CONFIDENTIAL
Exhibit
10.19
Gordian Group LLC |
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CONFIDENTIAL
February
15, 2008
Board of
Directors
Torrent
Energy Corporation
1 S.W.
Columbia Street, Suite 640
Portland,
Oregon 97258
000-000-0000
Attention:
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
Dear Xx.
Xxxxxxx:
This
letter (the “Agreement”) confirms the terms of the engagement of Gordian Group,
LLC (“Gordian”) by Torrent Energy Corporation (together with its subsidiaries,
the “Company”) as the Company’s exclusive investment banker as of the date
hereof to provide certain financial advisory services as specifically set forth
below in connection with any merger, consolidation, joint venture or other
business combination, sale of substantially all or a portion of the assets or
outstanding securities of the Company, the acquisition of substantially all or a
portion of the assets or outstanding securities of another entity, an investment
(debt or equity) in the Company, a reorganization or recapitalization of the
Company, a restructuring or compromise of the Company’s indebtedness (contingent
or otherwise) or a material portion of the Company’s obligations and/or
preferred stock, or raising new or replacement capital for the Company, in any
case in one or a series of transactions (each, a “Financial Transaction”),
excluding those transactions listed in Exhibit A (“Excluded
Transactions”).
Gordian
will assist the Company with the formulation, evaluation and implementation of
various options for effecting a Financial Transaction for the Company under a
variety of mechanisms and in connection with the other matters listed
below. In connection with our role as financial advisor, we will
provide the following services to the extent appropriate and as requested from
time to time:
a)
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assist
with the development, negotiation and implementation of a Financial
Transaction or Financial Transactions, including rendering advice and
services regarding a sale of all or a portion of the Company’s assets or
outstanding securities or acquisitions contemplated by the Company
(whether in one or a series of transactions, by merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, joint venture or other
business combination, asset or equity sale or
otherwise);
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b)
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assist
in negotiations with interested acquirers or investors, current or
potential lenders, creditors, shareholders and other interested parties
regarding the Company’s operations and prospects and any potential
Financial Transaction;
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c)
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render
advice and services regarding any potential restructuring of the Company’s
indebtedness; and
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d)
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render
such other financial advisory and investment banking services as may be
customary for a Financial Transaction of the type contemplated herein and
mutually agreed upon by the parties
hereto.
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Xxxxxxx’s
services hereunder do not include the rendering of any valuation, fairness or
solvency opinions or other additional services not expressly referenced above;
any such services shall be addressed in a separate engagement letter as may be
agreed to by the Company and Gordian.
In the
event the Company, its affiliates or its or their management receive or initiate
an inquiry or other contact concerning a Financial Transaction, the Company
shall promptly inform Xxxxxxx of such inquiry or contact with such prospective
Financial Partner, in order that Xxxxxxx can assist the Company in any resulting
negotiations in such manner as directed by the Company.
In the
event the Company becomes a debtor under a Chapter 11 proceeding under title 11
of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from the applicable bankruptcy court prompt
authorization of the retention of Gordian pursuant to Sections 327(a) and 328 of
the Bankruptcy Code, nunc pro tunc to the date of the Company’s bankruptcy
filings, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement (it being understood and
agreed that the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause those terms
and conditions which relate to the fees payable to Xxxxxxx hereunder to be
included and accounted for in any loan documentation between the Company and any
lender). The order of the bankruptcy court approving this Agreement
and authorizing Xxxxxxx’s retention in accordance with this Agreement shall be
in form and substance acceptable to Gordian in its sole reasonable discretion
and shall include, at Gordian’s option, such option to be exercised in its sole
reasonable discretion, an appropriate “carve out” from the collateral of the
relevant lenders, if any, of the Company for the payment of the aggregate fees
payable by the Company to Gordian pursuant to this Agreement.
For
Xxxxxxx’s services in connection with this engagement, concurrently with and as
a condition to the consummation of any Financial Transaction the Company shall
pay or cause to be paid to Gordian in cash nonrefundable fees (the “Transaction
Fees”) as follows:
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a)
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5.00% of Aggregate Consideration (as defined
below) that is paid, payable
or realized in connection with the consummation of a Financial Transaction
(other than a Reorganization (as defined below) or Excluded Transactions);
and provided, further, that if such a Financial Transaction involves
Yorkville Advisors, the payment (as to the Aggregate Consideration
provided by Yorkville Advisors) shall be 3%;
or
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b)
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in
the case of a Reorganization, the greater of (i) 5.00% of Aggregate
Consideration (as defined below) that is paid or payable or realized in
connection with the consummation of such Reorganization and (ii) 5.00% of
the enterprise value (as determined by mutual agreement of the parties in
good faith, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the
Company upon consummation of such
Reorganization.
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Aggregate
Consideration, for purposes of calculating the Transaction Fees, shall be deemed
to be the total amounts paid to or for the benefit of, or realized by, the
Company, its security holders and/or its creditors in connection with a
Financial Transaction (and any transactions related thereto), including, without
limitation the principal amount of any debt, trade credit or obligations and/or
preferred stock directly or indirectly assumed, repaid, compromised, refinanced
or retired (as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of the Company), the
amount of any new debt and/or equity financing committed to or raised (or the
value realized from a sale of all or a part of the Company) in connection with
any Financial Transaction, any amounts paid into escrow and any amounts paid in
connection with the retirement or cancellation of any outstanding options, stock
appreciation rights or other derivative securities of the Company.
In the
event that the Aggregate Consideration comprises securities, in whole or in
part, the value of such securities, for purposes of calculating the Transaction
Fees, shall be the fair market value thereof, as the parties hereto shall
mutually agree, on the day prior to the public announcement of such Financial
Transaction; provided, however, that the value of securities with an existing
public trading market shall be determined by the average of the last sales
prices for such securities on the five trading days ending five days prior to
the consummation of the Financial Transaction in question.
A
“Reorganization”, for the purposes of calculating the Transaction Fees, shall be
deemed to be a recapitalization, restructuring or reorganization of all or a
portion of the Company’s balance sheet obligations whether or not pursuant to a
plan or reorganization approved by a bankruptcy court.
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In
addition to the fees described above, Xxxxxxx shall be reimbursed upon invoice
for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including legal, travel,
telephone and facsimile) incurred in connection with Xxxxxxx’s engagement
hereunder, as generally discussed with the Company in advance.
Without
limiting the Transaction Fees, in consideration of the execution and delivery by
the parties hereto of this Agreement and the services hereunder, concurrently
with such execution and delivery the Company shall issue and deliver to Gordian
1,250,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”),
of the Company free and clear of liens, encumbrances or other
restrictions other than the vesting provisions set forth herein and restrictions
on the disposition of any such shares imposed under applicable law (including,
without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”)). For the avoidance of doubt, the shares issued and delivered
to Gordian pursuant to this paragraph (the “Gordian Shares”) shall not be
registered under the Securities Act. The Gordian Shares shall vest in
three (3) equal installments on each of March 9, 2008, April 9, 2008
and May 9, 2008, provided,
that any unvested Gordian Shares shall automatically vest in full immediately
prior to the consummation of any Financial Transaction or immediately in the
event the Company terminates this Agreement other than due to a breach hereof by
Gordian or Gordian terminates this Agreement due to a breach hereof by the
Company; provided,
further, that any unvested Gordian Shares shall be forfeited and
cancelled in the event that Gordian terminates this Agreement other than due to
a breach hereof by the Company or the Company terminates this Agreement due to a
breach hereof by Xxxxxxx. The Company represents and warrants to
Gordian that (i) it has the requisite power, authority and legal capacity to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (ii) this Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; and (iii) the
Gordian Shares have been duly and validly authorized and when issued, sold and
delivered in accordance with the terms hereof for the consideration expressed
herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. For as long as
Xxxxxxx remains a shareholder of the Company, the Company agrees that it will
not take any action or omit to take any action which would adversely affect the
rights, privileges or interests of Gordian (in its capacity as a shareholder)
disproportionately relative to the rights, privileges or interests of the other
holders of Common Stock without Xxxxxxx’s prior written
consent. If shares of Common Stock of the Company are not able
to be issued to Gordian for any reason, the Company agrees to negotiate economic
equivalent compensation.
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Gordian
does not represent or guarantee any specific result from this engagement.
Xxxxxxx has not made, and is not responsible for the accuracy of, any projection
of the Company’s operating results, solvency or value, and Gordian does not make
any representation regarding or guaranty of the accuracy of any projection,
other view or advice Xxxxxxx provides regarding the Company or the Company’s
future. The Company acknowledges that all future matters are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected or otherwise addressed by Xxxxxxx.
Xxxxxxx’s
role shall be solely as a financial advisor to the Company’s management and
Board of Directors, which shall remain fully responsible for all decisions and
matters as to which Xxxxxxx’s advice is sought. Gordian is assuming
no management responsibility with respect to the Company of any nature
whatsoever. Xxxxxxx’s obligations to the Board of Directors and the
Company are contractual in nature as expressly set forth in this Agreement and
neither Gordian nor any of its affiliates nor their respective members,
partners, officers, directors, employees, agents nor any entity or person
controlling Gordian or any of its affiliates have any fiduciary obligations to
the Board of Directors, the Company or any other person in respect
hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that its engagement of
Xxxxxxx hereunder does not and is not intended to confer rights upon any person
not a party hereto, including any security holders or creditors of, or holders
of beneficial interests in, the Company, as against Gordian, its affiliates, or
their respective members, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents or
any entity or person controlling Gordian or any of its
affiliates.
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Any
advice, written or oral, provided by Gordian pursuant to this Agreement shall be
solely for the information and assistance of the Company and its Board of
Directors in connection with the Financial Transaction. Except as
required by law or court order, such advice is not to be used, circulated,
quoted or otherwise referred to, in whole or in part, for any other
purpose. Such advice shall not be filed with, included in or referred
to, in whole or in part, in any registration statement, proxy statement, tender
offer or any other document, nor are references to Gordian or its engagement
hereunder to be made therein, except in each case in accordance with Xxxxxxx’s
prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Except to the extent legally required, none of: (i) the
fact that Gordian is rendering advice to the Company (except that the fact that
Gordian is rendering such advice may be disclosed to parties with which the
Company is negotiating); (ii) any advice rendered by Xxxxxxx to the Company; or
(iii) any communication from Gordian to the Company or from the Company to
Gordian in connection with the services performed by Gordian pursuant to this
Agreement shall be quoted or referred to orally or in writing in any public form
or forum or document by the Company, or its agents, without Xxxxxxx’s prior
written authorization, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Except to the extent expressly set forth in writing by
Xxxxxxx, no third party shall be entitled to rely upon Xxxxxxx’s advice for any
purpose whatsoever. Gordian shall bear no responsibility whatsoever
for the accuracy or completeness of the Company’s disclosure of Xxxxxxx’s advice
to any third parties.
The
Company understands that Xxxxxxx does not represent that any particular Gordian
professional will be solely responsible for Xxxxxxx’s work product completed
pursuant to Xxxxxxx’s engagement and that junior Gordian professionals likely
will be working on this engagement together with senior Xxxxxxx
professionals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx shall be primarily responsible to provide the services described
hereunder (subject to circumstances beyond Xxxxxxx’s reasonable control) and
shall devote such time and effort as is required, consistent with Xxxxxxx’s
usual practices, to enable Xxxxxxx to fully perform all material obligations of
Gordian hereunder.
The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Gordian and its affiliates and
their respective members, partners, officers, directors, employees, controlling
persons, representatives and agents (each an “Indemnified Party”) to the full
extent lawful from and against, and agrees that Gordian shall have no liability
to the Company or its affiliates, successors, assigns, creditors or security
holders for, any losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof), including without limitation counsel fees and
expenses, related to or arising out of its engagement under this Agreement, or
any transaction or conduct in connection therewith, except to the extent that
any such loss, claim, expense, damage or liability is finally judicially
determined to have resulted solely from its gross negligence or willful
misconduct in performing the services that are the subject of this
Agreement.
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THIS
LETTER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF
LAW). THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTES ARISING HEREUNDER. The Company hereby
consents to venue and jurisdiction in any court in which Gordian (or other
Indemnified Party) is sued or otherwise found or brought. To the
extent permitted by applicable law, any dispute arising under this Agreement or
in connection with this engagement shall be finally settled by arbitration
conducted in New York, New York by one arbitrator in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the
“AAA”). The arbitration award entered in accordance with this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be final and binding on the parties,
except to the extent it may be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction in
accordance with applicable laws governing appealability of arbitration
awards. The award may include an award of costs, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and disbursements. Judgment upon the award may be
entered by any court having jurisdiction over the parties or their
assets. The parties hereto consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of the federal and state courts sitting in New York City for the purpose of
entering judgment upon and enforcing such an award.
This
engagement may be terminated by the Company or Gordian at any time with or
without cause, effective upon receipt of written notice to that effect by the
other party, but in such circumstance the Company shall remain liable for any
Transaction Fees payable or accrued and expenses incurred prior to
termination. In the event of termination of this engagement the
Company shall also remain liable for the Transaction Fees if within twelve (12)
months after such termination definitive documentation is entered into
with respect to a Financial Transaction and such Financial Transaction is
subsequently consummated; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
liable for the Transaction Fee if Xxxxxxx has terminated the engagement even
though the Company has fulfilled all of (and has not repudiated or
anticipatorily breached any of) its material obligations hereunder as of the
date of such termination.
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The
Company’s obligations hereunder shall be joint and several obligations
of Torrent Energy Corporation and each of its subsidiaries, it being
understood and agreed that the Company will cause the subsidiaries of the
Company to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder; provided, however, that
no such subsidiary shall be required to pay any amount that would cause it to
become insolvent and any such amount not so paid shall be reallocated among the
remaining such subsidiaries.
Please
confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding by signing
and returning to us the duplicate of this letter attached hereto, which shall
thereupon constitute a binding agreement.
Sincerely yours, | |||
GORDIAN GROUP, LLC | |||
By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
AGREED TO
AND ACCEPTED:
Torrent
Energy Corporation
By: /s/
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: February
15, 1008
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND AGREED WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE GORDIAN SHARES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE TERMS HEREOF:
YA GLOBAL
INVESTMENTS, LP (F/K/A CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP)
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By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
Date: __________________________
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EXHIBIT
A
EXCLUDED
TRANSACTIONS
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FUNDING PROVIDED BY XXXXXXXXXX, CALFRAC AND CANYONTECH IN CONNECTION WITH FRAC SERVICES IN COOS BAY IN EXCHANGE FOR WORKING INTERESTS OR COMPARABLE CONSIDERATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF THE COMPANY ASKS FOR XXXXXXX’S ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH A FRAC SERVICE PROVIDER, THEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SUCH PROVIDER SHALL NO LONGER BE EXCLUDED.
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FUNDING PROVIDED BY XXXXXX, NATURAL GAS PARTNERS AND VENACO AS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF THE COMPANY ASKS FOR XXXXXXX’S ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH A JOINT VENTURER, THEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SUCH JOINT VENTURER SHALL NO LONGER BE EXCLUDED.
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