ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXECUTION
COPY
ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”),
dated February
1, 2006, is by and among Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx Company, a Texas corporation
(“Buyer”)
(an
indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of United Fuel & Energy Corporation, a
Nevada corporation), Queen Oil & Gas Company, a New Mexico corporation
(“Seller”),
and
each stockholder of Seller named on the signature page to this Agreement
(the “Stockholders” and,
together with Seller, the “Seller
Parties”
and,
together with Buyer, the “Parties”).
United Fuel & Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“UFE”)
joins
in this Agreement solely for the purposes set forth in Section
1.4(h).
RECITALS
A. Seller
is
engaged in the gasoline distribution and fuel supply business (the “Business”).
B. The
Seller Parties desire that Seller sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase
from Seller, certain of the assets and properties Seller uses in operating
the
Business, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises, the respective representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and
valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
1
PURCHASE
AND SALE
OF ASSETS
1.1 Purchase
and Sale of Assets.
(a) Purchased
Assets.
At the
Closing (as hereinafter defined), Buyer shall purchase from Seller, and Seller
shall transfer and deliver to Buyer, all right,
title and interest in and to Seller’s: (i) Owned Real Property (as defined in
Section
3.17)
and
assumed leaseholds and subleaseholds on premises, all improvements, fixtures
and
fittings thereon and easements, rights-of-way and other appurtenances thereto;
(ii) the tangible personal property set forth, (A) on Schedule
1.1(a)(ii)(A)
in the
disclosure memorandum dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered
by
Seller to Buyer in connection with the execution hereof (the “Seller
Disclosure Memorandum”),
which
reflects the personal property as of September 8, 2005, (B) on Schedule
1.1(a)(ii)(B)
in the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum, which reflects the personal property acquired
by
Seller from September 8, 2005 until the date of this Agreement (the
“Added
Personal Property”)
and
(C) on Schedule
1.1(a)(ii)(C)
in the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum, which reflects the personal property acquired
by
Seller from the date of this Agreement until the Closing or which the parties
have otherwise agreed to add (which shall be supplemented and incorporated
into
this Agreement prior to Closing by mutual agreement of the parties) (the
“Final
Added Personal Property”);
(iii)
Intellectual Property (as defined in Section
3.13),
but
which does not include the tradename or the right to use the tradename
“Drifters,” goodwill associated therewith, licenses and sublicenses granted and
obtained with respect thereto, and rights thereunder, remedies against
infringements thereof and rights to protection of interests therein under the
laws of all jurisdictions; (iv) any contracts, agreements, arrangements,
commitments, instruments, documents or similar understandings (whether written
or oral), including leases, subleases and rights thereunder (“Contracts”)
of or
benefiting Seller which are specifically identified in the Seller Disclosure
Memorandum and all rights and benefits under or arising out of such Contracts
(“Assumed
Contracts”);
(v)
accounts receivable; (vi) securities; (vii) claims, deposits, prepayments,
refunds, causes of action, chooses in action and rights of recovery, set off
and
recoupment; (viii) permits, licenses, certificates, waivers, notices and
similar authorizations (“Permits”)
obtained or applied for by or on behalf of Seller from, pursuant to or in
connection with any Governmental Body, Law or Order (as those terms are defined
in Section
3.3);
(ix)
books, records, ledgers, files, documents, correspondence, advertising and
promotional materials, studies, reports and other written materials; and (x)
goodwill, if any, associated with the Purchased Assets; save and except the
Excluded Assets (as hereinafter defined) (all of the foregoing, collectively,
the “Purchased
Assets”).
1
EXECUTION
COPY
(b) Excluded
Assets.
The
Purchased Assets will exclude the following (collectively, the “Excluded
Assets”),
which
shall remain Seller’s property immediately following the Closing: (i) the
corporate charter, qualifications to conduct business as a foreign corporation,
and the minute books, stock transfer books and similar documents or records
relating to the organization, maintenance and existence of Seller as a
corporation; (ii) any of Seller’s rights under this Agreement, each Contract or
writing executed or delivered in connection with this Agreement and each
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing (including this Agreement,
the
“Transaction
Documents”);
(iii)
all of Seller’s cash on hand as of the close of business on the day before the
Closing Date; (iv) any asset specifically identified in
the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum; or (v) any Contract specifically identified in
the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum.
1.2 Liabilities.
(a) Liabilities
Which Are Not Assumed.
Buyer
shall not assume or have any responsibility with respect to, any liabilities
or
obligations of any Seller Party other than as specifically set forth herein,
including, without limitation, any liabilities or obligations: (i) for taxes
of
any kind whatsoever; (ii) for costs and expenses incurred in connection with
negotiating the Transaction Documents and performing the transactions
contemplated thereby (the “Transactions”);
(iii)
under any Transaction Document; (iv) liabilities reflected or reserved against
on the Most Recent Balance Sheet (as defined in Section
3.4);
(v)
liabilities arising after the Balance Sheet Date (as defined in Section
3.4);
and
(vi) obligations or liabilities under the Assumed Contracts arising or accruing
prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Assumed
Contracts.
Buyer
shall assume Seller’s obligations under the Assumed Contracts which arise from
and after the Closing Date.
1.3 Closing.
The
closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets (the “Closing”)
will
take place at the offices of the Buyer in Midland, Texas, commencing at 9:00
a.m., local time, on the second business day following the satisfaction or
waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the
purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets (other than conditions with respect
to
actions the respective Parties will take at the Closing itself) or such other
date as Buyer and the Seller Parties may mutually determine.
2
EXECUTION
COPY
1.4 Purchase
Price.
(a) The
purchase price for the Purchased Assets (the “Purchase
Price”)
is:
(i) (A)
$6,000,000.00, plus (B) the actual cost of the Added Personal Property, plus
(C)
the actual cost of the Final Added Personal Property ( the “Cash
Amount”);
plus
(ii) (A)
the
amount of the accounts receivable actually collected by Buyer through the
Collection Period as defined in Section 1.4(f) (the “Accounts
Receivable Purchase Price”);
plus
(B) the value of the non-fuel Inventory , which shall be an amount equal to
the
lower of cost, using the cost method consistent with the Company's prior
practice and excluding slow moving or obsolete items (after taking into account
any applicable discounts), or market value of the non-fuel Inventory as set
forth on the Inventory Summary described in Section 1.4(c); plus (C) the value
of the fuel Inventory, which shall be an amount equal to the Laid-In Cost of
the
fuel Inventory (Laid-In Cost of the fuel Inventory is defined as the current
rack price as of the Closing Date, plus government fees, taxes, and freight)
as
set forth on the Inventory Summary described in Section 1.4(c) ((B) and (C)
together, the “Inventory
Purchase Price”).
(b) Buyer
will pay the Cash Amount to Seller at the Closing.
(c) At
least
two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date, Buyer and the Company shall
jointly conduct a physical inspection of the inventory that will constitute
Purchased Assets (the “Inventory”),
using
procedures for the conduct of physical inventories consistent with the Seller’s
prior procedures and reasonably acceptable to Buyer, and a summary of such
physical inspection shall be prepared which contains a description of each
item
of inventory and the quantity of such item on hand as of the Closing (the
“Inventory
Summary”).
The
Inventory Summary shall be approved by the Seller Parties and Buyer, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Once
approved by the Seller Parties and Buyer, the Inventory Summary shall be
conclusively binding on the Parties for all purposes under this Agreement.
(d) At
least
two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date, the Seller Parties will deliver
to Buyer a certificate executed on behalf of Seller by the President or any
Vice
President of Seller, dated the date of its delivery, stating that there has
been
conducted under the supervision of such officer, a review of all relevant
information and data then available and Seller’s good faith best estimate of the
Accounts Receivable Purchase Price as of the Closing Date, based upon the most
recent financial information available to the Seller Parties (the “Estimated
Accounts Receivable Purchase Price”)
and a
list which shall include the names and addresses of all customers from whom
the
account receivables are owing, the invoice numbers and the respective amounts
of
each such invoice (the “Accounts
Receivable List”).
(e) Buyer
will pay to Seller an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Estimated
Accounts Receivable Purchase Price (the “Initial
A/R Amount”)
plus
the Inventory Purchase Price within two (2) business days of the Closing
Date.
3
EXECUTION
COPY
(f) With
respect to the accounts receivable on the Accounts Receivable List, Buyer agrees
to xxxx these amounts and make a reasonable effort in accordance with Buyer’s
customary collection practices to collect these amounts for one hundred and
twenty (120) days after Closing (the “Collection
Period”).
At
the end of the Collection Period, Buyer will pay to Seller (i) an amount equal
to the amount actually collected from the accounts on the Accounts Receivable
List during the Collection Period, less the Initial A/R Amount, plus the
remaining 50% of the Inventory Purchase Price. If Seller is not reasonably
satisfied that Buyer’s collection efforts are sufficiently diligent to protect
the reasonable value of the accounts on the Accounts Receivable List, Seller
shall discuss its concerns and suggested resolutions with Buyer and, if not
reasonably satisfied within ten (10) days thereafter, Seller may assume control
of the collection of the particular account, provided that Seller will use
reasonable efforts to avoid any adverse effect on any of Buyer’s ongoing
relationships with its customers.
At
the
end of the Collection Period, if the remaining outstanding amount from the
Accounts Receivable List (the “Remaining
A/R”)
is
equal to or less than 5% of the Estimated Accounts Receivable Purchase Price
(which amount shall include any amount collected by Seller under the above
paragraph), then the rights under the Remaining A/R will remain with the Buyer
and no further amount shall be payable to Seller for the accounts receivable.
If
the Remaining A/R is greater than 5% of the Estimated Accounts Receivable
Purchase Price (which amount shall include any amount collected by Seller under
the above paragraph), then, Seller shall have the right to cause Buyer to assign
the rights to all of the Remaining A/R to the Seller, causing such rights to
become the property of Seller (the “Transfer
Right”).
If
the
Seller exercises its Transfer Right, Buyer shall agree to continue to xxxx
the
Remaining A/R amounts and make a reasonable effort to collect these amounts
for
the benefit of the Seller until December 31, 2006 (the “Collection
Termination Date”).
If
the Seller exercises its Transfer Right, all amounts collected by Buyer on
the
Remaining A/R, shall be transmitted to Seller promptly after collection by
Buyer. On the Collection Termination Date, Buyer will cease its collection
efforts on behalf of Seller and Seller may use its own efforts to collect any
Remaining A/R; provided that Seller will use reasonable efforts to avoid any
adverse effect on any of Buyer’s ongoing relationships with its
customers.
All
Accounts Receivable amounts collected by Buyer hereunder shall be credited
to
the oldest balance first, except that amounts paid with indicated invoice(s)
shall be applied to such invoice(s).
(g) Buyer
and
Seller will file IRS Form 8594, and all federal, state, local and foreign tax
returns, in accordance with the purchase price allocation set forth in the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum.
(h) UFE
shall
deliver the Unconditional Guaranty, in the form set forth on Exhibit A.
1.5 Xxxxxxx
Money Deposit. Buyer
shall deposit with Seller on the date hereof (the “Execution
Date”)
an
xxxxxxx money deposit equal to $100,000.00 (the “Xxxxxxx
Money Deposit”)
on the
date hereof. The Xxxxxxx Money Deposit shall be credited against the Cash Amount
at the Closing. If Buyer terminates this Agreement in breach of Section
7.1
hereof
or if Seller terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
7.1,
then
Seller shall be entitled to retain the Xxxxxxx Money Deposit and shall have
no
further obligations to Buyer. If Buyer terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section
7.1
hereof,
provided that Buyer is not in breach of this Agreement, then Seller shall be
obligated to return the Xxxxxxx Money Deposit to Buyer within ten (10) days
of
such termination.
4
EXECUTION
COPY
1.6 Deliveries.
On the
date of Closing (the “Closing
Date”),
(a) the
applicable Seller Parties will deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer (i)
a
xxxx of sale duly executed by Seller and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Parties, (ii) an assignment and assumption agreement with
respect to the Assumed Contracts duly executed by Seller and in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parties (the “Assignment
and Assumption Agreement”)
(iii)
a general warranty deed with respect to each of the Owned Real Properties (as
defined in Section
3.17),
duly
executed by the applicable Seller Party and in a form and substance satisfactory
to Buyer, (iv) one or more assignments, in recordable form, with respect to
each
of the leases of real estate described in Section
3.17,
each
duly executed by the applicable Seller Party and in a form and substance
satisfactory to Buyer (v) such other bills of sale, certificates of title or
origin and other instruments of transfer or conveyance as Buyer may reasonably
request or as may be otherwise necessary to evidence and effect the assignment
and delivery of the Purchased Assets to Buyer, (vi) an officer’s certificate and
a secretary’s certificate for each Seller Party that is an entity, each duly
executed by the appropriate person and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer, (vii) a lease for Seller’s Northgate facility at a
monthly rate of $1,500 (the “Lease”),
duly
executed by Seller and in form substantially in the form set forth on
Exhibit
B
and
(vii) and the Transition Services Agreement, in the form set forth on
Exhibit
C
executed
by Seller.
(b) Buyer
will deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller (i) the Cash Amount, (ii) the
Assignment and Assumption Agreement duly executed by Buyer, (iii) an officer’s
certificate and a secretary’s certificate for Buyer, each duly executed by the
appropriate person and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller,
(iv) the Lease, duly executed by Buyer, (v) the Unconditional Guaranty, executed
by UFE, and (vi) the Transition Services Agreement, executed by
Buyer.
ARTICLE
2
BUYER’S
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Buyer
represents and warrants to the Seller Parties that the statements contained
in
this ARTICLE
2,
except
as
set forth in the disclosure memorandum dated as of the date of this Agreement
and delivered to Seller in connection with the execution hereof (the
“Buyer
Disclosure Memorandum”)
are
correct and complete on the Execution Date, and
will
be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then, with the
Closing Date substituted for the Execution Date unless the context requires
otherwise).
2.1 Organization
of Buyer.
Buyer
(a)
is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of the State of Nevada, (b) is duly authorized to conduct its business
and
is in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification
is required, and (c) is not in breach or violation f, or default under, any
provision of its organizational documents. Buyer has the requisite entity power
and authority necessary to own or lease its properties and to carry on its
businesses as currently conducted. There is no pending or (to Buyer’s Knowledge)
threatened action, suit, arbitration, mediation, investigation or similar
proceeding (an “Action”)
for
the dissolution, liquidation, insolvency or rehabilitation of Buyer. The term
“Knowledge”
as
used
in this Agreement, means the actual knowledge reasonably expected of a person
as
of the date hereof and the Closing Date based upon regular diligence of a
reasonable person in such a position in the normal course of the person’s
business. With respect to particular areas of interest, “Knowledge”
will
include the knowledge (as defined in the preceding sentence) of a Party’s
officers and directors.
5
EXECUTION
COPY
2.2 Authority
of Buyer; Enforceability. Buyer
has
the relevant entity power and authority necessary to execute and deliver each
Transaction Document to which it is a party and to perform and consummate the
Transactions. Buyer has taken all action necessary to authorize its execution
and delivery of each Transaction Document to which Buyer is a party, the
performance of its obligations thereunder and its consummation of the
Transactions. Each Transaction Document to which Buyer is a party has been
duly
authorized, executed and delivered by Buyer and is enforceable against Buyer
in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to
the
effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws
relating to or affecting the rights of creditors and general principles of
equity (an “Enforceability
Exception”).
2.3 No
Violation.
The
execution and the delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents to which Buyer is a party, the performance by Buyer of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and the consummation of the Transactions by Buyer
will
not (a) with or without notice or lapse of time, constitute or create a breach
or violation of, or default under, any Law, Order, Contract or Permit to which
Buyer is a party or by which it is bound or any provision of Buyer’s
organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date, (b) require any
consent, approval, notification, waiver or other similar action (a “Consent”)
under
any Contract or organizational document to which Buyer is a party or by which
it
is bound or (c) require any Permit under any Law or Order, other than (i)
required filings, if any, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii)
notifications or other filings with state or federal regulatory agencies after
the Closing that are necessary or convenient and do not require approval of
the
agency as a condition to the validity of the Transactions.
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE SELLER
PARTIES
Each
Seller Party, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to Buyer, except
as
set forth in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum, that the statements contained
in
this ARTICLE
3
are
correct and complete on the Execution Date, and
will
be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then, with the
Closing Date substituted for the Execution Date unless the context requires
otherwise).
3.1 Entity
Status.
With
respect to each Seller Party that is an entity (a) it is duly created, formed
or
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction of its creation, formation or organization, (b) it is duly
authorized to conduct its business and is in good standing under the Laws of
each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, (c) it has the requisite
entity power and authority necessary to own or lease its properties and to
carry
on its businesses as currently conducted, (d) it is not in breach or violation
of, or default under, any provision of its organizational documents and (e)
there is no pending or (to any Seller Party’s Knowledge) threatened Action for
its dissolution, liquidation, insolvency or rehabilitation.
Buyer
has been given correct and complete copies of Seller’s organizational documents,
as amended to date.
3.2 Power
and Authority; Enforceability.
Each
Seller Party that is an entity has the relevant entity power and authority,
and
each Seller Party that is an individual has the capacity and authority,
necessary to execute and deliver each Transaction Document to which it is a
party and to perform and consummate the Transactions. Each Seller Party
has taken
all
action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by such Seller Party
of
each Transaction Document to which it is a party, the performance of its
respective obligations thereunder, and the consummation by such Seller Party
of
the Transactions. Each Transaction Document to which a Seller Party is a party
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Seller Party and is
enforceable against such Seller Party in accordance with its terms, subject
to
an Enforceability Exception.
6
EXECUTION
COPY
3.3 No
Violation.
The
execution and the delivery by each Seller Party of this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents to which such Seller Party is a party, the performance
by
each Seller Party of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, the consummation
of the Transactions by each Seller Party will not (a) with or without notice
or
lapse of time, constitute or create a breach or violation of, or default under,
any (i) law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, ordinance, rule,
regulation, executive order or other similar authority (“Law”)
enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by any legislature, agency, bureau,
branch, department, division, commission, court, tribunal or other similar
recognized organization or body of any federal, state, county, municipal, local
or foreign government or other similar recognized organization or body
exercising similar powers or authority (a “Governmental
Body”),
(ii)
order, ruling, decision, award, judgment, injunction or other similar
determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental
Body or arbitrator (an “Order”),
(iii)
Contract or Permit to which, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii), any Seller
Party
is a party or by which it is bound or to which any Purchased Asset or the
Business is subject, or (iv) organizational document of any Seller Party as
in
effect on the Closing Date, (b) result in the imposition of any lien, claim
or
encumbrance (an “Encumbrance”)
upon
any Purchased Asset, other than Permitted Encumbrances (as defined in
Section
3.8),
(c)
require any Permit or Consent under any Law, Order, Contract or organizational
document to which any Seller Party is a party or by which any Seller Party
is
bound or to which any Purchased Asset or the Business is subject
or (d)
in any other way materially and adversely impair any Purchased Asset or the
Business.
3.4 Financial
Statements.
Set
forth
in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum are the following financial statements
(the
“Financial
Statements”)
of
Seller:
(a)
reviewed balance sheets and statements of income and cash flow as of and for
the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and, 2004
(the
“Reviewed
Financial Statements”);
and
(b) unaudited, unreviewed balance sheet (the “Most
Recent Balance Sheet”)
and
statements of income (the “Interim
Financial Statements”),
as of
and for the ten months ended October 31, 2005 (the “Balance
Sheet Date”).
The
Reviewed Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, present
fairly Seller’s financial condition as of such dates and Seller’s results of
operations for such periods and are correct, complete and consistent with
Seller’s books and records and the Interim Financial Statements have been
prepared in accordance with reasonable accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, present fairly Seller’s
financial condition as of such dates and Seller’s results of operations for such
periods, are consistent with Seller’s books and records, are subject to normal
year-end adjustments (which will not be material, individually or in the
aggregate), and lack footnotes and other presentation items. Seller is not
now
insolvent, nor will Seller be rendered insolvent by any of the Transactions.
A
person is “insolvent”
for
purposes of this Section when the sum of its liabilities and obligations is
greater than a fair valuation of all of its property.
3.5 Subsequent
Events.
Since
the
Balance Sheet Date, Seller has operated in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity,
quality and frequency) (“Ordinary
Course of Business”),
and,
from the Balance Sheet Date to the Closing Date, there have been no events,
series of events, or the lack of occurrence thereof that, singularly or in
the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the
Business or Purchased Assets.
7
EXECUTION
COPY
3.6 No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
Except
as
disclosed herein or in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum and except as would
otherwise be required to be disclosed in notes to financial statements prepared
in accordance with GAAP rather than reflected as a liability on such financial
statements, Seller does not have any liability or obligation (and there is
no
basis for any present or future
Action or Order against Seller or the Purchased Assets giving rise to any
liability or obligation), except for (a) liabilities reflected on the Most
Recent Balance Sheet (rather than disclosed in any notes thereto) and not paid
or discharged prior to Closing and (b) liabilities arising after the Balance
Sheet Date in Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business which, individually or in the
aggregate, are not material and are of the same character and nature as the
liabilities and obligations reflected or reserved against on the Most Recent
Balance Sheet (rather than disclosed in any notes thereto) and which do not
(i)
result from or relate to any tort or infringement or any breach, violation
of or
default under any Law, Order, Permit or Contract or (ii) arise out of any Action
or Order.
No
Seller Party has any liability or obligation to pay any compensation to any
broker, finder or agent with respect to the Transactions for which Buyer could
become directly or indirectly responsible. The items herein or listed in the
Seller Disclosure Memorandum relating to this Section
3.6
contain
all liabilities or obligations which Seller believes would likely be required
to
be disclosed in notes to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP
that are not reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet.
3.7 Legal
Compliance.
Seller
has complied with all Laws and Orders, and no Action is pending or, to each
Seller Party’s Knowledge, threatened against any of them alleging any failure to
so comply. The Seller Disclosure Memorandum sets forth all material expenditures
which are, or based on any current Law, Order or Permit will be, required of
Buyer to own the Purchased Assets and operate the Purchased Assets and the
Business in compliance in all material respects with all Laws, Orders and
Permits at the time immediately following the Closing.
3.8 Availability,
Title to and Condition of Purchased Assets. (a)
the
Purchased Assets constitute and include all the assets (except for Excluded
Assets) necessary for the conduct of the Business as currently conducted, (b)
there are no material assets used in or relied upon for the conduct of the
Business other than the Purchased Assets, (c) at the Closing, Seller will have
(and subject to Buyer’s own actions after the Closing, Buyer will have) good,
marketable and indefeasible title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all
of
the Purchased Assets, in each case free and clear of any Encumbrances other
than
(i) statutory, mechanics’ or other liens that were incurred in Seller’s Ordinary
Course of Business, (ii) Encumbrances that are being contested in good faith
and
which are set forth in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum, (iii) liens for Taxes
incurred but not yet due and (iv) Encumbrances set forth on Seller Disclosure
Memorandum (collectively, “Permitted
Encumbrances”)
and
(d) all tangible assets (except for Excluded Assets) included as part of the
Purchased Assets, whether owned or leased, have been maintained in accordance
with normal industry practice, are in good operating condition (subject to
normal wear and tear) and are suitable for the purposes for which they are
currently used.
3.9 Contracts.
Each
Contract that relates to the Business or any of the Purchased Assets is set
forth in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum. Seller has delivered to Buyer a
correct and complete copy of each written Assumed Contract (as amended to date)
listed in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum and a written summary setting forth
the terms and conditions of each oral Assumed Contract referred to in the Seller
Disclosure Memorandum, if any. Each such Assumed Contract is enforceable and
will continue to be enforceable on identical terms following the consummation
of
the Transactions. Neither Seller nor, to each Seller Party’s Knowledge, any of
the counter-parties to any such Assumed Contract is or has been in (and no
event
has occurred that, with or without notice or lapse of time, would create or
constitute a) breach or violation of, or default under, any of such Assumed
Contract’s provisions. To Seller’s Knowledge, no party to such Assumed Contract
has repudiated any provision of the Assumed Contract. The Contracts listed
in
the Seller Disclosure Memorandum denote each such Contract to which any Seller
Party or any of its Affiliates is a party (excluding Seller). Except as noted
in
the Seller Disclosure Memorandum, each of the Assumed Contracts is assignable
by
Seller without any other person’s Consent.“Affiliate”
with
respect to a specified person means any other person who, directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by,
or
is under common control with, the specified person.
8
EXECUTION
COPY
3.10 Litigation.
The
Seller Disclosure Memorandum sets forth each instance in which any Seller Party
(a) is subject to any outstanding Order or (b) is a party, the subject of or,
to
each Seller Party’s Knowledge, is threatened to be made a party to or the
subject of any Action. No Order or Action required to be set forth in the Seller
Disclosure Memorandum questions the enforceability of a Transaction Document
or
the Transactions, or could result in any material adverse effect on the Business
or Purchased Assets, and no Seller Party has Knowledge of any basis for any
such
Action.
3.11 Environmental,
Health and Safety Matters.
(a)
Seller is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental, Health
and Safety Requirements in connection with owning, using, maintaining or
operating its business, operations or assets; (b) each location at which Seller
operates, or has operated, the Business or the Purchased Assets is in compliance
in all material respects with all Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements;
and (c) there are no pending or, to Seller Parties’ Knowledge, threatened
allegations by any person that any of Seller’s properties or assets are not, or
that the Business has not been, conducted in compliance with all Environmental,
Health and Safety Requirements.
As used
in this Agreement, “Environmental,
Health and Safety Requirements”
means
all Laws, Orders, Permits, Contracts and programs concerning or relating to
public health and safety, worker/occupational health and safety and pollution
or
protection of the environment, including those relating in any way to noises,
radiation or chemicals, toxic or hazardous materials, substances or wastes,
each
as amended and as now in effect, as applicable to the Business or the Purchased
Assets.
3.12 Employee
Benefits.
The
Seller Disclosure Memorandum lists each non-qualified deferred compensation
plan, qualified defined contribution retirement plan, qualified defined benefit
retirement plan or other material fringe benefit plan or program that any Seller
Party maintains or to which any Seller Party contributes. With respect to any
employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”),
which
is subject to ERISA and which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to, or
has
been sponsored, maintained or contributed to, within six years prior to the
Closing Date, by any Seller Party or any person deemed to be affiliated or
aggregated with any Seller Party under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”)
or
Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, (a) no unsatisfied withdrawal liability or
obligation, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been incurred,
(b)
no unsatisfied liability or obligation to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation has been incurred by any Seller Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (c)
no
accumulated funding deficiency, whether or not waived, within the meaning of
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code has been incurred and (d) all
contributions (including installments) to such plan required by Section 302
of
ERISA and Section 412 of the Code have been or will be timely made. With respect
to any kind of employee benefit plan, in all material respects, such plan has
been funded and maintained in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto and
the requirements of such plan’s governing documents.
3.13 Intellectual
Property.
Seller
owns, or possesses adequate rights to use, all Intellectual Property used in
the
Business. No Permit is required for the assignment of all interests in the
Intellectual Property used in the Business to Buyer as part of the Transactions.
Seller’s use of the Intellectual Property in the Business does not, and Buyer’s
use of such Intellectual Property after Closing will not, infringe upon any
rights any other person owns or holds.
As used
in this Agreement, “Intellectual
Property”
means
any rights, licenses, charges, Encumbrances, equities and other claims that
any
person may have to claim ownership, authorship or invention of, to use, to
object to or prevent the modification of or to withdraw from circulation or
control the publication or distribution of, any: (a) copyrights in both
published works and unpublished works, (b) fictitious business names, trading
names, corporate names, registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks
and applications, (c) any (i) patents and patent applications and (ii) business
methods, inventions and discoveries that may be patentable, (d) computer
software or middleware and (e) know-how, trade secrets, confidential
information, customer lists, software (source code and object code), technical
information, data, process technology, plans, drawings and blue prints.
9
EXECUTION
COPY
3.14 Taxes.
Seller
is
not subject to any liability or obligation for any federal, state, local, or
foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise,
occupation, customs, ad valorem, duties, franchise, withholding, social
security, unemployment, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer,
registration, estimated or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any
interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not (“Taxes”),
including Taxes relating to prior periods, other than those reflected or
reserved against on the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than disclosed in
any
notes thereto) or those incurred since the Balance Sheet Date in Seller’s
Ordinary Course of Business. Seller has duly filed when due all Tax reports
and
returns in connection with and in respect of its business, assets and employees,
and has timely paid and discharged all amounts shown as due thereon. Seller
has
made available to Buyer accurate and complete copies of all of its Tax reports
and returns since 2002, except those periods for which returns are not yet
due.
Seller has not received any notice of any Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed
or assessed against or allocable to it, and has not executed any waiver of
any
statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any Tax or executed
or
filed with any Governmental Body any Contract now in effect extending the period
for assessment or collection of any Taxes against it. Except for Permitted
Encumbrances, there are no Encumbrances for Taxes upon, or pending or threatened
against, any Purchased Asset. Seller is not subject to any Tax allocation or
sharing Contract. Seller (i) has not been a member of an “affiliated group”
filing a consolidated federal income Tax return and (ii) has no liability or
obligation for the Taxes of any other person under the Code or any regulations
promulgated thereunder, as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or
otherwise.
3.15 Inventory.
Seller’s
inventory, whether reflected on the Financial Statements or not, consists of
raw
materials and supplies, manufactured and processed parts, goods-in-process
and
finished goods, all of which is saleable in the ordinary course of the Business
and, except as has been written down on the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather
than disclosed in the notes thereto), none of which is slow-moving, obsolete,
damaged or defective. There has been no change in inventory valuation standards
or methods with respect to the inventory in the prior three (3) years. The
quantities of any kind of inventory are reasonable in the current circumstances
of the Business. Seller does not hold any items of inventory on consignment
from
other persons, and no other person holds any items of inventory on consignment
from Seller.
3.16 Receivables.
All
of
Seller’s receivables, including all Contracts in transit, manufacturers warranty
receivables, notes receivable, accounts receivable, trade account receivables,
and insurance proceeds receivable (“Receivables”)
are
enforceable, represent bona fide transactions, arose in Seller’s Ordinary Course
of Business and are properly reflected on Seller’s books and records. All of the
Receivables are good and collectible receivables, are current and will be
collected in accordance with past practice and collection experience and the
terms of such Receivables (and in any event within six (6) months following
the
Closing Date) without any set off or counterclaims. No customer or supplier
of
Seller is entitled to any payment terms other than terms in Seller’s Ordinary
Course of Business.
10
EXECUTION
COPY
3.17 Real
Property. The
Seller Disclosure Memorandum lists all real property Seller owns that is used
in
or relates to the Business and which will constitute Purchased Assets (the
“Owned
Real Property”).
Seller has good, marketable, and indefeasible title to the Owned Real Property,
subject to no Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances. The Seller
Disclosure Memorandum contains accurate and complete copies of all title reports
and title policies Seller has obtained with respect to Owned Real Property.
The
Seller Disclosure Memorandum also contains an accurate and complete list of
all
Assumed Contracts in respect of real property (including leases) that Seller
leases and that is used in or that relates to the Business, accurate and
complete copies of which have been delivered to Buyer. All of such Contracts
included in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum are enforceable against the parties
thereto and their successors. All buildings, plants and structures owned or
used
by Seller and which are used in or relate to the Business lie wholly within
the
boundaries of the real property owned or leased by Seller and do not encroach
upon any other person’s property.
3.18 Accuracy
of Information Furnished. No
representation, statement or information contained in this Agreement, any of
the
Transaction Documents or any Contract or other document made available or
furnished to Buyer or its representatives by any Seller Party contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact necessary to
make
the information contained therein not misleading. All
projections and estimates that have been provided to Buyer were, at the time
of
creation, reasonably made in good faith based on reasonable assumptions, given
the circumstances at the time such assumptions were made.
3.19 Disclaimer
of Further Warranties. Except
as
and to the extent set forth in Article III and any certificate or schedule
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, none of the Seller Parties makes any
representations or warranties, and disclaims all liability and responsibility
for any representation, warranty, statement or information made or communicated
(orally or in writing) (including, but not limited to, any opinion, information
projection or advice that may have been provided by an officer, director,
employee, agent, consultant or representative of the Party or any Affiliate
thereof). WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY
SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT THE SELLER PARTIES MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR
WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO (A) THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR,
CONDITION, DESIGN, WORKMANSHIP, SUITABILITY, UTILITY OR MARKETABILITY OF THE
ASSETS OR ANY PORTION THEREOF OR PROPERTY THEREON OR THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS
THEREIN, OR (B) ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE OR COMMUNICATED TO THE BUYER OR ITS AGENTS, CONSULTANTS OR
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The Buyer acknowledges and affirms that it has had the
opportunity to complete its own independent investigation, analysis, and
evaluation of the Assets, that it has been afforded the opportunity to inspect
the Assets, that in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby it has relied on its own
independent investigation, analysis, and evaluation of the Assets and on the
express representations and warranties by the Seller Parties made in Article
III
and any certificate or schedule delivered pursuant to this Agreement as a basis
for entering into this Agreement, and that it has made all such reviews and
inspections as of the foregoing as it has deemed necessary or
appropriate.
11
EXECUTION
COPY
ARTICLE
4
COVENANTS
4.1 General.
If
any
time after the Closing any further action is necessary or desirable to carry
out
this Agreement’s purposes, each Party will take such further action (including
executing and delivering any further instruments and documents, obtaining any
Permits and Consents and providing any reasonably requested information) as
any
other Party may reasonably request, all at the requesting Party’s sole cost and
expense (unless the requesting Party is entitled to indemnification therefor
under ARTICLE
6).
4.2 Full
Access. Each
Seller Party will permit representatives of Buyer (including financing
providers) to have full access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so
as
not to interfere with the normal business operations of the Seller, to all
premises, properties, personnel, books, records, Assumed Contracts, and
documents pertaining to Seller and will furnish copies of all such books,
records, Contracts and documents and all financial, operating and other data,
and other information as Buyer may reasonably request; provided,
however,
that no
investigation pursuant to this Section
4.2
will
affect any representations or warranties made herein or the conditions to the
Parties’ obligations to consummate the Transactions.
4.3 Confidentiality.
Each
Seller Party will, and will cause each of its respective Affiliates, directors,
officers, employees, agents, representatives and similarly situated persons
to
(a) treat and hold as confidential, and not use or disclose, all of the
information concerning the Business, the Purchased Assets, the negotiation
or
existence and terms of this Agreement and the business affairs of Buyer
(“Confidential
Information”),
except for (i) disclosures to the person’s professional advisors, the actions
for which the disclosing person will be responsible and (ii) disclosures
required for such person to perform obligations it may have under this
Agreement, and (b) deliver promptly to Buyer or destroy, at Buyer’s request and
option, all tangible embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential
Information which are in such person’s possession. If any person subject to
these confidentiality provisions is ever requested or required (by oral question
or request for information or documents in any Action) to disclose any
Confidential Information, the relevant Seller Party will notify Buyer promptly
of the request or requirement so that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective
Order or waive compliance with this Section
4.3. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision of this Agreement, any Party (and its respective
employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all persons,
without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the
Transactions and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax
analyses) that are provided to such Party relating to such tax treatment and
tax
structure.
4.4 Restrictive
Covenants.
To
assure
that Buyer will realize the benefits of the Transactions, so long as Buyer
is
not in material default hereunder, each Seller Party agrees that it will not,
and will ensure that each of its Affiliates does not:
(a) From
the
Closing Date until five (5) years after the Closing Date (the “Non-Compete
Termination Date”),
directly or indirectly, alone or as a partner, joint venturer, officer,
director, member, employee, consultant, agent or independent contractor of,
or
lender to, any person or business, engage in activities similar to or
competitive with the Business anywhere within a five-hundred (500) mile radius
of Seller’s current facilities in Carlsbad, New Mexico; provided,
however,
that
the passive ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the ownership interests
of an entity having a class of securities that is traded on a national
securities exchange or over-the-counter market is not a violation of this
Section
4.4(a).
12
EXECUTION
COPY
(b) From
the
Closing Date until the Non-Compete Termination Date, directly or indirectly
(i)
solicit any customers of Buyer or any of its Affiliates for the benefit of
any
business in competition with the business of Buyer or any of its Affiliates
or
(ii) request, advise or induce any person who is a customer, employee,
contractor, vendor or lessor of Buyer or any of its Affiliates to withdraw,
curtail or cancel, or engage in any other activity that could adversely affect,
the relationship such person has with Buyer or its Affiliate.
(c) From
the
Closing Date until the Non-Compete Termination Date, directly or indirectly,
for
itself or on behalf of another, solicit for employment or engagement as an
independent contractor, or for any other similar purpose, any person who was
in
the six-month period preceding the solicitation, or is at the time of the
solicitation, an employee or independent contractor of Buyer or any of Buyer’s
Affiliates.
Each
Seller Party acknowledges that the restrictions in this Section
4.4
are
reasonable in scope and duration and are necessary to protect Buyer after the
Closing. The Seller Parties acknowledge that a Seller Party’s breach of this
Section
4.4
will
cause irreparable damage to Buyer, and upon breach of any provision of this
Section
4.4,
Buyer
will be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance or other equitable
relief without bond or other security; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing remedies will in no way limit any other remedies Buyer may
have.
Buyer
hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Section
4.4
will not
prohibit the Seller from leasing its Xxxxxx facility or, following the
termination of the Lease, its Northgate facility, to an unrelated third
party.
4.5 Change
in Corporate Name;
Use of Names; Inquiry Referrals. Each
Seller Party will
take
all such action as may be required, if applicable, to change Seller’s name, as
promptly as practicable after the Closing, to one that is (i) distinctly
different in sound and appearance from “Queen Oil & Gas Company” and (ii)
reasonably acceptable to Buyer. After the Closing, no Seller Party will or
will
permit any of its Affiliates to (a) take any action to interfere with Buyer’s
exclusive use of the name “Queen Oil & Gas Company” in connection with the
conduct and operation of the Business or (b) use the name “Queen Oil & Gas
Company” in connection with the conduct of a business that competes or may in
the future compete with the Business. After the Closing, each Seller Party
will,
and will cause its Affiliates to, refer to Buyer all customer, supplier and
other inquiries relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets.
4.6 Privilege
Rights. The
Parties agree that, after the Closing, Buyer will be exclusively entitled to
assert or waive rights with respect to any privileges to information that any
Party may assert under Law relating to the Business, the Purchased Assets or
the
Assumed Contracts, including in any Action related to the foregoing or any
other
Action in which Buyer or its assets are a party. Privileged information includes
privileges arising under or relating to the attorney-client relationship, the
accountant-client privilege and privileges relating to internal evaluative
processes.
4.7 Actions
Prior to Closing. The
Parties agree as follows with respect to the period between the Execution Date
and the earlier of the Closing and the Termination Date:
(a) General.
Each
Party will use its best efforts to take all action and do all things necessary,
proper or advisable to satisfy (but not waive) all conditions to Closing and
consummate the purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets upon the terms set
forth in this Agreement. Each Seller Party will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve and to keep intact the Business, the Purchased Assets,
the
services of the present employees of Seller (including its officers) and the
goodwill of the customers, suppliers, creditors and others having business
relations with Seller. Each Seller Party will permit Buyer and its
representatives full access at all reasonable times to the premises, properties,
personnel, books, records, Contracts and documents pertaining to the Business
and the Purchased Assets. Each Party will give the other Parties notice of
any
development occurring or existing after the Execution Date that causes or
reasonably could be expected to cause a breach of any of the representations
or
warranties of such Party in this Agreement.
13
EXECUTION
COPY
(b) Operation
of the Business.
With
respect to Seller, the Business or the Purchased Assets, no Seller Party will
directly or indirectly permit or cause to occur (or agree to permit or cause
to
occur) any of the following: (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of assets
outside Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business; (ii) creation of any Contract or
Encumbrance outside Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business or any Contract with
any director, officer or Affiliate of any Seller Party; (iii) an expenditure
outside Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) a capital investment in, or
loan to, or an acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other person;
(v)
an issuance of any debt or creation, assumption or guarantee of any liability,
outside Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business; (vi) a change in the manner in
which accounts payable or other liabilities are paid or in which Receivables
are
collected; (vii) a change in the employment terms for, or in the compensation
of, any employee, director, officer or Affiliate of Seller, except as required
pursuant to a written Contract existing on the Execution Date; (viii) an
amendment, modification or termination of any Contract to which Seller is a
party or to which the Business or any of the Purchased Assets are subject;
or
(ix) any other occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act or
transaction outside Seller’s Ordinary Course of Business.
4.8 Taxes. Any
sales
Tax, use Tax, real property transfer or gains Tax, documentary stamp Tax, or
similar Tax attributable to the sale or transfer of the Purchased Assets will
be
paid by the Seller Parties. Buyer agrees to timely sign and deliver such
certificates or forms as may be necessary or appropriate to establish an
exemption from (or otherwise reduce), or make a report with respect to, such
Taxes.
ARTICLE
5
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
5.1 Conditions
Precedent to Buyer’s Obligations. Buyer’s
obligation to consummate the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction of
each
of the following conditions: (i) each representation and warranty by each Seller
Party must have been accurate and complete in all
material respects on the Execution Date (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import and except, with respect to materiality as determined under GAAP in
the
representations in Section
3.4
of this
Agreement related to the Financial Statements, with respect to which such
representations and warranties were accurate and complete)
and must
be accurate and complete on the Closing Date (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import and except, with respect to materiality as determined under GAAP in
the
representations in Section
3.4
of this
Agreement related to the Financial Statements, with respect to which such
representations and warranties were accurate and complete)
as
though made then, with the Closing Date substituted for the Execution Date
unless the context requires otherwise; (ii) each Seller Party must have
performed and complied with all of its covenants to be performed or complied
with at or prior to Closing in all material respects (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import, with respect to which such covenants were accurate and
complete);
(iii)
since the Execution Date, there must have been no event, series of events or
the
lack of occurrence thereof which, singularly or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Business or
Purchased Assets; (iv) there must not be issued and in effect any Order
restraining or prohibiting the Transactions or any pending or threatened Action
by or before any Governmental Body or arbitrator which seeks to restrain,
prohibit, invalidate or collect Damages arising out of the Transactions, or
which, in Buyer’s reasonable judgment, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the
Transactions; (v) the Seller Parties and Buyer must have received all Permits
and Consents necessary or advisable to consummate the Transactions; and (vi)
Seller and Buyer must have received releases of all Encumbrances on the
Purchased Assets other than Permitted Encumbrances.
14
EXECUTION
COPY
5.2 Conditions
Precedent to Seller’s Obligations. Seller’s
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated to occur at Closing
is
subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) each
representation and warranty by Buyer must have been accurate and complete in
all
material respects on the Execution Date (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import, with respect to which such representations and warranties were accurate
and complete)
and must
be accurate and complete on the Closing Date (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import, with respect to which such representations and warranties were accurate
and complete)
as
though made then, with the Closing Date substituted for the Execution Date
unless the context requires otherwise; (ii) Buyer must have performed and
complied with all of its covenants to be performed or complied with at or prior
to Closing in all material respects (except
with respect to any provisions including the word “material” or words of similar
import, with respect to which such covenants were accurate and
complete);
(iii)
there must not be issued and in effect any Order restraining or prohibiting
the
Transactions; and (iv) there must not be issued and in effect any Order
restraining or prohibiting the Transactions or any pending or threatened Action
by or before any Governmental Body or arbitrator which seeks to restrain,
prohibit, invalidate or collect Damages arising out of the Transactions, or
which, in seller’s reasonable judgment, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the
Transactions.
ARTICLE
6
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Survival
of Representations, Warranties
and Covenants. Each
representation and warranty of the Parties contained herein and any certificate
related to such representations and warranties will survive the Closing and
continue in full force and effect for twenty-four (24) months thereafter, except
(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.11,
3.12
and
3.14,
which
will survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until the
applicable statute of limitations expires (or for fifteen (15) years if there
is
no applicable statute of limitations) and (ii) the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections
2.1,
2.2,
3.1
and
3.2,
which
will survive the Closing and will continue in full force and effect forever.
Each covenant and obligation in this Agreement and any certificate or document
delivered pursuant to this Agreement will survive the Closing
forever.
Unless
expressly waived pursuant to this Agreement, no representation, warranty,
covenant, right or remedy available to any person in connection with the
Transactions will be deemed waived by any action or inaction of that person
(including consummation of the Transactions, any inspection or investigation,
or
the awareness of any fact or matter) at any time, whether before, on or after
the Closing.
6.2 Indemnification
Provisions for Buyer’s Benefit.
The
Seller Parties, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold Buyer and its
Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, managers, employees,
agents, representatives, controlling persons, stockholders and similarly
situated persons, harmless from and pay any and all Damages directly or
indirectly resulting from, relating to, arising out of or attributable to any
of
the following:
(a) any
breach of any representation or warranty any Seller Party has made in this
Agreement;
(b) any
breach, violation or default by any Seller Party of any obligation of such
Seller Party in this Agreement; (c) the operation and ownership of, or
conditions first occurring with respect to, the Business or the Purchased Assets
prior to 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date; and (d) the Excluded Assets or
Excluded Liabilities. “Damages”
means
all losses (including diminution in value), damages and other costs and expenses
of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or
vested, matured or unmatured, and whether or not resulting from third-party
claims, including costs (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys,
other professional advisors and expert witnesses and the allocable portion
of
the relevant person’s internal costs) of investigation, preparation and
litigation in connection with any Action or threatened Action. Buyer will have
the option of setting off all or any part of any Damages Buyer suffers by
notifying Seller Parties that Buyer is reducing the amounts owed to Seller
for
the Accounts Receivable/Inventory Amount by the amount of such Damages. Buyer’s
exercise, if in good faith, of its set-off rights will not constitute a breach
under this Agreement. In the event that a Seller Party provides written
objection to such set-off within ten (10) days of receiving the notice of
set-off, then Buyer agrees to put such set-off amount into escrow until a
judicial determination is made in regard to the Damages or until the parties
otherwise come to agreement on the set-off amount.
15
EXECUTION
COPY
6.3 Indemnification
Provisions for Seller Parties’ Benefit.
Buyer
will indemnify and hold each Seller Party and its Affiliates, and their
respective officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, representatives,
controlling persons, stockholders and similarly situated persons, harmless
from
and pay any and all Damages directly or indirectly, resulting from, relating
to,
arising out of or attributable to any of the following:
(a) any
breach of any representation or warranty Buyer has made in this
Agreement;
(b) any
breach, violation or default by Buyer of any obligation of Buyer in this
Agreement;
(c) the
operation and ownership of, or conditions first occurring with respect to,
the
Business or the Purchased Assets after 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date; and
(c)
except as contemplated by Section 6.2,
any
breach by Buyer of the Assumed Contracts after the Closing Date.
6.4 Indemnification
Claim Procedures. If
any
Action is commenced or threatened that may give rise to a claim for
indemnification (an “Indemnification
Claim”)
by any
person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (each, an “Indemnified
Party”)
against any person obligated to indemnify an Indemnified Party (an “Indemnitor”),
then
such Indemnified Party will promptly give notice to the Indemnitor. Failure
to
notify the Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor of any liability that
it
may have to the Indemnified Party, except to the extent the defense of such
Action is materially and irrevocably prejudiced by the Indemnified Party’s
failure to give such notice. An Indemnitor may elect at any time to assume
and
thereafter conduct the defense of the Indemnification Claim with counsel of
the
Indemnitor’s choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party;
provided,
however,
that
the Indemnitor will not approve of the entry of any judgment or enter into
any
settlement with respect to the Indemnification Claim without the Indemnified
Party’s prior written approval (which must not be withheld unreasonably). Until
an Indemnitor assumes the defense of the Indemnification Claim, the Indemnified
Party may defend against the Indemnification Claim in any manner the Indemnified
Party reasonably deems appropriate. If the Indemnified Party gives an Indemnitor
notice of an Indemnification Claim and the Indemnitor does not, within ten
(10)
days after such notice is given, give notice to the Indemnified Party of its
election to assume the defense of such Indemnification Claim and thereafter
promptly assume such defense, then the Indemnitor will be bound by any judicial
determination made with respect to such Indemnification Claim or any compromise
or settlement of such Indemnification Claim effected by the Indemnified
Party.
6.5 Limitations
on Indemnification Liability. Any
claims an Indemnified Party makes under this ARTICLE
6
will be
limited as follows:
(a) Ceiling.
The
aggregate liability for money Damages of Buyer, on the one hand, and the Seller
Parties, on the other, under this Agreement related to breaches of the
representations, warranties and covenants herein will not exceed an amount
equal
to $3,000,000.00; provided,
however,
that
the limitation contemplated hereby will not be applicable with respect to (i)
breaches of Sections
2.1,
2.2,
3.1,
3.2,
3.11, 3.12, 3.13 or 3.14
or
ARTICLE
4,
(ii)
instances of fraud, (iii) Damages Buyer may incur with respect to Excluded
Assets or liabilities retained by Seller or (iv) Damages the Seller Parties
may
incur with respect to breaches of Assumed Contracts by Buyer after the Closing
Date.
16
EXECUTION
COPY
(b) Basket/Threshold.
Buyer,
on the one hand, and the Seller Parties on the other, will have no liability
for
money Damages related to breaches of the representations and warranties in
ARTICLE
2
(with
respect to Buyer) or ARTICLE
3 (with
respect to the Seller Parties), unless and until the aggregate Damages related
thereto exceed $50,000.
6.6 Negligence
of Another Person. ANY
PARTY’S LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL
NOT BE NEGATED BY ANY OTHER PERSON’S ALLEGED OR PROVEN SOLE, JOINT OR
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE.
ARTICLE
7
TERMINATION
7.1 Termination
of Agreement.
(a) Buyer
and
Seller may terminate this Agreement as to all Parties by mutual written consent
at any time prior to Closing. Either Buyer or Seller may terminate all
provisions of this Agreement as to all Parties, except for this Section
7.1
and
ARTICLE
8,
by
giving written notice if the Closing has not occurred prior to February 28,
2006
(the “Termination
Date”),
provided,
however,
that
the Party delivering such notice (or in the case of a delivery by Seller, any
Seller Party) must not have caused such failure to close. Buyer may terminate
all provisions of this Agreement as to all Parties, except for this Section
7.1
and
ARTICLE
8,
by
giving written notice to Seller any time prior to Closing if any Seller Party
has breached in any material respect any representation, warranty or covenant
contained in this Agreement.
The
Termination Date may be automatically extended by the Buyer for any reason
for
no more than fifteen (15) days from the Termination Date or, if a consent to
an
assignment required to be delivered by a Seller Party hereunder remains
outstanding as of such Termination Date, until such date as the assignment
is
consented to.
(b) Buyer
may
terminate all the provisions of this Agreement as to all Parties, except for
this Section
7.1
and
ARTICLE
8,
by
giving written notice to Seller on or before the Termination Date if Buyer
is
not reasonably satisfied in its sole discretion with the results of, and its
due
diligence investigations with respect to, the operations, affairs, prospects,
properties, assets, existing and potential liabilities, obligations, profits
or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Business and the Purchased
Assets.
(c) Seller
may terminate all provisions of this Agreement as to all Parties, except for
this Section and ARTICLE
8,
by
giving written notice to Buyer any time prior to Closing if Buyer has breached
in any material respect any representation, warrant or covenant contained in
this Agreement.
Any
termination of this Agreement under this Section
7.1
(except
as permitted in the first sentence of Section
7.1(a))
will
not extinguish or impair the rights of a non-breaching Party to pursue all
legal
remedies available to it, and no election of remedies will be deemed to have
been made.
17
EXECUTION
COPY
ARTICLE
8
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents and
all
schedules, exhibits, annexes or other attachments hereto or thereto, and the
certificates, documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant
hereto or thereto, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the
Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written
or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.
Except as provided in ARTICLE
6,
there
are no third party beneficiaries having rights under or with respect to this
Agreement.
8.2 Assignment;
Binding Effect.
No
Party other than Buyer may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights,
interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the
other Parties. All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations,
warranties and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and are enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors
and permitted assigns.
8.3 Joint
and Several Obligations.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the covenants and
obligations of, and the representations and warranties made by or attributable
to, any Seller Party pursuant to this Agreement will be deemed to be made by
and
attributable to each Seller Party, jointly and severally, and Buyer will have
the right to pursue remedies against any one or more Seller Parties without
any
obligation to give notice to or to pursue all Seller Parties, or to give notice
to or pursue any individual Seller Party, before pursuing any other Seller
Party.
8.4 Notices.
All
notices, requests and other communications provided for or permitted to be
given
under this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by personal delivery,
by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt
requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next
day
delivery, or by facsimile transmission, to the intended recipient at the address
set forth for the recipient on the signature page (or to such other address
as
any Party may give in a notice given in accordance with the provisions hereof).
All notices, requests or other communications will be effective and deemed
given
only as follows: (i) if given by personal delivery, upon such personal delivery,
(ii) if sent by certified or registered mail, on the fifth business day after
being deposited in the United States mail, (iii) if sent for next day delivery
by overnight delivery service, on the date of delivery as confirmed by written
confirmation of delivery or (iv) if sent by facsimile, upon the transmitter’s
confirmation of receipt of such facsimile transmission, except that if such
confirmation is received after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a
business day, or is received on a day that is not a business day, then such
notice, request or communication will not be deemed effective or given until
the
next succeeding business day. Notices, requests and other communications sent
in
any other manner, including by electronic mail, will not be
effective.
8.5 Specific
Performance; Remedies.
Each
Party acknowledges and agrees that the other Parties would be damaged
irreparably if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance
with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, the Parties
will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and
its
provisions in any action or proceeding instituted in any state or federal court
sitting in Midland, Texas having jurisdiction over the Parties and the matter,
in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in
equity. Except as expressly provided herein, the rights, obligations and
remedies created by this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other
rights, obligations or remedies otherwise available at law or in equity. Nothing
herein will be considered an election of remedies.
18
EXECUTION
COPY
8.6 Headings.
The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of
this Agreement.
8.7 Governing
Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of law
principles.
8.8 Amendment;
Extensions; Waivers. No amendment, modification, waiver, replacement,
termination or cancellation of any provision of this Agreement will be valid,
unless the same is in writing and signed by Buyer, Seller and Stockholders
holding at least a majority of the capital stock of Seller on the Closing Date.
Each waiver of a right hereunder does not extend beyond the specific event
or
circumstance giving rise to the right. No
waiver
by any Party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant
hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior
or
subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant
hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or
subsequent such occurrence. Neither
the failure nor any delay on the part of any Party to exercise any right or
remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor does any
single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further
exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.
8.9 Severability.
The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity
or
unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability
of the other provisions hereof; provided,
however,
that if
any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any Party or to any circumstance,
is judicially determined not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms,
the
Parties agree that the court judicially making such determination may modify
the
provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is
enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its modified
form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.
8.10 Expenses.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each Party will bear
its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,
execution and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions, including
all
fees and expenses of agents, representatives, financial advisors, legal counsel
and accountants.
8.11 Counterparts;
Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each
of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute
one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become effective when one
or
more counterparts have been signed by each Party and delivered to the other
Parties.
8.12 Construction.
This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the Parties. If
an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will
be
construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden
of
proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party because of the authorship
of
any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed also
to
refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,”
“includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without
limitation.” The word “person” includes individuals, entities and Governmental
Bodies. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders will be construed
to
include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed
to
include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The
words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
subdivision unless expressly so limited. The Parties intend that each
representation, warranty and covenant contained herein will have independent
significance. If any Party has breached any representation, warranty or covenant
contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another
representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter
(regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the Party has not
breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that the Party is in breach
of the first representation, warranty or covenant. Time is of the essence in
the
performance of this Agreement.
19
EXECUTION
COPY
8.13 Publicity.
Except as required by law, none of Buyer or any Seller Party, nor any of their
respective Representatives or Affiliates shall issue any press release or make
any public statement regarding this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated
hereby, without prior written approval of the other Parties; provided,
however,
that in
the case of announcements, statements, acknowledgments or revelations which
any
party hereto is required by law to make, issue or release, the making, issuing
or releasing of any such announcement, statement, acknowledgment or revelation
by the party so required to do so by law shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement if such party shall have given, to the extent reasonably possible,
not
less than two (2) business days prior notice to the other party, and shall
have
attempted, to the extent reasonably possible, to clear such announcement,
statement, acknowledgment or revelation with the other Party. Each Party hereto
agrees that it will not unreasonably withhold any such consent or clearance.
Buyer may, without the consent of any Seller Party, issue or make an appropriate
press release or public announcement after the Closing.
8.14 Disclosure
Memorandums. The
disclosures in the Seller Disclosure Memorandum and the Buyer Disclosure
Memorandum, and those in any supplement thereto, relate only to the
representations and warranties in the section or paragraph of the Agreement
to
which they expressly relate and not to any other representation or warranty
in
this Agreement. If there is any inconsistency between the statements in the
body
of this Agreement and those in the Disclosure Memorandum (other than an
exception expressly set forth in the particular Disclosure Memorandum with
respect to a specifically identified representation or warranty), the statements
in the body of this Agreement will control. Nothing in a Disclosure Memorandum
will be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty
made herein, unless the disclosure in the Disclosure Memorandum identifies
the
exception with reasonable particularity.
[SIGNATURE
PAGES FOLLOW]
20
EXECUTION
COPY
[SIGNATURE
PAGE TO ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date stated in
the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
BUYER:
XXXXXX-XXXXXXX
COMPANY
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
|
||
Name: | Xxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
|
||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
|
||
Address: | 000
X. Xxxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
|
SELLER:
QUEEN
OIL & GAS COMPANY
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
|
||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
|
||
Title: | President | |
|
||
Address:
|
000
X. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
|
|
EXECUTION
COPY
UNITED
FUEL & ENERGY CORPORATION
(solely
for the purpose set forth in Section 1.4(h))
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
|
||
Name: | Xxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
|
||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
|
||
Address:
|
000
X. Xxxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
|
EXECUTION
COPY
[SIGNATURE
PAGE TO ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date stated in
the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
|
||
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, individually and in her
capacity
as Co-Trustee of the Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Testamentary
Trust
|
||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, individually and in his capacity
as Co-Trustee of the Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Testamentary
Trust
|
||