SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UP ENERGY CORPORATION, AS SELLER, AND SPC E&P (CHINA) PTE. LTD., AS PURCHASER, Dated as of September 26, 2007
EXECUTION
COPY
BETWEEN
UP
ENERGY
CORPORATION,
AS
SELLER,
AND
SPC
E&P (CHINA) PTE. LTD.,
AS
PURCHASER,
Dated
as
of September 26, 2007
Table
of Contents
|
||
ARTICLE
1. PURCHASE AND SALE
|
1
|
|
Section
1.1
|
Purchase
and Sale
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Certain
Definitions
|
1
|
ARTICLE
2. PURCHASE PRICE
|
6
|
|
|
||
Section
2.1
|
Purchase
Price
|
6
|
Section
2.2
|
Adjustments
to Purchase Price
|
6
|
ARTICLE
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
|
7
|
|
Section
3.1
|
Disclaimers
|
7
|
Section
3.2
|
Seller
|
8
|
Section
3.3
|
The
Company
|
10
|
Section
3.4
|
No
Required Consents
|
11
|
Section
3.5
|
Production
Sharing Contracts
|
12
|
Section
3.6
|
Material
Contracts
|
12
|
Section
3.7
|
Capital
Commitments
|
13
|
Section
3.8
|
Production
Imbalances
|
13
|
Section
3.9
|
Advance
Sales and Prepayments
|
13
|
Section
3.10
|
Calls
and Options
|
13
|
Section
3.11
|
Environmental
|
13
|
Section
3.12
|
Financial
Commitments Since Effective Time
|
14
|
Section
3.13
|
Preferential
Rights
|
14
|
Section
3.14
|
Litigation
|
14
|
Section
3.15
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
14
|
Section
3.16
|
Taxes
|
15
|
Section
3.17
|
Agreements
with Tax Authorities
|
15
|
Section
3.18
|
Liability
for Brokers' Fees
|
15
|
Section
3.19
|
Insurance
|
15
|
Section
3.20
|
Warranties
as to No Payments, Gifts of Loans
|
16
|
Section
3.21
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
16
|
Section
3.22
|
Copies
of Documents
|
16
|
ARTICLE
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
|
17
|
|
Section
4.1
|
Existence
and Qualification
|
17
|
Section
4.2
|
Power
|
17
|
Section
4.3
|
Authorization
and Enforceability
|
17
|
Section
4.4
|
No
Conflicts
|
17
|
Section
4.5
|
Consents,
Approvals or Waivers
|
17
|
Section
4.6
|
Litigation
|
17
|
Section
4.7
|
Financing
|
18
|
Section
4.8
|
Securities
Act
|
18
|
Section
4.9
|
Warranties
as to No Payments, Gifts or Loans
|
18
|
Section
4.10
|
Review
of Disclosed Data
|
18
|
Section
4.11
|
Liability
for Brokers’ Fees
|
18
|
i
ARTICLE
5. COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
|
19
|
|
Section
5.1
|
Access
|
19
|
Section
5.2
|
Notification
of Breaches
|
19
|
Section
5.3
|
Public
Announcements
|
19
|
Section
5.4
|
Operation
of Business
|
20
|
Section
5.5
|
Conduct
of the Company
|
20
|
Section
5.6
|
Indemnity
Regarding Access
|
21
|
Section
5.7
|
Consents
and Preferential Rights
|
21
|
Section
5.8
|
Governmental
Reviews
|
21
|
Section
5.9
|
[Omitted]
|
24
|
Section
5.10
|
Replacement
of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees
|
22
|
Section
5.11
|
Further
Assurances
|
22
|
Section
5.12
|
Permits
|
22
|
ARTICLE
6. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
|
23
|
|
Section
6.1
|
Conditions
of Seller to Closing
|
23
|
Section
6.2
|
Conditions
of Purchaser to Closing
|
23
|
ARTICLE
7. CLOSING
|
24
|
|
Section
7.1
|
Time
and Place of Closing
|
24
|
Section
7.2
|
Obligations
of Seller at Closing
|
24
|
Section
7.3
|
Obligations
of Purchaser at Closing
|
26
|
Section
7.4
|
Closing
Payment and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustments
|
26
|
Section
7.5
|
Casualty
or Condemnation Loss
|
27
|
Section
7.6
|
Update
of Disclosure Schedule.
|
27
|
|
||
ARTICLE
8. TAX MATTERS
|
27
|
|
|
||
Section
8.1
|
Liability
for Taxes
|
27
|
Section
8.2
|
Preparation
and Filing of Tax Returns
|
28
|
Section
8.3
|
Allocation
Arrangements
|
28
|
Section
8.4
|
Access
to Information
|
29
|
Section
8.5
|
Tax
Proceedings
|
29
|
Section
8.6
|
Indemnification
Procedures
|
29
|
Section
8.7
|
Refunds
|
30
|
Section
8.8
|
Sales
or Use Tax, Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees
|
30
|
Section
8.9
|
Section
338(h)(10) Election.
|
30
|
ARTICLE
9. TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
|
31
|
|
Section
9.1
|
Termination
|
31
|
Section
9.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
32
|
ARTICLE
10. INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS
|
32
|
|
Section
10.1
|
Indemnification
|
32
|
Section
10.2
|
Indemnification
Actions
|
34
|
Section
10.3
|
Limitation
on Actions
|
35
|
Section
10.4
|
Exclusive
Remedy.
|
35
|
ii
ARTICLE
11. MISCELLANEOUS
|
36
|
|
Section
11.1
|
Limitation
on Damages
|
36
|
Section
11.2
|
Counterparts
|
36
|
Section
11.3
|
Notices
|
36
|
Section
11.4
|
Expenses
|
37
|
Section
11.5
|
Records
|
37
|
Section
11.6
|
Governing
Law
|
37
|
Section
11.7
|
Arbitration
|
38
|
Section
11.8
|
Captions
|
38
|
Section
11.9
|
Waivers
|
38
|
Section
11.10
|
Assignment
|
38
|
Section
11.11
|
Entire
Agreement
|
38
|
Section
11.12
|
Amendment
|
39
|
Section
11.13
|
No
Third-Person Beneficiaries
|
39
|
Section
11.14
|
References
|
39
|
Section
11.15
|
Construction
|
39
|
Section
11.16
|
Severability
|
40
|
EXHIBITS: | ||
Exhibit
“A” - The
Seller
|
||
Exhibit
“B”
- Balance
Sheet
|
||
SCHEDULE: | ||
Disclosure
Schedule
|
||
iii
This
Share Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”),
dated
September 26, 2007 (the “Execution
Date”),
is
between UP Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Seller”),
and
SPC E&P (China) Pte. Ltd., a company organized under the Laws of Singapore
(Registration No. 200713926M) (“Purchaser”).
Seller and Purchaser are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the
“Parties”,
and
individually as a “Party”.
RECITALS:
Seller
desires to sell and Purchaser desires to purchase all of the ownership interest
in and to Sino-American Energy Corporation, a company incorporated in Texas,
U.S.A. (the “Company”).
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises,
representations, warranties, covenants, conditions and agreements contained
herein, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1. PURCHASE
AND SALE
Section
1.1 Purchase
and Sale.
On the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, Seller agrees to sell,
convey, transfer and deliver to Purchaser and Purchaser agrees to purchase,
accept and pay for the Shares (as defined below), free and clear of all
Encumbrances;
Section
1.2 Certain
Definitions.
As used herein:
(a) “Accounting
Principles”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(f).
(b) “Adjusted
Purchase Price”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2.
(c)
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, a Person that directly or indirectly controls,
is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person, with “control” in
such context meaning the ability to direct the management or policies of a
Person through ownership of voting shares or other securities, pursuant to
a
written agreement, or otherwise.
(d) “Agreed
Interest Rate”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(d).
(e) “Agreement”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
(f) “Asset
Allocation”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.9.
(g) “Assets”
means
all of the Company’s right, title, and interest in and to the
following:
(i) The
Contract for Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production on Xxxxx 00/00
xx
Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx of the People’s Republic of China between China National Offshore
Oil Corporation (“CNOOC”)
and
the Company, dated August 17, 1994 (the “Block
04/36 Production Sharing Contract”)
and
the Contract for Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production on Xxxxx
00/00 xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx of the People’s Republic of China between CNOOC and the
Company, dated January 23, 1996 (the “Block
05/36 Production Sharing Contract”)
(collectively referred to as the “Production
Sharing Contracts”);
1
(ii) All
units
that include all or a part of the area subject to the Production Sharing
Contracts (the “Contract
Area”);
(iii) All
presently existing contracts, agreements and instruments to which the Company’s
interest in the Production Sharing Contracts are subject, including operating,
unitization, pooling and communitization agreements, including that certain
Agreement for the Unitized Development by and between the Company and CNOOC
for
the CFD 00-0/XXX 00-0/XXX 00-0X , Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx'x Xxxxxxxx of China,
dated May 27, 2005 (the "Unitization
Agreement"),
that
certain Operating Agreement covering Gulf of Bohai, Block 04/36, People’s
Republic of China, dated February 6, 1995 (the “04/36 JOA”), that certain
Operating Agreement covering Gulf of Bohai, Block 05/36, People’s Republic of
China, dated June 24, 1997 (the “05/36 JOA”) (the 04/36 JOA and the 05/36 JOA
each referred to as a “JOA” and collectively referred to as the “XXXx”), joint
venture agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, exchange agreements,
transportation agreements, processing agreements, agreements for the sale and
purchase of Hydrocarbons, all of which are hereinafter collectively referred
to
as “Contracts”;
(iv) All
easements, permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way, surface leases and
other rights appurtenant to, and used or primarily held for use in connection
with, the Production Sharing Contracts;
(v) Equipment,
machinery, fixtures and other tangible personal property and improvements
located on the Contract Area or used or primarily held for use in connection
with the operation of the Production Sharing Contracts (the “Equipment”);
and
(vi)
All
books, records, data, files, maps, accounting records, agreements, documents
and
correspondence of the Company or related to the Assets, or used or held for
use
in connection with the maintenance or operation thereof, but excluding: (A)
any
books, records, data, files, maps and accounting records licensed from a third
Person for which the license will terminate or a transfer fee or similar payment
will be incurred upon a sale of the Company; (B) any computer software that
is
proprietary to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller; (C) work product of, or
attorney-client communications with, legal counsel for the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company, other than the Contracts; and (D) records relating
to
the sale of the Shares, including bids received from and records of negotiations
with third Persons and engagement letters and other correspondence between
any
of the Company, the Seller and its Affiliates, and any consultants or advisors
assisting with the sale of the Shares, provided that nothing in (A), (B), (C)
or
(D) above shall include any books, records, data, files, maps and accounting
records which the Company is required to maintain by applicable Laws
(collectively the “Records”);
provided
that the Assets shall not include the Excluded Assets.
2
(h) “Balance
Sheet”
means
the balance sheet of the Company as of June 30th,
2007,
attached hereto as Exhibit “B”.
(i) “Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banks are closed
for
business in New York, New York, in Singapore or in the People’s Republic of
China.
(j) “Claim”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.2(a).
(k) “Claim
Notice”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.2(a).
(l) “Closing”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.
(m) “Closing
Date”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.
(n) “Closing
Payment”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.4(a).
(o) “Code”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All references
to
the Code, U.S. Treasury Regulations, or other governmental pronouncements shall
be deemed to include references to any applicable successor regulations or
amending pronouncement.
(p) “Company”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.
(q) “Confidentiality
Agreement”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1.
(r)
“Contracts”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(g)(iii).
(s) “Damages”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1(c).
(t) “Effective
Time”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).
(u) “Encumbrances”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(e).
(v) “Environment”
means:
(i) air, land, groundwater, soil and subsurface soil; (ii) all layers of the
atmosphere; and (iii) natural resources; and “Environmental”
has
a
corresponding meaning.
(w) “Environmental
Laws”
means
all Laws relating to the protection of the Environment or related employee,
public health and safety, and without restricting the generality of the
foregoing, includes those Laws relating to the treatment and disposal of
Hydrocarbons, the emission, discharge, release or threatened release of
hazardous substances into the air, water or land and the clean-up and
remediation of contaminated sites.
(x)
“Excluded
Assets”
means
(i) any Export Levy Refund, (ii) any Special Profit Charge Refund and (iii)
amounts payable pursuant to that certain Retainer Agreement by and between
the
Company and Xxxx-XxXxx.
(y)
“Execution
Date”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
(z) “Export
Levy Refund”
means
any refund received by the Company from any applicable Governmental Authority
in
respect of tariffs or levies paid on the export of crude oil from the People’s
Republic of China pursuant to the provisions of the Notice
Concerning Adjusting Interim Tariff Rates of Several
Commodities
promulgated by the State Council on October 27, 2006, and effective from and
after November 1, 2006.
3
(aa) “Former
Seller Group”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.16.
(bb)
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any government and/or any political, judicial, administrative, legislative
subdivision thereof, including (i) any national, state, local, municipal or
other governmental body, authority or agency, and (ii) any governmental,
regulatory or administrative, judicial departments, courts, commissions, boards,
bureaus, ministries, agencies or other instrumentalities exercising any
administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, arbitral or taxing
authority or power.
(cc)
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any permit, license, waiver, variance or other authorization issued by any
country or jurisdiction (including the People’s Republic of China), or any
Governmental Authority thereof.
(dd)
“Hydrocarbons”
mean
oil, gas and/or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons or any combination
thereof.
(ee)
“Indemnified
Person”
means,
when used in connection with particular Damages, a Person having the right
to be
indemnified with respect to such Damages pursuant to Article 10.
(ff)
“Indemnifying
Person”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.2(a).
(gg)
“Independent
Auditors”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.4(b).
(hh)
“Intellectual
Property Rights”
means
any of the following which are licenses by the Company to third parties or
which
are licensed by third parties to the Company: patents, registered designs,
trade
marks and service marks (whether registered or not), copyright, design right,
and all similar property rights, provided that “Intellectual Property Rights”
shall not include geological or geophysical data or interpretations thereof
which are licensed to the Company under the Contracts.
(ii) “Intragroup
Advances”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(b).
(jj) “Intragroup
Receipts”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c).
(kk)
“Laws”
means
all laws, statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, decrees,
requirements, judgments and codes of Governmental Authorities.
(ll) “LCIA”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.7.
(mm)
“LCIA
Rules”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.7.
(nn)
“Liabilities”
includes any liability or obligation (whether direct or indirect, absolute
or
contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to
become due, reflected on a balance sheet or otherwise) determined in accordance
with the Accounting Principles and including costs and expenses related
thereto.
(oo)
“Material
Adverse Effect”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(d).
4
(pp)
“Material
Contract”
means
those Contracts identified in Section 1.2(pp) of the Disclosure
Schedule.
(qq)
“Party”
and
“Parties”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
(rr) “Permits”
means,
in relation to the Company, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates,
identification, registration numbers, approvals, orders, business licenses,
tax
registrations, and customs registrations necessary to own, lease and operate
its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, including
all Governmental Authorizations issued by Governmental Authorities of the
People’s Republic of China necessary to own and operate the Assets.
(ss)
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, company, partnership, limited liability company,
trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.
(tt)
“Post-Effective
Time Period”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.1(c).
(uu)
“Pre-Effective
Time Period”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.1(b).
(vv)
“Section
338(h)(10) Elections”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.9.
(ww) “Section
338 Forms”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.9.
(xx) “Purchase
Price”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1.
(yy)
“Purchaser”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
(zz)
“Securities
Act”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.8.
(aaa)
“Seller”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.
(bbb)
“Seller
Group”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.16.
(ccc) “Shares”
means
all the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the Company.
(ddd)
“Special
Profit Charge Refund”
means
any refund received by the Company from any applicable Governmental Authority
in
respect of charges or levies paid on the sale of crude oil produced in the
People’s Republic of China pursuant to the provisions of the State Council’s
Decision
on the Levy of the Petroleum Special Profit Charge
promulgated April 1, 2006, the Circular
on Adjustment of Oil Products Prices
promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission on March 26,
2006,
and the Administrative
Measures on the Levy of the Petroleum Special Profit Charge
promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on April 1, 2006.
(eee)
“Tax”
means
all taxes, including income tax, surtax, remittance tax, presumptive tax,
net
worth
tax, special contribution, production tax, pipeline transportation tax, value
added tax, withholding tax, gross receipts tax, windfall profits tax, profits
tax, severance tax, personal property tax, real property tax, sales tax, service
tax, transfer tax, use tax, excise tax, premium tax, customs duties, stamp
tax,
motor vehicle tax, entertainment tax, insurance tax, capital stock tax,
franchise tax, occupation tax, payroll tax, employment tax, social security,
unemployment tax, disability tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, estimated
tax, and any other assessments, duties, fees, levies or other charges imposed
by
a Governmental Authority together with any interest, fine or penalty thereon,
or
addition thereto.
5
(fff)
“Tax
Items”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).
(ggg)
“Tax
Refund”
means
any refund or credit (including interest thereon or claims therefore) with
respect to any Taxes relating to the Assets attributable to any taxable period
before the Effective Time and includes the Export Levy Refund and the Special
Profit Charge Refund.
(hhh) “Tax
Return”
means
any return, declaration, report, claim or refund, or information return or
statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto,
and
including any amendment thereof, filed with any relevant Governmental
Authority.
(iii) “Ultra”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.2(g).
(jjj) “Working
Capital”
shall
bear the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).
ARTICLE
2. PURCHASE
PRICE
Section
2.1 Purchase
Price.
The purchase price for the Shares (the “Purchase
Price”)
shall
be Xxx Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Dollars ($212,000,000) adjusted
as provided in Section 2.2.
Section
2.2 Adjustments
to Purchase Price.
The Purchase Price shall be adjusted as follows:
(a) Adding,
if positive, or subtracting, if negative, the Working Capital of the Company
as
of 12:01 a.m. local time in the Contract Area on July 1, 2007 (the “Effective
Time”);
as
used herein, the term “Working
Capital”
means
the positive or negative amount obtained by subtracting (i) the sum of all
accounts payable, accrued current liabilities and other current liabilities
of
the Company from (ii) the sum of all cash, accounts receivable, net inventory
(which for avoidance of doubt shall mean inventory net of the overlifted or
underlifted position (as applicable) as of the Effective Time) and other current
assets of the Company, all as shown on the Balance Sheet, except that net oil
inventory shall be valued at $60.44 per barrel. For the purpose of determining
Working Capital, the existence of any intercompany borrowings (whether long-term
or short-term), intercompany accounts receivable or intercompany accounts
payable to or from Affiliates shall be excluded, other than those accounts
receivable or payable with respect to purchases of goods and services from
or
sales of goods and services to any Affiliate of the Company;
(b) Increased
by the amount of any Intragroup Advances from the Effective Time to the Closing
Date; as used herein, the term “Intragroup
Advances”
shall
mean any capital contributions, loans, or advances paid by Seller or any other
Affiliate of the Company to the Company, and any other payments made by Seller
or any other Affiliate of the Company on behalf of and for the account of the
Company;
6
(c) Decreased
by the amount of any Intragroup Receipts from the Effective Time to the Closing
Date; as used herein, the term “Intragroup
Receipts”
shall
mean any dividends, share redemptions, share purchases, or repurchases, debt
repayments or other distributions made by the Company to a Seller or any other
Affiliate of the Company, and any other amounts payable to the Company but
received and retained by a Seller or any other Affiliate of the Company;
excluding payments made by the Company to a Seller or any other Affiliate of
the
Company for the purchase of goods and services (including financial services)
which are in compliance with this Agreement and excluding distributions of
Excluded Assets; and
(d) Increased
by the amount of interest that would be calculated on the Purchase Price, as
adjusted under clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, at the Agreed Interest Rate,
for
the period from and including the Effective Time to but excluding the Closing
Date; as used herein, the term “Agreed
Interest Rate”
shall
mean the lesser of: (i) 6 month LIBOR + 0.5% per annum; or (ii) the maximum
interest rate permissible under applicable Laws.
The
Purchase Price, adjusted as set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) shall
be
referred to herein as the “Adjusted
Purchase Price”.
ARTICLE
3. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Section
3.1 Disclaimers
(a) Except
as
and to the extent expressly set forth in this Article 3 or in the certificate
of
Seller to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(d), (i) Seller makes no
representations or warranties, express or implied, and (ii) Seller expressly
disclaims all liability and responsibility for any representation, warranty,
statement or information made or communicated (orally or in writing) to
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, employees, agents, consultants or
representatives (including any opinion, information, projection or advice that
may have been provided to Purchaser by any officer, director, employee, agent,
consultant, representative or advisor of any Seller or any of its Affiliates).
(b) EXCEPT
AS
EXPRESSLY REPRESENTED OTHERWISE IN THIS ARTICLE 3 OR IN THE CERTIFICATE OF
SELLER TO BE DELIVERED AT CLOSING PURSUANT TO SECTION 7.2(d), WITHOUT LIMITING
THE GENERALITY OF SECTION 3.1(a), SELLER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION
OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO: (I) TITLE TO ANY OF THE ASSETS;
(II) THE CONTENTS, CHARACTER OR NATURE OF ANY REPORT OF ANY PETROLEUM
ENGINEERING OR OTHER CONSULTANT, OR ANY GEOLOGICAL, GEOPHYSICAL OR SEISMIC
DATA
OR INTERPRETATION RELATING TO THE ASSETS; (III) THE QUANTITY, QUALITY OR
RECOVERABILITY OF HYDROCARBONS IN OR FROM THE ASSETS; (IV) ANY ESTIMATES OF
THE
VALUE OF THE ASSETS OR FUTURE REVENUES GENERATED BY THE ASSETS; (V) THE
PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM THE ASSETS, OR WHETHER SUCH PRODUCTION, IF
ANY,
HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS, OR IN PAYING QUANTITIES; (VI) THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR,
CONDITION, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, DESIGN OR MARKETABILITY OF THE ASSETS; OR
(VII)
ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE OR
COMMUNICATED TO PURCHASER OR ITS AFFILIATES, OR ITS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES, AGENTS,
CONSULTANTS, REPRESENTATIVES OR ADVISORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION RELATING
THERETO, AND SELLER FURTHER DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS
OR
IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR CONFORMITY
TO
MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS OF ANY EQUIPMENT, IT BEING EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD
AND AGREED BY THE PARTIES THAT PURCHASER HAS MADE OR CAUSED TO BE MADE SUCH
INSPECTIONS AS PURCHASER DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
7
(c) Any
representation made by Seller that is qualified “to the knowledge of Seller” or
“to Seller’s knowledge” is limited to matters within the actual knowledge of
those Persons identified on Exhibit “A” as “Knowledge Persons” with respect
to Seller, and such additional knowledge as should have been known by a
reasonably prudent person experienced in the oil and gas industry.
(d) Inclusion
of a matter on a schedule attached hereto with respect to a representation
or
warranty that addresses matters having a Material Adverse Effect shall not
be
deemed an indication that such matter does, or may, have a Material Adverse
Effect. Matters may be disclosed on a schedule as a precautionary matter. As
used herein, “Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on the ownership, operation or value of the Company
or
the Assets, taken as a whole; provided, however, that an adverse effect shall
be
deemed “material” if the aggregate damages resulting therefrom exceed
US$15,000,000 and (ii) “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include a material
adverse effect resulting from general changes in Hydrocarbon prices, general
changes in industry, economic or political conditions, civil unrest,
insurrection or similar disorders or changes in Laws.
(e) Subject
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1, and the other terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Seller represents and warrants to Purchaser the
matters set out in Sections 3.2 through 3.22.
Section
3.2 Seller
(a) Existence
and Qualification.
Seller
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and duly qualified to do business
as
a foreign company in each jurisdiction where it does business, except where
the
failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. Seller is duly qualified to own the Shares both
beneficially and of record.
(b) Power.
Seller
has the corporate power under its organizational documents to enter into and
perform this Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered
by Seller as set out herein) and to consummate the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement (and such documents).
(c) Authorization
and Enforceability.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (and all documents
required to be executed and delivered by Seller as set out herein), and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been
duly
and validly authorized by all action required under Seller’s organizational
documents. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller (and
all documents required to be executed and delivered by Seller as set out herein
shall be duly executed and delivered by Seller), and this Agreement constitutes,
and when executed and delivered such documents shall constitute, the valid
and
binding obligations of Seller, enforceable in accordance with their terms except
as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy or other similar
Laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally as well as to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
8
(d) No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not:
(i)
violate any provision of the governance documents of Seller; (ii) result in
a
default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any
Encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license or
agreement to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound; (iii) violate
any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to Seller as a party in
interest; or (iv) violate any Laws applicable to Seller, or any of the Assets,
except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) above which would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Capitalization;
Title to Shares.
Seller
holds of record and owns beneficially the Shares identified on Exhibit “A”,
free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances, security interests, options,
charges, preferential rights, consent rights, rights of first refusal and other
restrictions of any kind (“Encumbrances”)
(other
than restrictions under the Securities Act and state securities laws). Upon
Closing, good and valid title to the Shares shall pass to the Purchaser, free
and clear of any Encumbrances. The Shares constitute all of the outstanding
equity of the Company. All of the Shares are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable. Other than this Agreement, the Shares are not
subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any voting agreement
or
other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding, including
any such agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding restricting or
otherwise relating to the voting, distribution rights or disposition of the
Shares.
(f) Warranties
as to No Payments, Gifts or Loans.
Neither
Seller nor any of its Affiliates has made, with respect to the Shares, the
Assets or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any offer, payment,
promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or any offer,
gift,
promise to give or authorization of the giving of anything of value, directly
or
indirectly, to or for the use or benefit of any official or employee of any
Governmental Authority or public international organization or to or for the
use
or benefit of any political party, official, or candidate unless such offer,
payment, gift, promise or authorization is authorized by applicable written
Laws. Neither Seller nor any of its Affiliates has made any such offer, payment,
gift, promise or authorization to or for the use or benefit of any other Person
if Seller or such Affiliate knew, had a firm belief, or was aware that there
was
a high probability that the other Person would use such offer, payment, gift,
promise or authorization for any of the purposes described in the preceding
sentence. The foregoing warranties do not apply to any facilitating or
expediting payment to secure the performance of routine government
action.
(g) Representation
as to Seller’s Assets.
Seller
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ultra Petroleum Corp., a Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
corporation (“Ultra”).
Seller, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is the indirect owner of
substantially all of the assets, liabilities and businesses that constitute
the
consolidated assets, liabilities and businesses of Ultra and its consolidated
subsidiaries as reflected in the consolidated financial statements of Ultra
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
9
Section
3.3 The
Company.
(a) Existence
and Qualification.
The
Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the State of Texas and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign company in each jurisdiction where it does business,
except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Power.
The
Company has full corporate power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold
the Assets and conduct its business in the manner presently
conducted.
(c) No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement (and all documents
required to be executed and delivered by the Company as set out herein) and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not:
(i)
violate any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company;
(ii) result in default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the
creation of any Encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
license or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(iii) violate any judgment, order, ruling, or decree applicable to the Company
as a party in interest; or (iv) violate any Laws applicable to the Company,
or
any of the Assets, except any matters described in clauses (ii), (iii), or
(iv)
above which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Seller
has delivered to Purchaser true and complete copies of the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of the Company as are in effect as of the Execution
Date.
(e) Books
and Records .
The
books and records that the Company is required to maintain under applicable
Laws
contain accurate records of all meetings (in all material aspects) and
accurately reflect (in all material aspects) all corporate action of the
shareholders and the board of directors (including committees) of the Company.
Section 3.3(e) of the Disclosure Schedule sets out the current directors,
officers, and powers of attorney that have been granted (and not effectively
revoked) by the Company, except as otherwise agreed by Purchaser.
(f) Balance
Sheet.
The
Balance Sheet has been prepared from the books and records of the Company in
conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles as
published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “Accounting
Principles”)
consistently applied and fairly presents the financial position of the Company
as of the date thereof.
(g) Subsidiaries.
The
Company does not directly or indirectly own any capital stock or other equity
interest in any Person. As of the time of their respective dissolutions,
Pendaries Production Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Sino-American Overseas
Energy Corp, a Cayman Islands corporation, were solvent.
(h) Employees.
The
Company has no employees.
(i) Intellectual
Property Rights.
The
Company does not own or license any Intellectual Property Rights.
10
(j) Real
Property.
Except
pursuant to the Contracts, the Company has no interest in any real
property.
(k) Distributions.
Except
as disclosed in Section 3.3(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the Effective
Time, the Company has not paid any dividends, made any returns of capital or
made any other distributions.
(l) Indebtedness.
Immediately after the Closing Date, the Company shall not have any indebtedness
for borrowed money other than accounts payable for goods and services related
to
the Assets.
(m) Absence
of Material Adverse Effect.
Except
as contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 3.3(m) of the
Disclosure Schedule, since the Effective Time, the Company has conducted its
businesses only in the ordinary course and there has not been: (1) any damage,
destruction or loss with respect to any property, assets or business of the
Company that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect; (2) any purchase,
sale
or other disposition, or any agreement or other arrangement for the purchase,
sale or other disposition, of any of the properties or assets of the Company;
(3) any contingent liability incurred by the Company as guarantor or otherwise
with respect to the obligations of others or any cancellation of any debt or
claim owing to, or waiver of any right of the Company; (4) any Encumbrance
or
lien placed on any of the properties of the Company that remains in existence
on
the date this representation is made; (5) any payment or discharge of a material
lien or liability of the Company that was not shown in the Balance Sheet or
incurred in the ordinary course of business thereafter; (6) any declaration
or
payment of any dividend on or any other distribution made in respect of the
Shares; (7) any change in the financial condition, properties, assets,
liabilities, business or operations of the Company, which change by itself
or in
conjunction with all other such changes, has resulted in a Material Adverse
Effect; or (8) any agreement or understanding for the Company to take any of
the
actions specified in sub-sections (1) through (7) above.
(n)
Claims.
Except
as set forth in Section 3.3(n) of the Disclosure Schedule, since the Effective
Time, the Company has not canceled or waived any accounts receivable, claims
or
rights in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate.
(o) Related
Arrangements.
Except
as set forth in Section 3.3(o) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not
a
party to any contract or agreement with Seller or any of Seller’s or the
Company’s Affiliates or any former or current officer or manager of the
Company.
(p) No
Other Business.
The
Company does not operate any business other than in relation to or in connection
with the Production Sharing Contracts and the Contracts. The Company has no
sales in or into, the United States of America.
Section
3.4 No
Required Consents.
Except
as disclosed in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, no consent, approval,
authorization, order, filing, notification, registration, qualification or
waiver of or with any third party or, to Seller’s knowledge, any Governmental
Authority, is required for the execution, delivery and performance by Seller
of
this Agreement or the completion of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
11
Section
3.5 Production
Sharing Contracts.
The Company owns 18.18% of the Contractor’s (as defined therein) interest in the
Block 04/36 Production Sharing Contract and 23.08% of the Contractor’s (as
defined therein) interest in the Block 05/36 Production Sharing Contract. The
Production Sharing Contracts are in full force and effect with respect to the
Company. Except as disclosed in Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedule, the
Company’s interest in the Production Sharing Contracts are free and clear of any
Encumbrances or burdens other than those created by the Production Sharing
Contracts, applicable Law or any Contract. To Seller’s knowledge, the Company
has not done any act or committed any default whereby the Production Sharing
Contracts or the Company’s interest therein would reasonably be expected to be
cancelled, terminated, encumbered, suspended, expropriated or seized, except
as
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Section 3.5 or elsewhere in this Agreement, Seller does not
represent that the Company will be able to take full advantage of its rights
under the Production Sharing Contracts, that CNOOC (or its successor in
interest) will perform its obligations under, or comply with the terms of,
the
Production Sharing Contracts, or that CNOOC (or its successor in interest)
or
any Chinese Governmental Authority will refrain from attempting to terminate
the
Production Sharing Contracts, or that CNOOC (or its successor in interest)
or
any Chinese Governmental Authority will refrain from attempting to apply varying
terms or laws to the Production Sharing Contracts, the Contractor under the
Production Sharing Contracts, or the Company.
Section
3.6 Material
Contracts.
The Seller has delivered or caused to be delivered to the Purchaser true and
complete copies of each Material Contract in its possession. The Company has
and, to Seller’s knowledge, each of the other parties thereto has, complied with
all of the material terms and provisions of the Material Contracts and neither
the Company, nor to the knowledge of Seller, any other party, is in breach
or
default under any Material Contract, except
as
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except
as disclosed in Section 3.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, to Seller’s knowledge,
no Material Contract has expired or been terminated or cancelled. Other than
the
Material Contracts, the Company is not a party to any contracts:
(a) for
the
lease of real or personal property to or from any Person;
(b) for
the
purchase or sale of natural gas, liquid fuel or electric power or capacity,
or
for the furnishing or receipt of services relating thereto such as
transportation services);
(c) for
the
purchase or sale or license of personal property or for the furnishing or
receipt of services;
(d) with
warranties still in effect in favor of the Company and/or Seller (and, in the
case of Seller, relating to assets of, or services provided to, the
Company);
(e) concerning
a partnership or joint venture;
(f) under
which the Company has incurred any debt or under which it has imposed an
Encumbrance on any of its assets, tangible or intangible;
(g) that
contains a covenant not to compete, in whole or in part, in any line of business
or with any Person in any geographical area;
(h) with
Seller or its Affiliates;
(i) for
the
employment of any individual on a full-time, part-time, consulting or other
basis;
12
(j) for
loans
to directors, officers or employees;
(k) or
collective bargaining agreements with any labor union or representative of
employees.
(l) relating
to any employee benefit plans, stock option plans, stock purchase plans, stock
appreciation plans, profit sharing plans, bonus plans or arrangements, incentive
awards plans, vacation policies, severance pay plans, deferred compensation
agreements or arrangements, executive compensation or supplemental income
arrangements;
(m) relating
to swap, exchange or financial commodity futures transactions; or
(n) which
were not entered into in the ordinary course of business or which are material
to the business Company.
Section
3.7 Capital
Commitments.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the
Execution Date, the Company has not received any authorization for expenditure
and, to Seller’s knowledge, there are no outstanding contracts, commitments, or
agreements to make capital expenditures which are binding on the Company’s
interest in the Production Sharing Contracts which, in either case, Seller
reasonably anticipates will require expenditures by the Company after the
execution of this Agreement in excess of $500,000.
Section
3.8 Production
Imbalances.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the
Effective Time, the Company had no obligation to deliver Hydrocarbon production
(or cash in lieu thereof) from the Contract Area attributable to the Company’s
interest in the Production Sharing Contracts to other owners of interests in
the
Contract Area as a result of past sales by the Company in excess of the share
of
production
to
which they were entitled.
Section
3.9 Advance
Sales and Prepayments.
Except as disclosed in Section
3.9 of
the Disclosure Schedule, all proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons attributable
to the Company’s interest in the Production Sharing Contracts are currently
being paid in full and no portion of such proceeds is currently being held
in
suspense by the purchaser thereof. Further, the Company is not obligated by
virtue of a take or pay payment, advance payment, or other similar payment,
to
deliver Hydrocarbons, or proceeds from the sale thereof, attributable to the
Company’s interest in the Production Sharing Contracts at some future time
without receiving full payment therefore at or after the time of
delivery.
Section
3.10 Calls
and Options.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Person has
any call upon, option to purchase, or similar right to obtain production from
or
attributable to the Company’s interest in the Production Sharing Contracts,
other than the rights of existing production purchasers to continue taking
production pursuant to the terms of existing production sales contracts
(including renewals thereof).
Section
3.11 Environmental.
Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, to Seller’s
knowledge, the operation of the Assets and other activities conducted under
the
Contracts have not violated applicable Environmental Laws except as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the
Disclosure Schedule, neither Seller nor the Company is aware of or has received,
as of the date hereof:
13
(a) any
written order or directive under any Environmental Law from any Governmental
Authority that requires any work, repairs, construction or capital expenditures
with respect to the Assets, where such orders or directives have not been
complied with in all material respects; or
(b) any
written demand or notice issued by any Governmental Authority with respect
to
the breach of an Environmental Law applicable to the Assets, which demand or
notice remains outstanding on the date hereof.
To
Seller’s knowledge, except with respect to the xxxxx that have been identified
to Purchaser as having been suspended and except as provided in the contracts
set forth on Section 1.2(pp) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no remaining
obligations or liabilities to plug and abandon any xxxxx that have been drilled
pursuant to the Contracts and there are no obligations or liabilities in respect
of decommissioning, dismantling, reclamation or restoration that have arisen
as
a result of activities conducted pursuant to the Contracts.
Section
3.12 Financial
Commitments Since Effective Time.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule and except for
operating costs incurred in the ordinary course of business, there have been
no
outstanding approved budget items or authorizations for expenditure or other
financial commitments respecting the Company’s interest in the Assets which have
become due, or to which the Company has committed, since the Effective Time
requiring individual expenditures of greater than $500,000.
Section
3.13 Preferential
Rights.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
preferential rights to purchase contained in the Material Contracts, or to
Seller’s knowledge, any other preferential rights to purchase, in either case
applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
3.14 Litigation.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no
claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending against Seller, the Company
or, to Seller’s knowledge, relating to the Assets or threatened against Seller,
the Company or relating to the Assets, before any court, arbitrator or
Governmental Authority, or any judgment, decree or order of any court,
arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate:
(a) is reasonably likely to result, or has resulted, in: (i) the
institution of legal proceedings to prohibit or restrain the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) a claim against Purchaser or any of
its Affiliates for damages as a result of Seller entering into this Agreement
or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (iii) a
material impairment of the ability of Seller to perform its obligations under
this Agreement; or (b) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.15 Compliance
with Laws.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, to Seller’s
knowledge, there is no uncured violation by the Company with respect to the
Production Sharing Contracts of any applicable Law or judgment of any
Governmental Authority in existence as of the Effective Time, except for
violations or alleged violations that, individually or in the aggregate, are
not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
14
Section
3.16 Taxes.
To Seller’s knowledge, other than the U.S. federal income tax consolidated group
of which Seller is the common parent corporation (the “Seller Group”), and the
U.S. federal income tax consolidated group formed by the Company and its
subsidiaries prior to the Company becoming a member of the Seller Group (the
“Former Seller Group”), the Company is not and has not been a member of any
consolidated, combined or unitary group of business entities for U.S. federal,
state, or local Tax purposes and has no liability for the Taxes of any other
person or group by contract. To Seller’s knowledge, each of the Company, the
Seller Group, and the Former Seller Group has duly and timely: (a) filed all
Tax
Returns required to be filed by it prior to the Execution Date and such Tax
Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material respects; (b) paid
all
Taxes (including installments) due and payable by it prior to the Execution
Date, other than Taxes being contested in good faith; and (c) withheld and
remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authorities all amounts required to
be
withheld by it in respect of the Tax liability of any other Person, and there
are no claims pending or, to Seller’s knowledge, threatened by any Governmental
Authority against the Company in respect of Taxes, except where the failure
to
file returns or pay or withhold Taxes would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Section
3.17 Agreements
with Tax Authorities.
Except as disclosed in Section 3.17 of the Disclosure Schedule, with respect
to
the ownership of and operations under the Production Sharing Contracts, the
Company has not entered into any agreement, waivers or other arrangement with
any Governmental Authority respecting Taxes payable by the Company or Tax
Returns required to be filed by the Company.
Section
3.18 Liability
for Brokers’ Fees.
Purchaser shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability
or
expense, as a result of undertakings or agreements of Seller, for brokerage
fees, finder’s fees, agent’s commissions or other similar forms of compensation
to an intermediary in connection with the negotiation, execution or delivery
of
this Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.
Section
3.19 Insurance.
(a) Section
3.19 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list and brief description of
all
policies of insurance currently held by or for the benefit of the Company,
or
any of its Affiliates on behalf of the Company, with respect to the business
or
operations of the Company and the Assets, true and correct copies of which
policies, including all endorsements, have been, or will promptly after the
date
hereof be, furnished to Purchaser. Such insurance policies are in full force
and
effect. The execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not cause any such insurance policies to lapse,
terminate or be canceled and will not result in any party thereto having the
right to terminate or cancel such insurance policies; provided that the
insurance policies maintained by Affiliates of the Company on behalf of the
Company and its Assets shall not be transferred pursuant to this
Agreement.
15
(b) All
assets owned by the Company that are of an insurable nature have at all times
been and are insured in amounts to the full replacement value thereof against
such risks as are, in accordance with commercial best practices, normally
insured against in the People’s Republic of China in the industry in which the
Company operates or possesses such assets. Each of such insurances has been
obtained from a well-established and reputable insurer. The Company has at
all
times been adequately covered against accident (including workplace accident
for
property and employees), third party, public liability and other risks normally
covered by insurance taken out by companies carrying on the same type of
business or having similar assets as the Company and nothing has been done
or
omitted to be done by or on behalf of the Company which would make any policy
of
insurance void or voidable or enable the insurers to avoid the same and there
is
no claim outstanding under any such policy and there are no facts or
circumstances likely to give rise to such a claim or result in an increased
rate
of premium.
(c) All
information furnished in obtaining or renewing the insurance policies of the
Company was correct, full and accurate when given and any change in that
information required to be given was correctly given. The Company is not in
default under any of these policies.
(d) The
Company has not suffered any uninsured losses or waived any rights of material
or substantial value or allowed any insurances to lapse.
(e) There
are
no circumstances which would or might entitle the Company to make a claim under
any of the Company’s insurance policies, or which would or might be required
under any of the said policies to be notified to the insurer.
Section
3.20 Warranties
as to No Payments, Gifts or Loans.
Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has made, with respect to the
Shares, the Assets or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any
offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money,
or
any offer, gift, promise to give or authorization of the giving of anything
of
value, directly or indirectly, to or for the use or benefit of any official
or
employee of any Governmental Authority or public international organization
or
to or for the use or benefit of any political party, official, or candidate
unless such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization is authorized by
applicable written Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has
made
any such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization to or for the use or
benefit of any other Person if the Company or such Affiliate knew, had a firm
belief, or was aware that there was a high probability that the other Person
would use such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization for any of the
purposes described in the preceding sentence. The foregoing warranties do not
apply to any facilitating or expediting payment to secure the performance of
routine government action.
Section
3.21 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
To Seller’s knowledge, except for Liabilities that are disclosed in or arise
under this Agreement and the Disclosure Schedule hereto, the Company has no
Liabilities other than: (a) Liabilities reflected or reserved against in the
Balance Sheet, or (b) Liabilities which have arisen in the ordinary course
of
business.
Section
3.22 Copies
of Documents.
All documents purporting to be copies of originals provided to or caused to
be
provided by Seller or the Company to the Purchaser or its legal counsel,
accountants or other representatives are true, correct and complete copies
of
the originals.
16
ARTICLE
4. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
represents and warrants to Seller the following:
Section
4.1 Existence
and Qualification.
Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of Singapore.
Section
4.2 Power.
Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform
this
Agreement (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser
as set out herein) and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (and such documents).
Section
4.3 Authorization
and Enforceability.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (and all documents
required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser as set out herein), and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been
duly
and validly authorized by all necessary action required under Purchaser’s
organizational documents. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by
Purchaser (and all documents required to be executed and delivered by Purchaser
as set out herein will be duly executed and delivered by Purchaser), and this
Agreement constitutes, and when executed and delivered such documents shall
constitute, the valid and binding obligations of Purchaser, enforceable in
accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy or other similar Laws affecting the rights and remedies
of
creditors generally as well as to general principles of equity (regardless
of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
Section
4.4 No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not:
(a)
violate any provision of the governing documents of Purchaser; (b) result in
a
default (with due notice or lapse of time or both) or the creation of any
Encumbrance or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration under any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license or
agreement to which Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound; (c) violate
any
judgment, order, ruling, or regulation applicable to Purchaser as a party in
interest; or (d) violate any Laws applicable to Purchaser or any of its
assets, except any matters described in clauses (b), (c) or (d) above which
would not have a material adverse effect on Purchaser or its
properties.
Section
4.5 Consents,
Approvals or Waivers.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser will not
be
subject to any consent, approval or waiver from any Governmental Authority
or
other third Person except as set forth in Section 4.5 of the Disclosure
Schedule.
Section
4.6 Litigation.
There
are no outstanding judgments, orders, injunctions or decrees issued by any
Governmental Authority or arbitrator specifically affecting Purchaser’s ability
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and there are no actions,
suits
or proceedings pending, or to Purchaser’s knowledge, threatened in writing
before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator against Purchaser or any
Affiliate of Purchaser which are reasonably likely to impair materially
Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
17
Section
4.7 Financing.
Purchaser has sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources of
immediately available funds (in United States dollars) to enable it to pay
the
Closing Payment at Closing.
Section
4.8 Securities
Act.
The Shares are being acquired for investment only and not with a view to any
public distribution thereof, and Purchaser shall not offer to sell or otherwise
dispose of any of the Shares in violation of any applicable registration
requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities
Act”),
or
any other applicable Law. Purchaser (i) understands that the Shares have not
been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities or blue
sky laws, and, as a result, are subject to substantial restrictions on transfer;
and (ii) acknowledges that the Shares must be held indefinitely unless
subsequently registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state
securities or blue sky laws, or sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to
exemptions from registration under the Securities Act or such laws.
Section
4.9 Warranties
as to No Payments, Gifts or Loans.
Neither Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates has made, with respect to the
Shares, the Assets or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any
offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money,
or
any offer, gift, promise to give or authorization of the giving of anything
of
value, directly or indirectly, to or for the use or benefit of any official
or
employee of any Governmental Authority or public international organization
or
to or for the use or benefit of any political party, official, or candidate
unless such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization is authorized by
applicable written Laws. Purchaser further warrants that neither it nor any
of
its Affiliates has made any such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization
to or for the use or benefit of any other Person if Purchaser or such Affiliate
knew, had a firm belief, or was aware that there was a high probability that
the
other Person would use such offer, payment, gift, promise or authorization
for
any of the purposes described in the preceding sentence. The foregoing
warranties do not apply to any facilitating or expediting payment to secure
the
performance of routine government action.
Section
4.10 Review
of
Disclosed Data.
Purchaser is experienced and sophisticated in the acquisition of oil and gas
interests and is capable of independently evaluating the merits and risks of
the
purchase of the Shares and the Assets. Purchaser has been granted access to
the
Assets and certain consultants of the Company and the Records. Purchaser has
familiarized itself with the Laws of the People’s Republic of China that are
relevant to the business of the Company and all written information provided
or
made available to Purchaser by Seller or Seller’s representatives in connection
with Purchaser’s investigation of the Company to the extent each regulates or
affects the business of the Company. Purchaser was advised by independent
counsel of its own choosing and such other Persons it deemed appropriate in
connection with this Agreement, and Purchaser has relied solely on the basis
of
its own independent due diligence investigation of the Company and the Assets
in
making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. Purchaser is able to bear the economic risks
of its acquisition of and ownership of the Shares.
Section
4.11 Liability
for Brokers’ Fees.
Seller
shall not directly or indirectly have any responsibility, liability or expense,
as a result of undertakings or agreements of Purchaser, for brokerage fees,
finder’s fees, agent’s commissions or other similar forms of compensation to an
intermediary in connection with the negotiation, execution or delivery of this
Agreement or any agreement or transaction contemplated hereby.
18
ARTICLE
5. COVENANTS
OF THE PARTIES
Section
5.1 Access.From
the
Execution Date until the Closing Date, Seller shall cause the Company to give
Purchaser and its representatives access to the Assets and access to and the
right to copy, at Purchaser’s expense, the Records, each for the purpose of
conducting an investigation of the Company, but only to the extent that the
Company may do so without violating any obligations to any third Person and
to
the extent that the Company has authority to grant such access without breaching
any restriction binding on the Company. Such access by Purchaser shall be
limited to the Company’s normal business hours with reasonable advance notice,
and Purchaser’s investigation shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes
interference with the operations of the Company and the Assets. All information
obtained by Purchaser and its representatives under this Section 5.1 shall
be
subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement between Ultra and
Purchaser dated July 2, 2007 (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”).
Section
5.2 Notification
of Breaches
(a) Until
Closing, Purchaser shall notify Seller promptly after Purchaser obtains actual
knowledge that any representation or warranty of Seller contained in this
Agreement is untrue in any material respect or will be untrue in any material
respect as of the Closing Date or that any covenant or agreement to be performed
or observed by Seller prior to or on the Closing Date has not been so performed
or observed in any material respect.
(b) Until
Closing, Seller shall notify Purchaser after Seller obtains actual knowledge
that any representation or warranty of Purchaser contained in this Agreement
is
untrue in any material respect or will be untrue in any material respect as
of
the Closing Date or that any covenant or agreement to be performed or observed
by Purchaser prior to or on the Closing Date has not been so performed or
observed in any material respect.
(c) If
any of
Purchaser’s or Seller’s representations or warranties is untrue or shall become
untrue in any material respect between the Execution Date and the Closing Date,
or if any of Purchaser’s or Seller’s covenants or agreements to be performed or
observed prior to or on the Closing Date shall not have been so performed or
observed in any material respect, but if such breach of representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement shall (if curable) be cured by or before Closing
without causing a Material Adverse Effect, then such breach shall be considered
not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement.
Section
5.3 Public
Announcements.
Until
Closing, no Party, nor any of its Affiliates, shall make any press release
or
other public announcement regarding the existence of this Agreement, the
contents hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior
written consent of the other Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed); provided, however, the foregoing shall not restrict
disclosures by any Party or any of its Affiliates: (a) that are required by
applicable securities or other Laws, court orders or the applicable rules of
any
stock exchange having jurisdiction over the disclosing Party or any of its
Affiliates; or (b) to Governmental Authorities and third Persons holding
preferential rights to purchase or similar rights, or rights of consent, that
may be applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as
reasonably necessary to obtain waivers of such rights, or such
consents.
19
Section
5.4 Operation
of Business.
Except
as provided in the current approved work program and budget under the XXXx,
as
otherwise set forth in Sections 3.7 and 3.12 to the Disclosure Schedule or
upon
the prior written consent of Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, until Closing, Seller shall cause the Company to: (a) operate its
business in the ordinary course; (b) not assign, transfer, terminate, amend,
execute or extend any Material Contracts; (c) maintain insurance coverage
on the Assets in the amounts and of the types presently in force; (d) use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect the
Production Sharing Contracts; (e) maintain any Governmental Authorizations
affecting the Assets which are held by the Company; (f) not transfer, sell,
hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any Assets except for sales and
dispositions of Hydrocarbons and Equipment made in the ordinary course of
business; (g) notify Purchaser, and provide Purchaser with a copy of, as soon
as
reasonably practicable, any written notice, demand, citation or other
communication received by the Company or Seller from any third Person (including
any Governmental Authority) that is material to the operation and management
of
the Contracts; (h) not compromise, waive or settle any claim relating to the
Assets; and (i) prior to any vote or decision to be taken by any committee
under
any Contract or any subcommittee of such committees, consult with Purchaser
in
relation to such vote or decision. Except as provided in the current approved
work program and budget under the XXXx, as otherwise set forth in Sections
3.7
and 3.12 to the Disclosure Schedule or upon prior written notification to the
Purchaser, until Closing, Seller shall cause the Company to not commit to any
operation reasonably anticipated to require future capital expenditures by
the
Company in excess of $500,000. In the event of an emergency, Seller may cause
the Company to take such action as a prudent operator would take and shall
notify Purchaser of such action promptly thereafter.
Section
5.5 Conduct
of the Company. Seller
shall not permit the Company to do any of the following without the prior
written consent of the Purchaser: (a) amend its articles of incorporation
or bylaws; (b) issue, redeem or otherwise acquire any Shares or issue any
option, warrant or right relating to the Shares or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any Shares or declare or pay any distribution (whether
in cash, property or any combination thereof), except distributions of Excluded
Assets and distributions that will be deducted from the Purchase Price as
Intragroup Receipts; (c) incur or assume any liabilities, obligations or
indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such liabilities, obligations
or indebtedness, other than accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course
of
business or Intragroup Advances or Intragroup Receipts; (d) lend to any Person
(except as set forth in Section 5.5(i)) or make an equity investment in any
other Person; (e) make any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice or policy other than those required by the Accounting Principles;
(f)
acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion
of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,
partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof;
or
otherwise acquire any assets (other than in the ordinary course of business)
for
an amount greater than $500,000; (g) enter into any lease of real property,
except any renewals of existing leases in the ordinary course of business;
(h)
enter into any settlement of any issue with respect to any assessment or audit
or other administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to Taxes; (i) make
any loan to any Person other than: (A) accounts receivable in the ordinary
course of business; (B) advances or cash call payments to the operator as
required under applicable operating agreements (including the XXXx); (C)
advances on behalf of co-owners for costs under applicable operating agreements
(including the XXXx); or (D) other loans in the ordinary course of business;
(j)
waive, compromise, or settle any claim of the Company; (k) terminate or
voluntarily relinquish any Governmental Authorization necessary for the conduct
of the Company’s business or operations or which relates in any way to any
Asset; (l) hire any employee or engage, or materially amend the terms of
engagement of, any consultant, contractor or advisor other than in the ordinary
course of business or where the term of any such engagement will not continue
in
effect after Closing; (m) enter into any settlement agreement with any Person
in
relation to any dispute arising after the Execution Date; or (n) agree to do
any
of the foregoing.
Purchaser’s approval of any action restricted by this Section 5.5 shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall be considered granted within five
(5)
Business Days (unless a shorter time is reasonably required by the circumstances
and such shorter time is specified in Seller’s notice) of Seller’s notice to
Purchaser requesting such consent unless Purchaser notifies Seller to the
contrary during that period.
20
Section
5.6 Indemnity
Regarding Access.
Purchaser agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller, the Company,
all
of its Affiliates, the other owners of interests in the Assets, and all such
Persons’ directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and
against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including
court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees), including claims, liabilities,
losses, costs and expenses attributable to personal injury, death, or property
damage, arising out of or relating to access to the Assets prior to Closing
by
Purchaser, its Affiliates, or its or their directors, officers, employees,
agents or representatives, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART
BY
THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER
LEGAL FAULT OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON.
Section
5.7 Consents
and Preferential Rights.
Promptly after the Execution Date, Seller shall cause the Company to prepare
and
send: (i) notices to the holders of any required consents to assignment, if
any,
that are set forth in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule requesting consents
to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (ii) notices to the
holders of any applicable preferential rights to purchase, rights of first
opportunity or similar rights, if any, that are set forth in Section 3.13 of
the
Disclosure Schedule in compliance with the terms of such rights and requesting
waivers of such rights. Seller shall cause the Company to use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such consents to assignment and waivers of
preferential rights to purchase or similar rights (or the exercise thereof)
to
be obtained and delivered prior to Closing, provided that neither Seller nor
the
Company shall be required to make payments or undertake obligations to or for
the benefit of the holders of such rights in order to obtain the required
consents and waivers. Upon Seller’s request, Purchaser shall reasonably
cooperate with the Company in seeking to obtain such consents to assignment
and
waivers of preferential rights. Seller shall cause the Company to timely provide
Purchaser with copies of all notices, consents and waivers obtained pursuant
to
in this Section 5.7.
Section
5.8 Governmental
Reviews.
Seller
and Purchaser shall each, and Seller shall cause the Company to, in a timely
manner: (a) make all required filings, if any, and prepare applications to
and
conduct negotiations, with each Governmental Authority as to which such filings,
applications or negotiations are necessary or appropriate in the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) provide such information as the
other may reasonably request in order to make such filings, prepare such
applications and conduct such negotiations. The Parties shall cooperate and
use
all reasonable efforts to assist each other with respect to such filings,
applications and negotiations.
21
Section
5.9 [Omitted]
Section
5.10 Replacement
of Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees.
The Parties understand that none of the bonds, letters of credit and guarantees,
if any, posted by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller with any Governmental
Authority or third Person and relating to the Company or the Assets are to
be
transferred to Purchaser. On or before Closing, Purchaser shall obtain, or
cause
to be obtained in the name of Purchaser, replacements for the bonds, letters
of
credit and guarantees set out in Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, to
the
extent such replacements are necessary to permit the cancellation of the bonds,
letters of credit and guarantees posted by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller,
or
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
5.11 Further
Assurances.
(a) Purchaser
and Seller shall use (and Seller shall cause the Company to use) their
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain (or cooperate with the other
Party
to obtain) all approvals, consents and waivers necessary or advisable for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) take
all
actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement and (iii) cause the fulfillment at the earliest practicable
date
of all the conditions to their respective obligations to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. After Closing, each Party agrees
to
take such further actions and to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such
further documents as are reasonably requested by the other Party for carrying
out the purposes of this Agreement or of any document delivered pursuant to
this
Agreement.
(b) No
Party
shall enter into any transaction (i) that would prevent such Party from
obtaining an approval from a Governmental Authority that is required for such
Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (ii)
that would require or give rise to an additional waiting period or an
investigation by a Governmental Authority or that would require an additional
approval of a Governmental Authority, in each case with respect to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
5.12 Permits.
Seller shall cause the Permits described in Section 3.3(a)(i) of the Disclosure
Schedule to be, as of the Closing Date, valid and in full force and effect.
Seller and Purchaser will cooperate in good faith to determine if the Permits
described in Section 3.3(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule are reasonably
necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business prior to Closing. If Seller
and Purchaser conclude that any of such Permits are reasonably necessary, Seller
will use all reasonable efforts to acquire such necessary Permits and cause
them
to be valid and in full force and effect on the Closing Date. If any of the
Permits described in Section 3.3(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule or any of
the
Permits described in Section 3.3(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule that are
determined to be reasonably necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business
are not, as of the Closing Date, valid and in full force and effect, Seller
agrees to indemnify Purchaser for any costs, fees or penalties incurred by
Purchaser in order to cause the Permits to be valid and in full force and effect
subsequent to the Closing Date. The indemnification provided for herein shall
not be limited to the amounts set forth in Section 10.1(e). If any other Permits
are required for the operation of the Company’s business, Seller will cooperate
with Purchaser in acquiring such Permits, but shall have no liability to
Purchaser if such Permits are not acquired prior to or after the Closing Date,
and the failure to acquire such Permits shall not be deemed a Material Adverse
Effect as provided in Section 3.3(m).
22
ARTICLE
6. CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
Section
6.1 Conditions
of Seller to Closing.
The
obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to Closing, or
unconditional waiver by Seller in writing, of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations.
The
representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Article 4 shall be
true
and correct in all material respects, other than those representations and
warranties of Purchaser that are qualified by materiality, which shall be true
and correct in all respects, as of the Execution Date and as of the Closing
Date
as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except representations and
warranties which specifically relate to a particular date or period, which
shall
be true and correct as of such date or for such period;
(b) Performance.
Purchaser shall have performed and observed, in all material respects, all
covenants and agreements to be performed or observed by it under this Agreement
prior to or on the Closing Date;
(c) No
Action.
On the
Closing Date, there shall be no outstanding judgment, order, injunction or
decree issued by a Governmental Authority or arbitrator enjoining or restraining
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall
any action, suit or other proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by
Seller or any Affiliate of Seller) be pending or threatened before any
Governmental Authority or arbitrator seeking to enjoin or restrain the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or recover
substantial damages from Seller or any Affiliate of Seller resulting therefrom;
(d) Consents
and Waivers.
All
consents and approvals set forth in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule
required for the transfer of the Shares from Seller to Purchaser as contemplated
under this Agreement shall have been granted, and all preferential purchase
rights, rights of first opportunity and similar rights set forth in Section
3.13
of the Disclosure Schedule shall have been waived, expired without exercise
or,
in the case of rights of first opportunity, resulted in an offer that was
rejected by Seller in accordance with the terms of the right; provided, however,
that if any preferential right described in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule is exercised with respect to the Block 04/36 Production Sharing
Contract and not the Block 05/36 Production Sharing Contract, or vice-versa,
the
condition to closing set forth herein shall be deemed satisfied with respect
to
the portion of the Assets not acquired pursuant to the exercise of such
preferential right; and
(e) Delivery.
Purchaser
shall have delivered, or be prepared to deliver on the Closing Date, each item
set forth in Section 7.3.
Section
6.2 Conditions
of Purchaser to Closing.
The
obligations of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to Closing, or
unconditional waiver by Purchaser in writing, of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations.
The
representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Article 3 shall be true
and correct in all material respects, other than those representations and
warranties of Seller that are qualified by Material Adverse Effect or
materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects, as of the
Execution Date and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date, except representations and warranties which specifically relate
to
a particular date or period, which shall be true and correct as of such date
or
for such period;
23
(b) Performance.
Seller
shall have performed and observed, in all material respects, all covenants
and
agreements to be performed or observed by it under this Agreement prior to
or on
the Closing Date;
(c) No
Action.
On the
Closing Date, there shall be no outstanding judgment, order, injunction or
decree issued by a Governmental Authority or arbitrator enjoining or restraining
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall
any action, suit or other proceeding (excluding any such matter initiated by
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates) be pending or threatened before any
Governmental Authority or arbitrator seeking to enjoin or restrain the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or recover
substantial damages from Purchaser or any Affiliate of Purchaser resulting
therefrom;
(d) Consents
and Waivers.
All
consents and approvals set forth in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule
required for the transfer of the Shares from Seller to Purchaser as contemplated
under this Agreement shall have been granted, and all preferential purchase
rights, rights of first opportunity and similar rights set forth in Section
3.13
of the Disclosure Schedule shall have been waived, expired without exercise
or,
in the case of rights of first opportunity, resulted in an offer that was
rejected by Seller in accordance with the terms of the right; provided, however,
that if any preferential right described in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule is exercised with respect to the Block 04/36 Production Sharing
Contract and not the Block 05/36 Production Sharing Contract, or vice-versa,
the
condition to closing set forth herein shall be deemed satisfied with respect
to
the portion of the Assets not acquired pursuant to the exercise of such
preferential right; and
(e) Delivery.
Seller
shall have delivered, or be prepared to deliver on the Closing Date, each item
set forth in Section 7.2.
ARTICLE
7. CLOSING
Section
7.1 Time
and
Place of Closing.
The
consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares contemplated by this
Agreement (the “Closing”)
shall,
unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Purchaser and Seller, take place at
the
offices of Purchaser, 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, #00-00, XxxxxxxXxxxx Xxxxxx 000000,
at
10:00 a.m., local time, on October 26, 2007, or if all conditions in Article
6
to be satisfied prior to Closing have not yet been satisfied or waived, as
soon
thereafter as such conditions have been satisfied or waived, subject to the
provisions of Article 9. The date on which Closing occurs is referred to herein
as the “Closing
Date”.
Section
7.2 Obligations
of Seller at Closing.
At
Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and
subject to the simultaneous performance by Purchaser of its obligations pursuant
to Section 7.3, Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser,
among other things, the following:
24
(a) original
stock certificates representing all of the Shares, endorsed in blank or
accompanied by duly executed assignment documents;
(b) certificates
as to legal existence and good standing from the appropriate Governmental
Authorities, dated on or about the Closing Date, as to the Company and Seller
and qualification to do business in the jurisdictions in which it operates
as to
the Company;
(c) certified
copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Seller approving
the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and authorizing the transfer of
the
Shares from the Seller to the Purchaser as contemplated in this
Agreement;
(d) an
officer’s certificate in a form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser to the
effect that each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 is satisfied in
all
respects;
(e) an
original of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company terminating,
rescinding and canceling all powers of attorney previously issued by the Company
authorizing Persons to act on behalf of the Company;
(f) an
original of the resignation of each member of the Board of Directors of the
Company, which shall include such member’s waiver of all claims against the
Company;
(g) an
original of the notices of resignation of each member, representative, alternate
representative or other appointee, as applicable, of the Company on all
committees formed pursuant to any of the Contracts, and all subcommittees of
each such committee;
(h) written
evidence reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser of the appointment as new members
of the Board of Directors of the Company of such Persons that Purchaser shall
have identified in written notice to Seller at least ten (10) Business Days
prior to the Closing Date, with such appointments to be effective as of
Closing;
(i) an
original of the Company’s notices of appointment of each replacement member,
representative, alternate representative or other appointee, as applicable,
of
the Company on all committees formed pursuant to any of the Contracts, and
all
subcommittees of each such committee, in each case as notified by Purchaser
to
Seller at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, with such
appointments to be effective as of Closing;
(j) a
copy of
each consent or waiver of preferential purchase rights made by the holders
of
any consent rights disclosed in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, or
any
of the preferential purchase rights disclosed in Section 3.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule;
(k) the
corporate books and records of the Company;
(l) written
evidence reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser of the termination of any tax
indemnity, sharing, allocation or similar agreement or arrangement between
Seller and/or any of its Affiliates and the Company; and
25
(m) written
evidence reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser that Seller and the Company have
caused all intercompany obligations of the Company to Seller or Seller to
Company to be cancelled.
Section
7.3 Obligations
of Purchaser at Closing.
At
Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and
subject to the simultaneous performance by Seller of its obligations pursuant
to
Section 7.2, Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller among
other things, the following:
(a) the
Closing Payment specified in Section 7.4 (a);
(b) certified
copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of Purchaser approving
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and authorizing the purchase of
the
Shares from Seller as contemplated by this Agreement; and
(c)
an
officer’s certificate in a form reasonably satisfactory to Seller to the effect
that each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 is satisfied in all
respects.
Section
7.4 Closing
Payment and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustments.
(a) Not
later
than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare
and
deliver to Purchaser, using and based upon the best information available to
Seller, a preliminary settlement statement estimating the Adjusted Purchase
Price after giving effect to all Purchase Price adjustments set forth in Section
2.2, as well as the bank name, account number and routing information for the
account into which Seller desires Purchaser deposit the payment to be made
by
Purchaser at Closing pursuant to Section 7.3(a). The estimate delivered in
accordance with this Section 7.4(a) shall constitute the dollar amount to be
paid by Purchaser at the Closing (the “Closing
Payment”).
(b) As
soon
as reasonably practicable after Closing but not later than the sixtieth (60th)
day following the Closing Date, Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to Seller
a
statement setting forth the final calculation of the Adjusted Purchase Price
and
showing the calculation of each adjustment. Purchaser shall, at Seller’s
request, supply reasonable documentation available to evidence any Intragroup
Advances and Intragroup Receipts. Seller agrees to permit Purchaser and its
representatives, during normal business hours, to have reasonable access to,
and
to examine and make copies of all books and records necessary to prepare the
Adjusted Purchase Price. As soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than
the thirtieth (30th) day following receipt of Purchaser’s statement hereunder,
Seller shall deliver to Purchaser a written report containing any changes that
Seller proposes be made to such statement. The Parties shall undertake to agree
on the final statement of the Adjusted Purchase Price no later than one hundred
twenty (120) days after the Closing Date. In the event that the Parties cannot
reach agreement within such period of time, any Party may refer the remaining
matters in dispute for resolution to an independent accounting firm mutually
agreed to by the Parties (the “Independent
Auditors”).
The
Independent Auditors’ determination shall be made within thirty (30) days after
submission of the matters in dispute, shall be set forth in a written report
delivered to the Parties and shall be final and binding on all Parties, without
right of appeal. In determining the proper amount of any adjustment to the
Purchase Price, the Independent Auditors shall not increase the Purchase Price
more than the increase proposed by Seller nor decrease the Purchase Price more
than the decrease proposed by Purchaser, as applicable. The Independent Auditors
shall act as an expert for the limited purpose of determining the specific
disputed matters submitted by the Parties and may not award damages or penalties
to any Party with respect to any matter. Each Party shall bear its own legal
fees and other costs of presenting its case. Seller shall bear one-half (½) of
the costs and expenses of the Independent Auditors, and Purchaser shall bear
one-half (½) of the costs and expenses of the Independent Auditors. Within ten
(10) Business Days after the earlier of (i) the expiration of Seller’s thirty
(30) day review period without delivery of any written report or (ii) the date
on which the Parties or the Independent Auditors, as applicable, finally
determines the Adjusted Purchase Price, (x) Purchaser shall pay to Seller
(to Seller’s account as delivered to Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.4(a)) the
amount by which the Adjusted Purchase Price exceeds the Closing Payment, or
(y) Seller shall pay to Purchaser the amount by which the Closing Payment
exceeds the Adjusted Purchase Price, as applicable. Any post-closing payment
pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall bear interest from the Closing Date to the
date of payment at the Agreed Interest Rate.
26
Section
7.5 Casualty
or Condemnation Loss.
If,
after the Execution Date but prior to Closing Date, any portion of the Assets
is
destroyed by fire or other casualty or is expropriated or taken in condemnation
or under right of eminent domain, Purchaser shall nevertheless be required
to
close and Seller shall at Closing assign to Purchaser all rights to insurance
and other claims against third parties, if any, with respect to the casualty
or
taking except insurance issued by or rights against Seller or its Affiliates.
Notwithstanding the preceding, if the loss caused by such casualty or taking
exceeds $25,000,000, Seller or Purchaser may, by notice to the other(s) within
five (5) days of such casualty or taking (or, in the case of Purchaser, within
five (5) Business Days of learning about such casualty or taking), but in no
event later than one (1) Business Day prior to Closing, elect to terminate
this
Agreement under Section 9.1
Section
7.6 Update
of Disclosure Schedule. Prior
to
the Closing Date, Seller may, at its option, update the Disclosure Schedule
with
additional disclosures that have arisen since the Execution Date. If Seller
chooses to exercise such option, Seller shall provide such additional
disclosures to Purchaser by written notice no later than three (3) Business
Days
prior to Closing. The additional disclosures delivered by Seller shall be deemed
to be part of the Disclosure Schedule as delivered to Purchaser on the date
of
this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
8. TAX
MATTERS
Section
8.1 Liability
for Taxes
(a) Except
as
set out in Section 8.1(b), Purchaser shall be liable for, and shall indemnify
and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates from and against, any Taxes imposed
on or incurred by the Company attributable to any taxable period after the
Effective Time; provided, however, that except for Purchaser’s indemnification
obligations provided in this Article 8, Purchaser will have no obligation to
reimburse Seller with respect to any U.S.
federal
income taxes imposed on the Seller Group or Former Seller Group.
(b) Seller
shall be liable to reimburse Purchaser for any Taxes imposed on or incurred
by
the Company and attributable to any taxable period ending on or prior to the
Effective Time (other than by retroactive or retrospective application), and
the
portion, determined as described in Section 8.1(c), of any such Taxes for any
taxable period beginning prior to the Effective Time and ending after the
Effective Time which is allocable to the portion of such period occurring prior
to the Effective Time (the “Pre-Effective
Time Period”)
(other
than by retroactive or retrospective application), but excluding any such Taxes
that have been reflected as current accrued liabilities of the Company on the
Balance Sheet; but only after Purchaser has used its reasonable efforts to
mitigate and minimize such Taxes and to seek recovery of such Taxes or portions
thereof from appropriate third parties, and then only to the extent that
Purchaser has been unable to mitigate or minimize such Taxes or recover such
Taxes or portions thereof from appropriate third parties.
In
addition to the foregoing, subject to Purchaser’s indemnification obligations as
set forth in this Article 8, Seller shall be liable to reimburse Purchaser
for
any Taxes of the Seller Group or Former Seller Group that are imposed upon
or
required to be paid by the Company. Upon receipt of notice from Purchaser of
such reimbursement amount, Seller shall within thirty (30) Business Days pay
such amounts to Purchaser.
27
(c) Whenever
it is necessary for purposes of this Agreement to determine the portion of
any
Taxes of or with respect to the Company for a taxable period beginning prior
to
and ending after the Effective Time which is allocable to the Pre-Effective
Time
Period or the period occurring on or after the Effective Time (the “Post-Effective
Time Period”),
the
determination shall be made: (i) in the case of property, ad valorem or similar
Taxes (which are not based on or measured by units of production of
Hydrocarbons), by allocating all such Taxes on a per diem basis; (ii) in the
case of franchise, capital or similar Taxes (which are not based on or measured
by income or profit), by allocating all such Taxes on a per diem basis; and
(iii) in the case of other Taxes, by assuming that each of the Pre-Effective
Time Period and the Post-Effective Time Period constitutes a separate taxable
period and by taking into account the actual taxable events occurring during
each such period.
Section
8.2 Preparation
and Filing of Tax Returns.
(a) With
respect to each Tax Return for, by or with respect to the Company that is
required to be filed on or before the Closing Date, Seller shall cause the
Company to: (i) cause such Tax Return to be prepared; (ii) cause to be included
in such Tax Return all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit or
other items (collectively, “Tax
Items”)
required to be included therein; (iii) timely file or cause to be filed
(assuming it has authority to do so) such Tax Return with the appropriate taxing
authority; and (iv) subject to any right of indemnification under Section 8.1,
pay the amount of Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Return.
Purchaser shall not, without the prior written consent of Seller, file or cause
to be filed an amended Tax Return with respect to any Tax Return required to
be
filed by the Company pursuant to this Section 8.2(a).
(b) With
respect to each Tax Return for, by or with respect to the Company that is
required to be filed after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall cause such Tax
Return to be prepared, shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all Tax
Items required to be included therein, and shall cause the Company to timely
file such Tax Return with the appropriate taxing authority and shall timely
pay
the amount of Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Return.
(c) Any
Tax
Return to be prepared pursuant to the provision of this Article 8 shall be
prepared in a manner consistent with tax accounting practices and
interpretations followed in prior years with respect to similar Tax Returns,
except for changes required by changes in Law.
Section
8.3 Allocation
Arrangements.
Effective as of the Closing Date, any tax indemnity, sharing, allocation or
similar agreement or arrangement that may be in effect prior to the Closing
Date
between Seller and the Company, shall be extinguished in full, and any
liabilities or rights existing under any such agreement or arrangement shall
cease to exist and shall no longer be enforceable.
28
Section
8.4 Access
to
Information.
(a) Seller
shall grant to Purchaser access at all reasonable times to all of the
information, books and records relating to the Company within the possession
of
Seller (including work papers and correspondence with taxing authorities, but
excluding Excluded Records), and shall afford Purchaser the right (at
Purchaser’s expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to
the extent reasonably necessary to permit Purchaser to prepare Tax Returns,
to
conduct negotiations with Tax authorities, and to implement the provisions
of,
or to investigate or defend any claims between the Parties arising under, this
Article 8; provided that such information, books and records, and extracts
therefrom, shall be maintained as strictly confidential, unless
otherwise required by applicable Laws, Governmental Authority, stock exchange
regulations or legal proceedings.
(b) Purchaser
shall grant Seller access at all reasonable times to all of the information,
books and records relating to the Company within the possession of Purchaser
or
the Company (including work papers and correspondence with taxing authorities),
and shall afford Seller the right (at Seller’s expense) to take extracts
therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to
permit Seller to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax
authorities, and to implement the provisions of, or to investigate or defend
any
claims between the Parties arising under, this Article 8; provided that such
information, books and records, and extracts therefrom, shall be maintained
as
strictly confidential unless otherwise required by applicable Laws, Governmental
Authority, stock exchange regulations or legal proceedings.
(c) Each
of
Seller and Purchaser shall preserve and retain all schedules, work papers and
other documents in its possession directly relating to any Tax returns of,
or
with respect to, the Company or to any tax claims, tax audits or other tax
proceedings affecting the Company, until the expiration of the statute of
limitations (including extensions) applicable to the taxable period to which
such documents relate or until the final determination of any controversy with
respect to such taxable period, and until the final determination of any
payments that may be required with respect to such taxable period under this
Agreement.
Section
8.5 Tax
Proceedings.
In the
event Purchaser, the Company, or any of their Affiliates receives notice of
any
examination, claim, adjustment or other proceeding with respect to the liability
of the Company for Taxes for any taxable period for which Seller is or may
be
liable under Section 8.1, Purchaser shall, within ten (10) days, notify Seller
in writing thereof and Seller shall be entitled, at its option and at its
expense, to control or settle the contest of such examination, claim, adjustment
or other proceeding. The Parties shall cooperate with each other, and with
their
respective Affiliates, and will consult with each other in the settlement of
any
proceeding described in this Section 8.5 that could affect the others. Purchaser
will provide, or cause to be provided, to Seller and its Affiliates necessary
authorizations, including powers of attorney, to control any such
proceeding.
Section
8.6 Indemnification
Procedures.
Any
indemnification claims pursuant to this Article 8 shall be asserted and resolved
in accordance with the terms of Section 10.2, which shall be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference, mutatis
mutandis.
29
Section
8.7 Refunds.
Purchaser agrees to pay to Seller any Tax Refund (whether by payment, credit,
offset or otherwise, and together with any interest thereon) received after
the
Closing Date by Purchaser or its Affiliates, including the Company, in respect
of any Taxes for which Seller is liable under Section 8.1. For a period of
eighteen (18) months from the Closing Date, Purchaser shall reasonably cooperate
with Seller and its Affiliates (at Seller’s cost) in order to take all necessary
steps to claim any such Tax Refund; provided, however, that with respect to
any
Export Levy Refund or Special Profit Charge Refund, such period of cooperation
shall be for five (5) years from the Closing Date; and provided further that
Purchaser shall not be required to take any actions that reasonably would result
in additional Tax liability being imposed on the Purchaser or its Affiliates
for
which Seller is not obligated to indemnify hereunder. Any such Tax Refund
received by Purchaser or its Affiliates or the Company shall be paid to Seller
within thirty (30) Business Days after such Tax Refund is received.
Section
8.8 Sales
or Use Tax, Recording Fees and Similar Taxes and Fees.
Purchaser shall bear any sales, use, excise, real property transfer or gain,
gross receipts, goods and services, registration, capital, documentary, stamp
or
transfer Taxes, recording fees and similar Taxes and fees incurred and imposed
upon, or with respect to, the property transfers or other transactions
contemplated hereby. If such transfers or transactions are exempt from any
such
taxes or fees upon the filing of an appropriate certificate or other evidence
of
exemption, Purchaser shall timely furnish to Seller such certificate or
evidence.
Section
8.9 Section 338(h)(10)
Election.
(a) Purchaser
and Seller shall make timely and effective joint elections (the “Section 338(h)(10)
Elections”)
under
Section 338(h)(10) of the Code with regard to the purchase of the Shares.
At Closing, Purchaser and Seller shall execute a properly completed IRS
Form 8023 (Elections Under Section 338 for Corporations Making
Qualified Stock Purchases) making the Section 338(h)(10) Election and
Purchaser shall file such IRS Form 8023 with the IRS on a timely basis
following the Closing Date.
(b) Purchaser
and Seller agree to allocate the Adjusted Purchase Price (together with any
assumed liabilities and other items required to be taken into account by the
Code) among the assets of the Company as set forth on
Section 8.9 of
the
Disclosure Schedule (the
“Asset
Allocation”).
The
Asset Allocation shall be reflected on the appropriate Section 338 Forms
(as defined below). The Asset Allocation shall be used for purposes of
determining the aggregate deemed sales price and adjusted grossed-up basis
under
the applicable Treasury Regulations and in reporting the deemed sale of assets
of the Company in connection with the Section 338(h)(10) Elections.
Purchaser, Seller and their respective Affiliates hereby agree that they will
report the federal, state, foreign and other tax consequences of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with the
Section 338(h)(10) Elections and the Asset Allocation.
(c) Purchaser
shall be responsible for the preparation of all forms and documents required
in
connection with the Section 338(h)(10) Elections. Purchaser, Seller and
their respective Affiliates shall timely file all forms required to be filed
to
make the Section 338(h)(10) Elections and shall provide each other with
evidence that such filings have been made. Seller and/or its Affiliates shall
execute and deliver to Purchaser such documents or forms consistent with the
Asset Allocation (including Section 338 Forms, as defined below) as
Purchaser shall request or as are required by applicable Law for an effective
Section 338(h)(10) Election. “Section 338
Forms”
shall
mean all returns, documents, statements, and other forms that are required
to be
submitted to any federal, state, county or other local taxing authority in
connection with a Section 338(h)(10) Election, including any “statement of
Section 338 election” and Internal Revenue Service Forms 8023 and 8883
(together with any schedules or attachments thereto) that are required pursuant
to the Treasury Regulations.
30
(d) Purchaser
shall indemnify Seller from and against any increase in Taxes payable by Seller
due to the Section 338(h)(10) Elections. The indemnification shall be in an
amount equal to the quotient of (i) the Taxes paid by Seller with respect
to the sale of the Shares with the Section 338(h)(10) Election minus the taxes
which would have been paid by the Seller with respect to the sale of the Shares
without the Section 338(h)(10) Elections, divided by (ii) 1 minus the sum
of the federal income tax rate on capital gains plus the state income tax rate
on capital gains plus the local income tax rate on capital gains applicable
to
Seller at the time indemnification payments are made under this
Section 8.9(d). For purposes of calculating the amount of Taxes payable by
Seller or which would have been payable by Seller had the election not been
made, such amounts will be calculated without regard to tax attributes or
then-current year taxable income or loss attributable to any member of the
Seller Group (other than the Company). For avoidance of doubt, if a member
of
the Seller Group (other than the Company) has tax deductions which reduce the
taxes payable by the Seller, then such deduction shall not be used in
calculating taxes payable by the Seller for purposes of this Section. Purchaser
shall indemnify Seller within thirty (30) days following Purchaser’s
receipt of the submission by Seller to Purchaser of written calculations of
the
indemnification amount, supported by either (i) the actual tax returns of
Seller, (ii) assessment of taxes by any Governmental Authority, or (iii) the
Section 338 Forms and a calculation of the Company’s adjusted tax basis of its
properties certified by an officer of the Seller and pro forma calculations
of
taxes which Seller would have paid with respect to the sale of the Shares
without the Section 338(h)(10) Elections. Purchaser’s indemnification obligation
under this Section 8.9(d) shall survive Closing and continue in effect
until ninety (90) days following the expiration of the statute of
limitations on all federal, state and local Taxes for any and all years in
which
payments of Adjusted Purchase Price are made under this Agreement. Purchaser’s
indemnification obligations under this Section 8.9(d) shall not be subject
to and shall not be limited by Article X.
ARTICLE
9. TERMINATION
AND AMENDMENT
Section
9.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to Closing: (a) by the mutual
prior written consent of the Parties, or the prior written agreement of
Purchaser and the Seller; (b) by either Seller or Purchaser by notice to the
other pursuant to Section 7.5; or (c) by either Seller or Purchaser by notice
to
the other if Closing has not occurred on or before one hundred eighty (180)
days
from the date of this Agreement or such other date as may be agreed to in
writing by the Parties, provided, however, that no Party shall be entitled
to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(c) if Closing has failed to
occur because such Party negligently or willfully failed to perform or observe
in any material respect its covenants and agreements hereunder.
31
Section
9.2 Effect
of
Termination.
If this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, this Agreement shall become
void and of no further force or effect (except for the provisions of Article
10
and provided that all confidentiality provisions contained herein and in the
Confidentiality Agreement shall survive termination). In the event of
termination of this Agreement by Purchaser under Section 9.1(c) due to
non-satisfaction of a closing condition set out in Section 6.2, Seller shall
have no liability whatsoever to Purchaser, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement. In the event of termination of this Agreement by
Seller under Section 9.1(c) due to non-satisfaction of a closing condition
set
out in Section 6.1, Purchaser shall have no liability whatsoever to Seller,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement. Termination of
this
Agreement by either Party under Section 9.1(c) shall not relieve the other
Party
from liability for any willful or negligent failure to perform or observe in
any
material respect any of its agreements or covenants contained herein that are
to
be performed or observed at or prior to Closing, and in such event, the
first-mentioned Party shall be entitled to all remedies available at law or
in
equity, and shall be entitled to recover court costs, attorneys’ fees and any
other relief to which such Party may be entitled.
ARTICLE
10. INDEMNIFICATION;
LIMITATIONS
Section
10.1 Indemnification.
(a) From
and
after Closing, Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller from
and against all Damages:
(i) caused
by
or arising out of or resulting from the condition, ownership, use or operation
of the Assets or ownership of any of the Shares, whether before or after the
Effective Time or the Closing Date (unless such Damages are the result of a
breach of a representation or warranty by Seller as set forth in Section
10.1(e));
(ii) caused
by
or arising out of or resulting from Purchaser’s breach of any of Purchaser’s
covenants or agreements contained in Article 5; or
(iii) caused
by
or arising out of or resulting from any breach of any representation or warranty
made by Purchaser contained in Article 4 or in the certificate delivered by
Purchaser at Closing pursuant to Section 7.3(c);
EXCEPT
TO
THE EXTENT SUCH DAMAGES ARE CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE
(WHETHER SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER LEGAL FAULT
OF
ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON.
(b) Except
as
provided for in Section 10.1(e), Purchaser releases, remises and forever
discharges Seller and its Affiliates and all such Persons’ stockholders,
officers, directors, trustees, employees, agents, advisors and representatives
from any and all suits, legal or administrative proceedings, claims, demands,
damages, losses, costs, liabilities, interest or causes of action whatsoever,
at
law or in equity, known or unknown, which Purchaser might now or subsequently
may have, based on, relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Shares
of
the Company or the Company’s ownership, use or operation of the Assets or the
condition of the Assets, including any rights under insurance policies issued
or
underwritten by Seller or any of its Affiliates and any rights under agreements
between the Company and Seller or any other Affiliate of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser and its heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assignees retain, and do not release, their rights and interests
under this Agreement and any documents to be delivered as set out
herein.
32
(c) “Damages”,
for
purposes of this Agreement, shall mean the amount of any actual liability,
loss,
cost, expense, claim, award or judgment incurred or suffered by any Indemnified
Person arising out of or resulting from the indemnified matter, whether
attributable to personal injury or death, property damage, contract claims,
torts or otherwise including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys,
consultants, accountants or other agents and experts reasonably incident to
matters indemnified against, and the costs of investigation and/or monitoring
of
such matters, and the costs of enforcement of the indemnity; provided, however,
that no Party shall be entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.1
for,
and “Damages” shall not include: (i) any loss of profits, other indirect or
consequential damages, special damages, exemplary damages or punitive damages
except those payable to third Persons; or (ii) any liability, loss, cost,
expense, claim, award or judgment to the extent resulting from or increased
by
the actions or omissions of any Indemnified Person after the Closing
Date.
(d) The
indemnities to which each Party is entitled under this Section 10.1 shall be
for
the benefit of and extend to such Party’s present and former Affiliates, and all
of its respective directors, officers, employees and agents. Any claim for
indemnity under this Section 10.1 by any such Affiliate, director, officer,
employee or agent must be brought and administered by the relevant Party on
behalf of such Indemnified Person. No Indemnified Person other than a Party
hereto shall have any rights against any Party under the terms of this Section
10.1 except as may be exercised on its behalf by the relevant Party pursuant
to
this Section 10.1(d). A Party may elect to exercise or not exercise
indemnification rights under this Section on behalf of the other Indemnified
Persons affiliated with it in its sole discretion and shall have no liability
to
any such other Indemnified Person for any action or inaction under this
Section.
(e) Subject
to the limitations provided in this Section 10.1 and Section 10.3, in the event
Seller breaches any of its representations and warranties contained in Sections
3.2 through 3.22 herein or in the certificate delivered by Seller at Closing
pursuant to Section 7.2(d), or breaches any of its covenants and agreements
contained in Article 5, and, provided that Purchaser makes a written claim
for
indemnification against Seller pursuant to Section 10.2 below within the
survival period, then Seller shall be obligated to indemnify Purchaser from
and
against the entirety of any Damages Purchaser may suffer resulting from, arising
out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged
breach); provided,
however,
(A)
that Seller shall not have any obligation to indemnify Purchaser from and
against any Damages resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature
of, or caused by the breach of any representation or warranty of Seller
contained in Sections 3.2 through 3.22 (except for Section 3.16) until the
Purchaser shall have suffered Damages by reason of all such breaches in excess
of a $500,000 aggregate threshold (at which point Seller will be obligated
to
indemnify Purchaser from and against all such Damages), and (B) that the
aggregate liability of the Seller under this Section 10.1(e) with respect to
the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.4 through 3.22 shall
not
exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Adjusted Purchase Price and with respect
to
all other Damages shall not exceed the Adjusted Purchase Price. For the
avoidance of doubt, all materiality qualifications contained in any of the
representations and warranties made in Article 3 or Article 4 of this Agreement,
and/or any document required to be executed and delivered as set out herein,
including the term “Material Adverse Effect” will be taken into account in this
Article 10 solely for purposes of determining whether a breach or violation
of
such representation or warranty has occurred for which an indemnity obligation
exists. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all such materiality
qualifications will be ignored and not given effect for the purposes of
determining the amount of Damages for any such breach or violation.
33
Section
10.2 Indemnification
Actions.
All
claims for indemnification under Section 10.1 shall be asserted and
resolved as follows:
(a) To
make
claim for indemnification under Section 10.1, an Indemnified Person shall notify
the Purchaser or Seller, as applicable (the “Indemnifying
Person”)
of its
claim, including the specific details of and specific basis under this Agreement
for its claim (the “Claim
Notice”).
In
the event that the claim for indemnification is based upon a claim by a third
Person against the Indemnified Person (a “Claim”),
the
Indemnified Person shall provide its Claim Notice promptly after the Indemnified
Person has actual knowledge of the Claim and shall enclose a copy of all papers
(if any) served with respect to the Claim; provided that the failure of any
Indemnified Person to give notice of a Claim as provided in this Section 10.2
shall not relieve the Indemnifying Person of its obligations under Section
10.1
except to the extent such failure materially prejudices the Indemnifying
Person's ability to defend against the Claim.
(b) In
the
case of a claim for indemnification based upon a Claim, the Indemnifying Person
shall have thirty (30) days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to notify
the
Indemnified Person whether it admits or denies its obligation to defend the
Indemnified Person against such Claim under this Article 10. If the Indemnifying
Person does not notify the Indemnified Person within such thirty (30) day period
regarding whether Purchaser admits or denies its obligation to defend the
Indemnified Person, the Damages for which the Indemnified Person is seeking
indemnity shall be conclusively deemed a liability of the Indemnifying Person
hereunder. The Indemnified Person is authorized, prior to and during such thirty
(30) day period, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it shall
deem
necessary or appropriate to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying
Person and that is not prejudicial to the Indemnifying Person.
(c) If
the
Indemnifying Person admits its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Person,
it shall have the right and obligation to diligently defend, at its sole cost
and expense, the Claim. The Indemnifying Person shall have full control of
such
defense and proceedings, including any compromise or settlement thereof. If
requested by the Indemnifying Person, the Indemnified Person agrees to cooperate
in contesting any Claim which the Indemnifying Person elects to contest
(provided, however, that the Indemnified Person shall not be required to bring
any counterclaim or cross-complaint against any Person). The Indemnified Person
may participate in, but not control, any defense or settlement of any Claim
controlled by the Indemnifying Person pursuant to this Section 10.2(c). The
Indemnifying Person shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnified
Person, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, settle any Claim or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect thereto that: (i) does
not result in a final resolution of the Indemnified Person’s liability with
respect to the Claim (including, in the case of a settlement, an unconditional
written release of the Indemnified Person from all liability in respect of
such
Claim); or (ii) may materially and adversely affect the Indemnified Person
(other than as a result of money damages covered by the indemnity).
34
(d) If
the
Indemnifying Person does not admit its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified
Person or admits its obligation but fails to diligently defend or settle the
Claim, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to defend against the Claim
(at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Person, if the Indemnified
Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder), with counsel of the
Indemnified Person’s choosing, subject to the right of the Indemnifying Person
to admit its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Person and assume the
defense of the Claim at any time prior to the settlement or the final
determination thereof. If the Indemnifying Person has not yet admitted its
obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Person, the Indemnified Person shall
send written notice to the Indemnifying Person of any proposed settlement and
the Indemnifying Person shall have the option for ten (10) days following
receipt of such notice to: (i) admit in writing its obligation for
indemnification with respect to such Claim; and (ii) if its obligation is so
admitted, assume the defense of the Claim, including the power to reject the
proposed settlement. If the Indemnified Person settles any Claim over the
objection of the Indemnifying Person after the Indemnifying Person has timely
admitted its obligation for indemnification in writing and assumed the defense
of the Claim, the Indemnified Person shall be deemed to have waived any right
to
indemnity for such Claim hereunder.
(e) In
the
case of a claim for indemnification not based upon a Claim, the Indemnifying
Person shall have thirty (30) days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to:
(i)
cure the Damages complained of; (ii) admit its obligation to indemnify the
Indemnified Person for such Damages; or (iii) dispute the Indemnified Person’s
claim for such Damages. If the Indemnifying Person does not notify the
Indemnified Person within such thirty (30) day period that it has cured the
Damages or that it disputes the claim for such Damages, the amount of such
Damages shall conclusively be deemed an obligation of the Indemnifying Person
hereunder.
Section
10.3 Limitation
on Actions.
(a) All
of
the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement
shall survive Closing and continue in full force and effect for a period of
eighteen (18) months thereafter; provided, however, that the representations
and
warranties in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a)-(c), 3.2(e), 3.3(a)-(b), 3.3(d)-(p), 3.16,
4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.5 through 4.11 shall survive without limitation as to time.
Covenants shall survive Closing in accordance with their terms and any covenants
or agreements contained in this Agreement that by their terms are to be
performed after Closing shall survive until fully discharged. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, there shall be no termination of any bona fide claim asserted
by
Seller pursuant to this Agreement with respect to a representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement of Purchaser prior to its expiration date.
(b) The
indemnities in Sections 10.1(a)(ii), 10.1(a)(iii) and 10.1(e) shall terminate
as
of the termination date of each respective representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement that is subject to indemnification, except in each case as to matters
for which a specific written claim for indemnity has been delivered to the
Indemnifying Party on or before such termination date. The indemnity in Section
10.1(a)(i) shall continue without time limit.
(c) The
amount of any Damages for which an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnity
under this Article 10 shall be reduced by the amount of insurance proceeds
realized by the Indemnified Person or its Affiliates with respect to such
Damages (net of any collection costs, and excluding the proceeds of any
insurance policy issued or underwritten by the Indemnified Person or its
Affiliates).
Section
10.4 Exclusive
Remedy.
The
indemnification provisions of this Article 10 and Section 8.9 shall, following
Closing, be the sole remedy for the parties hereto for enforcement of the
provisions of this Agreement, including claims for any breach, default or other
violation of the terms of this Agreement.
35
ARTICLE
11. MISCELLANEOUS
Section
11.1 Limitation
on Damages.
No Party or any Affiliate of a Party shall be entitled to indirect or
consequential damages, special damages, exemplary damages or punitive damages
in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, except
those payable to third Persons for which responsibility is allocated among
the
Parties under this Agreement, and each Party, for itself and on behalf of its
Affiliates, hereby expressly waives any right to indirect or consequential
damages, special damages, exemplary damages or punitive damages in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section
11.2 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but
one
agreement.
Section
11.3 Notices.
All
notices that are required or may be given pursuant to this Agreement shall
be
sufficient in all respects if given in writing, in English and delivered
personally, by facsimile or by recognized courier service, as
follows:
If to Seller: | UP
Energy Corporation
000
Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Telephone: 000.000.0000
Facsimile: 281.876.2831
|
|
|
With
a copy to
(which
shall not
|
|
constitute
notice):
|
Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, LLP
0000
XxXxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx III
Telephone:
000.000.0000
Facsimile: 713.236.5699
|
|
|
If to Purchaser: |
SPC
E&P (China) Pte. Ltd.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, #00-00
XxxxxxxXxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
000000
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: (00)
0000.0000
Facsimile: (00)
0000.0000
|
|
|
With
a copy to
(which
shall not
|
|
constitute notice): | SPC E&P (China) Pte. Ltd.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, #00-00
XxxxxxxXxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
000000
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxx/Xxxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (00)
0000.0000
Facsimile: (00)
0000.0000
|
36
With
a copy to
(which
shall not
|
|
constitute notice): | Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
No.
149 Yan Qing Road
Shanghai
P.R. China 200031
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (00)
00.0000.0000
Facsimile: (00)
00.0000.0000
|
A
Party
may change its address for notice by notice to the other Party in the manner
set
forth above. All notices shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time
of
receipt by the Party to which such notice is addressed.
Section
11.4 Expenses.
Except
as provided in Section 8.8, all expenses incurred by a Party in connection
with
or related to the authorization, preparation or execution of this Agreement,
and
the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and thereto, and all other matters related
to
Closing, including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants and financial
advisers employed by such Party, shall be borne solely and entirely by such
Party.
Section
11.5 Records.
(a) No
later
than thirty (30) Business Days after the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver
or
cause to be delivered to Purchaser any Records that are in the possession of
Seller or its Affiliates, subject to Section 11.5(b).
(b)
Seller
may retain the originals of those Records relating to Tax and accounting matters
or ongoing litigation, if any, and provide Purchaser with copies thereof. Seller
may retain copies of any other Records.
(c) Purchaser,
for a period of seven (7) years following the Closing Date, shall:
(i) retain the Records existing as of the Closing Date; and (ii) provide
Seller and its Affiliates upon request with reasonable access to the Records
during normal business hours for review and copying at Seller’s
expense.
Section
11.6 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement and the legal relations between the Parties shall be governed by
and
construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, USA, without
regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would direct the application
of
the Laws of another jurisdiction.
37
Section
11.7 Arbitration.
It is
agreed, as a severable and independent arbitration agreement separately
enforceable from the remainder of this Agreement, that any dispute, controversy
or claim arising out of or in relation to or in connection with this Agreement
(other than a dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in relation to
or
in connection with the calculation of the Adjusted Purchase Price, which shall
be resolved in accordance with Section 7.4(b)), including any dispute as to
the
construction, validity, interpretation, enforceability, or breach of this
Agreement, shall be exclusively and finally settled by arbitration in accordance
with this Section 11.7. Any Party may submit such a dispute, controversy or
claim to arbitration by notice to the other Parties and the administrator for
the London Court of International Arbitration (“LCIA”).
The
arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in London, England in accordance
with
the Rules of the LCIA (“LCIA
Rules”)
as in
effect on the Execution Date. The arbitration shall be heard and determined
by
three (3) arbitrators. Seller shall appoint one (1) arbitrator and Purchaser
shall appoint one (1) arbitrator within twenty (20) days of the submission
of
the notice of arbitration. The Party-appointed arbitrators shall in turn appoint
a presiding arbitrator for the tribunal within twenty (20) days following the
appointment of the second Party-appointed arbitrator. If the Party-appointed
arbitrators cannot reach agreement on a presiding arbitrator for the tribunal
and/or Seller or Purchaser fails to appoint its Party-appointed arbitrator
within the applicable period, the LCIA shall act as appointing authority to
appoint an independent arbitrator with at least ten (10) years experience in
the
legal and/or commercial aspects of the petroleum industry. None of the
arbitrators shall have been an employee of or consultant to any Party or any
of
its Affiliates within the five (5) year period preceding the arbitration, or
have any financial interest in the dispute, controversy or claim. All decisions
of the arbitral tribunal shall be by majority vote. The arbitration shall be
conducted in the English language. The arbitrators may not award indirect or
consequential damages, special damages, exemplary damages or punitive damages,
other than those payable to third Persons for which responsibility is being
allocated among the Parties, and consequential damages permissible under Section
9.2. Each Party shall pay its own expenses in connection with the arbitration,
but the compensation and expenses of the arbitrators as well as any fees payable
to the LCIA in connection with such arbitration shall be borne in such manner
as
may be specified in the arbitral award. Privileges protecting attorney-client
communications and attorney work product from compelled disclosure or use in
evidence, as recognized by the courts of the State of New York, shall apply
to
and be binding in any arbitration proceeding conducted under this Section
11.7.
Section
11.8 Captions.
The
captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered
a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of
this
Agreement.
Section
11.9 Waivers.
Any
failure by any Party to comply with any of its obligations, agreements or
conditions herein contained may be waived by the Party or Parties to whom such
compliance is owed by an instrument signed by the Party or Parties to whom
compliance is owed and expressly identified as a waiver, but not in any other
manner. No waiver of, or consent to a change in, any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of, or consent to a
change in, other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such
waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly
provided.
Section
11.10 Assignment.
No Party
shall assign or otherwise transfer all or any part of this Agreement, nor shall
any Party delegate any of its rights or duties hereunder, without the prior
written consent of the other Parties, and any transfer or delegation made
without such consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section
11.11 Entire
Agreement.
The
Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules attached
hereto and the documents to be executed hereunder constitute the entire
agreement among the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and
supersede all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, of the Parties pertaining to the subject matter
hereof.
38
Section
11.12 Amendment.
This
Agreement may be amended or modified only by an agreement in writing signed
by
all of the Parties and expressly identified as an amendment or
modification.
Section
11.13 No
Third-Person Beneficiaries.
Nothing
in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than the Parties to any claim,
cause of action, remedy or right of any kind, except the rights expressly
provided to the Persons described in Section 10.1(d).
Section
11.14 References.
In
this
Agreement:
(a) References
to any gender includes a reference to all other genders;
(b) References
to the singular includes the plural, and vice versa;
(c) Reference
to any Article or Section means an Article or Section of this
Agreement;
(d) Reference
to any Exhibit or Schedule means an Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement,
all
of which are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement;
(e) Unless
expressly provided to the contrary, “hereunder”,
“hereof”,
“herein”
and
words of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not
any
particular Section or other provision of this Agreement;
(f) “Include”
and
“including”
shall
mean include or including without limiting the generality of the description
preceding such term;
(g) The
word
“or” is not exclusive; and
(h) Currency
amounts referred to herein, unless otherwise specified, are in United States
dollars. For purposes of determining whether dollar thresholds described in
this
Agreement have been exceeded when the relevant contract, debt, claim or other
item described relates to currencies other than United States dollars, the
exchange rates used to make such determination shall be the exchange rates
quoted by the JPMorgan Chase Bank, New York as of 9 a.m. New York time on the
date of the representation or warranty (being the Execution Date or the Closing
Date, as applicable).
Section
11.15 Construction.
Purchaser is a party capable of making such investigation, inspection, review
and evaluation of the Shares and the Assets as a prudent purchaser would deem
appropriate under the circumstances including with respect to all matters
relating to the Shares and the Assets, their value, operation and suitability.
Each Party was represented by independent counsel of its own choosing in the
drafting, preparation and negotiation of this Agreement, and has had the
opportunity to exercise business discretion in relation to the negotiation
of
the details of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement is the
result of arm’s length negotiations from equal bargaining positions. It is
expressly agreed that this Agreement shall not be construed against any Party,
and no consideration shall be given or presumption made, on the basis of who
drafted this Agreement or any particular provision hereof or who supplied the
form of Agreement.
39
Section
11.16 Severability.
If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or become illegal, invalid
or
unenforceable in any respect under the Laws of any jurisdiction that shall
not
affect or impair (a) the legality, validity or enforceability in that
jurisdiction of any other provision of this Agreement; or (b) the legality,
validity or enforceability under the Laws of any other jurisdiction of that
or
any other provision of this Agreement. In such event, the Parties hereto agree
and consent that such provisions and this Agreement shall be modified and
reformed so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as
possible with respect to those provisions which were held to be invalid or
unenforceable.
40
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been signed by each of the Parties on the
Execution Date.
SELLER:
|
UP
ENERGY CORPORATION
|
||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
||
PURCHASER:
|
SPC
E&P (CHINA) PTE. LTD.
|
||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: |
Authorized Representative |
||
41