partners or members of such Securityholders;
(ii)
transfers by operation of law; and (iii) in connection with a tender
offer for
Purchaser Common Stock; provided, that in the case of any such
permitted transfer, the transferee shall have agreed to be subject
to all terms
and provisions of this Agreement. Also, prior to the release of the
Escrow Shares by the Escrow Agent and delivery to each Securityholder
pursuant
to Section 2.3, no Escrow Shares nor any beneficial interest therein
will be
taken or reached by any legal or equitable process in satisfaction
of any debt
or other liability of a Securityholder, except to satisfy such Securityholder’s
obligations under Article 11 of the Unit Purchase Agreement. The
Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility for determining or
4
enforcing
compliance with this paragraph, other than by retaining possession
of the Escrow
Shares.
(e) Individual
Securityholder Liability. The maximum liability for any Losses
under Section 11.2 of the Unit Purchase Agreement is set forth in
Section 11.5
of the Unit Purchase Agreement. Payments for finally determined
Claims (defined in Section 3.1) (i) that result from breaches of
the Company or
the Seller shall be deducted from the Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow
of each
Securityholder pro rata in proportion to each Securityholder’s respective
percentage interest in the Escrow Shares as shown on Exhibit A hereto and
(ii) that result from breaches of a particular Securityholder shall
be deducted
solely from such Securityholder’s Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow.
2.2 Escrow
Ledger.
(a) Required
Information. The Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives shall create and maintain a written record,
in substantially the
form attached as Exhibit C (the “Escrow Ledger”) of: (1) each
Securityholder’s name and address and wire transfer instructions; (2) each
Securityholder’s interest in the Escrow Shares by number of shares; (3) the
dollar amount of each Securityholder’s pro rata portion of the Initial Escrow
Value; (4) each Securityholder’s amount of Cash Escrow, if any; (5) each
Securityholder’s interest in other assets held in escrow; (6) each
Securityholder’s percentage interest in the total Escrow Shares (which shall
remain fixed); (7) each Securityholder’s interest in Escrow Shares or such
Securityholder’s Cash Escrow subject to pending Contested Claims (defined in
Section 4.3); and (8) Escrow Shares or such Securityholder’s Cash Escrow to be
released to each Securityholder on the Release Date. The Escrow
Ledger shall also reflect the total number of Escrow Shares remaining
in
escrow.
(b) Adjustments
to the Ledger. The Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives shall adjust the Escrow Ledger to reflect changes
in each
Securityholder’s interests in the Escrow Shares or such Securityholder’s Cash
Escrow. This duty shall continue until the Escrow Agent is required
to deliver each Securityholder’s Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow pursuant to
Section 2.3. Absent manifest error, all of the Purchaser’s and the
Securityholders’ Representatives’ determinations as to the Escrow Ledger shall
be binding and conclusive on all parties to this
Agreement. Adjustments to the Ledger shall include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(i) Adjustments
for Capital Changes. The Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives shall adjust the Escrow Ledger to reflect the
issuance of
Additional Escrow Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(b).
(ii) Adjustments
for Claims. The Escrow Agent shall deduct Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow
amounts that become subject to pending Contested Claims of the Purchaser
or
Purchaser Indemnified Parties from column 8 of each Securityholder’s account and
add such Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts to column 7 of each
Securityholder’s account. The Escrow Agent shall deduct Escrow Shares or Cash
Escrow amounts that are charged and allocated to each Securityholder’s account
pursuant to Article 4 in satisfaction of Claims by the
5
Purchaser
or Purchaser Indemnified Parties from columns 2-8, as
appropriate. The Escrow Agent will not be responsible for determining
the number of Escrow Shares or amount of Cash Escrow to be
released. Purchaser and the Securityholders’ Representatives will be
responsible for calculating the number of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow
to be
released by delivering written instructions to the Escrow Agent.
2.3 Release
of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow Amounts to Securityholders.
(a) Release
of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow Amounts
Generally. On [ ], 2008, (the “Release
Date”), in accordance with Section 2.3(c), the Purchaser and the
Securityholders’ Representatives shall certify the Escrow Share and Cash Escrow
balances reflected in the Escrow Ledger as of that date and shall
deliver
written instructions to the Escrow Agent to release the appropriate
number of
Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amount to each Securityholder as designated
in
column 8 of the Escrow Ledger, which shall equal such Securityholder’s original
Escrow Shares and Additional Escrow Shares or the amount of Cash
Escrow, minus:
(i) any Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts attributable to such
Securityholder
that were returned to the Purchaser in accordance with Article 4
in satisfaction
of a Claim(s) by the Purchaser or Purchaser Indemnified Parties,
and (ii) any
Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts attributable to such Securityholder
that
are subject to pending Claims of the Purchaser or other Purchaser
Indemnified
Parties, to be held pursuant to Section 2.3(b).
(b) Escrow
Shares and Cash Escrow Amounts Subject to Pending
Claims.
(i) After
the Release Date, the Escrow Agent shall continue to hold any Escrow
Shares or
Cash Escrow amounts that are subject to pending Claims until the
thirty (30) day
period in Section 4.2 expires. At that time, the Escrow Agent shall,
as appropriate, either return the Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts
subject
to such claim pursuant to Section 4.2, or continue to hold the Escrow
Shares or
Cash Escrow amounts subject to such Claim pursuant to Section
2.3(b)(ii).
(ii) After
the Release Date, the Escrow Agent shall continue to hold any Escrow
Shares or
Cash Escrow amounts that are subject to Contested Claims of the Purchaser
or
other Purchaser Indemnified Parties, as designated in column 7 of
the Escrow
Ledger, until the Escrow Agent receives written notice of resolution
of each
specific Claim pursuant to Section 4.4 signed by Purchaser and Securityholders’
Representatives. After the Escrow Agent receives such written notice,
in accordance with Section 2.3(c), the Escrow Agent shall: (a) either
deliver to
each Securityholder its remaining Cash Escrow or the number of Escrow
Shares, if
any, due to each Securityholder in accordance with the resolution
of the Claim
and (b) if applicable, charge and allocate Escrow Shares or amounts
against the
applicable Securityholder’s Cash Escrow in satisfaction of the resolution of the
Claim and return such Escrow Shares or its remaining Cash Escrow
subject to such
Claim to the Purchaser The Purchaser and the Securityholders’ Representatives
shall make the appropriate entries in the Escrow Ledger.
(c) Procedure
for Release and Delivery. Within seven (7) Business Days after
the Release Date (or within seven (7) Business Days after the Escrow
Agent’s
receipt of
6
written
notice of a resolution of a Claim pursuant to Section 4.4), the Escrow
Agent
shall deliver the Escrow Shares or the Cash Escrow amounts to the
applicable
Securityholder by mailing (by registered or certified mail, return
receipt
requested) by express courier to the address set forth opposite such
Securityholder’s name on the Escrow Ledger (or such other address as provided in
writing by the Securityholders’ Representatives to the Escrow Agent) or by wire
transfer to the account set forth opposite such Securityholder’s name on the
Escrow Ledger. No fractional Escrow Shares will be delivered;
instead, the Purchaser will pay cash in lieu of any fractions of
Escrow Shares
in an amount equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by
the value of an
Escrow Share as determined in accordance with Section 4.5. The
Purchaser and the Securityholders’ Representatives will determine the amounts of
such cash payments in lieu of fractional shares to be made
ARTICLE
III.
CLAIMS
3.1 “Claim”
Defined. As used herein, the term “Claim” means a claim for
indemnification under Article 11 of the Unit Purchase Agreement made
by the
Purchaser or by any other Purchaser Indemnified Party. The Purchaser
agrees that it will make Claims only as permitted by Article 11 of
the Unit
Purchase Agreement. For
the avoidance of doubt, the Escrow Agent shall have no liability
with respect to
any provisions of this Agreement which set forth obligations or limitations
of
liability that the other parties to this Agreement have to each other,
without
regard to any action to be taken by or refrained from by the Escrow
Agent. The Escrow Agent shall have no obligation to investigate,
inquire, examine or assist in any manner whatsoever, the parties'
compliance
with the terms of this Agreement that incorporate by reference provisions
of the
Unit Purchase Agreement that apply to the other parties' obligations
or
limitations of liability to each other that do not relate to obligations
of the
Escrow Agent under this Agreement.
3.2 Notice
of Claim.
(a) When
a Notice of Claim is Required. Purchaser shall execute and
deliver written notice of a Claim (a “Notice of Claim”) to the
Securityholders’ Representatives and the Escrow Agent as promptly as reasonably
practicable, and in no event after the Escrow Period, upon:
(i) The
Purchaser’s discovery of any breach of or default in connection with any of
the
provisions of the Unit Purchase Agreement that are indemnifiable
under Section
11.2 of the Unit Purchase Agreement; or
(ii) The
Purchaser’s receipt of written notice of an order or proceeding brought by
any
third Person against the Purchaser and/or any Purchaser Indemnified
Parties that
is based upon or includes assertions that would, if true, constitute
an
inaccuracy, misrepresentation, breach of or default in connection
with any of
the provisions of the Unit Purchase Agreement that are indemnifiable
under
Section 11.2 of the Unit Purchase Agreement, (a “Third Party
Proceeding”);
7
(b) Failure
to Provide Notice of Claim. Failure to provide such notice in a
timely manner shall not reduce Purchaser’s indemnification rights or the
indemnification obligations of the Securityholders in this Agreement
and under
the Unit Purchase Agreement, unless the failure to provide such notice
materially impairs the indemnifying party’s ability to defend the Claim, and
then only to the extent of such impairment.
3.3 Contents
of Each Notice of Claim. Each Notice of Claim given by the
Purchaser pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be set forth in writing and
shall
contain the following information to the extent it is reasonably
available to
the Purchaser:
(a) Statement
of Damages. The statement of damages shall include: (i) the
amount of Losses that the Purchaser believes has actually been incurred
by the
Purchaser and/or any other Purchaser Indemnified Party in connection
with the
Claim and (ii) the Purchaser’s good faith estimate of the reasonably foreseeable
maximum amount of the alleged Losses that will ultimately be incurred
by the
Purchaser and/or any other Purchaser Indemnified Party in connection
with such
Claim, including without limitation any Losses from a potential Third
Party
Proceeding.
(b) Statement
of Basis for Damages. The statement of basis for damages shall
include a brief description, in reasonable detail, of the facts,
circumstances
or events giving rise to the alleged Losses based on the Purchaser’s or any
other affected Purchaser Indemnified Parties, good faith belief.
3.4 Requirement
of Resolution of Claims. The Escrow Agent shall not act regarding
any of the Escrow Shares or the Cash Escrow held pursuant to a Notice
of Claim
until such Notice of Claim has been resolved in accordance with Article
4 and,
in the case of a Contested Claim, it receives appropriate notice
pursuant to
Section 4.4.
ARTICLE
IV.
RESOLUTION
OF CLAIMS
Any
Notice of Claim received by the
Securityholders’ Representatives and the Escrow Agent pursuant to Article 3
shall be resolved as follows:
4.1 Third
Party Proceedings. Third party proceedings shall be handled in
the manners set forth in Section 11.4 of the Unit Purchase
Agreement.
4.2 Uncontested
Claims. If, prior to 5:00 p.m Central Time on the thirtieth
(30th) calendar day after the Escrow Agent receives a Notice of Claim,
the
Securityholders’ Representatives do not contest such Notice of Claim (an
“Uncontested Claim”) in a written notice delivered to the Escrow Agent
pursuant to Section 4.3, then the Escrow Agent shall upon written instructions
from Purchaser immediately charge and allocate against each Securityholder’s
accounts in the Escrow Ledger the number of Escrow Shares or portion
of such
Securityholder’s Cash Escrow required, pursuant to Section 4.5, to satisfy the
amount of Losses specified in such Notice of Claim (reduced by any
recovery to
date under policies of insurance not reflected in the Notice of
Claim). Additionally, the Purchaser and the
Securityholders’
8
Representatives
shall provide the Escrow Agent with an updated Escrow Ledger to reflect
the
effect of the deduction pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(ii). The number of
Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts deducted hereunder shall be
charged to and
allocated (i) among the Securityholders pro rata according to each
Securityholder’s percentage share, as set forth in columns 4 or 6 of the Escrow
Ledger, as applicable, with respect to Losses relating to breaches
of the Unit
Purchase Agreement by the Seller or the Company, and (ii) to the
applicable
Securityholder with respect to Losses relating to breaches of the
Unit Purchase
Agreement by such Securityholder. For the avoidance of doubt,
Purchaser and the Securityholders’ Representatives will be responsible for
calculating the number of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow to be released
by
delivering written instructions to Escrow Agent.
4.3 Contested
Claims. If the Purchaser and the Escrow Agent receive a written
notice contesting all, or a portion of, a Notice of Claim within
the thirty (30)
day period described in Section 4.2 (a “Contested Claim”), then Purchaser
and Securityholders’ Representatives will work together in good faith to resolve
their dispute for up to thirty (30) days. If the Contested Claim is
still not resolved, then: (a) such Contested Claim shall be resolved
pursuant to
the terms of the Unit Purchase Agreement, and (b) the Escrow Agent
shall
continue to hold the number of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts
sufficient,
pursuant to Section 4.5, to satisfy the maximum potential award to
all Purchaser
Indemnified Parties under such Claim.
4.4 Settled
Claims. If a Claim (including a Contested Claim) is settled by a
written settlement agreement executed by the Securityholders’ Representatives
and the Purchaser, then the Securityholders’ Representatives and the Purchaser
shall promptly deliver such written settlement agreement to the Escrow
Agent
with written instructions on the appropriate charges or adjustments
to be made
to the Escrow Ledger, and the Escrow Agent shall promptly release
and/or return
the Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow amounts subject to such claim in
accordance
with Sections 2.3(b) and 2.3(c).
4.5 Determination
of Number of Escrow Shares for Claims.
(a) Unless
a specific number of Escrow Shares is specified, any amount owed
to the
Purchaser under this Agreement will be immediately payable to the
Purchaser,
subject to Section 4.3, by deducting from the Escrow Shares, the
number of
Escrow Shares equal to: (a) the asserted Losses for such Claim, divided
by, (b)
the Claim Set-Aside Amount. Such deductions shall be allocated (i)
among the Securityholders pro rata according to each Securityholder’s percentage
share, as set forth in column 6 of the Escrow Ledger with respect
to Losses
relating to breaches of the Unit Purchase Agreement by the Seller
or the
Company, and (ii) to the applicable Securityholder with respect to
Losses
relating to breaches of the Unit Purchase Agreement by such
Securityholder. For purposes of this Agreement, “Claim Set-Aside
Amount” shall mean for each share of Purchaser Common Stock, a value equal
to
the weighted average trading price for a share of Purchaser Common
Stock for the
twenty (20) trading days preceding the date that the Notice of Claim
is
delivered to the Securityholders’ Representatives or the Escrow
Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives will be responsible for calculating the number of
Escrow Shares
or Cash Escrow to be released by delivering written instructions
to the Escrow
Agent.
9
(b) The
Escrow Shares shall be revalued as of the date on which payment for
a finally
determined Claim is to be made, and the actual number of Escrow Shares
to be
paid to the Purchaser to settle the Claim shall be determined by
dividing (a)
the asserted Losses for such Claim by, (b) the Valuation Price. The
number of Escrow Shares deducted from each Securityholder’s account pursuant to
clause (a) above shall be increased or decreased, as necessary, and
the Escrow
Ledger shall be modified accordingly. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Valuation Price” shall mean for each share of Purchaser Common Stock, a value
equal to the weighted average trading price for a share of Purchaser
Common
Stock for the twenty (20) trading days preceding the date on which
such Claim is
satisfied. For the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser and the
Securityholders’ Representatives will be responsible for calculating the number
of Escrow Shares or Cash Escrow to be released by delivering written
instructions to the Escrow Agent.
ARTICLE
V.
THE
ESCROW AGENT
5.1 Limitation
of Escrow Agent’s Liability/Responsibility. The Escrow Agent shall incur no
liability with respect to any action taken or suffered by it in reliance
upon
any notice, direction, instruction, consent, statement or other document
believed by it to be genuine and duly authorized, nor for any other
action or
inaction, except its own willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence.
The
Escrow Agent shall have no duty or responsibility: (a) for the validity
or
sufficiency of this Agreement, nor to inquire into or investigate
the validity,
accuracy or content of any document that it receives, (b) to verify
that the
Securityholders’ Representatives or the Purchaser received a Notice of Claim or
other required notice, and (c) other than those expressly set forth
in this
Agreement and the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. The
Escrow Agent
will not be required to take any action hereunder involving any expense
unless
the payment of such expense is made or provided for in a manner satisfactory
to
it. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to impose upon the
Escrow Agent any duty to qualify to do business or to act as a fiduciary
or
otherwise in any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas No party
to this
Agreement is liable to any other party for losses due to, or if it
is unable to
perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because
of, acts of
God, fire, war, terrorism, floods, strikes, electrical outages, equipment
or
transmission failure, or other causes reasonably beyond its
control.
5.2 Use
of Agents and Reliance on Counsel. The Escrow Agent may execute
any of its powers or responsibilities hereunder and exercise any
rights
hereunder either directly or through its agents or attorneys and
shall be
entitled to consult with its legal counsel, including in-house legal
counsel, as
to any questions or matters arising hereunder. The reasonable, good
faith written opinion of such legal counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Escrow Agent in respect of any
act or
omission by the Escrow Agent undertaken in good faith and in accordance
with the
opinion of such legal counsel. The Escrow Agent shall have no
liability for the conduct of any outside attorneys, accountants or
other similar
professionals it retains.
10
5.3 Indemnification
of the Escrow Agent.
(a) For
the purposes of this Section 5.3, references to the Escrow Agent
shall include
the Escrow Agent’s officers, directors, employees, counsel and
agents.
(b) The
Parties (each an “Indemnifying Party” and together the “Indemnifying
Parties”) will reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent
from
and against any damage, liability or loss suffered, incurred by,
or asserted
against the Escrow Agent (including amounts paid in settlement of
any action,
suit, proceeding, or claim brought or threatened to be brought and
including
reasonable expenses of legal counsel, collectively, “Loss”) arising out
of, in connection with or based upon any act or omission by the Escrow
Agent
relating in any way to this Agreement or the Escrow Agent’s services hereunder;
provided, however, that Seller and the Securityholders (each
on a pro rata basis based on their respective interest in the Initial
Escrow
Value), on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand, shall
each be
severally liable for 50% of any Loss. This indemnity will exclude any
indemnification for any Loss arising in whole or in part, directly
or
indirectly, from any gross negligence or willful misconduct on the
Escrow
Agent’s part. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event will the Escrow Agent be liable for
special,
indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including
but
not limited to lost profits) suffered by another party to this Agreement,
even
if the Escrow Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss
or damage
and regardless of the form of action. The Parties hereby grant the
Escrow Agent
a lien on, right of set-off against and security interest in the
Escrow Property
for the payment of any claim for indemnification, compensation, expenses
and
amounts due hereunder.
(c) Each
Indemnifying Party may participate at its own expense in the defense
of any
claim or action that may be asserted against the Escrow Agent related
to this
Agreement, and if the Indemnifying Parties so elect, the Indemnifying
Parties
may assume the defense of such claim or action; provided,
however, that, if there exists a conflict of interest
that would make
it inappropriate, in the sole discretion of the Escrow Agent, for
the same
counsel to represent both Escrow Agent and the Indemnifying Parties,
the Escrow
Agent’s retention of separate counsel will be reimbursable as herein above
provided. The Escrow Agent’s right to indemnification hereunder will survive the
Escrow Agent’s resignation or removal as the Escrow Agent and will survive the
termination of this Agreement by lapse of time or otherwise.
(d) The
Escrow Agent will notify each Indemnifying Party by letter, or by
telephone or
telecopy confirmed by letter, of any receipt by Escrow Agent of a
written
assertion of a claim against the Escrow Agent arising out of this
Agreement, or
any action commenced against the Escrow Agent arising out of this
Agreement,
within five (5) Business Days after the Escrow Agent’s receipt of written notice
of such claim. However, the Escrow Agent’s failure to so notify each
Indemnifying Party will not operate in any manner whatsoever to relieve
an
Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may have to the Escrow
Agent under
this Section 5.3 or otherwise unless such failure by the Escrow Agent
to give
such notice materially prejudices such Indemnifying Party.
5.4 Compensation
and Expenses of Escrow Agent. Purchaser and the Securityholders
agree to (i) pay the Escrow Agent upon execution of this Agreement
and from time
to time
11
thereafter
reasonable compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder,
which unless
otherwise agreed in writing shall be as described in Exhibit D attached
hereto, and pay or reimburse the Escrow Agent upon request for all
expenses, disbursements and advances, including reasonable attorney's
fees and
expenses, incurred or made by it in connection with the preparation,
execution,
performance, delivery, modification and termination of this
Agreement. Each of Purchaser, on the one hand, and the
Securityholders, on the other hand, will be responsible for paying
50% of the
Escrow Agent fees upfront up to the Release Date upon signing this
Agreement.
5.5 Resolution
of Conflicting Demands. In the event conflicting demands are made
or conflicting notices are served upon the Escrow Agent with respect
to the
Escrow Shares, any of the Cash Escrow or the Escrow Ledger, the Escrow
Agent
shall have the right, at the Escrow Agent’s election, to either: (a) give
written notice to the other parties to this Agreement that it has
received
conflicting instructions from the Purchaser and the Securityholders’
Representatives and is refraining from taking action until it receives
instructions consented to in writing by both the Purchaser and the
Securityholders’ Representatives, or (b) resign so that a successor escrow agent
can be appointed pursuant to Section 5.6. In the further event that
the Escrow Agent gives written notice under “(a)” above and does not receive
instructions consented to in writing by both the Purchaser and the
Securityholders’ Representatives within thirty (30) calendar days, then the
Escrow Agent may file a suit in interpleader and obtain an order
from a court of
competent jurisdiction located in Houston, Texas requiring the parties
to
interplead and litigate in such court their several claims and rights
among
themselves. In this case, the Escrow Agent shall thereby be fully
released and discharged from all further obligations imposed upon
it under this
Agreement with respect to the matters that are the subject of such
interpleader
suit, and the Purchaser and the Securityholders shall pay the Escrow
Agent all
costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees expended or incurred by the
Escrow Agent pursuant to the exercise of Escrow Agent’s rights under this
paragraph.
5.6 Successor
Escrow Agent.
(a) In
the event the Escrow Agent becomes unavailable or unwilling to continue
in its
capacity as Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent may resign and
be
discharged from its duties hereunder by giving notice of resignation
to the
parties to this Agreement, specifying a date not less than ten (10)
days
following such notice date of when such resignation shall take effect
and
refunding to the Purchaser and the Securityholders any prepaid but
unearned fees
previously paid by the Purchaser and the Securityholders to the Escrow
Agent
hereunder. The Purchaser shall designate a successor Escrow Agent
reasonably satisfactory to the Securityholders’ Representatives prior to the
expiration of such ten (10) day period by giving written notice to
the Escrow
Agent and the Securityholders’ Representatives. If no successor
escrow agent is named by the Purchaser, then the Escrow Agent may
apply to a
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Escrow Agent.
In either case, the Escrow Agent shall promptly transfer the Escrow
Shares and
Escrow Ledger to the designated successor Escrow Agent.
(b) In
the event Escrow Agent is merged with, acquired or otherwise combined
with
another entity, or Escrow Agent transfers all or substantially all
of its
corporate
12
trust
business (including the escrow contemplated by this Agreement) to
another
institution, the successor as a result of such transaction will be
the Escrow
Agent hereunder without any further action by the parties hereto.
ARTICLE
VI.
THE
SECURITYHOLDERS’ REPRESENTATIVES
The
rights and obligations of the
Securityholders’ Representatives shall be as set forth in Article III of the
Unit Purchase Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
7.1 Entire
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in the Unit Purchase
Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and
agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement
and supersedes
all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral, between
the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof. As between the Escrow
Agent and the other parties hereto, all such parties agree that the
Escrow
Agent’s duties are defined only in this Agreement.
7.2 Assignment;
Binding Nature. No party to this Agreement may assign
all or any of its rights and obligations hereunder without the prior
written
consent of the Escrow Agent and the other parties hereto. Except for
assignments in connection with permitted transfers of Escrow Shares
under
Section 2.1(d) of this Agreement, the Securityholders may not assign
any of
their rights or obligations hereunder, nor may rights or obligations
be assigned
by operation of law, without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted
assigns.
7.3 Construction
of Agreement. This Agreement has been negotiated by the
respective parties hereto and their attorneys and has been reviewed
by each
party hereto. Accordingly, no ambiguity in the language of this
Agreement will be construed for or against either party.
7.4 Section
Headings. A reference to a section, article or exhibit will mean
a section in, article in or exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise
explicitly set forth. The titles and headings herein are for
reference purposes only and will not in any manner limit the construction
of
this Agreement, which will be considered as a whole.
7.5 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the written agreement of Purchaser, the
Escrow Agent
and the Securityholders’ Representatives; provided, however,
that, if the Escrow Agent does not agree to an amendment agreed upon
by the
Purchaser and the Securityholders’ Representatives, then the Escrow Agent shall
resign and the Purchaser shall appoint a successor Escrow Agent in
accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.6. No amendment of the Unit Purchase
Agreement shall increase or alter the Escrow Agent’s duties, responsibilities or
liability hereunder without the Escrow Agent’s written agreement.
13
7.6 Waiver. No
waiver by any party hereto of any condition or of any breach of any
provision of
this Agreement shall be effective unless it is set forth in a writing
signed by
such party. No waiver by any party of any such condition or breach,
in any one instance, shall be deemed to be a further or continuing
waiver of any
such condition or breach or a waiver of any other condition or breach
of any
other provision contained herein. The failure of any party to enforce
any of the provisions hereof will not be construed to be a waiver
of the right
of such party thereafter to enforce such provisions.
7.7 Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement or its application will for any reason
and to
any extent be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement
and
application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will
be
interpreted so as to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The
parties will replace such void or unenforceable provision of this
Agreement with
a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent
possible, the
economic, business and other purposes of the void or unenforceable
provision.
7.8 Governing
Law. The validity of this Agreement the construction of its
terms, and the interpretation and enforcement of the rights and duties
of the
parties of this Agreement will be exclusively governed by and construed
in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, as applied
to
agreements entered into solely between residents of and to be performed
entirely
in the State of Delaware, without reference to that body of law relating
to
conflicts of law or choice of law. The Parties further hereby waive
any right to
a trial by jury with respect to any lawsuit or judicial proceeding
arising or
relating to this Agreement.
7.9 Other
Remedies. Subject to the Unit Purchase Agreement and except as
otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly
conferred upon
a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other
remedy
conferred hereby or by law on such party, and the exercise of any
one remedy
will not preclude the exercise of any other.
7.10 Jurisdiction. Each
party hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of
any Delaware state court or any Federal court located in the State
of Delaware
in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat
such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from
any such
court and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby in any court other
than any
Delaware state court or any Federal court sitting in the State of
Delaware.
7.11 Specific
Performance. The parties acknowledge that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that the provisions of this Agreement were
not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached.
The parties will be entitled to an injunction(s) to prevent breaches
of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms
and
provisions hereof (including the indemnification provisions hereof)
in any court
of the United States or any state having jurisdiction. This is in
addition to any other remedy to which the parties might be entitled
at law or in
equity.
14
7.12 Notices. All
notices, instructions and other communications required or permitted
to be given
under this Agreement or necessary or convenient in connection herewith
must be
in writing and shall be deemed given: (a) when personally served
or upon
confirmed transmittal if by facsimile ; (b) one Business Day after
deposit with
an overnight courier service as shown by the records of such delivery
service;
(c) on the earlier of actual receipt or the third Business Day
following the
date on which the notice is deposited in the United States mail,
first class
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If
to any Securityholder, to the
address set forth under such Securityholder’s name on the signature page
hereto.
With
a copy to Securityholders’
Representatives to:
Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxxx
c/o
American Capital Energy
Group
0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile
No: [ ]
and
Xxxx
Xxxx
c/o
USRG ASA, LLC
000
X. 00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile
No: (000) 000-0000
If
to the Company or Seller,
to:
ASAlliances
Biofuels, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: [ ]
With
a
copy (which shall not constitute effective notice) to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx L.L.P.
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
15
If
to Purchaser, to:
VeraSun
Energy Corporation
000
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: General
Counsel
Facsimile
No.: [ ]
With
a
copy (which shall not constitute effective notice) to:
Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
If
to the
Escrow Agent:
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX0 S037
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Escrow Services
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
or
to
such other address as a party designates in a writing delivered to
each of the
other parties hereto in accordance with this Section
7.12. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices, instructions and other
communications addressed to the Escrow Agent shall be deemed to have
been given
to the Escrow Agent only upon receipt by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow
Agent may assume without inquiry (unless the Escrow Agent has written
notice to
the contrary) that notices received by it which are also required
to be
delivered to another party have, in fact, been delivered to such
other
party.
7.13 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be
deemed an original as regards any party whose signature appears thereon,
but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This
Agreement will become binding when one or more counterparts hereof,
individually
or taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties reflected
hereon
as signatories. All signatures of the parties to this Agreement may
be
transmitted by facsimile, and such facsimile will, for all purposes,
be deemed
to be the original signature of such party whose signature it reproduces,
and
will be binding upon such party.
7.14 Security
Xxxxxxxxxx.Xx the event funds
transfer instructions are given (other than in writing
at the time of
execution of this Agreement, as indicated in Section 7.12 above), whether
in writing, by telecopier or otherwise, the Escrow Agent is authorized
to seek
confirmation of such instructions
by telephone call-back to the person or persons designated on Exhibit
E, and the Escrow
Agent may
rely upon the confirmation of anyone purporting to be the
16
person
or persons so
designated. Each funds
transfer instruction shall be executed by an authorized signatory,
a list of
such authorized signatories is set forth on Exhibit
E. The undersigned
is
authorized to certify that the signatories on Exhibit
E are authorized
signatories. The
persons and telephone numbers for call-backs may be changed only
in a writing
actually received and acknowledged by the Escrow Agent. If the Escrow
Agent is
unable to contact any of the authorized representatives identified
in
Exhibit
E, the Escrow
Agent is
hereby authorized to seek confirmation of such instructions by telephone
call-back to any one or more of your executive officers, ("Executive
Officers"), which
shall include the titles of
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or Vice
President,
as the Escrow Agent may select. Such "Executive Officer" shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent a fully executed Incumbency Certificate,
and the
Escrow Agent may rely upon the confirmation of anyone purporting
to be any such
officer. The Escrow Agent and the beneficiary's bank in any funds
transfer may
rely solely upon any account numbers or similar identifying numbers
provided by
Purchaser or Securityholders’ Representatives to identify
(i) the beneficiary, (ii)
the beneficiary's bank, or (iii) an intermediary bank. The Escrow
Agent may apply any of the escrowed funds for any payment order it
executes
using any such identifying number, even when its use may result in
a person
other than the beneficiary being paid, or the transfer of funds to
a bank other
than the beneficiary's bank or an intermediary bank designated. The
parties to
this Agreement acknowledge that these security procedures are commercially
reasonable. Purchaser and Securityholders’
Representatives agree
that repetitive or standing settlement instructions will be effective
as the
funds transfer instructions of Purchaser or Securityholders’
Representatives,
whether or not authorized, if such settlement instructions are
verified pursuant to the security procedure provided herein or such
other
security procedure that the Escrow Agent, Purchaser or Securityholders’
Representatives may
agree to.
7.15 Compliance
with Court Orders. In the event that any Escrow Property shall be
attached, garnished or levied upon by any court order, or the delivery
thereof
shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of a court, or any order,
judgment or
decree shall be made or entered by any court order affecting the
property
deposited under this Agreement, the Escrow Agent is hereby expressly
authorized,
in its sole discretion, to obey and comply with all writs, orders
or decrees so
entered or issued, which it is advised by legal counsel of its own
choosing is
binding upon it, whether with or without jurisdiction, and in the
event that the
Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such writ, order or decree
it shall not
be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person, firm
or
corporation, by reason of such compliance notwithstanding such writ,
order or
decree be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or
vacated.
7.16 Account
Opening Information/Taxpayer Identification Numbers (“TINs”).
(a) Important
Information
About Procedures for
Opening a New Account.
For
accounts opened in the
United States,
to help the
government fight the funding
of terrorism and money
laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions
to
obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person
who opens an
account. When an account is opened, we will ask for information that
will allow us to identify
relevant
parties.
(b) Taxpayer
Identification Numbers (“TINs”). The
Parties have provided the Escrow Agent with their respective fully
executed
Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form
17
W-8,
or W-9 and/or other required
documentation. The Parties each represent that its correct TIN
assigned by the IRS or any other taxing authority, is set forth in
the delivered
forms, as well as in the Substitute IRS Form W-9 set forth on the
signature page
of this Agreement. Upon execution of this Agreement, the Parties
shall provide the Escrow Agent with a fully executed IRS Form W-8,
W-9 and/or
other required documentation, which shall include the Parties’
TINs.
The
Parties further represent to the
Escrow Agent that the transaction memorialized in the Unit Purchase
Agreement
does not constitute an installment sale requiring any tax reporting
or
withholding of imputed interest or original issue discount to the
IRS or other
taxing authority.
To
the extent that any portion of the
principal amount of the Escrow Property represents part or all of
the purchase
price under the Unit Purchase Agreement, Purchaser shall provide
all information
required for Escrow Agent to perform tax reporting on IRS Form 1099-B
on or
prior to upon each distribution. Unless otherwise directed in a joint
written
instruction executed by the Purchaser and Securityholders’ Representatives.
Escrow Agent shall report to the IRS and as appropriate withhold
and remit taxes
to the IRS, or any other taxing authority as required by law, based
upon the
information and documentation so provided and when schedule and documentation
is
not properly and timely provided prior to payment of principal to
the Seller.
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on such information and documentation
and
shall not be responsible for and shall be indemnified by Purchaser
for any
additional tax, interest or penalty arising from the inaccuracy or
late receipt
of such information or documentation.
In
addition, all interest or other
income earned under the Agreement shall be allocated to the Securityholders
shown on Exhibit A and reported, as and to the extent required by law, by
the Escrow Agent to the IRS, or any other taxing authority, on IRS
Form 1099 or
1042S (or other appropriate form) as income earned from the Escrow
by the
Securityholders whether or not said income has been distributed during
such
year. Any other tax returns required to be filed will be prepared and
filed by the Parties with the IRS and any other taxing authority
as required by
law, including but not limited to any applicable reporting or withholding
pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act
(“FIRPTA”). The Parties acknowledge and agree that Escrow
Agent shall have no responsibility for the preparation and/or filing
of any tax
return or any applicable FIRPTA reporting or withholding with respect
to the
Escrow Property or any income earned by the Escrow Property. The
Parties further acknowledge and agree that any taxes payable from
the income
earned on the investment of any Cash Escrow shall be paid by the
Parties
respectively as required by law. In the absence of written direction
from the Purchaser and Securityholders’ Representatives, all proceeds of the
Cash Escrow shall be retained in the Escrow Property and reinvested
from time to
time by the Escrow Agent as provided in Section this 1.1 of this
Agreement. Escrow Agent shall withhold any taxes it deems
appropriate, including but not limited to required withholding in
the absence of
proper tax documentation, and shall remit such taxes to the appropriate
authorities.
[The
remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
18
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have
duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above
written.
SECURITYHOLDERS:
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(1) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(2)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the Internal
Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the
IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(3) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross out
the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
ACSAB,
LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
19
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(4) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(5)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(6) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
ASALLICANCES
HOLDINGS, L.P.
a Texas limited partnership
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
20
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(7) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(8)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(9) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
CARGILL
BIOFUELS INVESTMENTS, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
21
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(10) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(11)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(12) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
D.E.
SHAW SYNOPTIC PORTFOLIOS 5, L.L.C.
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
22
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(13) the
number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification
Number (or it is
waiting for a number to be issued to
it);
|
|||
(14)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(15) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
FDC
ETHANOL, LLC
a Minnesota limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
23
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(16) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(17)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(18) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
MIDWEST
FIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
a Nebraska corporation
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
24
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(19) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(20)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(21) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
USRG
ASA, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
25
SELLER:
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(22) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(23) it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(24) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
ASALLIANCES
BIOFUELS, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
26
COMPANY:
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(25) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(26)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(27) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
ASA
OPCO HOLDING, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
27
PURCHASER:
Tax Certification: Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): ________________________________ | Date: _____________________________ | ||
Name & Address: |
______________________________
|
||
______________________________ | |||
______________________________ | |||
Customer is a (check one): | |||
___ Corporation | ___ Partnership | ||
___ Individual/sole proprietor | ___ Trust | ___ Other _____________________ | |
Taxpayer is (check if applicable): | |||
___ Exempt from backup withholding | |||
Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that: | |||
(28) the number shown above is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it); | |||
(29)
it
is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it
is exempt from backup
withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding
as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c)
the IRS has notified
it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding;
and
|
|||
(30) the entity is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). | |||
(If
the entity is subject to backup withholding, cross
out the words after the
(2) above.)
|
|||
Investors who do not supply a tax identification number will be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations. | |||
Note: The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding. | |||
VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION,
a South Dakota corporation
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
28
ESCROW
AGENT:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
|
||
|
By:
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
29
EXHIBIT
C
ASSIGNMENT
Reference
is made to the Unit Purchase
Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of July ___, 2007 among ASA OPCO
HOLDINGS, LLC, as the Company, ASALLIANCES BIOFUELS, LLC, as the
Seller, the
SECURITYHOLDERS named therein and VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION, as Purchaser.
For
value received, ASAlliances
Biofuels, LLC hereby sells, assigns, transfers and delivers to Verasun
Energy
Corporation in compliance with the terms of the Agreement, all of
the
undersigned’s right, title and interest in and to 100 membership interest units
of ASA OpCo Holdings, LLC.
Dated:
_______, 2007
ASALLIANCES
BIOFUELS, LLC
|
|||
By:
|
|
||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
|
President
and Chief Executive
Officer
|
EXHIBIT
D
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2007, among VERASUN ENERGY
CORPORATION, a South Dakota corporation (the “Company”) and the holders
of Registrable Securities (as defined below) party hereto (collectively,
the
“Holders”).
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Unit Purchase
Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated as of July [ ],
2007, among ASA Opco Holdings, LLC, ASAlliance Biofuels, LLC (“Parent”),
the securityholders of Parent named therein and the Company, the
Holders have
received shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company (the
“Company Common Stock”); and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Holders
desire to provide for certain arrangements with respect to the registration
of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good
and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree
as
follows:
SECTION
1.01.
Definitions. The following terms shall have the following
meanings for purposes of this Agreement:
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect
to any Person, (a) any Subsidiary of such Person or (b) any other
Person that,
directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control
with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control”
means the possession of the power to direct or cause the direction
of the
management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership
of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement”
means
this
Registration Rights Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented,
restated or
modified from time to time.
“Business
Day” means any day
other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a U.S. Federal holiday.
“Company”
is
defined in the
preamble hereto.
“Company
Common Stock” is
defined in the recitals hereto.
“Company
Funded Offering” is
defined in Section 1.02(b).
“Demand
Request” is defined in
Section 1.02(b).
2
“Disadvantageous
Condition” is
defined in Section 1.02(a).
“Exchange
Act” means the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules
and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Existing
Shareholder Agreement”
means the Shareholder Agreement dated as of November 30, 2005
by and among the
Company and the shareholders of the Company party thereto, as amended
from time
to time.
“Group”
has
the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Holders”
is
defined in the
preamble hereto.
“Inspectors”
is
defined in
Section 1.04(a)(8).
“Minimum
Demand Request Amount”
means with respect to any Requesting Holder or Holders, such
number of shares of
Registrable Securities that have an aggregate minimum market value
(based on the
closing price on the NYSE on the date preceding the date of the Demand
Request)
of at least $50 million, before calculation of underwriting discounts
and
commissions.
“NASD”
means
the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“NYSE”
means
the New York Stock
Exchange or any such exchange or quotation system on which the Company
Common
Stock are then listed for trading.
“Parent”
is
defined in the
recitals hereto.
“Person”
means
any individual,
corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership,
joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization,
government or any agency or political subdivisions thereof or any
Group
comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
“Priority
Securities” is defined
in Section 1.03(a).
“Proceeding”
is
defined in
Section 1.07(k).
“Purchase
Agreement” is defined
in the recitals hereto.
“Records”
is
defined in
Section 1.04(a)(8).
“Registrable
Securities” means
all shares of Company Common Stock received by the Holders pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement (including the shares to be held in escrow
pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement) and any additional shares of Company Common
Stock or
securities convertible into or exercisable therefore received by
the Holders as
a result of their ownership of the Registrable Securities;
provided,
3
however,
that a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security if and when
(i) a
registration statement with respect to such security becomes effective
under the
Securities Act and such security is disposed of pursuant to such
effective
registration statement, (ii) such security is otherwise transferred (other
than to an Affiliate of the Holder), if a new certificate or other
evidence of
ownership for such security not bearing a legend restricting further
transfer
and not subject to any stop transfer order or other restrictions
on transfer is
delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition of such security
does not
require registration or qualification of such security under the
Securities Act,
and the Company’s outside counsel provides the Holder with an unqualified
opinion to such effect, or (iii) such security ceases to be
outstanding.
“Registration
Expenses” means
all fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance
with this Agreement, consisting of (i) all SEC, stock exchange, NASD and
other registration, listing and filing fees and expenses, (ii) fees and
expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, (iii) rating
agency fees, (iv) printing expenses, (v) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (vi) fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the
Company, (vii) fees, expenses and disbursements of the Company’s
independent certified public accountants, (viii) costs of Securities Act
liability insurance (if the Company so desires such insurance), (ix)
fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection
with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
(x) all
internal expenses of the Company incurred in connection with the
consummation of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement (including all salaries
and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties,
the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred
in listing
the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange); provided,
however, that “Registration Expenses” shall not include any fees,
expenses or disbursements of any Holder participating in the relevant
registration or those of any underwriters, selling brokers or similar
professionals, including any discounts, commissions or fees of such
underwriters, selling brokers or similar professionals and including
any fees,
expenses or disbursements of counsel to any such Holder or any such
underwriter,
selling broker or professional.
“Requesting
Holder” is defined
in Section 1.02(b).
“SEC”
means
the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act” means the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the
rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Seller”
is
defined in Section
1.06(a).
“Shelf
Registration” means a
“shelf” registration statement on an appropriate form pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act (or any successor rule that may be adopted
by the
SEC).
4
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect
to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any other Person of which the parent,
directly or indirectly, owns equity interests that (i) represent
more than 50%
of the total number of outstanding common or other residual equity
interests
(however denominated) of such Person, (ii) represent more than
50% of the total
voting power of all outstanding equity interests of such Person
which are
entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or other
persons
performing similar functions for and on behalf of such Person,
(iii) are
entitled to more than 50% of the dividends paid and other distributions
made by
such Person prior to liquidation or (iv) are entitled to more than
50% of the
assets of such Person or proceeds from the sale thereof upon
liquidation.
“Underwriter”
is
defined in
Section 1.06(a).
SECTION
1.02. Shelf Registration
Statement; Certain Demand Offering
Rights. (a) Shelf Registration
Statement. Within 120 days after the date hereof, the Company
shall file with the Commission a Shelf Registration relating to the
offer and
sale of (i) all of the Registrable Securities and (ii) all shares
of Company
Common Stock that the Company is requested to register under the
Existing
Shareholder Agreement. Thereafter, the Company shall use its reasonable
best
efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared
effective
within 180 days after the date hereof. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
continuously
effective, subject to the other provisions of this Section 1.02(a),
in order to
permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by
the Holders
of the relevant Registrable Securities, until the second anniversary
of the date
hereof or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto or cease to be outstanding. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement
and the
related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of
the effective
date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement,
(i) to
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements
of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and
(ii) not
to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not
misleading (other than with respect to information included therein
in reliance
upon or in conformity with written information furnished to the Company
by or on
behalf of any Holder specifically for use therein). The filing of the
Shelf Registration
Statement and the causing of the Shelf Registration Statement to
be declared
effective shall be at the
Company’s
own expense as provided
in Section
1.02(c). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, if there is (i)
material non-public information regarding the Company which the Company’s Board
of Directors reasonably determines to be significantly disadvantageous
for the
Company to disclose and which the Company is not otherwise required
to disclose
at such time, (ii) there is a significant business opportunity (including
the
acquisition or disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary
course of
business) or any merger, consolidation, share exchange, tender offer
or other
similar transaction) available to the Company which the Board reasonably
determines to be significantly disadvantageous for the Company to
disclose or
(iii) there is any other
5
event
or condition of similar
significance to the Company that the Board reasonably determines
to be
significantly disadvantageous for the Company to disclose and which
the Company
is not otherwise required to disclose at such time (each, a “Disadvantageous
Condition”), and
the
Company’s Board of Directors shall adopt a resolution setting forth
in reasonable
detail the Disadvantageous
Condition (giving due
regard to any confidentiality or competitive considerations), then the
Company shall not be required to file
any amendment or supplement required to maintain the effectiveness
of the Shelf
Registration until the
earlier of (x) 120
days following the date such resolution
was adopted and
(y) the date such Disadvantageous
Condition no longer exists (notice of which the Company shall promptly deliver
to the
Holders) and upon
receipt
of any such notice of a Disadvantageous Condition all
Holders selling securities
pursuant to
the Shelf Registration
Statement shall discontinue
use of the prospectus contained in the Shelf
Registration Statement and,
if so directed by the
Company, each Holder shall
deliver to the Company all
copies, other than permanent file copies,
then in such Holder’s
possession, of the prospectus then
covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt
of such
notice. The
Company shall use it reasonable best efforts to cause a Disadvantageous
Condition to cease to apply as soon as practicable after the Company’s Board of
Directors determines that a Disadvantageous Condition applies. The
Company may not suspend the
effectiveness
or
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant
to this Section 1.02(a) for
more than
120 consecutive
days. Within 20
days after receiving a notice of a Disadvantageous Condition, the
applicable
Requesting Holders may withdraw any outstanding Demand Request by
giving written
notice thereof to the Company, and, if withdrawn, such Demand Request
shall be
deemed not to have been made for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Demand
Offering. Subject to Section 1.02(a), at any time commencing on
the date that is 180 days after the date hereof and while the Shelf
Registration
Statement is effective, upon the written request (a “Demand Request”) of
a Holder or Holders (“Requesting Holders”) requesting that the Company
effect an underwritten offering (a “Company Funded Offering”) of
Registrable Securities of such Requesting Holders representing at
least the
Minimum Demand Request Amount (which request shall specify the number
of shares
of Registrable Securities to be offered by such Requesting Holders,
subject to
reduction to the extent provided herein), the Company shall promptly
(but in no
event more than five Business Days after receipt of the applicable
Demand
Request) deliver written notice of such requested registration to
all other
Holders of Registrable Securities and shall use its reasonable best
efforts to
effect, as expeditiously as possible, an underwritten offering of
(i) the
Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to
register by
the Requesting Holders, (ii) all other Registrable Securities which
the Company
has been requested to register by any other Holder thereof by written
request
received by the Company within 15 days after the giving of such written
notice
by the Company (which request shall specify the number of shares
of Registrable
Securities to be offered by such Holder, subject to reduction as
provided
herein) and (iii) all shares of Company Common Stock that the Company
may be
required to allow to participate in such underwritten offering under
the
Existing Shareholder Agreement; provided, however, that (A) the
Company shall not be
required
6
to
effect
any such underwritten
offering within a period
of
six months after
(x) the date
of any other underwritten offering
of Company Common Stock or (y) the effective date of any other registration
or
offering in which the Holders are permitted to participate pursuant
to Section
1.03; and (B) the Company
shall only be obligated to effect a total of two Company
Funded
Offerings. Each underwritten offering under this Section 1.02 shall
be at the
Company’s
own expense as provided
in Section
1.02(c). Promptly
after the expiration of the
15-day period
referred to
in clause (ii) above, the Company shall notify all the Holders to
be included in
the underwritten
offering of the identity
of
each such Holder and the number of shares of Registrable Securities
requested to
be included therein. The
Requesting Holders
may, at any time prior to the
pricing of the applicable
underwritten offering, revoke the applicable Demand Request, without
liability (except as set
forth in Section 1.02(c))
to any other Holders of Registrable
Securities requested to be registered pursuant to this Section 1.02(b),
by providing a written notice to
the Company revoking
such
request.
(c) Expenses. The
Company shall pay all
Registration Expenses in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement and all
underwritten offerings requested pursuant to Section 1.02(b) that
are
consummated. The
Company shall not be liable for Registration Expenses in connection
with
an underwritten
offering that shall
not
have been
consummated due to a
revocation by the Holders requesting such underwritten
offering (other than
pursuant to the last sentence of Section 1.02(a)) unless (i)
such
Holders
agree that such revoked
underwritten offering
counts as one of the Company Funded
Offerings or (ii) at the
time of such revocation, the Holders shall have learned of a material
adverse
change in the condition, business or prospects of the Company from
that known to
the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request
with
reasonable promptness after learning of such information. Except
as provided in the preceding
sentence, the obligation
to
pay the Registration Expenses in connection with
such revoked underwritten
offering shall be due
and payable by the Holders
who participated in such underwritten
offering or who initially
requested and revoked
such underwritten
offering, and such
expenses
shall be borne by them in proportion to
the number of shares of Registrable
Securities requested by them to be registered.
(d) Selection
of
Underwriters. The Company shall have the right to select the
underwriters for each Company Funded Offering; provided, however,
that (i) the Holders selling a majority-in-interest of Registrable
Securities to
be sold in connection with the relevant registration shall have the
right to
select one joint lead bookrunning underwriter (but not the joint
lead
bookrunning underwriter that will be on the left of the cover page
of any
offering materials related to such registration or the stabilization
agent),
which joint lead bookrunning underwriter shall have participation
in pricing and
bookbuilding and shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the
Company, and
(ii) the Company shall be entitled to select no more than two additional
joint
lead bookrunning underwriters.
7
(e) Pro
Rata
Participation in Demand Registrations. If a majority of the joint
lead bookrunning underwriters selected in accordance with Section
1.02(d) shall
advise the Company that, in their good faith view (based upon prevailing
market
conditions), the number of securities requested to be included
in such
registration (including securities which the Company requests to
be included)
exceeds the largest number of securities which can be sold without
having a
significant negative effect on the price at which such securities
can be sold in
such offering, the Company shall include the following Company
Common Stock in
the following order:
(i) all
Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering
pursuant to
Section 1.02(b)(i) (provided, however, that if the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten
offering
pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(i) exceeds the number which the Company has
been advised can be sold in such underwritten offering without having
the
negative effect referred to above, the number of such Registrable
Securities
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to this Section 1.02(e)(i)
shall be that number of securities which the Company has been advised
it can
sell allocated pro rata among the Holders referred to in this
Section 1.02(e)(i) on the basis of the shares of Registrable Securities
each such Holder has requested to be included in such underwritten
offering);
(ii) to
the extent that the
number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such
underwritten
offering pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(i) is, in the aggregate, less
than the
number of securities which the Company has been advised can be sold
in such
underwritten offering without having the significant negative effect
on pricing
referred to above, all Registrable Securities requested to be included
in such
underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(ii) (provided,
however, that if the number of Registrable Securities requested
to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(i),
together with the Registrable Securities requested to be included
in such
underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(ii), exceeds the number
which the Company has been advised can be sold in such offering without
having
the negative effect referred to above, the number of such Registrable
Securities
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to this Section 1.02(e)(ii)
shall be that number of securities which the Company has been advised
it can
sell in excess of the number of Registrable Securities being included
in such
underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.02(b)(i), allocated pro rata
among the other Holders referred to in this Section 1.02(e)(ii) on the
basis of the shares of Registrable Securities each such other Holder
has
requested to be included in such underwritten offering);
8
(iii) to
the extent that the
number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such
underwritten
offering pursuant to Sections 1.02(b)(i) and 1.02(b)(ii) is, in
the aggregate,
less than the number of securities
which the Company has been advised can be sold in such underwritten
offering
without having the significant negative effect on pricing referred
to above, all
Company Common Stock requested to be included in such underwritten
offering
pursuant to the Existing Shareholders Agreement (provided,
however, that if the number of Registrable Securities
requested to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to Sections 1.02(b)(i) and
1.02(b)(ii), together with the Company Common Stock requested to
be included in
such underwritten offering pursuant to the Existing Shareholders
Agreement,
exceeds the number which the Company has been advised can be sold
in such
offering without having the negative effect referred to above,
the number of
such Company Common Stock included in such underwritten offering
pursuant to the
Existing Shareholders Agreement shall be that number of securities
which the
Company has been advised it can sell in excess of the number of
Registrable
Securities being included in such underwritten offering pursuant
to
Sections 1.02(b)(i) and 1.02(b)(ii), allocated in accordance with the terms
of the Existing Shareholders Agreement); and
(iv) to
the extent that the
number of Registrable Securities and Company Common Stock requested
to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to Sections 1.02(b)(i)
and
1.02(b)(ii) and the Existing Shareholders Agreement is, in the aggregate,
less
than the number of securities which the Company has been advised
can be sold in
such underwritten offering without having the significant negative
effect on
pricing referred to above, any equity securities proposed to be sold
by the
Company (provided, however, that if the number of securities
proposed to be sold by the Company, together with the number of Registrable
Securities and Company Common Stock to be included in such underwritten
offering
pursuant to Sections 1.02(b)(i) and 1.02(b)(ii) and the Existing
Shareholders
Agreement, exceeds the number which the Company has been advised
can be sold in
such offering without having the negative effect referred to above,
the number
of such securities included in such underwritten offering pursuant
to this
Section 1.02(e)(iv) shall be that number of securities which the Company
has been advised it can sell in excess of the number of Registrable
Securities
and Company Common Stock included in such underwritten offering pursuant
to
Sections 1.02(b)(i) and 1.02(b)(ii) and the Existing Shareholders
Agreement).
SECTION
1.03. Certain Piggyback
Registration
Rights. (a) General. If, at any time
on or prior to the second anniversary of the date hereof, the Company
at any
time proposes to register any of its equity securities (the “Priority
Securities”) under the Securities Act (other than a registration (i) on
Form S-8 or S-4 or any successor or similar forms, (ii) relating
to equity
securities issuable upon exercise of employee stock or similar options
or in
connection with any employee benefit or similar plan of the Company,
(iii) in
connection with an acquisition by the Company of another entity or
(iv) pursuant
to a
9
registration
under Section 1.02), whether or not for sale for its own account (but not
for the account of any Holder of Registrable Securities), in a manner
which
would permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the
public under
the Securities Act, it shall each such time, subject to the provisions
of
Section 1.03(b), give written notice to all Holders of record of
Registrable Securities of its intention to do so and of such Holders’ rights
under this Section 1.03 at least 10 days prior to the anticipated filing
date of the registration statement relating to such
registration. Such notice shall offer all such Holders the
opportunity to include in such registration statement such number
of Registrable
Securities as each such Holder may request. Upon the written request
of any such Holder made within 10 days after the receipt of the Company’s notice
(which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities
intended to be
disposed of by such Holder, subject to reduction as provided herein,
and the
intended method of disposition thereof), the Company shall use its
reasonable
best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act
of all
Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to
register by
the Holders thereof, to the extent required to permit the disposition
(in
accordance with such intended methods thereof) of the Registrable
Securities so
to be registered; provided, however, that (A) if such registration
involves an underwritten offering, all Holders of Registrable Securities
requesting to be included in the Company’s registration must sell their
Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected by the Company
on the same
terms and conditions as apply to the Company or the original selling
holders for
whose account the registration has been made and (B) if, at any time after
giving written notice of its intention to register any securities
pursuant to
this Section 1.03(a) and prior to the effective date of the registration
statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall
determine for any reason not to register such securities, the Company
shall give
written notice to all Holders of Registrable Securities and, thereupon,
shall be
relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities
in connection
with such registration (without prejudice, however, to rights of
Holders under
Section 1.02). If a registration pursuant to this
Section 1.03(a) involves an underwritten public offering, any Holder of
Registrable Securities requesting to be included in such registration
may elect,
in writing prior to the effective date of the registration statement
filed in
connection with such registration, not to register such securities
in connection
with such registration. No registration effected under this
Section 1.03 shall relieve the Company of its obligations under
Section 1.02. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with each registration of Registrable Securities pursuant
to this
Section 1.03. Nothing contained in this Section 1.03 shall
create any liability on the part of the Company to the Holders if
the Company
should for any reason decide not to file a registration statement
for which
piggyback registration rights are available or withdraw such registration
statement subsequent to its filing, regardless of any action Holders
may have
taken, whether as a result of the issuance by the Company of any
notice
hereunder or otherwise.
10
(b) Priority
in Piggyback
Registrations. If a registration pursuant to this
Section 1.03 involves an underwritten offering and a majority of the joint
lead bookrunning underwriters shall advise the Company that, in
their good faith
view (based primarily upon prevailing market conditions), the number
of
securities (including all Registrable
Securities) which the Company, the Holders and any other Persons
intend to
include in such registration exceeds the largest number of securities
which can
be sold without having a significant negative effect on the price
at which such
securities can be sold in such offering, the Company will include
in such
registration in the following order:
(i) all
Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering
by the Holders
pursuant to Section 1.03(a) and all Company Common Stock requested to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the Existing Shareholders
Agreement (provided, however, that if the number of Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering
by the Holders
pursuant to Section 1.03(a) and the Company Common Stock requested to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the Existing Shareholders
Agreement exceeds the number which the Company has been advised can
be sold in
such underwritten offering without having the negative effect referred
to above,
the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be included
in such
underwritten offering by the Holders pursuant to Section 1.03(a) and the
number of Company Common Stock requested to be included in such underwritten
offering pursuant to the Existing Shareholders Agreement shall be
allocated pro
rata among all such requesting Holders and such requesting holders
of Company
Common Stock on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities
and Company
Common Stock each such other Holder or holder, respectively, has
requested to be
included in such underwritten offering); and
(ii) to
the extent that the
number of Registrable Securities and Company Common Stock requested
to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.03(a)
and the
Existing Shareholders Agreement, respectively, is, in the aggregate,
less than
the number of securities which the Company has been advised can be
sold in such
underwritten offering without having the significant negative effect
on pricing
referred to above, all the Priority Securities (including any to
be sold for the
Company’s own account or for other holders of Priority Securities (other
than
for the account of any Holders)) (provided, however, that if the
number of Registrable Securities and Company Common Stock requested
to be
included in such underwritten offering pursuant to Section 1.03(a)
and the
Existing Shareholders Agreement, together with the number of Priority
Securities
to be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to this clause
(ii),
exceeds the number which the Company has been advised can be sold
in such
offering without having the negative effect referred to above, the
number of
such Priority Securities to be included in such underwritten offering
shall be
allocated pro rata among all holders of Priority Securities on the
basis of the
number of Priority Securities each such holder has requested to be
included in
such underwritten offering).
11
SECTION
1.04.
Procedures. (a) If and whenever the Company is
required to use its reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the
registration
under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement of any Registrable
Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
(1) notify
each Holder of
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement when
such
registration statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or
becomes
effective;
(2) notify
each Holder of
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement of
any notice from
the SEC that there will be a review of such registration statement
and promptly
provide such Holders with a copy of any SEC comments received by
the Company in
connection therewith;
(3) furnish,
without charge,
to each Holder and each underwriter, if any, of Registrable Securities
covered
by such registration statement such number of copies of such registration
statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, and the prospectus
included in
such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus),
in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such
other documents
as such Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of
the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;
(4) use
its reasonable best
efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered
by such
registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws
of such
jurisdictions as any underwriter of Registrable Securities covered
by such
registration statement reasonably requests and do any and all other
acts and
things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each
Holder and
each underwriter to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions
of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to
do business
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for
this paragraph (4), (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction or (iii) consent to general service of process in any
such
jurisdiction in which it is not already subject to service of
process;
(5) use
its reasonable best
efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental
agencies
or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and
operations of
the Company to enable the Holder or Holders thereof to consummate
the
disposition of such Registrable Securities;
12
(6) immediately
notify each
of the joint lead bookrunning underwriters, if any, and each Holder
of
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement,
at any time when
a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under
the Securities
Act of the happening of any event which comes to the Company’s attention if as a
result of such event the prospectus included in such registration
statement
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein
not misleading, and the Company shall promptly prepare and file
with the SEC
such amendment or supplement to such registration statement or
prospectus and
furnish to such Holder a supplement or amendment to such prospectus
so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities,
such
prospectus shall not contain an 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;
(7) enter
into such
customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary
form) and
take all such other actions as the underwriters reasonably request
in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities,
including
customary indemnification;
(8) make
available for
inspection by any underwriter participating in any underwritten offering
of
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02, and any attorney,
accountant or
other agent retained by any such underwriter (collectively, the
“Inspectors”), those financial and other records, organizational
documents and properties of the Company and its controlled entities
(collectively, “Records”), and cause the Company’s and its controlled
entities’ officers, directors and employees to supply that information and
respond to those inquiries reasonably requested by any such Inspector
in
connection with such registration statement, in each case under this
paragraph
(8) only to the extent reasonably necessary, as mutually determined
by the
Company and the applicable underwriters, to enable such underwriters
to conduct
their due diligence investigation;
(9) use
its reasonable best
efforts to furnish to any underwriter participating in any underwritten
offering
pursuant to Section 1.02 a signed counterpart of a “cold comfort” letter from
the Company’s independent public accountants who have audited the Company’s
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in such
registration
statement (and prospectus included therein), in customary form and
covering such
matter of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters delivered in
connection with underwritten public offerings of securities as the
underwriters
reasonably request (and dated the dates such comfort letters are
customarily
dated);
(10) use
its reasonable best
efforts to furnish to each underwriter participating in any underwritten
offering pursuant to Section 1.02 a signed counterpart of an opinion
and
negative assurance letter of counsel from the Company’s outside counsel in
customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily
covered in
opinions and negative assurance letters of counsel delivered in connection
with
underwritten public offerings of securities;
13
(11) cooperate
with each
seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating
in
the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective
counsel in
connection with any filings with the NASD; and
(12) otherwise
use its
reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of
the SEC.
(b) It
shall be a condition
precedent to the obligation of the Company to take any action pursuant
to this
Agreement in respect of the Registrable Securities which are to be
registered or
offered for the benefit of any Holder thereof that such Holder shall
furnish to
the Company such information regarding the Registrable Securities
held by such
Holder and the intended method of disposition thereof as the Company
shall
reasonably request and as shall be reasonably required in connection
with the
action taken by the Company.
(c) Each
Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any
event of the
kind described in Section 1.04(a)(6), such Holder shall discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration
statement
covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 1.04(a)(6), and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall
deliver to the Company all copies (including any and all drafts),
other than
permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession, of the prospectus
covering such Registrable Securities, current at the time of receipt
of such
notice.
SECTION
1.05. Holdback
Agreements. (a) With respect to any underwritten
public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement,
each
Holder of Registrable Securities agrees not to effect any public
sale or
distribution, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, or any successor
provision, under the Securities Act, of any Registrable Securities
and not to
effect any such public sale or distribution of any other equity security
of the
Company or of any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for
any equity security of the Company or publicly announce an intention
to do any
of the foregoing (in each case, other than as part of such underwritten
public
offering) during the seven days prior to, and during the 90-day period
which
begins on the effective date of such registration statement, or,
in the case of
any underwritten offering under the Shelf Registration Statement,
the closing
date of such underwritten offering (which 90-day period shall be
tolled to the
extent of any blackouts upon the good faith declaration of any Disadvantageous
Conditions in accordance with Section 1.02(a)) (except as part of such
registration), and agrees further to enter into a customary lock-up
with the
underwriters of such offering; provided, however, that such Holder
of Registrable Securities has received written notice of such registration
at
least 15 days prior to the anticipated beginning of the seven-day
period
referred to above.
14
(b) With
respect to any
underwritten public offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to
this
Agreement, the Company agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution
of
any of its equity securities or of any security convertible into
or exchangeable
or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (other than
any such sale
or distribution of such securities in connection with any merger
or
consolidation by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or
the acquisition
by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company of the capital stock
or
substantially all the assets of any other Person or in connection
with an
employee stock ownership or other benefit plan) during the seven
days prior to,
and during the 90-day period which begins on, the effective date
of such
registration statement or, in the case of any underwritten offering
under the
Shelf Registration Statement, the closing date of such underwritten
offering
(which 90-day period shall be tolled to the extent of any blackouts
upon the
good faith declaration of any Disadvantageous Conditions in accordance
with
Section 1.02(a)) (except as part of such registration) and agrees further
to enter into a customary lock-up with the underwriters of such
offering.
(c) During
the term of this
Agreement, each certificate evidencing Registrable Securities held
of record or
beneficially owned by a Holder shall bear the following legend:
“THE
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AND TRANSFERABLE
ONLY
UPON COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
DATED AS
OF [ ], 2007, AMONG VERASUN ENERGY CORPORATION AND THE STOCKHOLDERS
PARTY THERETO, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. A COPY OF SUCH
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE
OF VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION AT 000 00XX
XXXXXX, XXXXXXXXX,
XXXXX XXXXXX 00000.”
(d) Upon
a Person ceasing to
have rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to the
terms hereof or
upon termination of this Agreement, such Person may surrender to
the Company any
certificates held of record by such Person and bearing the legend
set forth in
Section 1.05(c), and upon surrender of such certificates, the Company
shall
reissue such certificates without such legend.
SECTION
1.06. Indemnification
and
Contribution. (a) To
the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless each Person who participates as an underwriter (any such
Person being
an “Underwriter”), each Holder of Registrable Securities to be sold in
connection with the relevant registration (each such Holder being
a
“Seller”) and their respective partners, directors, officers and
employees and each Person, if any, who controls any Seller or Underwriter
within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange
Act as follows:
15
(i) against
any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments and reasonable expenses
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement
(or any
amendment thereto) relating to such registration, including all documents
incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the
statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus
(or any
amendment or supplement thereto) relating to such registration, including
all
documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged
omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(ii) against
any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments and reasonable expenses
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid
in
settlement of any litigation, investigation or proceeding by any
governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any other claim whatsoever
based
upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement
or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent
of the
Company; and
(iii) against
any and all
reasonable expense whatsoever, as incurred (including, subject to
Section
1.06(c), fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in investigating,
preparing
or defending against any litigation, investigation or proceeding
by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case
whether or
not such Person is a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission,
to the
extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or
(ii)
above;
provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement does not apply to any Seller
or
Underwriter with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment
or
expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission
or alleged
untrue statement or omission (A) made in reliance upon and in conformity
with
written information furnished to the Company by such Seller or Underwriter
expressly for use in a registration statement (or any amendment thereto)
or any
related prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B)
if such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
was
corrected in an amended or supplemented registration statement or
prospectus and
the Company had furnished copies thereof to the Underwriter or Seller
from which
the Person asserting such loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment
or expense
purchased the securities that are the subject thereof on a timely
basis prior to
the applicable investment decision.
16
(b) Each
Seller shall
severally indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Underwriter
and the
other Sellers, and each of their respective partners, directors,
officers and
employees (including each director and officer of the Company who
signed the
relevant registration statement) and each Person, if any, who controls
the
Company, any Underwriter or any other Seller within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against
any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments and expenses
described in the indemnity contained in Section 1.06(a) (provided,
however, that any settlement of the type described therein
is effected
with the written consent of such Seller) as incurred, but only with
respect to
untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made
in a registration statement or any related prospectus (or any amendment
or
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information
furnished to the Company by such Seller expressly for use in such
registration
statement (or any amendment thereto) or such prospectus (or any amendment
or
supplement thereto); provided, however, that an indemnifying
Seller shall not be required to provide indemnification in any amount
in excess
of the amount by which (x) the total price at which the securities
sold by such
indemnifying Seller and its affiliated indemnifying Sellers and distributed
to
the public were offered to the public (net of discounts and commissions
paid by
the indemnifying Seller in connection with such offering) exceeds
(y) the amount
of any damages which such indemnifying Seller has otherwise been
required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged
omission. The Company shall be entitled, to the extent customary,
to receive
indemnification and contribution from underwriters, selling brokers,
dealer
managers and similar securities industry professionals participating
in the
distribution, to the same extent as provided above with respect to
information
so furnished in writing by such Persons specifically for inclusion
in any
prospectus or registration statement.
(c) Each
indemnified party
or parties shall give reasonably prompt notice to each indemnifying
party or
parties of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect
of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so to notify an indemnifying
party or parties shall not relieve it or them from any liability
which it or
they may have under this indemnity agreement, except to the extent
that the
indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure to give
notice. If
the indemnifying party or parties so elects within a reasonable time
after
receipt of such notice, the indemnifying party or parties may assume
the defense
of such action or proceeding at such indemnifying party’s or parties’ expense
with counsel chosen by the indemnifying party or parties and approved
by the
indemnified party defendant in such action or proceeding, which approval
shall
not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that, if such
indemnified party or parties reasonably determine that a conflict
of interest
exists and that therefore it is advisable for such indemnified party
or parties
to be represented by separate counsel or that, upon advice of counsel,
there may
be legal defenses available to it or them which are different from
or in
addition to those available to the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying
party or parties shall not be entitled to assume such defense and
the
indemnified party or parties shall be entitled to separate counsel
(limited in
each jurisdiction to one counsel for all Underwriters and another
counsel for
all other
17
indemnified
parties under this Agreement) at the indemnifying party’s or parties’
expense. The indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
engage separate counsel and participate in the defense of any action,
but,
except as stated above, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall
be the
expense of such indemnified party or parties. If any indemnifying
party or parties are not so entitled to assume the defense of such
action or do
not assume such defense, after having received the notice referred
to in the
first sentence of this paragraph, the indemnifying party or parties
will pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified party
or parties
(limited in each jurisdiction to one counsel for all Underwriters
and another
counsel for all other indemnified parties under this Agreement).
In such event,
however, no indemnifying party or parties will be liable for any
settlement
effected without the written consent of such indemnifying party or
parties
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided,
however, that if at any time the indemnified party or parties
shall have
requested the indemnifying party or parties to reimburse the indemnified
party
or parties for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this
paragraph,
the indemnifying party or parties shall be liable for any settlement
of any
proceeding effected without the written consent of such indemnifying
party or
parties if (x) such settlement is entered into more than 15 business
days after
receipt by such indemnifying party or parties of the aforesaid request
accompanied by supporting documents reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnifying
party or parties and (y) such indemnifying party or parties shall
not have
reimbursed the indemnified party or parties in accordance with such
request
prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party or
parties shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party or
parties, effect any settlement of any action in respect of which
any indemnified
party or parties is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional
release of such indemnified party or parties from all liability on
claims that
are the subject matter of such action. If an indemnifying party is
entitled to assume, and assumes, the defense of such action or proceeding
in
accordance with this paragraph, such indemnifying party or parties
shall not,
except as otherwise provided in this subsection (c), be liable for
any fees and
expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties incurred thereafter
in
connection with such action or proceeding.
(d) (i) In
order
to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in
which the
indemnity agreement provided for in this Section 1.06 is for any
reason held to
be unenforceable by the indemnified parties although applicable in
accordance
with its terms in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages,
judgments
and expenses suffered by an indemnified party referred to therein,
each
applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a
result of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments and
expenses in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the Company
on the one hand and of the liable Sellers or Underwriters (including,
in each
case, that of their respective officers, directors, employees and
agents), as
the case may be, on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments
or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and of the liable Sellers or
Underwriters
(including, in each
18
case,
that of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents),
as the case
may be, on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other
things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information
supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or by or on behalf of the
Sellers or
Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
liabilities,
claims, damages, judgments and expenses referred to above shall be
deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.06(c), any legal
or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with
investigating or defending any action or claim.
(ii) The
Company and each
Seller agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to
this Section 1.06 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in sub-paragraph (i) above. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section
1.06(d) to the contrary, in the case of distributions to the public,
an
indemnifying Seller shall not be required to contribute any amount
in excess of
the amount by which (A) the total price at which the securities sold
by such
indemnifying Seller and its affiliated indemnifying Sellers and distributed
to
the public were offered to the public (net of discounts and commissions
paid by
the indemnifying Seller in connection with such offering) exceeds
(B) the amount
of any damages which such indemnifying Seller has otherwise been
required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged
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.
(iii) For
purposes of this
Section, each Person, if any, who controls a Seller or an Underwriter
within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as such Seller or Underwriter;
and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed
the
relevant registration statement, and each Person, if any, who controls
the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company.
SECTION
1.07. Miscellaneous.
(a) Current
Public
Information. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
make and keep available adequate current public information, as those
terms are
understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times during the term
of this
Agreement.
19
(b) Maintenance
of NYSE
Listing. At all times during the term of this Agreement, the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the Company’s listing
on the NYSE; provided, that if the Company is delisted from NYSE
for any reason, it will use it reasonable best efforts to secure
the listing of
the Company’s Common Stock for trading on the best available exchange or
automated quotation system, as reasonably determined by the Company,
as soon as
practicable thereafter.
(c) Listing
of
Registrable Securities. In compliance with the rules and
requirements of the NYSE, the Company shall file an additional listing
application with the NYSE covering the Registrable Securities.
(d) No
Inconsistent
Agreements. Neither
the Company nor the
Holders
have, as of the date hereof, entered
into, nor shall they,
on or after the date hereof, enter
into, any agreement with respect to the Registrable
Securities that is inconsistent
with the rights
granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.
(e) Complete
Agreement. This Agreement
shall
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to the
subject matter hereof and shall supercede all prior agreements and
understandings, whether written or oral, between or among the parties
with
respect to such subject matter.
(f) Amendments
and
Waivers. The
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence,
may not
be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, without the
prior written consent
of the Company
and
Holders of a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities; provided,
however,
that no amendment shall affect any
rights or obligations of a Holder without the consent of such
Holder.
(g) Notices. All
notices and other
communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made
in writing by
hand-delivery, first-class
mail or air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if
to a Holder, at the most current
address indicated for
such
Holder in the Company’s stock transfer records;
(ii) if
to the Company,
at:
VeraSun
Energy Corporation
000
00xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: General
Counsel
20
with
a copy
to:
Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx
LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx,
Esq.
All
such notices and communications
shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.
The
Holders or the Company by notice to
the other parties may designate additional or different addresses
for subsequent
notices or communications.
(h) Successors
and
Assigns. This Agreement
shall be
binding on and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto
and, with respect to the Company, its successors and
assigns.
(i) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall
be deemed
to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute
one and the
same agreement.
(j) Headings. The
headings in this
Agreement are
for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect
the
meaning hereof.
(k) Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
without giving effect to applicable
principles of conflicts of laws, except to the extent the substantive
laws of
the State of Delaware
are mandatorily applicable under
Delaware
law.
(l) Severability. In
the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein,
or the
application thereof in any circumstances, is 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 of
the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby,
it being
intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall
be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(m) No
Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 1.06,
this Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or remedies hereunder
upon,
and shall not be enforceable by, any Person other than the parties
hereto.
(n) Submission
to
Jurisdiction; Waivers. With respect to any suit, action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement (collectively, a “Proceeding”),
each party to this Agreement irrevocably (a) consents and submits
to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and
the State of
Delaware and any court of the United States located in the Borough
of Manhattan
in New York City or the State of Delaware; (b) waives any objection
which such
party may have at any time to the laying of venue of any Proceeding
brought in
any such court, waives any claim that such Proceeding has been
21
brought
in an inconvenient forum and further waives the right to object,
with respect to
such Proceeding, that such court does not have jurisdiction over
such party; (c)
consents to the service of process at the address set forth for notices
in
Section 1.07(g) herein; provided, however, that such manner of
service of process shall not preclude the service of process in any
other manner
permitted under applicable law; and (d) waives, to the fullest extent
permitted
by applicable law, any and all rights to trial by jury in connection
with any
Proceeding.
(o) Enforcement. (i) Each
party hereto acknowledges that the other parties would not have an
adequate
remedy at law for money damages in the event that any of the covenants
or
agreements of any of the other parties to this Agreement were not
performed in
accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that each party
hereto, in
addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may
have, will
have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any
court of
competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically
the
terms and provisions hereof, and each party hereto hereby waives
any and all
defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence
of the
court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief.
(ii)
All rights, powers and remedies
provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof
at law or
in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise
or beginning
of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall not preclude the
simultaneous
or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such
party.
[signature
pages follow]
IN
WITNESS HEREOF, the parties hereto
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of
the date
first written above.
VERASUN
ENERGY CORPORATION,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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[HOLDERS],
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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