STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT among Jipangu Inc., Jipangu International Inc., Apollo Gold, Inc. and Apollo Gold Corporation made as of October 17, 2005
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
among
Jipangu
Inc.,
Jipangu
International Inc.,
Apollo
Gold, Inc.
and
Apollo
Gold Corporation
made
as of
October
17, 2005
Table
of Contents
I.
Definitions
|
1
|
|
II.
Purchase of Shares and Closing
|
9
|
|
2.1
|
Purchase
and Sale
|
9
|
2.2
|
Purchase
Price
|
9
|
2.3
|
Unaudited
Closing Date Balance Sheets
|
10
|
2.4
|
The
Closing
|
10
|
2.5
|
Further
Assurances
|
13
|
III.
Representations and Warranties of Seller and Guarantor
|
13
|
|
3.1
|
Title
to Shares
|
13
|
3.2
|
Incorporation;
Power and Authority
|
13
|
3.3
|
Valid
and Binding Agreement
|
13
|
3.4
|
No
Breach; Consents
|
13
|
3.5
|
Brokerage
|
14
|
3.6
|
Public
Filings
|
14
|
IV.
Representations and Warranties Regarding the Companies
|
14
|
|
4.1
|
Incorporation;
Power and Authority
|
14
|
4.2
|
No
Breach; Consents
|
15
|
4.3
|
Capitalization
|
15
|
4.4
|
Subsidiaries
|
16
|
4.5
|
Financial
Statements
|
16
|
4.6
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
17
|
4.7
|
Books
and Records
|
17
|
4.8
|
Absence
of Certain Developments
|
18
|
4.9
|
Property
|
20
|
4.10
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
22
|
4.11
|
Tax
Matters.
|
22
|
4.12
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
25
|
4.13
|
Material
Contracts
|
25
|
4.14
|
Litigation
|
27
|
4.15
|
Insurance
|
27
|
4.16
|
Compliance
with Laws; Governmental Authorizations
|
27
|
4.17
|
Environmental
Matters
|
28
|
4.18
|
Employees
|
30
|
4.19
|
Employee
Benefits
|
32
|
4.20
|
Suppliers
|
34
|
4.21
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
34
|
4.22
|
Brokerage
|
35
|
4.23
|
Availability
of Documents
|
35
|
4.24
|
Disclosure
|
35
|
4.25
|
Disclaimer
of Certain Representations or Warranties
|
35
|
V.
Representations and Warranties of Buyer Parties
|
35
|
|
5.1
|
Incorporation;
Power and Authority
|
35
|
5.2
|
Valid
and Binding Agreement
|
35
|
5.3
|
No
Breach; Consents
|
36
|
5.4
|
No
Other Representations; Suitability
|
36
|
5.5
|
Brokerage
|
36
|
5.6
|
Investment
Intent
|
36
|
5.7
|
Financial
Condition
|
36
|
5.8
|
Financing
|
36
|
5.9
|
Litigation
|
36
|
VI.
Agreements of Seller and Guarantor
|
37
|
|
6.1
|
Conduct
of the Business
|
37
|
6.2
|
Notice
of Developments
|
38
|
6.3
|
Pre-Closing
Access
|
39
|
6.4
|
Waivers;
Payment of Indebtedness
|
39
|
6.5
|
Conditions
|
39
|
6.6
|
No
Sale
|
40
|
6.7
|
Closing
and Post-Closing Deliveries and Access
|
40
|
6.8
|
Litigation
Support
|
40
|
6.9
|
Nondisparagement
|
40
|
6.10
|
Confidentiality
|
41
|
6.11
|
Assignment
of Confidentiality Agreements
|
42
|
6.12
|
Transfer
of Apollo Gold Exploration Property
|
42
|
6.13
|
Employee
Matters
|
42
|
6.14
|
Claims
Against Company Personnel
|
42
|
6.15
|
No
Shareholder Approval
|
43
|
VII.
Further Agreements
|
43
|
|
7.1
|
Conditions
|
43
|
7.2
|
Buyer
Permitted Updates
|
43
|
7.3
|
Employment;
Employee Benefits
|
43
|
7.4
|
Insurance
|
43
|
7.5
|
Bonding
|
44
|
7.6
|
Releases
from Guarantees
|
44
|
7.7
|
Non-Hire
|
44
|
7.8
|
Use
of Seller’s and Guarantor’s Names
|
44
|
7.9
|
Post-Closing
Access
|
44
|
7.10
|
Filings;
Other Action
|
45
|
7.11
|
APO
19
|
45
|
7.12
|
Standard
Xxxxx Pad Leak
|
45
|
VIII.
Conditions to Closing
|
45
|
|
8.1
|
Conditions
to Buyer’s Obligations
|
45
|
8.2
|
Conditions
to Seller’s Obligations
|
48
|
IX.
Termination
|
49
|
|
9.1
|
Termination
|
49
|
9.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
51
|
X.
Indemnification
|
51
|
|
10.1
|
Indemnification
by Seller and Guarantor
|
51
|
10.2
|
Indemnification
by Buyer Parties
|
53
|
10.3
|
Third-Party
Actions Against Buyer Parties
|
54
|
10.4
|
Third-Party
Actions Against Seller and Guarantor
|
55
|
10.5
|
Sole
and Exclusive Remedy
|
57
|
10.6
|
Tax
Adjustment
|
57
|
XI.
Allocation of Taxes; Tax Return
|
57
|
|
11.1
|
Allocation
of Tax Liabilities
|
57
|
11.2
|
Tax
Return
|
57
|
11.3
|
Income
and Loss Allocation
|
58
|
11.4
|
Cooperation
|
58
|
11.5
|
Audits
|
59
|
11.6
|
Tax
Refunds
|
59
|
11.7
|
Tax
Sharing Agreements
|
59
|
11.8
|
Section
338(h)(10) Election
|
59
|
11.9
|
Tax
Indemnification of Seller and Guarantor
|
60
|
11.10
|
Tax
Indemnification of Buyer
|
61
|
XII.
General
|
61
|
|
12.1
|
Press
Releases and Announcements
|
61
|
12.2
|
Expenses
|
61
|
12.3
|
Amendment
and Waiver
|
61
|
12.4
|
Notices
|
62
|
12.5
|
Assignment
|
63
|
12.6
|
No
Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
63
|
12.7
|
No
Partnership and No Corporate Opportunity
|
63
|
12.8
|
Severability
|
64
|
12.9
|
Complete
Agreement
|
64
|
12.10
|
Schedules
|
64
|
12.11
|
Signatures;
Counterparts
|
64
|
12.12
|
Governing
Law
|
64
|
12.13
|
Specific
Performance
|
64
|
12.14
|
Jurisdiction
|
65
|
12.15
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
65
|
12.16
|
Construction
|
65
|
12.17
|
Currency
|
66
|
12.18
|
Time
of Essence
|
66
|
12.19
|
Consequential
or Special Damages
|
66
|
Signatures
|
67 |
Exhibit
A - Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit
B - Form of Transition Services Agreement
Exhibit
C - Form of Resignation and Waiver
Exhibit
D - Form of FIRPTA Certificate
This
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
among
Jipangu Inc., a Japanese corporation (“Parent”),
Jipangu International Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”,
and
together with Parent, the “Buyer
Parties”),
Apollo Gold, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”)
and
Apollo Gold Corporation, a Yukon Territory corporation (“Guarantor”)
is
made as of October 17, 2005.
Recitals
WHEREAS,
Seller
owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Florida Canyon Mining, Inc.,
a
Delaware corporation (“Florida
Canyon”),
Standard Gold Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Standard”)
and
Apollo Gold Exploration, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Exploration”)
(each,
a “Company”
and
collectively, the “Companies”).
WHEREAS,
Seller
desires to sell, and Buyer desires to buy, all of the outstanding capital
stock
of each Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
WHEREAS,
Guarantor owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Seller, and desires
to
induce Buyer to enter into this Agreement.
WHEREAS,
Parent
owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Buyer, and desires to induce
Seller
to enter into this Agreement.
WHEREAS,
Seller
will be responsible for the cancellation or payment of all indebtedness of
the
Companies to the Seller, Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries prior
to
Closing.
WHEREAS,
the
parties have agreed to enter into a transitional services agreement to be
performed after the sale and purchase of the Companies’ outstanding capital
stock.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the mutual representations, warranties and agreements contained
in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
I.
Definitions
“Active
Employee”
means
any employee employed on the Closing Date by any Company who is a bargaining
unit employee currently covered by a collective bargaining agreement or employed
exclusively by one or more of the Companies, including employees on temporary
leave of absence, family medical leave, military leave, temporary disability
or
sick leave, but excluding employees on long-term disability leave.
“2004
Financial Statements”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“2004
Fiscal Year End”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“Admitted
Claim”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.1(d).
-1-
“Affiliate”
has the
meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
“Agreement”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Allocation
Arbiter”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 11.8(c).
“Basket
Amount”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a Japanese or United States federal
holiday or a Colorado state banking holiday.
“Buyer”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer
Claim”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).
“Buyer
Indemnified Parties”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).
“Buyer
Losses”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.1(a).
“Buyer
Parties”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer
Permitted Update”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
“Buyer
Third-Party Action”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a).
“Capital
Lease”
means a
lease on which a Company is a lessee that is a capital lease as determined
in
accordance with GAAP.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company”
has the
meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Confidential
Information”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.10(a).
“Confidentiality
Agreement”
means
the confidentiality agreement, dated March 16, 2005, between Guarantor and
Parent.
“Consent”
means
any authorization, consent, approval, filing, waiver, exemption or other
action
by or notice to any Person.
“Contract”
means a
contract, agreement, lease, commitment or binding understanding, whether
oral or
written, that is in effect as of the date of this Agreement or any time after
the date of this Agreement. For clarity in this Agreement, the term Contract
includes the $16,936,130 reclamation bond issued by Safeco Insurance Company
of
America and the determinations of the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S.
District Court for the District of Nevada and the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals
relating thereto.
“Disclosure
Schedule”
means
the schedule delivered by Seller to Buyer on or prior to the date of this
Agreement.
-2-
“Employment
Loss”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.1(a).
“Encumbrance”
means
any charge, claim, easement, covenant, condition, equitable interest, lien,
option, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal or restriction
of any
kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income
or
exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
“Environmental
Costs”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(i).
“Environmental
Law”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(ii).
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
rules
and regulations thereunder.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any entity or trade or business that is treated as a member of the Companies’
controlled group within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the
Code.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
“Exploration”
has the
meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Exploration
Common Stock”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“Exploration
Property Transfers”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Exploration
Shares”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“Florida
Canyon”
has the
meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Florida
Canyon Common Stock”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
“Florida
Canyon Shares”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
“Further
Subscription Documents”
means
the subscription agreement executed and delivered by Guarantor and Parent
as of
the date of this Agreement, together with the forms of warrant certificate
and
registration rights agreement attached as schedules thereto.
“GAAP”
means
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time
to
time.
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any approval, consent, license, permit, waiver, registration or other
authorization issued, granted, given, made available or otherwise required
by
any Governmental Entity or pursuant to Law.
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any federal, state, local, foreign, international or multinational entity
or
authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory,
administrative or taxing functions of or pertaining to government.
-3-
“Governmental
Order”
means
any judgment, injunction, writ, order, ruling, award or decree by any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator.
“Hazardous
Materials”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(iii).
“Indemnification
Agreements”
means
the indemnification agreements listed in Schedule
4.13,
under
subsection (ii) thereof.
“Insider”
means
(i) any officer or director of Guarantor or Seller, (ii) any officer or director
of any Company, (iii) any Member of the Immediate Family of any of the foregoing
Persons or (iv) any Affiliate of an officer or director of Guarantor, Seller
or
any Company.
“Intellectual
Property Rights”
means
(i) rights in patents, patent applications and patentable subject matter,
whether or not the subject of an application, (ii) rights in trademarks,
service
marks, trade names, trade dress and other designators of origin, registered
or
unregistered, (iii) rights in copyrightable subject matter or protectable
designs, registered or unregistered, (iv) trade secrets, (v) rights in internet
domain names, uniform resource locators and e-mail addresses, (vi) rights
in
semiconductor topographies (mask works), registered or unregistered, (vii)
know-how and (viii) all other intellectual and industrial property rights
of
every kind and nature and however designated, whether arising by operation
of
Law, Contract, license or otherwise.
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“June
Balance Sheet”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“Knowledge
of Seller”
means
the actual knowledge of the Knowledge Employees, or any knowledge that would
have been acquired by any such Person upon reasonable inquiry and
investigation.
“Knowledge
Employees”
means
R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx X’Xxxx, Xx., Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxx X’Xxxxxxx.
“Law”
means
any, law, ordinance, regulation, statute or treaty of any Governmental
Entity.
“Liability”
means
any liability or obligation whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated
or otherwise, whether due or to become due, whether known or unknown, and
regardless of when asserted, including, without limiting the foregoing, all
reclamation, restoration and cleanup activities associated with or arising
out
of conducting exploration and mining activities.
“List”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(iv).
“Litigation”
means
any claim, action, arbitration, mediation, audit, hearing, investigation,
proceeding, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before,
or otherwise involving, any Governmental Entity or arbitrator or
mediator.
-4-
“Loss”
means
any Litigation, Governmental Order, complaint, claim, demand, damage,
deficiency, penalty, fine, cost, amount paid in settlement, liability,
obligation, Tax, Encumbrance, loss, expense or fee, including court costs
and
attorneys’ fees and expenses.
“March
Balance Sheet”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“March
Balance Sheet Date”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“March
Financial Statements”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any change, effect, event or condition, individually or in the aggregate,
that
has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the
business, assets, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or results
of
operations of any Company; provided that any change, effect, fact, event
or
condition that adversely affects gold or silver mining in Nevada generally,
or
the mining industry generally, shall not be considered a Material Adverse
Effect
to the extent that it does not disproportionately affect any of the Companies
as
compared to other gold or silver mining companies or the mining industry
generally.
“Material
Contracts”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.13(a),
and
excludes licenses for “off-the-shelf” commercial software.
“Member
of the Immediate Family”
of a
Person means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother- or father-in-law,
son- or
daughter-in-law, and brother- or sister-in-law of such Person.
“Mining
Claims”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a)
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
means
the ordinary course of business of the Companies consistent with past custom
and
practice (including with respect to quantity and frequency) as it has been
conducted since January 1, 2004.
“Organizational
Documents”
means
(i) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of a
corporation, (ii) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership
of
a general partnership, (iii) the limited partnership agreement and the
certificate of limited partnership of a limited partnership, (iv) the limited
liability company agreement and articles or certificate of formation of a
limited liability company, (v) any charter or similar document adopted or
filed
in connection with the creation, formation or organization of a Person and
(vi)
any amendment to any of the foregoing.
“Parent”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Payment”
means
any transfer of value, including any dividend, distribution, payment or
extension of credit to, investment in, or repayment, cancellation or forgiveness
of indebtedness of, a Person.
-5-
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means
(i) Encumbrances for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments
(except assessments for public improvements levied, pending or deferred against
real property) that are not yet due and payable or which are being contested
in
good faith by appropriate proceedings (provided required payments have been
made
in connection with any such contest), (ii) Encumbrances of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics’ and materialmen and other like Encumbrances, including
purchase money security interests, arising in the Ordinary Course of Business
(provided lien statements have not been filed as of the Closing Date), (iii)
survey exceptions, easements, rights of way and restrictions, zoning ordinances
and restrictions or other limitations imposed by any Governmental Entity
and
other similar Encumbrances affecting real property and which do not unreasonably
restrict the use thereof or Buyer’s proposed use thereof in the Ordinary Course
of Business, (iv) statutory Encumbrances in favor of lessors arising in
connection with any property leased to any Company, (v) Encumbrances reflected
in the March Financial Statements or arising under Material Contracts (other
than arising out of the breach thereof), (vi) reservations in federal patents,
(vii) liens of pledges or deposits under workers’ compensation laws or similar
legislation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security, (viii)
rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Entity to control or regulate
any interest in the Property as imposed by applicable Law, and (ix) Encumbrances
that will be removed prior to or in connection with the Closing.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general
or
limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust,
association, organization, labor union, Governmental Entity or other
entity.
“Plan”
means
every plan, fund, contract, program and arrangement (whether written or not)
for
the benefit of present or former employees, including those intended to provide
(i) medical, surgical, health care, hospitalization, dental, vision, life
insurance, death, disability, legal services, severance, sickness or accident
benefits (whether or not defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), (ii) pension,
profit
sharing, stock bonus, retirement, supplemental retirement or deferred
compensation benefits (whether or not tax qualified and whether or not defined
in Section 3(2) of ERISA) or (iii) salary continuation, unemployment,
supplemental unemployment, severance, termination pay, change-in-control,
vacation or holiday benefits (whether or not defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA),
(w) that is maintained or contributed to by any Company, (x) that any Company
has committed to implement, establish, adopt or contribute to in the future,
(y)
for which any Company is or may be financially liable as a result of the
direct
sponsor’s affiliation with any Company, or any Company’s shareholders (whether
or not such affiliation exists at the date of this Agreement and notwithstanding
that the Plan is not maintained by any Company for the benefit of its employees
or former employees) or (z) for or with respect to which any Company is or
may
become liable under any common law successor doctrine, express successor
liability provisions of Law, provisions of a collective bargaining agreement,
labor or employment Law or agreement with a predecessor employer. Plan does
not
include any arrangement that has been terminated and completely wound up
prior
to the date of this Agreement and for which none of the Companies has any
present or potential liability.
“Process
Agent”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 12.15.
“Property”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(v).
“Public
Filings”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
-6-
“Real
Property”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Registered
Intellectual Property Rights”
means
Intellectual Property Rights that are the subject of a pending application
or an
issued patent, trademark, copyright, design right or other similar registration
formalizing exclusive rights.
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means
the registration rights agreement dated June 1, 2005 between Parent and
Guarantor.
“Regulatory
Action”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(vi).
“Release”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(vii).
“Remedies
Exception,”
when
used with respect to any Person, means except to the extent enforceability
may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or
other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by
general equitable principles.
“Required
Insurance”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
“Required
Releases”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.6.
“Required
Surety”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
“Return”
means
any return, declaration, report, estimate, information return and statement
pertaining to any Taxes.
“SEC”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Section
338 Forms”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 11.8(c).
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
“Seller”
has the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller
Indemnified Parties”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.4(a).
“Seller
Losses”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.2(a).
“Seller
Permitted Update”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
“Seller
Third-Party Action”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.4(a).
“Seller’s
Basket Amount”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.2(b).
“Software”
means
computer programs or data in computerized form, whether in object code, source
code or other form.
-7-
“Standard”
has the
meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Standard
Common Stock”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“Standard
Shares”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
“Subscription
Agreement”
means
the subscription agreement dated June 1, 2005 between Parent and
Guarantor.
“Subsidiary”
means
any Person in which a controlling ownership interest is owned, directly or
indirectly, by another Person.
“Tax
Affiliate”
means
the Companies and any other Person that is or was a member of an affiliated,
combined or unitary group of which any Company is or was a member.
“Taxes”
means
all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including all net
income,
gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise,
profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security,
unemployment, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or
other
taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever,
including all interest and penalties thereon, and additions to tax or additional
amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity upon any Company or any Tax
Affiliate. For purposes of this Agreement, “Taxes” also includes any obligations
under any agreements or arrangements with any Person with respect to the
liability for, or sharing of, Taxes (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 or comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Tax
law)
and including any liability for Taxes as a transferee or successor, by contract
or otherwise.
“Third-Party
Environmental Claim”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.17(a)(viii).
“Transition
Services Agreement”
means
the transition services agreement to be entered into among Guarantor, the
Companies and Buyer on the Closing Date in the form of Exhibit
B.
“Treasury
Regulations”
means
the rules and regulations under the Code.
“Trust
Indenture”
means
the trust indenture dated November 4, 2004, as amended on December 13, 2004,
between Guarantor and The Canada Trust Company, as trustee, for the benefit
of
the holders of Guarantor’s 12% Series 2004-B convertible secured
debentures.
“WARN
Act”
means
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as
amended.
“Water
Rights”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a)
“Work
Permits”has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.18(c).
-8-
The
following terms not defined above are defined in the sections of Article
II
indicated below:
Definition
|
Defined
|
|||
Buyer
Cure Period
|
9.1(b)(ii
|
)
|
||
Closing
|
2.4(a
|
)
|
||
Closing
Date
|
2.4(a
|
)
|
||
D&O
Letters
|
2.4(b)(i)(H
|
)
|
||
Estimated
Closing Date Net Book Value
|
2.3
|
|||
Exploration
Purchase Price
|
2.2
|
|||
Fee
Property
|
4.9(a
|
)
|
||
July
Balance Sheet
|
4.5
|
|||
Listed
Personal Property
|
4.9(a
|
)
|
||
Mines
Purchase Price
|
2.2
|
|||
Patented
Claims
|
4.9(a
|
)
|
||
Promissory
Note
|
2.2
|
|||
Purchase
Price
|
2.2
|
|||
Seller
Cure Period
|
9.1(c)(ii
|
)
|
||
Unaudited
Monthly Balance Sheets
|
2.3
|
II.
Purchase
of Shares and Closing
2.1 Purchase
and Sale.
At the
Closing and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, Seller agrees to sell to Buyer, and Buyer agrees to buy from
Seller:
(a) all
of
the issued and outstanding shares (the “Florida
Canyon Shares”)
of
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Florida Canyon (“Florida
Canyon Common Stock”);
(b) all
of
the issued and outstanding shares (the “Standard
Shares”)
of
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Standard (“Standard
Common Stock”);
and
(c) all
of
the issued and outstanding shares (the “Exploration
Shares”)
of
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Exploration (“Exploration
Common Stock”).
2.2 Purchase
Price.
The
aggregate consideration for the Florida Canyon Shares and the Standard Shares
is
$12,500,000 (the “Mines
Purchase Price”)
and the
consideration for the Exploration Shares is $1,500,000 (the “Exploration
Purchase Price”).
The
aggregate consideration for the Florida Canyon Shares, the Standard Shares
and
the Exploration Shares (the “Purchase
Price”)
is
$14,000,000.
Parent
agrees to loan $2,500,000 to Guarantor, and Guarantor agrees to accept such
loan, on the following terms: (i) concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement, Guarantor will execute and deliver to Parent a $2,500,000 promissory
note in the form attached as Exhibit
A
hereto
(the “Promissory
Note”);
and
(ii) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement or within one Business
Day after the date of this Agreement, Parent will initiate a wire transfer
of
$2,500,000 to the account designated by Guarantor.
-9-
2.3 Unaudited
Closing Date Balance Sheets.
(a) Through
the Closing Date, Seller will deliver to Buyer, by the 20th
day
after the last day of the prior month, the unaudited balance sheet for each
Company as of the last day of the prior month (the “Unaudited
Monthly Balance Sheets”),
prepared on a basis consistent with the March Financial Statements and in
accordance with GAAP. “Estimated
Closing Date Net Book Value”
as of
any date means the excess of the aggregate assets of the Companies over the
aggregate liabilities of the Companies on such date. To
the
extent that the Estimated Closing Date Net Book Value as of the date of the
Unaudited Monthly Balance Sheets is less than $12,500,000, the Buyer Parties
may
elect to terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the Guarantor
on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) At
least
two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller will deliver to Buyer
an
unaudited statement estimating the Estimated Closing Date Net Book Value
as of
the Closing Date. To the extent that the Estimated Closing Date Net Book
Value
as of the Closing Date is less than $12,500,000, the Buyer Parties may elect
to
terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the Guarantor on
or
prior to the Closing Date.
2.4 The
Closing.
(a) The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”)
will
take place at the offices of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP at Suite 3400, 0000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, 00000, at 9:00 a.m. on November 15, 2005 or
as soon
thereafter as reasonably possible following satisfaction of the conditions
set
forth in Article VIII (the “Closing
Date”)
or at
such other place and on such other date as may be mutually agreed by Buyer
and
Seller, in which case Closing Date means the date so agreed. The failure
of the
Closing will not ipso
facto
result
in termination of this Agreement and will not relieve any party of any
obligation under this Agreement. The Closing will be effective as of the
close
of business on the Closing Date.
(b) Subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date:
(i) Seller
will deliver to Buyer:
(A) certificates
representing all of the Florida Canyon Shares, the Standard Shares and the
Exploration Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, duly endorsed or
accompanied by duly executed stock powers;
(B) a
certificate of an appropriate officer of Seller dated the Closing Date stating
that the conditions set forth in subsections (a)
through
(s)
of
Section 8.1
have
been satisfied;
(C) an
updated Disclosure Schedule, prepared as though this Agreement has been dated
as
of the Closing Date, a good faith draft of which will have been submitted
to
Buyer no later than five calendar days prior to the Closing Date;
-10-
(D) the
text
of the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Seller authorizing
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, certified by an
appropriate officer of Seller;
(E) the
text
of the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Guarantor authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, certified by an
appropriate officer of Guarantor;
(F) the
minute books, stock or equity records, corporate seal and other materials
related to the corporate administration of any Company;
(G) the
amendments to the Indemnification Agreements referred to in Section 8.1(s);
(H) resignations,
waivers and releases in
writing (effective as of the Closing Date) from each officer and director
of the
Companies, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
C
(the
“D&O Letters”);
(I) the
Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Seller, Guarantor and each
Company;
(J) the
Exploration Property Transfers, and any other instruments of transfer reasonably
requested by Buyer Parties, duly executed by Seller or Guarantor, as
applicable;
(K) evidence
of payment or cancellation of indebtedness of the Companies to Seller, Guarantor
or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of Seller or Guarantor that is to be canceled
prior to Closing;
(L) executed
copies of all agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents
necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of Buyer Parties’ counsel,
to release any and all Encumbrances against the assets of the Companies,
other
than Permitted Encumbrances, and Encumbrances that are listed on Schedule
4.9
and not
required to be released by Section 8.1(m);
(M) a
FIRPTA
certificate in the form of Exhibit
D,
duly
executed by Seller for purposes of satisfying Buyer’s obligations under Treasury
Regulations Section 1.1445-2;
(N) copies
of
all documents relating to the substitution of collateral and release of Standard
and Exploration share certificates pursuant to the Trust Indenture;
and
(O) such
other certificates, documents and instruments that Buyer Parties reasonably
request for the purpose of (1) evidencing the accuracy of Seller’s and
Guarantor’s representations and warranties, (2) evidencing the performance and
compliance by Seller and Guarantor with the agreements contained in this
Agreement, (3) evidencing the satisfaction of any condition referred to in
Section 8.1
or (4)
otherwise facilitating the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this
Agreement.
-11-
All
actions to be taken by Seller or Guarantor in connection with consummation
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all certificates, opinions,
instruments and other documents required to effect the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer
Parties and Buyer Parties’ counsel.
(ii) Buyer
will deliver to Seller:
(A) the
Promissory Note in satisfaction of $2,500,000 of the Purchase
Price;
(B) the
remainder of the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available
funds
to the account designated by Seller to Buyer no later than three Business
Days
prior to the Closing;
(C) a
certificate of an appropriate officer of Buyer dated the Closing Date stating
that the conditions set forth in subsections (a)
through
(g)
of
Section 8.2
have
been satisfied;
(D) the
text
of the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Buyer authorizing
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, certified by an
appropriate officer of Buyer;
(E) the
text
of the resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Parent authorizing
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, certified by an
appropriate officer of Parent;
(F) evidence
reasonably satisfactory to Seller that the Required Insurance, the Required
Surety (but excluding the Safeco $16,936,130 and $120,000 bonds) and the
Required Releases are in place and effective;
(G) the
Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Buyer; and
(H) such
other certificates, documents and instruments that Seller or Guarantor
reasonably request for the purpose of (1) evidencing the accuracy of Buyer
Parties’ representations and warranties, (2) evidencing the performance and
compliance by Buyer Parties with the agreements contained in this Agreement,
(3)
evidencing the satisfaction of any condition referred to in Section 8.2
or (4)
otherwise facilitating the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this
Agreement.
All
actions to be taken by Buyer Parties in connection with consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all certificates, opinions,
instruments and other documents required to be delivered by Buyer Parties
to
effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller and Seller’s counsel.
-12-
(c) All
items
delivered by the parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been delivered
simultaneously, and no items will be deemed delivered or waived until all
have
been delivered.
(d) The
representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement will survive
the
Closing.
2.5 Further
Assurances.
After
the Closing Date, each of the Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor will take
all
appropriate action and execute any documents, instruments or conveyances
of any
kind that may be reasonably requested by another party to carry out any of
the
provisions of this Agreement.
III.
Representations
and Warranties of Seller
and Guarantor
Seller
and Guarantor, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Buyer Parties
that, (i) except as described in the Disclosure Schedule, as of the
date of
this Agreement and, (ii) except as described in the Disclosure Schedule and
any
Seller Permitted Update, as of the Closing Date (as though made then and
as
though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this
Agreement):
3.1 Title
to Shares.
Seller
owns, of record and beneficially, the Florida Canyon Shares free and clear
of
any Encumbrance. Seller owns, of record and beneficially, the Standard Shares
and the Exploration Shares free and clear of any Encumbrance other than the
security interest granted to The Canada Trust Company under the Trust Indenture,
which Encumbrance will be removed by Seller and Guarantor concurrently with
the
Closing. At Closing, Buyer will obtain good and valid title to the Florida
Canyon Shares, the Standard Shares and the Exploration Shares, of record
and
beneficially, free and clear of any Encumbrance.
3.2 Incorporation;
Power and Authority.
Each of
Seller and Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each of Seller and
Guarantor has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
this Agreement and the Transition Services Agreement.
3.3 Valid
and Binding Agreement.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transition
Services Agreement by Seller or Guarantor, respectively, has been duly and
validly authorized by all necessary corporate (including shareholder) or
equivalent action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Seller
and Guarantor and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Seller
and
Guarantor, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
subject to the Remedies Exception. The Transition Services Agreement, when
executed and delivered by or on behalf of Seller or Guarantor, respectively,
will constitute such Person’s valid and binding obligation, enforceable against
it in accordance with its terms, subject to the Remedies Exception.
3.4 No
Breach; Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transition
Services Agreement by Seller or Guarantor, respectively, will not (a) contravene
any provision of the Organizational Documents of Seller or Guarantor; (b)
violate or conflict with any Law, Governmental Order or Governmental
Authorization; (c) conflict with, result in any breach of any of the provisions
of, constitute a default (or any event that would, with the passage of time
or
the giving of notice or both, constitute a default) under, result in a violation
of, increase the burdens under, result in the termination, amendment,
suspension, modification, abandonment or acceleration of payment (or any
right
to terminate) or require a Consent under any Contract or Governmental
Authorization that is either binding upon or enforceable against Seller or
Guarantor or any Governmental Authorization that is held by Seller or Guarantor;
(d) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon the Florida Canyon Shares,
the Standard Shares or the Exploration Shares; (e) require any Governmental
Authorization except those obtained; or (f) give any Governmental Entity
or
other Person the right to challenge any of the contemplated transactions
or to
exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under any Law, Governmental Order
or
Governmental Authorization.
-13-
3.5 Brokerage.
No
Person will be entitled to receive any brokerage commission, finder’s fee, fee
for financial advisory services or similar compensation in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any Contract made by
or on
behalf of such Seller or Guarantor for which any Buyer Party or any Company
is
or could become liable or obligated.
3.6 Public
Filings.
With
respect to all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
filed
or required to be filed by Guarantor with the SEC and with the securities
regulatory authorities in Canada since January 1, 2004, the “Public
Filings”,
as of
its date, each Public Filing, with respect to any content pertaining to any
Company, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or the applicable securities legislation
in
Canada, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC or of
the
securities regulatory authorities in Canada promulgated thereunder applicable
to
such Public Filings. None of the Public Filings (with respect to any content
pertaining to any Company) contains any untrue statement of a material fact
or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which
they were made, not misleading, except to the extent that such statements
have
been modified or superseded by a later filed Public Filing.
IV.
Representations
and Warranties Regarding the
Companies
Seller
and Guarantor, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Buyer Parties
that (i) except as described in the Disclosure Schedule, as of the
date of
this Agreement and, (ii) except as described in the Disclosure Schedule and
any
Seller Permitted Update, as of the Closing Date (as though made then and
as
though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this
Agreement):
4.1 Incorporation;
Power
and
Authority.
(a) Each
Company is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and has all necessary
power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its assets and to
carry
on its business as currently conducted. Each Company is duly qualified to
do
business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of
its business or its ownership of property requires it to be so qualified
except
where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Schedule
4.1
lists,
for each Company, the jurisdiction of its organization, its form as a legal
entity and each jurisdiction in which it is so qualified.
-14-
(b) Each
Company is in material compliance with all provisions of its Organizational
Documents.
4.2 No
Breach;
Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transition
Services Agreement by Seller, Guarantor or any Company, respectively, will
not
(a)
contravene any provision of the Organizational Documents of any Company;
(b)
violate or conflict with any Law, Governmental Order or Governmental
Authorization; (c) conflict with, result in any breach of any of the provisions
of, constitute a default (or any event that would, with the passage of time
or
the giving of notice or both, constitute a default) under, result in a violation
of, increase the burdens under, result in the termination, amendment,
suspension, modification, abandonment or acceleration of payment (or any
right
to terminate) or require a Consent under any Contract that is either binding
upon or enforceable against any Company or any Governmental Authorization
that
is held by any Company; (d) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon
any
Company or any of the assets of any Company; (e) require any Governmental
Authorization except those obtained; or (f) give any Governmental Entity
or
other Person the right to challenge any of the contemplated transactions
or to
exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under any Law, Governmental Order
or
Governmental Authorization.
4.3 Capitalization.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of Florida Canyon consists of one thousand (1,000)
shares of Florida Canyon Common Stock, of which one hundred (100) shares
of
Florida Canyon Common Stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of Florida
Canyon Common Stock are held in treasury. All
issued and outstanding shares of Florida Canyon Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free of preemptive
rights or any third party voting, dividend, dispositive or other similar
rights
and in certificated form, and have been offered, sold and issued by Florida
Canyon in compliance with applicable securities and corporate Laws, Contracts
applicable to Florida Canyon and Florida Canyon’s Organizational Documents and
in compliance with any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar
rights. The rights and privileges of the Florida Canyon Common Stock are
set
forth in Florida Canyon’s Organizational Documents or otherwise provided by
Law.
There is
no option, warrant, call, subscription, convertible security, right (including
preemptive right) or Contract of any character to which Florida Canyon is
a
party or by which it is bound obligating Florida Canyon to issue, exchange,
transfer, sell, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock
of
Florida Canyon or obligating Florida Canyon to grant, extend, accelerate
the
vesting of or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription,
convertible security, right or Contract. There are no outstanding or authorized
stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to Florida
Canyon. Except for this Agreement, there are no registration rights agreements,
no voting trust, proxy or other Contract and no restrictions on transfer
with
respect to any capital stock of Florida Canyon.
-15-
(b) The
authorized capital stock of Standard consists of one thousand (1,000) shares
of
Standard Common Stock, of which one hundred (100) shares of Standard Common
Stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of Standard Common Stock are
held
in treasury. Except as set forth in Section 3.1,
all
issued and outstanding shares of Standard Common Stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free of preemptive rights or
any
third party voting, dividend, dispositive or other similar rights and in
certificated form, and have been offered, sold and issued by Standard in
compliance with applicable securities and corporate Laws, Contracts applicable
to Standard and Standard’s Organizational Documents and in compliance with any
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The rights
and
privileges of the Standard Common Stock are set forth in Standard’s
Organizational Documents or otherwise provided by Law. Except as set forth
in
Section 3.1,
there
is no option, warrant, call, subscription, convertible security, right
(including preemptive right) or Contract of any character to which Standard
is a
party or by which it is bound obligating Standard to issue, exchange, transfer,
sell, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock of Standard
or
obligating Standard to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter
into
any such option, warrant, call, subscription, convertible security, right
or
Contract. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom
stock or similar rights with respect to Standard. Except as set forth in
Section
3.1
or
elsewhere in this Agreement, there are no registration rights agreements,
no
voting trust, proxy or other Contract and no restrictions on transfer with
respect to any capital stock of Standard.
(c) The
authorized capital stock of Exploration consists of one thousand (1,000)
shares
of Exploration Common Stock, of which one hundred (100) shares of Exploration
Common Stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of Exploration Common
Stock are held in treasury. Except as set forth in Section 3.1,
all
issued and outstanding shares of Exploration Common Stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free of preemptive rights or
any
third party voting, dividend, dispositive or other similar rights and in
certificated form, and have been offered, sold and issued by Exploration
in
compliance with applicable securities and corporate Laws, Contracts applicable
to Exploration and Exploration’s Organizational Documents and in compliance with
any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The rights
and
privileges of the Exploration Common Stock are set forth in Exploration’s
Organizational Documents or otherwise provided by Law. Except as set forth
in
Section 3.1,
there
is no option, warrant, call, subscription, convertible security, right
(including preemptive right) or Contract of any character to which Exploration
is a party or by which it is bound obligating Exploration to issue, exchange,
transfer, sell, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock
of
Exploration or obligating Exploration to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting
of or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription, convertible
security, right or Contract. There are no outstanding or authorized stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to Exploration.
Except as set forth in Section 3.1
or in
this Agreement, there are no registration rights agreements, no voting trust,
proxy or other Contract and no restrictions on transfer with respect to any
capital stock of Exploration.
4.4 Subsidiaries.
None of
the Companies owns any Subsidiary or has any ownership interest in any other
Person, directly or indirectly.
4.5 Financial
Statements.
The
unaudited balance sheets as of July 31, 2005 of the Companies (the “July
Balance Sheet”),
the
unaudited Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2005 of the Companies (the “June
Balance Sheet”),
the
unaudited balance sheets as of March 31, 2005 (the “March
Balance Sheet Date”)
of the
Companies (the “March
Balance Sheet”)
and
the unaudited statements of income and cash flows of the Companies for the
three-month period then ended (such statements and the March Balance Sheet,
the
“March
Financial Statements”)
and
the unaudited balance sheets, as of December 31, 2004 (the “2004
Fiscal Year End”)
of the
Companies and the unaudited statements of income and cash flows of the Companies
for the year ended on the 2004 Fiscal Year End (collectively, the “2004
Financial Statements”)
are
based upon the books and records of the Companies, have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods indicated and
present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows
of
the Companies at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated,
except that none of the July Balance Sheet, the June Balance Sheet, the March
Financial Statements or the 2004 Financial Statements contain footnotes.
Each of
the July Balance Sheet, the June Balance Sheet, March Financial Statements
and
2004 Financial Statements is attached hereto as Schedule
4.5.
-16-
4.6 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.6(a) or
as
reflected or expressly reserved against in the March Balance Sheet, none
of the
Companies has any Liability, and there is no present or, to the Knowledge
of
Seller, threatened Litigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against
any of
them giving rise to any Liability, and to the Knowledge of Seller, there
is no
fact or set of facts that is, or if discovered by a third party would be,
reasonably likely to result in any such Litigation, charge, complaint, claim
or
demand, except (a) a Liability that has arisen after the date of the March
Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business and that is not a Liability
for
breach of Contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, Litigation or
violation of Governmental Order, Governmental Authorization (b) obligations
that
arise under any Contract listed on a Schedule to this Agreement or under
a
Contract not required to be listed on such a Schedule, or (c) reclamation
Liabilities, which are addressed in paragraph (b) below.
(b) The
reclamation Liability of each Company as set forth in the July Balance Sheet
and
the Unaudited Monthly Balance Sheets was estimated in compliance with GAAP
and
no event has occurred since July 31, 2005 that would (under GAAP) require
any
revision to such estimate, except as set forth in the Unaudited Monthly Balance
Sheets. The Buyer Parties acknowledge and agree that, except with respect
to the
estimation having been made in compliance with GAAP in the preceding sentence,
neither Seller nor Guarantor is making, and Seller and Guarantor expressly
disclaim, any representation or warranty concerning the ultimate or aggregate
reclamation Liability with respect to each Company or its Real Property,
which
shall remain the obligation of each Company after the Closing.
(c) None
of
the Companies is a party to, or is bound by, any hedging transaction or any
off-balance sheet arrangement.
4.7 Books
and Records.
The
books of account of the Companies are complete and correct and, except as
disclosed in Guarantor’s Form 10-K annual report for the year ended December 31,
2004, under Item 9A thereof, have been maintained in accordance with sound
business practices and the requirements of Section 13(b)(2) of the Exchange
Act
(regardless of whether the Companies are subject to that section). Each
transaction is properly and accurately recorded on the books and records
of a
Company, and each document upon which entries in a Company’s books and records
are based is complete and accurate in all respects. Except as disclosed in
Guarantor’s Form 10-K annual report for the year ended December 31, 2004, under
Item 9A thereof, each Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
adequate to insure that it maintains no off-the-books accounts and that its
assets are used only in accordance with its management directives. The minute
books and stock or equity records of each Company, all of which have been
made
available to Buyer Parties, are complete and correct. On and after April
1,
2002, the minute books of each Company, all of which have been made available
to
Buyer Parties, are complete and correct in all material respects. At the
Closing, all such books and records will be in the possession of the Companies.
The Companies own, and maintain in their records, all drilling results, records
and other data of the Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries
relating to all properties in the State of Nevada that are owned, held,
controlled, leased, used or occupied by the Companies.
-17-
4.8 Absence
of Certain Developments.
Since
the 2004 Fiscal Year End, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect
and,
except as set forth in Schedule
4.8:
(a) none
of
the Companies has sold, leased, licensed, transferred or assigned any of
its
assets, tangible or intangible, other than (i) for a fair consideration in
the
Ordinary Course of Business or (ii) transactions involving assets with an
aggregate market value of less than $100,000;
(b) except
as
covered under subsection (a)
above,
none of the Companies has entered into any Contract (or series of related
Contracts) either involving more than $100,000 or outside the Ordinary Course
of
Business;
(c) no
party
(including any Company) has accelerated, suspended, terminated, modified
or
canceled any Contract to which any Company is a party or by which any of
them is
bound that would have been a Material Contract at the time of any such
action;
(d) no
Encumbrance has been imposed on any assets of any Company except Permitted
Encumbrances;
(e) except
as
disclosed on Schedule
4.8(e),
none of
the Companies has made any capital expenditure (or series of related capital
expenditures) either involving more than $100,000 or outside the Ordinary
Course
of Business;
(f) none
of
the Companies has made any capital investment in, any loan to, or any
acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or series of
related capital investments, loans and acquisitions) either involving more
than
$100,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business or acquired (by merger,
exchange, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any
Person;
(g) none
of
the Companies has issued any note, bond or other debt security or created,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money (including
advances on existing credit facilities) or Capital Lease either involving
more
than $50,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate;
-18-
(h) none
of
the Companies has delayed, postponed or accelerated the payment of accounts
payable or other Liability or the receipt of any accounts receivable, in
each
case outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(i) none
of
the Companies has canceled, compromised, waived or released any right or
claim
(or series of related rights or claims) either involving more than $50,000
or
outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(j) there
has
been no change made or authorized in the Organizational Documents of any
Company;
(k) none
of
the Companies has issued, sold or otherwise disposed of any of its capital
stock
or equity interests, or granted any options, warrants or other rights to
purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any
of its
capital stock;
(l) none
of
the Companies has declared, set aside or paid any dividend or made any
distribution with respect to its capital stock or equity interests (whether
in
cash or in kind) or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of its
capital
stock or split, combined or reclassified any outstanding shares of its capital
stock;
(m) none
of
the Companies has experienced any material damage, destruction or loss (whether
or not covered by insurance) to its property;
(n) none
of
the Companies has entered into any employment or collective bargaining
agreement, written or oral, or modified the terms of any such existing
agreement;
(o) none
of
the Companies has granted any increase in the base compensation or made any
other change in employment terms of any of its directors, officers or employees
outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(p) none
of
the Companies has adopted, amended, modified or terminated any Plan (or taken
any such action with respect to any Plan);
(q) none
of
the Companies has discharged or satisfied any Encumbrance or paid any liability,
in each case with a value in excess of $50,000 individually or $100,000 in
the
aggregate, other than current liabilities paid in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(r) none
of
the Companies has disclosed to any Person other than Buyer Parties, Seller
and
Guarantor, and their respective authorized representatives any proprietary
confidential information, other than pursuant to a confidentiality agreement
prohibiting the use or further disclosure of such information;
(s) none
of
the Companies has made any change in accounting principles or practices from
those utilized in the preparation of the March Financial Statements, except
as
required by any Law first becoming effective as of a date subsequent to the
March Balance Sheet Date; and
-19-
(t) none
of
the Companies has committed to take any of the actions described in this
Section
4.8.
4.9 Property.
(a) Schedule
4.9
sets out
(i) all fee property owned, held or controlled by any Company (“Fee
Property”),
(ii)
all patented mining and millsite claims of any Company (“Patented
Claims”),
(iii)
all unpatented federal mining and millsite claims of any Company (“Mining
Claims”),
(iv)
all surface and underground water and water rights, together with all
applications for water rights or applications or permits for the use, transfer
or change of water rights, ditch and ditch rights, well and well rights,
reservoir and reservoir rights, stock or interests in irrigation or ditch
companies appurtenant to the Real Property and all other rights to water
for use
at or in connection with the Real Property or the mining of minerals from
the
Real Property (“Water
Rights”)
owned,
held or controlled by any Company, (v) all buildings, plants, offices, shops,
warehouses, furnaces, smelters, refineries and other facilities of any Company
and the real properties upon which such facilities are located, and (vi)
all
other fixed assets of any Company with a value of $5,000 or more (the
“Listed
Personal Property”),
including (A) all machinery and equipment of each Company, and (B) all other
tangible assets and properties of each Company. The Fee Property, Patented
Claims and Mining Claims will be collectively referred to hereinafter as
the
“Real
Property.”
The
Real Property listed on Schedule
4.9
constitutes all of the real property owned, held, controlled, leased, used
or
occupied by any Company.
Except
for the Companies, none of Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective
Subsidiaries owns, holds, controls, leases, uses or occupies any property
in the
State of Nevada.
(b) Each
Company owns (or in the case of the Mining Claims and Patented Claims listed
in
Schedule
6.12,
will
own at Closing) good and defensible record title to the Mining Claims and
Patented Claims listed as owned by it on Schedule
4.9.
Except
as provided on Schedule
4.9
and
subject to the paramount title of the United States and the rights of third
parties to use the surface of the Mining Claims pursuant to applicable Law,
each
Company owns (or in the case of the Mining Claims and Patented Claims listed
in
Schedule
6.12,
will
own at Closing) the Mining Claims and Patented Claims listed on Schedule 4.9
as owned
by it free and clear of any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances
arising by, through or under it. Except as provided on Schedule 4.9,
with
respect to the Mining Claims located by each Company: (i) the Mining Claims
were
properly laid out and monumented; (ii) location notices and certificates
were properly recorded and filed with appropriate governmental agencies;
(iii) assessment work which was performed in accordance with industry
standards and which was reasonably sufficient to hold those Mining Claims
has
been performed and all Governmental Fees have been paid in a manner required
by
Law in order to maintain the Mining Claims through the 2005-06 assessment
year;
(iv) all affidavits of assessment work, evidence of payment of Governmental
Fees, and other filings required to maintain the Mining Claims in good standing
through the 2005-06 assessment year have been properly and timely recorded
or
filed with appropriate governmental agencies; and (v) to the Knowledge
of
Seller there are no third party patented or unpatented mining claims currently
being maintained that are senior to and in conflict with those Mining
Claims.
(c) Except
as
provided on Schedule 4.9,
with
respect to the Mining Claims not located by any of the Companies: (i) from
and
after the date each Company acquired its interest in those Mining Claims,
assessment work which was performed in accordance with industry standards
and
which was reasonably sufficient to hold those Mining Claims has been performed
and all Governmental Fees have been paid in a manner required by Law in order
to
maintain those Mining Claims through the 2005-2006 assessment year;
(ii) all affidavits of assessment work, evidence of payment of Governmental
Fees, and other filings required to maintain those Mining Claims in good
standing through the 2005-2006 assessment year have been properly and timely
recorded or filed with appropriate governmental agencies; and (iii) to
the
Knowledge of Seller, there are no third party patented or unpatented mining
claims currently being maintained that are senior to and in conflict with
those
Mining Claims.
-20-
(d) Seller
and Guarantor do not make and hereby expressly disclaim any represen-tation
or
warranty as to (i) whether any of the Mining Claims contains a discovery
of
valuable minerals, (ii) the absence of any junior patented or unpatented
mining claims in conflict with the Mining Claims, (iii) whether or
not any
of the Mining Claims comprise a contiguous group of claims or are free from
interior gaps or fractions, (iv) whether or not any Company or its
predecessors-in-title established or maintained pedis
possessio
rights
with respect to any of the Mining Claims, (v) what rights any Company
has
to use the surface of any of the Mining Claims for any purpose; or
(vi) otherwise as to the validity of any of the Mining Claims or the
use of
the same (except as specifically set forth in Sections 4.9(b)
or
(c)
above).
(e) Standard
and Florida Canyon own sufficient Water Rights to operate their respective
mines
as they are currently being operated. Otherwise, Seller and Guarantor make
no
and expressly disclaim any representation or warranty with respect to priority,
status, nature of permitted beneficial use or abandonment of any Water Rights,
whether held by any Company of record, or in which any Company has a beneficial
or other interest.
(f) Each
Company owns good and marketable title to (i) all of the Fee Property listed
as
owned by it, and (ii) the Listed Personal Property, in each case as identified
on Schedule
4.9,
free
and clear of all Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances and
Encumbrances listed on Schedule
4.9
and
leases listed on Schedule
4.9
entered
into between (i) one or more of the Companies and (ii) Persons other than
Seller, Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries, in the Ordinary Course
of
Business. With respect to personal property located on the Companies’ premises
that is not Listed Personal Property, but that relates to the Companies’
business, each Company owns good and marketable title to such personal property,
free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances and
leases
entered into between (i) one or more of the Companies and (ii) Persons other
than Seller, Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries, in the Ordinary
Course
of Business. All leases and licenses pursuant to which any Company leases
or
licenses real or personal property, including mining claims, are in good
standing, valid and effective in accordance with their respective terms,
and
there is not, under any of such leases or licenses, any existing material
default or event of default (or event which with notice or lapse or time,
or
both would constitute a material default; or would constitute a basis of
force
majeure or other claim of excusable delay or non-performance) of any Company
and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no other Person in is default thereunder
and no
event has occurred that is reasonably likely to result in the revocation
or
withdrawal of any such rights and licenses.
-21-
(g) The
buildings, improvements, building systems, machinery, equipment and other
tangible assets and properties used in the conduct of the business of each
Company are in reasonable condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and are adequate for the purposes for which they are now used. Except as
set
forth in Schedule
4.9
and
Section 6.7, each Company owns or leases all of the assets, tangible and
intangible, of any nature whatsoever, necessary to operate its business as
currently conducted in all material respects.
(h) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.9(h),
the
Companies have now and, immediately following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will have the right to occupy
and
use each of its properties in the same manner currently occupied and used
by the
Companies to conduct the business of the Companies as it is presently
conducted.
(i) None
of
the Companies is obligated under any forward sale contract with respect to
minerals produced or producible from the Real Property under which sales
proceeds are paid by the purchaser in advance of delivery.
(j) Guarantor
and Seller have made available, or caused the Companies to make available,
to
Buyer Parties all material information, data, geological and geophysical
test
results, maps and surveys in the possession of such Persons, requested by
Buyer
Parties relating to the Companies and their respective properties and business,
and such Persons have not withheld from Buyer Parties any such material
information, data, test results, maps or surveys. Seller and Guarantor represent
and warrant that all such material information, data, test results, maps
and
surveys were prepared or procured by the Companies in the Ordinary Course
of
Business. Neither Seller nor Guarantor makes any representation or warranty
as
to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any such information, data,
test
results, maps or surveys, and the Buyer Parties shall rely on the same at
their
sole risk.
(k) The
current reports regarding the Companies’ ore reserves (as set forth in the most
recent Public Filings with respect to the Companies) and mine plans that
Guarantor or Seller have made available, or caused the Companies to make
available, to Buyer Parties were prepared in the Ordinary Course of Business
and
the ore reserve reports were audited by a third party.
4.10 Accounts
Receivable.
All
notes and accounts receivable of the Companies are reflected properly on
their
books of account, are valid, have arisen from bona fide transactions in the
Ordinary Course of Business, are subject to no setoff or counterclaim, and
are
current and collectible. To the extent they become due and payable on or
prior
to the Closing date, such notes and accounts receivable will be collected
in
accordance with their terms (none of which is beyond 60 days) at their recorded
amounts, subject only to the reserve for bad debts on the face of the March
Balance Sheet as adjusted in the Companies’ books of account for the passage of
time through the Closing Date in the Ordinary Course of Business.
4.11 Tax
Matters.
(a) Each
Company and any Tax Affiliate has (i) timely filed (or has had timely filed
on
its behalf) each material Return required to be filed or sent by it in respect
of any material Taxes or required to be filed or sent by it by any Governmental
Entity, each of which was correctly completed and accurately reflected in
all
material respects any liability for Taxes of such Company and any Tax Affiliate
covered by such Return, (ii) timely and properly paid (or had paid on its
behalf) all material Taxes due and payable for all Tax periods or portions
thereof whether or not shown on such Returns, (iii) established in such
Company’s books of account, in accordance with GAAP and consistent with past
practices, adequate reserves for the payment of any Taxes not then due and
payable and (iv) complied with all applicable Laws relating to the withholding
of Taxes and the payment thereof. There are no material Taxes that would
be due
if asserted by a Governmental Entity, except with respect to which each Company
and any Tax Affiliate are maintaining adequate reserves on the March Balance
Sheet.
-22-
(b) Each
Company and any Tax Affiliate has made (or caused to be made on its behalf)
all
estimated tax payments required to have been made to avoid any underpayment
penalties or has paid such penalties.
(c) There
are
no Encumbrances for Taxes upon any assets of any Company or any Tax Affiliate,
except Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable. There are no outstanding
options, warrants, securities convertible into stock or other contractual
obligations that might be treated for federal income tax purposes as stock
or
another equity interest in any Company.
(d) Neither
any Company nor any Tax Affiliate has requested any extension of time within
which to file any Return, which Return has not since been filed.
(e) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.11(e),
no
deficiency for any Taxes has been asserted in writing or assessed against
any
Company or any Tax Affiliate that has not been resolved and paid in full.
To the
Knowledge of Seller, there are no proposed reassessments of any property
owned
by any Company or other proposals that could increase the amount of any Tax
to
which any Company could be subject. No waiver, extension or comparable consent
given by any Company or any Tax Affiliate regarding the application of the
statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes or any Return is outstanding,
nor is any request for any such waiver or consent pending. There has been
no Tax
audit or other administrative proceeding or court proceeding with regard
to any
Taxes or any Return for any Company or Tax Affiliate, nor is any such Tax
audit
or other proceeding pending, nor has there been any written notice to any
Company or any tax Affiliate by any Governmental Entity regarding any such
Tax,
audit or other proceeding, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, is any such Tax
audit
or other proceeding threatened with regard to any Taxes or Returns. There
are no
outstanding subpoenas or requests for information with respect to any of
the
Returns of any Company or any Tax Affiliate. Neither any Company nor any
Tax
Affiliate has entered into a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of
the
Code or any similar provision under any other Law.
(f) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, no additional Taxes will be assessed against any Company
or
any Tax Affiliate for any Tax period or portion thereof ending on or prior
to
the Closing Date, and there are no unresolved questions, claims or disputes
concerning the liability for Taxes of any Company or any Tax Affiliate that
would exceed the estimated reserves established on its books of
account.
-23-
(g) Schedule
4.11(g)
lists
all federal, state, local and foreign income Returns filed with respect to
any
Company or any Tax Affiliate for taxable periods ended on or after December
31,
2001, indicates those Returns that have been audited and indicates those
Returns
that currently are the subject of audit.
(h) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, neither any Company nor any Tax Affiliate has any material
liability for Taxes in a jurisdiction where it does not file a Return, nor
has
any Company or any Tax Affiliate received written notice from a taxing authority
in such a jurisdiction that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(i) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
cause
payments to be made by any Company or any Tax Affiliate that are not deductible
(in whole or in part) to Buyer or with respect to any period beginning after
Closing as a result of the application of Section 280G of the Code.
(j) No
property of any Company or any Tax Affiliate is (i) property that any Company
or
any Tax Affiliate is or will be required to treat as being owned by another
Person under the provisions of Section 168(f)(8) of the Code (as in effect
prior
to amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986), (ii)“tax-exempt use property”
within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code or (iii) “tax-exempt bond
financed property” within the meaning of Section 168(g)(5) of the
Code.
(k) Neither
any Company nor any Tax Affiliate is required to include in income any
adjustment under either Section 481(a) or Section 482 of the Code (or an
analogous provision of Law) by reason of a voluntary change in accounting
method
or otherwise, and to the Knowledge of Seller, the IRS has not proposed any
such
adjustment or change in accounting method. None of the Companies has any
deferred income reportable for a period ending after the Closing Date but
that
is attributable to a transaction (e.g.,
an
installment sale) occurring in a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending
on
or prior to the Closing Date.
(l) No
Company is a party to any Tax allocation or sharing agreement.
(m) None
of
the Companies (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated
Return (other than a group the common parent of which is or was Seller or
a
Company) or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than
Seller or any Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or
otherwise.
(n) None
of
the Companies constitutes either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled
corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a
distribution of shares qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355
of
the Code (i) that took place during the two-year period ending on the date
of
this Agreement or (ii) that could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or
“series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the
Code) in conjunction with the purchase of the Florida Canyon Shares, the
Standard Shares and the Exploration Shares.
(o) None
of
the indebtedness of any Company or any Tax Affiliate constitutes (i) “corporate
acquisition indebtedness” (as defined in Section 279(b) of the Code) with
respect to which any interest deductions may be disallowed under Section
279 of
the Code or (ii) an “applicable high yield discount obligation” under Section
163(i) of the Code, and none of the interest on any such indebtedness will
be
disallowed as a deduction under any other provision of the Code.
-24-
(p) Neither
any Company nor any Tax Affiliate has engaged in any transaction that is
subject
to disclosure under present or former Treasury Regulations Sections 1.6011-4
or
1.6011-4T, as applicable.
(q) There
is
no Contract, plan or arrangement, including this Agreement, by which any
current
or former employee of any Company would be entitled to receive any payment
from
any Company as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
that
would not be deductible pursuant to Section 404 or 162(m) of the
Code.
(r) Each
Company is currently, and will be as of the Closing Date, a member of a
consolidated group within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-1(h)
of which the Seller is the common parent.
(s) Neither
any Company nor any Tax Affiliate is subject to accumulated earnings tax
penalty
or has received any written notification regarding a personal holding company
tax.
(t) None
of
the Companies has net operating losses or other tax attributes presently
subject
to limitation under Sections 382, 383 or 384 of the Code, or the separate
return
limitation year limitations of the federal consolidated return regulations
(other than limitations imposed as a result of the transactions contemplated
pursuant to this Agreement).
(u) Any
representation or warranty in this Section 4.11
with
respect to a Tax Affiliate (other than the Seller or any Company) shall be
limited to any Taxes for which any Company may be liable for any reason and
any
other adverse Tax consequences to any Company.
(v) The
representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4.11
shall
survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations.
4.12 Intellectual
Property Rights»
.
The
Companies do not own any Registered Intellectual Property Rights or own any
material Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in Section 6.7,
the
Companies own or have the right to use or otherwise employ all Intellectual
Property Rights necessary for the operation of their business as presently
conducted or proposed to be conducted, including, but not limited to, the
right
of each Company to use its corporate name. To the Knowledge of Seller, no
complaints, either formal or informal, have been made alleging that any Company
has infringed or is infringing or has violated or is violating any Intellectual
Property Rights of a third party. To the Knowledge of Seller, none of the
Companies are infringing or violating, and the operation of their business
does
not infringe or violate, any Intellectual Property Rights of
another.
4.13 Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule
4.13
lists
the following Contracts currently in effect to which any Company is a party
or
subject or by which it is bound (the “Material
Contracts”):
-25-
(i) each
employment, agency, collective bargaining or consulting Contract;
(ii) each
Contract (A) with any Insider, (B) between or among any Insiders relating
in any
way to any Company, or (C) with any employee of any Company;
(iii) each
Contract concerning a partnership or joint venture;
(iv) each
operating or royalty agreement;
(v) each
Capital Lease, lease of real or personal property, surface use agreement,
right-of-way, easement, layback, subsidence or overstrip agreement;
(vi) each
agreement relating to Water Rights;
(vii) each
Contract or group of related Contracts with the same party for the purchase
of
products or services with a undelivered balance in excess of
$100,000;
(viii) each
Contract or group of related Contracts with the same party for the sale of
products or services with an undelivered balance in excess of
$100,000;
(ix) each
Contract for the sale of any capital assets;
(x) each
Contract for capital expenditures in excess of $100,000;
(xi) each
Contract relating to the borrowing of money or to mortgaging, pledging or
otherwise placing an Encumbrance on any of the assets of any
Company;
(xii) each
written warranty, guaranty, indemnity or other similar undertaking with respect
to contractual performance extended by any Company;
(xiii) each
written warranty, guaranty, indemnity or other similar undertaking extended
by
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any obligation of any
Company or any Contract to which any Company is a party or subject or by
which
it is bound;
(xiv) each
Contract relating to any bond or other surety arrangement or letter of credit
maintained or required to be maintained by any Company;
(xv) each
Contract that contains or provides for an express undertaking by any Company
to
be responsible for consequential damages;
(xvi) each
Contract containing exclusivity, non-competition or non-solicitation provisions
or that would otherwise prohibit any Company from freely engaging in business
anywhere in the world or prohibiting the solicitation of the employees or
contractors of any other entity;
(xvii) each
Contract providing for the development of any products, Software or Intellectual
Property Rights or the delivery of any services by, for or with any third
party;
-26-
(xviii) each
Contract pertaining to confidentiality or non-disclosure;
(xix) each
Contract terminable by any other party upon a change of control of any Company
or upon the failure of any Company to satisfy financial or performance criteria
specified in such Contract;
(xx) each
stock purchase, stock option and stock incentive plan (other than a
Plan);
(xxi) each
power of attorney that is currently in effect; and
(xxii) each
other Contract of any Company not entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business or that is material to the business, financial condition, results
of
operations or prospects of the Companies taken as a whole.
(b) Each
Material Contract is valid and binding, currently in force and enforceable
in
accordance with its terms, subject to the Remedies Exception. Each Company
has
performed all material obligations required to be performed by it in connection
with each Material Contract. To the Knowledge of Seller, none of the Companies
has received any notice of any claim of default by it under or termination
of
any Material Contract. None of the Companies has any present expectation
or
intention of not fully performing any obligation pursuant to any Material
Contract, and there is no breach, anticipated breach or default by a Company
or,
to the Knowledge of Seller, any other party to any Material Contract. To
the
Knowledge of Seller, there is no renegotiation of, attempt to renegotiate
or
outstanding right to renegotiate any material terms of any Material Contract
and
no Person has made written demand for such renegotiation. Each Company currently
has the ability to perform each Material Contract for the sale of products
or
services, in accordance with the terms thereof.
4.14 Litigation.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.14,
no
Litigation is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against
any
Company and to the Knowledge of Seller there is no fact or set of facts that
is,
or if discovered by a third party would be, reasonably likely to result in
any
Litigation against any Company. None of the Companies is subject to any
outstanding Governmental Order.
4.15 Insurance.
(a) Schedule
4.15
lists
each insurance policy in effect with respect to each Company and its business.
Such insurance (i) is in full force and effect, (ii) is sufficient for
compliance with all requirements of applicable Law and of any Material Contract
to which any Company is subject and (iii) is valid and enforceable.
(b) Schedule
4.15
lists by
year for the current policy year and each of the two preceding policy years
a
summary of the loss experience under each policy involving any claim in excess
of $100,000. Schedule
4.15
also
describes the loss experience for all claims in excess of $100,000 that were
self-insured, including the aggregate cost of such claims.
4.16 Compliance
with Laws; Governmental Authorizations.
-27-
(a) Each
Company has complied with all applicable Laws and Governmental Orders in
all
material respects with respect to the conduct of its business. None of the
Companies is relying on any exemption from or deferral of any Law, Governmental
Order or Governmental Authorization that would not be available to it after
the
Closing.
(b) Each
Company has in full force and effect all material Governmental Authorizations
necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted and own and operate
its
properties. To the Knowledge of Seller, no fact exists and no event has occurred
that is reasonably likely to result in the revocation or withdrawal of any
such
Governmental Authorization. Schedule
4.16(b) lists
each Governmental Authorization held by any Company. Except as set forth
on
Schedule
4.16(b),
each
Company is currently in compliance in all material respects with all
Governmental Authorizations applicable to it. To the Knowledge of Seller,
each
Governmental Authorization will be valid and in full force and effect upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and none
of the
Companies is in violation or default under any such Government Authorization
(or
with notice or lapse of time or both, could reasonably be anticipated to
be in
violation or default under any such Government Authorization).
(c) None
of
the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4.16
shall
apply to Environmental Laws.
4.17 Environmental
Matters.
(a) As
used
in this Section 4.17,
the
following terms have the following meanings:
(i) “Environmental
Costs”
means
any and
all costs and expenditures, including any fees and expenses of attorneys
and of
environmental consultants or engineers incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, remediating or otherwise responding to any Release
of
Hazardous Materials, any violation or alleged violation of Environmental
Law,
any fees, fines, penalties or charges associated with any Governmental
Authorization, or any actions necessary to comply with any Environmental
Law.
(ii) “Environmental
Law”
means
any Law, Governmental Authorization or Governmental Order relating to pollution,
contamination, Hazardous Materials or protection of the
environment.
(iii) “Hazardous
Materials”
means
any dangerous, toxic or hazardous pollutant, contaminant, chemical, waste,
material or substance as defined in or governed by any Law relating to such
substance or otherwise relating to the environment or human health or safety,
including any waste, material, substance, pollutant or contaminant that might
cause any injury to human health or safety or to the environment or might
subject the owner or operator of the Property to any Environmental Costs
or
liability under any Environmental Law.
(iv) “List”
means
the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List
(NPL) of Hazardous Substance Sites or CERCLA Information System (CERCLIS)
or any
similar list maintained by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection
with respect to sites from which there has been a Release of Hazardous
Materials, including without limitation the Nevada Division of Environmental
Protection Corrective Actions/Leaking Underground Storage Tank Project Tracking
List.
-28-
(v) “Property”
means
real property currently owned, leased, controlled or occupied by any
Company.
(vi) “Regulatory
Action”
means
any Litigation with respect to any Company brought or instigated by any
Governmental Entity in connection with any Environmental Costs, Release of
Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Law.
(vii) “Release”
means
the spilling, leaking, disposing, discharging, emitting, depositing, ejecting,
leaching, escaping or any other release or threatened release, however defined,
whether intentional or unintentional, of any Hazardous Material.
(viii) “Third-Party
Environmental Claim”
means
any Litigation (other than a Regulatory Action) based on negligence, trespass,
strict liability, nuisance, toxic tort or any other cause of action or theory
relating to any Environmental Costs, Release of Hazardous Materials or any
violation of Environmental Law.
(b) No
Third-Party Environmental Claim or Regulatory Action has been taken, is pending
or is, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against any Company.
(c) No
Property is listed on a List.
(d) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, all transfer, transportation or disposal of Hazardous
Materials by any Company to properties not owned, leased or operated by any
Company has been in compliance with applicable Environmental Law. None of
the
Companies has transported or arranged for the transportation of any Hazardous
Materials to any location that is (i) listed on a List, (ii) to the Knowledge
of
Seller, listed for possible inclusion on any List or (iii) the subject of
any
Regulatory Action or Third-Party Environmental Claim. Set
forth
on Schedule
4.17(d)
is a
list of all sites to which any of the Companies has sent or with which it
has
arranged for the disposal of Hazardous Materials.
(e) So
long
as Seller has owned the Companies (and to the Knowledge of Seller, prior
thereto), no Property has ever been used as a landfill, dump or other disposal,
storage, transfer, handling or treatment area for Hazardous Materials, or
as a
gasoline service station or a facility for selling, dispensing, storing,
transferring, disposing or handling petroleum and/or petroleum products,
other
than as permitted in valid plans of operation, mine plans or other Governmental
Authorizations pertaining to the Companies’ activities and
operations.
(f) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.17(f),
there
has not been any Release of any Hazardous Material on, under, about, from
or in
connection with the Property, including the presence of any Hazardous Materials
that have come to be located on or under the Property from another location,
for
so long as Seller has owned the Companies (and, to the Knowledge of Seller,
prior thereto), other than in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws,
except for naturally occurring Releases of Hazardous Materials and for amounts
below levels of regulatory enforcement of any Governmental Entity having
jurisdiction.
-29-
(g) So
long
as Seller has owned the Companies (and to the Knowledge of Seller, prior
thereto), the Property at all times has been used and operated in all material
respects in compliance with all applicable Environmental Law.
(h) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.17(h)(1),
each
Company has obtained all Governmental Authorizations relating to the
Environmental Law necessary for operations of the Companies as currently
conducted. All such Governmental Authorizations are listed on Schedule
4.17(h)(2).
All
material Governmental Authorizations relating to Environmental Laws will
be
valid and in full force and effect upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.17(h)(2),
no
Environmental Law imposes any obligation upon any Company arising out of
or as a
condition to any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, including any
requirement to modify or to transfer any Governmental Authorization, any
requirement to file any notice or other submission with any Governmental
Entity,
the filing of any notice, acknowledgment or covenant in any land records,
or the
modification of or provision of notice under any agreement, consent order
or
consent decree. Each Company has filed all reports and notifications required
to
be filed under and pursuant to all applicable Environmental Law, except as
set
forth on Schedule
4.17(h)(1).
(i) No
Hazardous Materials have been generated, treated, contained, handled, located,
used, manufactured, processed, buried, incinerated, deposited or stored on,
under or about any part of the Property , other than in compliance with
applicable Environmental Law, and except for naturally occurring Releases
of
Hazardous Materials and for amounts below levels of regulatory enforcement
of
any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction. To the Knowledge of Seller,
the
Property contains no asbestos, urea formaldehyde, radon at levels above natural
background, PCBs or pesticides, in concentrations above applicable health-based
regulatory levels established pursuant to Environmental Law. So long as Seller
has owned the Companies (and to the Knowledge of Seller prior thereto), no
underground storage tanks have been located on, under or about the Property
and/or subsequently removed or filled. If any aboveground storage tanks exist
on, under or about the Property, such storage tanks have been duly registered
with all appropriate Governmental Entities as required and are otherwise
in
compliance with all applicable Environmental Law.
(j) All
material environmental reports, plans and investigations that Guarantor,
Seller,
any Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries has prepared, obtained
or
ordered, or has in its possession or control, with respect to any Company,
or
the Property are listed on Schedule
4.17(j)
and were
prepared, obtained or ordered in the Ordinary Course of Business. Seller
makes
no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness
of
any such report, plan or investigation, and the Buyer Parties shall rely
on the
same at their sole risk.
(k) No
Encumbrance has been attached or filed against any Company in favor of any
Person for (i) any liability under or violation of any applicable Environmental
Law, (ii) any Release of Hazardous Materials or (iii) any imposition of
Environmental Costs.
4.18 Employees.
-30-
(a) Schedule
4.18(a)
lists
each employee of each Company as of the date of this Agreement, states the
total
number of employees and indicates for each such employee, and in the aggregate,
full-time, part-time and temporary status.
(b) Schedule
4.18(b)
lists
each salaried employee of any Company as of the date of this Agreement and
shows
for each such employee annual salary, any other compensation payable (including
compensation payable pursuant to bonus, incentive, deferred compensation
or
commission arrangements), date of employment and position. To the Knowledge
of
Seller, no executive employee of any Company and no group of employees of
any
Company has any current plans to terminate his, her or their employment.
Each
Company has materially complied at all times with all applicable Laws relating
to employment and employment practices and those relating to the calculation
and
payment of wages (including overtime pay, maximum hours of work and child
labor
restrictions), equal employment opportunity (including Laws prohibiting
discrimination and/or harassment or requiring accommodation on the basis
of
race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, sexual
orientation or otherwise), affirmative action and other hiring practices,
occupational safety and health, workers’ compensation, unemployment
compensation, the payment of social security and other Taxes, and unfair
labor
practices under the National Labor Relations Act or applicable state law.
To the
Knowledge of the Seller, the Companies’ labor relations are satisfactory. There
are no workers’ compensation claims pending against any Company, or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, any facts that would give rise to such a claim. No employee
of any Company is subject to any secrecy or noncompetition agreement or any
other agreement or restriction of any kind that would impede in any way the
ability of such employee to carry out fully all activities of such employee
in
furtherance of the business of the Companies.
(c) To
the
Knowledge of Seller, no employee of any Company holds a temporary work
authorization, including X-0X, X-0, X-0 or J-1 visas or work authorizations
(the
“Work
Permits”),
or is
required by Law to hold a Work Permit.
To the
Knowledge of Seller, no employee of any Company is (a) a non-immigrant employee
whose status would terminate or otherwise be affected by the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or (b) an alien who is authorized to work
in the
United States in non-immigrant status. For
each
employee of any Company hired after November 6, 1986, such Company has retained
an Immigration and Naturalization Service Form I-9 completed in accordance
with
applicable Law.
(d) The
employment of any terminated former employee of any Company has been terminated
in accordance with any applicable Contract terms and applicable Law, and
none of
the Companies has any liability under any Contract or applicable Law toward
any
such terminated employee.
(e) The
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not cause any Company to
incur
or suffer any liability relating to, or obligation to pay, severance,
termination, commission, bonus or other payment to any Person.
(f) None
of
the Companies has made any loans (except advances for business travel, lodging
or other expenses in the Ordinary Course of Business) to any employee of
any
Company.
-31-
(g) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
4.18(g),
within
the last five years, none of the Companies has experienced and, to the Knowledge
of Seller, there has not been threatened, any strike, work stoppage, slowdown,
lockout, picketing, leafleting, boycott, other labor dispute, union organization
attempt, demand for recognition from a labor organization or petition for
representation under the National Labor Relations Act or applicable state
law.
Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.18(g),
no
grievance, demand for arbitration or arbitration proceeding arising out of
or
under any collective bargaining agreement is pending or, to the Knowledge
of
Seller, threatened. Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.18(g),
no
Litigation is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened respecting
or
involving any applicant for employment, any current employee or any former
employee, or any class of the foregoing, including:
(i) the
Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission or any other corresponding state or local
fair
employment practices agency relating to any claim or charge of discrimination
or
harassment in employment;
(ii) the
United States Department of Labor or any other corresponding state or local
agency relating to any claim or charge concerning hours of work, wages or
employment practices;
(iii) the
Mine
Safety and Health Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration or any other corresponding state or local agency relating
to any
claim or charge concerning employee safety or health;
(iv) the
Office of Federal Contract Compliance or any corresponding state agency;
and
(v) the
National Labor Relations Board or any corresponding state agency, whether
relating to any unfair labor practice or any question concerning
representation,
and
there
is no fact or set of facts that is, or if discovered by a third party would
be,
reasonably likely to result in any such Litigation.
(h) No
employee of any Company is covered by any collective bargaining agreement,
and
no collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated.
(i) Each
of
the Companies has paid in full to all employees all wages, salaries, bonuses
and
commissions due and payable to such employees and has fully reserved in its
books of account all amounts for wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions
due
but not yet payable to such employees.
(j) There
has
been no lay-off of employees or work reduction program undertaken by or on
behalf of any Company since March 31, 2005, and no such program has
been
adopted by any Company or publicly announced.
4.19 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Schedule
4.19 lists
all
Plans by name and provides a brief description identifying (i) the type of
Plan,
(ii) the sponsorship of the Plan, (iii) the participating employers in the
Plan
and (iv) any one or more of the following characteristics that may apply
to such
Plan: (A) defined contribution plan as defined in Section 3(34) of ERISA
or
Section 414(i) of the Code, (B) plan that is or is intended to be tax qualified
under Section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code, (C) employee welfare benefit
plan as
defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, (D) plan providing benefits after separation
from service or termination of employment. None of the Companies has any
of the
following, none of which shall be deemed a “Plan” for purposes of this Section
4.19:
(i) a
defined benefit plan as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA or Section 414(j)
of
the Code, (ii) a plan that is or is intended to be an employee stock ownership
plan as defined in Section 4975(c)(7) of the Code (and whether or not such
plan
has entered into an exempt loan), (iii) a nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangement, (iv) a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA
or
Section 414(f) of the Code, (v) a multiple employer plan maintained by more
than
one employer as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code, (vi) a plan that owns
any
Company or other employer securities as an investment, (vii) a plan that
provides benefits (or provides increased benefits or vesting) as a result
of a
change in control of any Company, (viii) a plan that is maintained pursuant
to
collective bargaining, or (ix) a plan that is funded, in whole or in part,
through a voluntary employees’ beneficiary association exempt from Tax under
Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.
-32-
(b) Neither
the Companies nor any other trade or business, whether or not incorporated,
that
is, along with the Companies, treated as a single employer under sections
414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code maintains, administers, contributes to, or
has
any liability with respect to an defined benefit pension plan subject to
Title
IV of ERISA.
(c) (i)
except as set forth in Schedule
4.19(c),
all
Plans intended to be Tax qualified under Section 401(a) or Section 403(a)
of the
Code are so qualified, (ii) all trusts established in connection with Plans
intended to be Tax exempt under Section 501(a) or (c) of the Code are so
Tax
exempt, (iii) to the extent required either as a matter of Law or to obtain
the
intended Tax treatment and Tax benefits, all Plans comply in all material
respects with the requirements of ERISA and the Code, (iv) all Plans have
been
administered in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the
Plans, (v) all reports and filings with Governmental Entities (including
the
Department of Labor, the IRS and the SEC) required in connection with each
Plan
have been timely made, and (vi) all disclosures and notices required by Law
or
Plan provisions to be given to participants and beneficiaries in connection
with
each Plan have been properly and timely made.
(d) (i)
all
contributions, premium payments and other payments required to be made in
connection with the Plans have been made, (ii) a proper accrual has been
made on
the books of account of the Companies for all contributions, premium payments
and other payments due in the current fiscal year and not paid on or before
the
Closing Date, and (iii) no contribution, premium payment or other payment
has
been made in support of any Plan that is in excess of the allowable deduction
for federal income Tax purposes for the year with respect to which the
contribution was made (whether under Section 162, Section 280G, Section 404,
Section 419, Section 419A of the Code or otherwise).
(e) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
(i)
cause any Plan to increase benefits payable to any participant or beneficiary,
(ii) entitle any current or former employee of any Company to severance pay,
unemployment compensation or any other payment, benefit or award or (iii)
accelerate or modify the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount
of
any benefit, award or compensation due any such employee.
-33-
(f) (i)
No
Litigation is pending with regard to any Plan other than routine uncontested
claims for benefits, (ii) no Plan is currently under examination or audit
by the
Department of Labor, the IRS or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,
and
(iii) with respect to the Plans, each Company has no liability (either directly
or as a result of indemnification) for (and the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement will not cause any liability for): (A) any excise Taxes under
Section 4971 through Section 4980B, Section 4999, Section 5000 or any other
Section of the Code, (B) any penalty under Section 502(i), Section 502(l),
Part
6 of Title I or any other provision of ERISA or (C) any excise Taxes, penalties,
damages or equitable relief as a result of any prohibited transaction, breach
of
fiduciary duty or other violation under ERISA or any other applicable Law,
(iv)
all accruals required under FAS 106 and FAS 112 have been properly accrued
on
the March Financial Statements, (v) no condition, agreement or Plan provision
limits the right of any Company to amend, cut back or terminate any Plan
(except
to the extent such limitation arises under ERISA) and (vi) none of the Companies
has any liability for life insurance, death or medical benefits after separation
from employment other than (A) death benefits under the Plans and (B) health
care continuation benefits described in Section 4980B of the Code.
(g) All
persons who perform services to operate the Companies are common law employees
of Florida Canyon and the Closing will not result in the termination of
employment of any such employees. Neither the Companies nor the Buyer will
have
any liability under any Plan, except to the extent that (1) certain assets
and
liabilities of the Apollo Gold, Inc. Employee Savings Plan are transferred
to a
new plan established by the Companies, pursuant to item 3 of Schedule
7.3,
(2)
certain portions of the Apollo Gold, Inc. Cafeteria Plan are spun-off to
the
Companies, pursuant to item 6 of Schedule
7.3,
and (3)
certain claims incurred under the Apollo Gold Employee Health Benefit Plan
on or
before the Closing Date will be paid by the Buyer or the Companies, pursuant
to
item 2 of Schedule
7.3,
and (4)
claims under Section 4980B of the Code with respect to M & A Qualified
Beneficiaries, as defined under Section 54.4980B-9 of the Treasury Regulations,
that are submitted to Seller after midnight of the Closing Date, all of which
will be paid by the Companies and the Buyer.
4.20 Suppliers.
Schedule
4.20
lists
the 10 largest suppliers of the Companies on a consolidated basis for each
of
the last two fiscal years and for the interim period ended on the March Balance
Sheet Date and sets forth opposite the name of each such supplier the
approximate dollar amount of purchases by the Companies attributable to such
supplier for each such period, and whether such supplier is a sole source
of
supply for the Companies. To the Knowledge of Seller, no supplier listed
on
Schedule
4.20
has
stated that it will stop or decrease the rate of business done with any
Company.
4.21 Affiliate
Transactions.
No
Insider or employee has any Contract with any Company (other than Contracts
listed in Schedule
4.13),
any
loan to or from any Company or any interest in any assets (whether real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) used in or pertaining to the business
of any Company. To the Knowledge of Seller, no Insider has any direct or
indirect interest in any competitor, supplier or vendor of any Company or
in any
Person from whom or to whom any Company leases any property, or in any other
Person with whom any Company otherwise transacts business of any
nature.
-34-
4.22 Brokerage.
No
Person will be entitled to receive any brokerage commission, finder’s fee, fee
for financial advisory services or similar compensation in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any Contract made by
or on
behalf of any Company for which any Buyer Party or any Company is or could
become liable or obligated.
4.23 Availability
of Documents.
Seller
has delivered to Buyer Parties correct and complete copies of the documents
referred to in the Disclosure Schedule or in this Agreement.
4.24 Disclosure.
(a) This
Agreement, the exhibits, the Disclosure Schedule, the 2004 Financial Statements
or the March Financial Statements do not contain any untrue statement or
omit
any material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein,
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
(b) Except
as
set forth in this Agreement or the Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge
of
Seller, there is no fact that has specific application to any Company (other
than general economic or industry conditions) and that may materially adversely
affect the assets, business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations of any Company.
4.25 Disclaimer
of Certain Representations or Warranties.
THE
PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, NONE OF SELLER, GUARANTOR OR THE COMPANIES MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS
OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, (AND EACH OF SELLER, GUARANTOR, AND THE
COMPANIES HEREBY DISCLAIM ANY SUCH REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES) WITH RESPECT
TO THE MERCHANTABILITY OR SUITABILITY FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY OF
THE
EQUIPMENT, FIXTURES, SUPPLIES OR OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE
COMPANIES.
V.
Representations
and Warranties of Buyer
Parties
Buyer
Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Seller that (i)
as of
the date of this Agreement, and (ii) except as described in any Buyer Permitted
Update, as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement):
5.1 Incorporation;
Power
and
Authority.
Each
Buyer Party is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with all necessary
power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and, in
the
case of Buyer, the Transition Services Agreement.
5.2 Valid
and Binding Agreement.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transition
Services Agreement by any Buyer Party have been duly and validly authorized
by
all necessary corporate action. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each Buyer Party and constitutes the valid and binding obligation
of such Buyer Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to the Remedies Exception. The Transition Services Agreement, when
executed and delivered by Buyer, will constitute the valid and binding
obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms,
subject to the Remedies Exception.
-35-
5.3 No
Breach;
Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transition
Services Agreement by any Buyer Party will not (a) contravene any provision
of
the Organizational Documents of such Buyer Party; (b) violate or conflict
with
any Law, Governmental Order or Governmental Authority; (c) conflict with,
result
in any breach of any of the provisions of, constitute a default (or any event
that would, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, constitute
a default) under, result in a violation of, increase the burdens under, result
in the termination, amendment, suspension, modification, abandonment or
acceleration of payment (or any right to terminate) or require a Consent,
including any Consent under any Contract or Governmental Authorization that
is
either binding upon or enforceable against such Buyer Party; or (d) require
any
Governmental Authorization.
5.4 No
Other Representations; Suitability.Buyer
is
an “accredited investor”, as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act,
and has such knowledge in financial and business affairs as to be capable
of
evaluating the merits and risks of its investment and is able to bear the
economic risk of loss of its investment. The Buyer Parties acknowledge that
Seller has given Buyer access to the documents and facilities of the Companies.
The Buyer Parties acknowledge that neither Seller nor Guarantor make any
representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy, reliability or
completeness of the conclusions set forth in any projections, estimates or
budgets delivered to or made available to Buyer regarding the future revenues,
future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows
or
future financial condition (or any component thereof) of any Company or the
future business and operations of any Company.
5.5 Brokerage.
No
Person will be entitled to receive any brokerage commission, finder’s fee, fee
for financial advisory services or similar compensation in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any Contract made by
or on
behalf of any Buyer Party for which Seller or Guarantor is or could become
liable or obligated.
5.6 Investment
Intent.
Buyer
is acquiring the Florida Canyon Shares, the Standard Shares and the Exploration
Shares for its own account for investment purposes, and not with a view to
the
distribution thereof.
5.7 Financial
Condition.
Buyer
is, and immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
under
this Agreement will be, able to pay its debts and obligations as they mature
and
come due.
5.8 Financing.
Buyer
Parties have sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources
of
immediately available funds to enable it to make payment of the Purchase
Price.
5.9 Litigation.
There
is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the Buyer Parties’ knowledge,
threatened against or affecting either Buyer Party at law or in equity, or
before any Governmental Entity, which seeks to delay or question the validity
of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or would otherwise
have a
material adverse effect on either Buyer Party.
-36-
VI.
Agreements
of Seller and Guarantor
Seller
and Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree with Buyer Parties
that:
6.1 Conduct
of the Business.
Seller
and Guarantor will cause each Company to observe the following provisions
to and
including the Closing Date:
(a) each
Company will conduct its business only in, and none of the Companies will
take
any action except in, the Ordinary Course of Business and in accordance with
applicable Law, except with the prior written consent of Parent;
(b) none
of
the Companies will amend or modify any Material Contract or enter into any
Contract that would have been a Material Contract if such Contract had been
in
effect on the date of this Agreement, except with the prior written consent
of
Parent;
(c) each
Company will (i) use its reasonable efforts to preserve its assets, business
organization and goodwill, keep available the services of its officers,
employees and consultants and maintain satisfactory relationships with vendors,
suppliers and others having business relationships with it, (ii), subject
to
applicable Laws, confer on a regular and frequent basis with representatives
of
Buyer Parties to report operational matters and the general status of ongoing
operations as requested by Buyer Parties and (iii) not take any action that
would render, or that reasonably may be expected to render, any representation
or warranty made by Seller or Guarantor in this Agreement untrue at the Closing
as though then made and as though the Closing Date had been substituted for
the
date of this Agreement in such representation or warranty, including any
actions
referred to in Section 4.8;
(d) except
with the prior written consent of Parent or in the Ordinary Course of Business,
none of the Companies will use extraordinary selling efforts that would have
the
effect of accelerating sales prior to the time reasonably expected, through
offering of discounts, shipment of goods prior to anticipated shipping dates
or
otherwise;
(e) except
with the prior written consent of Parent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld, none of the Companies will (i) make or rescind any express or deemed
election or take any other discretionary position relating to Taxes except
in
accordance with past practice, (ii) amend any Return, (iii) settle or compromise
any Litigation relating to Taxes or (iv) change any of its methods of reporting
income or deductions for federal or state income Tax purposes from those
employed in the preparation of the last filed federal or state income Tax
Returns;
(f) none
of
the Companies will change any of its methods of accounting in effect on the
March Balance Sheet Date, other than changes required by Law or by GAAP or
consented to in writing by Parent;
-37-
(g) except
with the prior written consent of Parent, none of the Companies will cancel
or
terminate any of its current insurance policies or reclamation or surety
bonds,
or allow any of the coverage thereunder to lapse, unless simultaneously with
such termination, cancellation or lapse replacement policies providing coverage
equal to or greater than the coverage under the canceled, terminated or lapsed
policies for substantially similar premiums are in full force and
effect;
(h) except
in
the Ordinary Course of Business, none of the Companies will repay any
indebtedness to Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, or will declare, set
aside
or pay any cash dividends on or make any other cash distributions in respect
of
any capital stock; and
(i) except
with the prior written consent of Parent, none of the Companies will declare,
set aside or pay any non-cash dividends on or make any other non-cash
distributions (whether in stock, equity securities or property) in respect
of
any capital stock or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue
or
authorize the issuance of any securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for any capital stock.
6.2 Notice
of Developments.
Seller
and Guarantor will promptly notify Buyer Parties of any emergency or other
change in the Ordinary Course of Business of any Company or the commencement
or
threat of Litigation pertaining in any way to any Company or its business
or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Seller and Guarantor will promptly
notify Buyer Parties in writing if Seller or Guarantor should discover that
any
representation or warranty made by Seller or Guarantor in this Agreement
was
when made, has subsequently become or will be on the Closing Date untrue
in any
respect. No disclosure pursuant to this Section 6.2
will be
deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedule or to prevent or cure
any
inaccuracy, misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach of agreement,
unless:
(a) the
disclosure is made in writing at least five calendar days prior to the earlier
of the Closing Date or December 1, 2005;
(b) the
disclosure is identified by Seller as an exception to a specific representation
or warranty set forth in Article III or IV, or as a modification of a specific
section of the Disclosure Schedule;
(c) the
disclosure contains the same level of detail as would have been required
to be
included in the Disclosure Schedule delivered on the date of this Agreement,
had
such fact or matter been disclosed therein;
(d) none
of
the Knowledge Employees had actual knowledge of such fact or matter on or
prior
to the date of this Agreement
or would
have acquired any such knowledge upon reasonable inquiry and investigation;
and
(e) the
fact
or matter did not result from any willful or intentional failure to disclose
by
Seller, Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof (a disclosure that satisfies all
such
requirements, a “Seller
Permitted Update”).
-38-
6.3 Pre-Closing
Access.
Through
the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor will cause each Company to afford
to
Buyer Parties and their authorized representatives full access at all reasonable
times and upon reasonable notice to the facilities, offices, properties,
technology, processes, books, business and financial records, officers,
employees, business plans, budgets, and projections, vendors, suppliers and
other information of each Company, and otherwise provide such assistance
as may
be reasonably requested by Buyer Parties in order that Buyer Parties have
a full
opportunity to make such investigation and evaluation as they reasonably
desire
to make of the business and affairs of each Company. In addition, Seller
and
Guarantor will cause each Company to cooperate fully (including providing
introductions where necessary) with Buyer Parties to enable Buyer Parties
to
contact third parties, including employees, suppliers and vendors of each
Company, and to communicate with employees of each Company. Subject to Laws,
Buyer Parties will have full access to the personnel records (including
performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, grievances and medical records)
of
each Company for the purpose of preparing for and conducting interviews with
Active Employees. Seller and Guarantor will provide or cause each Company
to
provide such Plan documents and summary plan descriptions, employee data
or
other information as may be reasonably required to carry out the arrangements
described in Schedule
7.3.
At the
request of Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor will consent and cause the
Companies to consent to Deloitte & Touche LLP making its workpapers
available to or at the direction of the Buyer Parties.
6.4 Waivers;
Payment of Indebtedness.
To
assure that Buyer Parties obtain the full benefit of this
Agreement:
(a) Seller
and Guarantor will cause all indebtedness of the Companies to Seller, Guarantor
or any of their respective Subsidiaries (except for any indebtedness from
one
Company to another Company), including, but not limited to, the amounts included
in the “INTERCOMPANY PAYABLE (Home Office)” line item on the Companies’ March
Balance Sheet, to be canceled or paid, without recourse to any assets of
the
Companies and without any adverse Tax consequences to any of the Companies
or
Buyer Parties, prior to the Closing;
(b) Seller
and Guarantor will cause Seller, Guarantor and any Person controlled by Seller
or Guarantor to repay, in full, prior to the Closing, all indebtedness owed
to
any Company by such Person;
(c) effective
as of the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor waive any claim they might have
against any Company, whether arising out of this Agreement or otherwise,
and
irrevocably offer to terminate any Contract between Seller, Guarantor or
any of
their respective Subsidiaries and any Company at no cost to any Company;
and
(d) Seller
and Guarantor waive any claim they might have against any Company by virtue
of
the representations and warranties pertaining to such Company under this
Agreement.
6.5 Conditions.
Seller
and Guarantor will use their reasonable efforts to cause the conditions set
forth in Section 8.1
to be
satisfied and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
as
soon as reasonably possible and in any event prior to the Closing
Date.
-39-
6.6 No
Sale.
Seller
will not sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise place any Encumbrance on any
Florida Canyon Shares, Standard Shares or Exploration Shares prior to the
Closing. Seller and Guarantor will cause the Companies not to issue or agree
to
issue any share of capital stock, option, warrant, call, subscription,
convertible security or similar right to obtain an equity security of any
Company prior to the Closing.
6.7 Closing
and Post-Closing Deliveries and Access.
After
the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor will afford to Buyer Parties and the
Companies, their accountants and counsel, during normal business hours, upon
reasonable request, full access to the books and records of Seller and Guarantor
pertaining to each Company. Seller and Guarantor shall deliver to the Companies,
by the Closing Date, in electronic form all material databases, files and
other
materials maintained by Seller and Guarantor in electronic form that relate
to
the Companies and their business; provided, that Seller and Guarantor shall
be
permitted to segregate the portion of any material databases, files and other
materials that relate to the Companies and their business, and deliver only
such
portion to the Companies. Seller and Guarantor certify that, to the Knowledge
of
Seller, the Companies own or license all equipment and software necessary
to
access, modify, print and otherwise use such materials in their electronic
form.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer Parties acknowledge that after the Closing
Date the Companies (i) will not be connected to or able to use the email
system
or other communications networks of Seller and Guarantor, (ii) will not be
included in Seller’s or Guarantor’s website, nor will Seller or Guarantor create
an independent website for the Companies, and (iii) may not have a license
to
the Software listed on Schedule
6.7.
Seller
and Guarantor will use their reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in obtaining,
effective on or prior to the Closing Date, on its own behalf or on behalf
of the
Companies, licenses to the Software listed on Schedule
6.7.
Seller
and Guarantor shall deliver to the Companies, by the Closing Date, all material
files and other documents in the possession or control of Seller and Guarantor
in hard copy that relate to the Companies or their business; provided, that
Seller and Guarantor shall be permitted to segregate the portion of any material
files and other documents that relate to the Companies and their business,
and
deliver only such portion to the Companies. At the request of Buyer Parties
or
the Companies, Seller and Guarantor will consent to Deloitte & Touche LLP
making its notepapers available to or at the direction of the Buyer Parties
or
the Companies.
6.8 Litigation
Support.
In the
event and for so long as any Buyer Party, any Company is actively contesting
or
defending against any Litigation in connection with any fact, situation,
circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event,
incident, action, failure to act or transaction existing or occurring on
or
prior to the Closing Date involving any Company, Seller and Guarantor will
cooperate in the contest or defense, make available their personnel and provide
such testimony and access to their books and records as may be necessary
in
connection with the contest or defense, at the cost and expense of Buyer
Parties
(unless and to the extent any Buyer Party is entitled to indemnification
therefor under Article X or Article XI).
6.9 Nondisparagement.
Neither
Seller nor Guarantor, nor any of their respective Affiliates, will take any
action that is designed or intended to have the effect of discouraging any
lessor, licensor, vendor, supplier or other business associate of any Company
from maintaining the same business relationship with the Companies after
the
Closing as it maintained with the Companies prior to the Closing. Seller
and
Guarantor will refer all inquiries relating to the business of the Companies
to
Buyer Parties from and after the Closing.
-40-
6.10 Confidentiality.
(a) Seller,
Guarantor and their respective Affiliates will keep confidential and protect,
and will not divulge, allow access to or use in any way, (i) Intellectual
Property Rights, including product specifications, formulae, compositions,
processes, designs, sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions
and ideas, past, current and planned research and development, current and
planned manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, market studies,
business plans, Software, database technologies, systems, structures,
architectures and data (and related processes, formulae, compositions,
improvements, devices, know-how, inventions, discoveries, concepts, ideas,
designs, methods and information), (ii) any and all information concerning
the
business and affairs (including historical financial statements, financial
projections and budgets, historical and projected sales, capital spending
budgets and plans, the names and backgrounds of key personnel, personnel
training and techniques and materials), however documented, and (iii) any
and
all notes, analyses, compilations, studies, summaries and other material
containing or based, in whole or in part, on any information included in
the
foregoing (“Confidential
Information”)
of any
Company, unless required by Laws, Governmental Orders, policies, or rules
of
stock exchanges on which the shares of Guarantor are listed, in which event,
if
legally permissible, Seller or Guarantor shall promptly provide written notice
to Buyer Parties to allow Buyer Parties or any Company to seek (and if only
Seller or Guarantor is legally permitted to seek, they will, if requested
by
Buyer Parties seek) (at the expense of Buyer Parties or any Company) a
protective order with respect to such information. Seller
and Guarantor acknowledge that such Confidential Information constitutes
a
unique and valuable asset of each Company and represents a substantial
investment of time and expense by such Company, and that any disclosure or
other
use of such Confidential Information other than for the sole benefit of such
Company would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to such Company.
Seller and Guarantor will deliver promptly to Buyer Parties or destroy, at
the
request and option of Buyer Parties, all tangible and intangible embodiments
(and all copies) of such Confidential Information that are in the possession
of
Seller, Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, provided that such request
of
Buyer Parties may only relate to embodiments that are ten (10) years or older
from the date of request. The foregoing obligations of confidentiality will
not
apply to any Confidential Information that is or subsequently becomes generally
publicly known, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of
this
Agreement by Seller or Guarantor.
(b) Seller
and Guarantor acknowledge that Buyer Parties have required that Seller and
Guarantor make the agreements in this Section 6.10
as a
condition to Buyer’s purchase of the Florida Canyon Shares, the Standard Shares
and the Exploration Shares and consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement. Seller and Guarantor agree that the agreements contained
in this
Section 6.10
are
reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of Buyer Parties
and that any violation or breach of this Section 6.10
will
result in irreparable injury to Buyer Parties for which no adequate remedy
would
exist at law. Accordingly, in addition to any relief at law that may be
available to any Buyer Party for such violation or breach and regardless
of any
other provision contained in this Agreement, each Buyer Party will be entitled
to injunctive and other equitable relief restraining such violation or breach
(without any requirement that any Buyer Party provide any bond or other
security).
-41-
(c) In
the
event that Seller or Guarantor is requested or required (by oral question
or
request for information or documents in any legal proceeding, interrogatory,
subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any
Confidential Information, it will notify Buyer Parties promptly of the request
or requirement so that Buyer Parties may seek an appropriate protective order
or
waive compliance with the provisions of this Section 6.10.
If, in
the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver from Buyer Parties,
Seller or Guarantor is, on the advice of counsel, compelled to disclose any
Confidential Information to any tribunal or else stand liable for contempt,
Seller or Guarantor may disclose the Confidential Information to the tribunal;
provided,
however,
that
the disclosing Seller or Guarantor will use its reasonable efforts to obtain,
at
the request of any Buyer Party, an order or other assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded to such portion of the Confidential Information
required to be disclosed as the Buyer Party designates.
6.11 Assignment
of Confidentiality Agreements.Effective
upon the Closing, Seller and Guarantor will assign to each Company all of
Seller’s and Guarantor’s right, title and interest in and to any confidentiality
agreement (but only to the extent any such agreement may by its terms be
assigned to a third party) to which Seller or Guarantor or the agent of Seller
or Guarantor may be a party pertaining to the confidentiality of information
relating to such Company or the hiring of employees of such Company. Seller
and
Guarantor will request the return or destruction of information covered by
any
such agreement (regardless of whether such agreement is assignable) within
two
business days of the date of this Agreement to the broadest extent permitted
by
such confidentiality agreement.
6.12 Transfer
of Apollo Gold Exploration Property.
Prior
to Closing, Seller will execute, deliver and file for recording in the office
of
the Pershing County, Nevada, Recorder an instrument or instruments of grant,
transfer, and assignment (a) conveying to Exploration all right, title and
interest in and to the mining claims and leases listed on Part 1 of Schedule
6.12
and (b)
conveying to Standard all right, title and interest in and to the Fee Property
listed on Part 2 of Schedule
6.12
(the
“Exploration
Property Transfers”).
With
respect to any unpatented mining claims owned by Seller and conveyed to
Exploration, Seller shall also prior to the Closing file a notice of transfer
of
interest with the Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
6.13 Employee
Matters.
If
prior to Closing, any Person holding the position of general manager of the
mine, or any position reporting directly to the general manager of the mine,
resigns, provides notice of resignation, or is terminated, Seller and Guarantor
will use their reasonable efforts to cause substitutes acceptable to Buyer
Parties and Seller to be hired and to commence employment on or prior to
the
Closing Date on terms acceptable to Buyer Parties and Seller.
6.14 Claims
Against Company Personnel.
On and
after the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor will not, and will cause their
Affiliates not to, make any claim or take any other action that would cause
any
Person to be entitled to be indemnified by any Company, or to receive expenses
from any Company, under any Indemnification Agreement or under the certificate
of incorporation or bylaws of any Company with respect to any event or matter
that occurs prior to the Closing.
-42-
6.15 No
Shareholder Approval.
Seller
and Guarantor will not, and will cause their Affiliates not to, take any
action
that would cause the approval of Guarantor’s shareholders to be required in
order to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
VII.
Further
Agreements
7.1 Conditions.
Buyer
Parties will not take any action that would render, or that reasonably may
be
expected to render, any representation or warranty made by Buyer Parties
in this
Agreement untrue at the Closing as though then made and as though the Closing
Date had been substituted for the date of this Agreement in such representation
or warranty. Buyer Parties will use their reasonable efforts to cause the
conditions set forth in Section 8.2
to be
satisfied and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
as
soon as reasonably possible and in any event prior to the Closing
Date.
7.2 Buyer
Permitted Updates.
Buyer
Parties will promptly notify Seller or Guarantor in writing if Buyer Parties
should discover that any representation or warranty made by Buyer Parties
in
this Agreement was when made, has subsequently become or will be on the Closing
Date untrue in any respect. No disclosure pursuant to this Section 7.2
will be
deemed to cure any inaccuracy, misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach
of agreement, unless:
(a) the
disclosure is made in writing at least five calendar days prior to the earlier
of the Closing Date or December 1, 2005;
(b) the
disclosure is identified by Buyer Parties as an exception to a specific
representation or warranty set forth in Article V;
(c) the
disclosure contains the same level of detail as would have been required
to be
included in the Disclosure Schedule on the date of this Agreement, had such
fact
or matter been an exception to Seller’s and Guarantor’s representations or
warranties;
(d) no
officer of Parent had actual knowledge of such fact or matter on or prior
to the
date of this Agreement or would have acquired any knowledge upon reasonable
inquiry and investigation; and
(e) the
fact
or matter did not result from any willful or intentional failure to disclose
by
Buyer Parties or any Affiliate thereof (a disclosure that satisfies all such
requirements, a “Buyer
Permitted Update”).
7.3 Employment;
Employee Benefits.
Employees of each Company will continue as employees on the Closing Date,
subject to the right to terminate the employment of such employees in accordance
with law. In addition, each party agrees to the terms and conditions set
forth
on Schedule
7.3
with
respect to certain employment and employee benefits matters.
7.4 Insurance.
Buyer
Parties will use their reasonable efforts to secure and obtain, on or prior
to
the Closing Date, insurance applicable to the Companies and their business,
to
be effective commencing on the Closing Date, on commercially reasonable terms,
that is sufficient for compliance with all requirements of applicable Law
and of
any Material Contract to which any Company is subject and that insures against
risks of the kind and in amounts for which the Companies were insured prior
to
Closing (the “Required
Insurance”).
Seller and Guarantor will use reasonable efforts to assist Buyer Parties
in
obtaining the Required Insurance.
-43-
7.5 Bonding.
Buyer
Parties will use their reasonable efforts to obtain, on or prior to the Closing
Date, assurances acceptable to each of the Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor,
in their reasonable discretion, that the Companies’ existing reclamation bonds
and other surety, which are listed on Schedule
7.5,
will
remain in full force and effect (at no post-Closing cost to Seller and
Guarantor) after the Closing or will be replaced, effective as of the Closing
Date, on terms acceptable to each of the Buyer Parties, in their reasonable
discretion, and to the appropriate Governmental Entities (such bonds or surety,
as so continued or replaced, the “Required
Surety”).
Seller and Guarantor will use reasonable efforts to assist Buyer Parties
in
obtaining the Required Surety.
7.6 Releases
from Guarantees.
Buyer
Parties will use their reasonable efforts to obtain, on or prior to the Closing
Date, evidence acceptable to Seller and Guarantor in their sole discretion
that
effective on the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor shall be released from
their
obligations under all of the guarantees of the Companies’ obligations to which
either Seller or Guarantor are a party, as listed on Schedule 7.6
(the
“Required
Releases”).
Seller
and Guarantor will use reasonable efforts to assist the Buyer Parties in
obtaining the Required Releases.
7.7 Non-Hire.
(a) Except
with Buyer’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
during the period that commences on the date of this Agreement and ends on
the
first anniversary of the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor will not, and
will
cause each of their Affiliates not to, employ (or attempt to employ or interfere
with any employment relationship with) any employee of any Company.
(b) Except
with Seller’s or Guarantor’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed, during the period that commences on the date of this
Agreement and ends on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer Parties
will not, and will cause each of their Affiliates not to, employ (or attempt
to
employ or interfere with any employment relationship with) any employee of
Seller, Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof.
7.8 Use
of
Seller’s and Guarantor’s Names.
As soon
as practicable after the Closing but in no event later than 30 days after
the
Closing, Buyer Parties shall remove or cause to be removed the names, marks
and
identifications used by the Companies and all variations and derivatives
thereof
and logos relating thereto from all of the Companies’ assets, including, without
limitation, all documentation or records prepared after the Closing Date,
to the
extent they include the word “Apollo Gold” or “Apollo,” including, without
limitation, Apollo Gold Exploration. At no time shall Buyer Parties utilize
any
of the foregoing names or any other tradename or trademark of the Seller
or
Guarantor in connection with their ownership and operation of the
Companies.
7.9 Post-Closing
Access.
After
the Closing Date, Buyer Parties will cause each Company to afford to Seller
and
Guarantor, their accountants and counsel, during normal business hours, upon
reasonable request, full access to the books and records of the Companies
in
order that Seller and Guarantor have a full opportunity to make such
investigation and evaluation as they reasonably desire to review, prepare
and
audit financial statements of or related to each Company or the Seller or
Guarantor for periods prior to the Closing Date. Buyer Parties will cause
each
Company to retain all financial statements and records, including, but not
limited to, all records related to Taxes for a period of seven (7) years
from
the Closing Date.
-44-
7.10 Filings;
Other Action.
Subject
to the terms and conditions herein provided, the Buyer Parties, Seller and
Guarantor shall and shall cause any appropriate other party to: (a) use all
reasonable efforts to cooperate with one another in (i) determining which
filings are required to be made prior to the Closing with, and which consents,
approvals, permits, or authorizations are required to be obtained prior to
the
Closing from, any Governmental Entity, in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (ii) timely making all such filings and timely seeking all such
consents, approvals, permits, or authorizations; and (b) use all reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other action and do, or cause
to be
done, all other things necessary, proper, or appropriate to consummate and
make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.11 APO
19.
The
parties acknowledge that Florida Canyon has applied for Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) approval of Amended Plan of Operations no. 19 (APO 19),
the
approval of which could, but is not guaranteed to, reduce Florida Canyon's
ultimate reclamation liability. Buyer Parties acknowledge that (i) the BLM
Winnemucca Field Office personnel have informed Florida Canyon's staff verbally
that their review and approval of APO 19 must await the execution of a Long
Term
Care Agreement and Irrevocable Trust, as provided in prior correspondence
with
the BLM concerning prior amendments to the Plan of Operations, (ii) the BLM
is
currently reviewing a draft of the agreement creating the trust account,
(iii)
approximately $300,000 of the funds to be placed in the trust for long term
care
are being held by the BLM until these agreements are complete and fully
executed, and (iv) an additional $140,000-$150,000 will need to be paid into
the
trust by Florida Canyon at the time of execution of the trust agreement.
7.12 Standard
Xxxxx Pad Leak.
Prior
to the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor will, and will cause the Companies
to,
use their reasonable efforts to locate and repair, if possible, and mitigate,
in
the manner described in Schedule
7.12,
the
Standard mine xxxxx pad leak disclosed as Item 4 in Schedule
4.17(f).
VIII.
Conditions
to Closing
8.1 Conditions
to Buyer’s Obligations.
The
obligation of Buyer to take the actions required to be taken by it at the
Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in whole or in part, in
Buyer’s sole discretion (but any waiver under Section 8.1(a)
will
only waive Buyer Parties’ rights of indemnification under this Agreement with
respect to the portion of any Loss that exceeds 2.5% of the Purchase Price),
of
each of the following conditions at or prior to the Closing:
-45-
(a) The
representations and warranties set forth in Articles III and IV that are
not
subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications will be
true
and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date as though
then made and as though the Closing Date had been substituted for the date
of
this Agreement in such representations and warranties, except that any
representation or warranty expressly made as of a specified date will only
need
to have been true on and as of such date, and the representations and warranties
set forth in Articles III and IV that are subject to materiality or Material
Adverse Effect qualifications will be true and correct in all respects at
and as
of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date had
been
substituted for the date of this Agreement in such representations and
warranties, except that any representation or warranty expressly made as
of a
specified date will only need to have been true on and as of such date (without
taking into account any supplemental disclosures after the date of this
Agreement by Seller, Guarantor or any Company, except for the Seller Permitted
Updates, if any);
(b) Seller
and Guarantor will have performed and complied with each of their agreements
contained in this Agreement in all material respects;
(c) The
Required Insurance, Required Surety and Required Releases will have been
obtained and be in full force and effect and such actions as Buyer Parties’
counsel may reasonably require will have been taken in connection
therewith;
(d) Buyer
Parties will have obtained each Governmental Authorization required to operate
the business of the Companies in substantially the same manner and no less
favorable than it was operated prior to the Closing Date;
(e) Buyer
Parties will have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to them that
no
Litigation is pending or threatened (i) challenging or seeking to prevent
or
delay consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) asserting the illegality of or seeking to render unenforceable any material
provision of this Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Subscription
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Further Subscription
Documents, (iii) seeking to prohibit direct or indirect ownership, combination
or operation by Buyer Parties of any portion of the business or assets of
any
Company, or to compel any Buyer Party or any Company to dispose of, or to
hold
separately, or to make any change in any portion of the business or assets
of
any Buyer Party or of any Company, as a result of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, or incur any burden, (iv) seeking to require direct or
indirect transfer or sale by any Buyer Party of, or to impose material
limitations on the ability of any Buyer Party to exercise full rights of
ownership of, any of the Florida Canyon Shares, Standard Shares or Exploration
Shares or (v) imposing or seeking to impose material damages or sanctions
directly arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on
any
Buyer Party or any Company or any of their respective officers or
directors;
(f) No
Law or
Governmental Order will have been enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
by any Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected to result, directly
or indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to in Section 8.1(e);
-46-
(g) After
the
date of this Agreement, no Material Adverse Effect
will
have occurred;
(h) No
Person
will have asserted or threatened that, other than as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedule, such Person (i) is the owner of, or has the right to acquire or
to
obtain ownership of, any capital stock of, or any other voting, equity or
ownership interest in, any Company or (ii) is entitled to all or any portion
of
the Purchase Price;
(i) Buyer
Parties will not have discovered any fact or circumstance existing as of
the
date of this Agreement not disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule that has
a
Material Adverse Effect;
(j) The
Seller will have delivered each of the agreements, certificates, instruments
and
other documents that it is obligated to deliver pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(i),
and
such agreements so delivered will be in full force and effect;
(k) None
of
the Companies will have been, or threatened to be, materially adversely affected
in any way as a result of fire, explosion, disaster, accident, labor dispute,
any action by any Governmental Entity, flood, act of war, terrorism, civil
disturbance or act of nature;
(l) The
Companies shall be appropriately staffed, consistent with the level of staffing
in place on the date of this Agreement;
(m) Buyer
Parties will have received reasonably satisfactory evidence of the execution
and
delivery to Seller or Guarantor of releases of all Encumbrances listed on
Schedule
8.1(m),
and
there shall be no other Encumbrances on the Real Property, other than Permitted
Encumbrances and Encumbrances listed on Schedule
4.9;
(n) Buyer
Parties will have received certificates dated as of a date not earlier than
the
third Business Day prior to the Closing as to the good standing of each Company,
executed by the appropriate officials of the State of Delaware, the State
of
Nevada and each other jurisdiction in which such Company is licensed or
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation as specified in Schedule
4.1;
(o) Buyer
Parties will have received an estoppel certificate from Xxxxxx Investments
on
terms acceptable to Buyer Parties, in their sole discretion;
(p) Seller
and Guarantor shall have caused the restricted certificate of deposit listed
on
the March Balance Sheet for Florida Canyon, or the benefit thereof, to be
transferred or assigned to Florida Canyon, and provided Buyer Parties with
evidence satisfactory to Buyer Parties to such effect;
(q) Seller
will have executed, delivered and recorded the Exploration Property
Transfers;
-47-
(r) Buyer
Parties will have received an audited balance sheet as of March 31, 2005
of each
Company (the “Audited
Balance Sheets”),
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the
preparation of the March Financial Statements, except that the Audited Balance
Sheets need not contain footnotes.
Buyer
Parties shall reimburse Seller at the Closing for the costs and fees incurred
by
Seller or Guarantor in connection with the preparation of the Audited Balance
Sheets; and
(s) Each
Indemnification Agreement that includes, as a party thereto, any Person that
is
an employee, officer or director of Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries
as of
the date of this Agreement shall have been amended to provide that the Companies
have no further obligations under such Indemnification Agreement and are
no
longer parties thereto.
8.2 Conditions
to Seller’s Obligations.
The
obligation of Seller to take the actions required to be taken by it at the
Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in whole or in part, in
Seller’s discretion, of each of the following conditions at or prior to the
Closing:
(a) The
representations and warranties set forth in Article V that are not subject
to
materiality qualifications will be true and correct in all material respects
at
and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing
Date
had been substituted for the date of this Agreement in such representations
and
warranties, except that any representation or warranty expressly made as
of a
specified date will only need to have been true on and as of such date, and
the
representations and warranties set forth in Article V that are subject to
materiality qualifications will be true and correct in all respects at and
as of
the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date had been
substituted for the date of this Agreement in such representations and
warranties, except that any representation or warranty expressly made as
of a
specified date will only need to have been true on and as of such date (without
taking into account any supplemental disclosures after the date of this
Agreement by any Buyer Party, except for the Buyer Permitted Updates, if
any);
(b) Buyer
Parties will have performed and complied with each of their agreements contained
in this Agreement in all material respects;
(c) The
Required Insurance, Required Surety and Required Releases will have been
obtained and be in full force and effect and such actions as Seller and
Guarantor’s counsel may reasonably require will have been taken in connection
therewith;
(d) No
Law or
Governmental Order will have been enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
by any Governmental Entity that prohibits the Closing;
(e) Seller
and Guarantor will have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to them
that
no Litigation is pending or threatened (i) challenging or seeking to prevent
or
delay consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) asserting the illegality of or seeking to render unenforceable any material
provision of this Agreement or the Transition Services Agreement, (iii) seeking
to prohibit direct or indirect ownership, combination or operation by Buyer
Parties of any portion of the business or assets of any Company, or (iv)
imposing or seeking to impose material damages or sanctions directly arising
out
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on Seller, Guarantor or
any
Company or any of their respective officers or directors;
-48-
(f) Buyer
Parties shall have received all Governmental Authorizations necessary for
each
of them to consummate all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
and
(g) Buyer
will have delivered each of the certificates, instruments and other documents
that it is obligated to deliver pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(ii).
IX.
Termination
9.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing:
(a) by
the
mutual written consent of Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor;
(b) by
Seller
and Guarantor,
if
(i) Buyer
Parties deliver a Buyer Permitted Update disclosing any fact or matter that,
if
not disclosed in such Buyer Permitted Update, would have constituted a breach
of
any representation or warranty of Buyer Parties contained in this Agreement
in
any material respect;
(ii) Buyer
Parties have or will have breached any representation, warranty or agreement
contained in this Agreement in any material respect; provided, however, that,
if
such breach is curable by Buyer Parties through the exercise of their reasonable
efforts and Buyer Parties continue to exercise such reasonable efforts, Seller
and Guarantor may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(ii)
unless
such breach is not cured in a manner satisfactory to Seller and Guarantor
in
their reasonable discretion within the Buyer Cure Period. The “Buyer Cure
Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date on which Seller and
Guarantor deliver to Buyer Parties written notice setting forth in reasonable
detail the circumstances giving rise to such breach and ending on the earlier
of
the 30th
day
thereafter, or December 1, 2005;
(iii) the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not have been consummated
on or
before December 1, 2005; provided,
that
Seller and Guarantor will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 9.1(b)(iii)
if
Seller’s and Guarantor’s failure to comply fully with their obligations under
this Agreement has prevented the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this
Agreement;
(iv) a
Law or
Governmental Order will have been enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
by any Governmental Entity that prohibits the Closing; or
-49-
(v) any
of
the conditions set forth in Section 8.2
will
have become impossible to satisfy;
(c) by
Buyer
Parties,
if
(i) Seller
or
Guarantor deliver a Seller Permitted Update disclosing any fact or matter
that,
if not disclosed in such Seller Permitted Update, would have constituted
a
breach of any Seller or Guarantor representation or warranty contained in
this
Agreement in any material respect;
(ii) Seller
or
Guarantor has or will have breached any representation, warranty or agreement
contained in this Agreement in any material respect; provided, however, that,
if
such breach is curable by Seller or Guarantor through the exercise of its
reasonable efforts and Seller or Guarantor continues to exercise such reasonable
efforts, Buyer Parties may not terminate this Agreement under this Section
9.1(c)(ii)
unless
such breach is not cured in a manner satisfactory to Buyer Parties in their
reasonable discretion within the Seller Cure Period. The “Seller Cure Period”
shall mean the date on which Buyer Parties deliver to Seller or Guarantor
written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances giving
rise
to such breach the period beginning on and ending on the earlier to occur
of the
30th
day
thereafter or December 1, 2005;
(iii) the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not have been consummated
on or
before December 1, 2005; provided,
that
Buyer Parties will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this
Section 9.1(c)(iii)
if any
Buyer Party’s failure to comply fully with its obligations under this Agreement
has prevented the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(iv) a
Law or
Governmental Order will have been enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
issued or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
by any Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected to result directly
or indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to in Section 8.1(e);
(v) after
the
date of this Agreement, a Material Adverse Effect will have occurred;
(vi) any
of
the conditions set forth in Section 8.1
will
have become impossible to satisfy;
(vii) any
Buyer
Party will have discovered any fact or circumstance existing as of the date
of
this Agreement that has not been previously disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule
that has a Material Adverse Effect;
-50-
(viii) Buyer
Parties make a decision to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 2.3;
or
(ix) any
Company will have been, or will have been threatened to be, materially adversely
affected in any way as a result of fire, explosion, disaster, accident, labor
dispute, any action by any Governmental Entity, flood, act of war, terrorism,
civil disturbance or act of nature.
9.2 Effect
of Termination.
(a) If
Seller
and Guarantor terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i),
such
termination shall be the exclusive remedy of Seller and Guarantor with respect
to any fact or matter disclosed on the Buyer Permitted Update preceding such
termination, absent fraud or willful misconduct by a Buyer Party.
(b) If
Buyer
Parties terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(i),
such
termination shall be the exclusive remedy of Buyer Parties with respect to
any
fact or matter disclosed on the Seller Permitted Update preceding such
termination, absent fraud or willful misconduct by Seller or
Guarantor.
(c) If
Buyer
Parties terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii),
Seller
and Guarantor shall, within 10 calendar days thereafter, reimburse Buyer
Parties
for Buyer Parties’ reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, up to an aggregate
of
2.5%
of
the Purchase Price, which payment shall be the exclusive remedy of Buyer
Parties
with respect to such termination, absent fraud or willful misconduct by Seller
or Guarantor.
(d) If
Buyer
Parties terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(viii),
such termination shall be the exclusive remedy of Buyer Parties under this
Agreement, absent fraud or willful misconduct by Seller or
Guarantor.
(e) Except
as
provided in Sections 9.2(a),
9.2(b),
9.2(c)
and
9.2(d),
the
right of termination under Section 9.1
is in
addition to any other rights Buyer Parties or Seller may have under this
Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a right of termination will not
be
an election of remedies and will not preclude an action for breach of this
Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated, all continuing obligations of
the
parties under this Agreement will terminate except that Section 9.2(c),
Article
XII, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Promissory Note will survive
indefinitely unless sooner terminated or modified by the parties in writing.
X.
Indemnification
10.1 Indemnification
by Seller
and
Guarantor.
(a) Seller
and Guarantor will, jointly and severally, indemnify in full each of Buyer,
Parent, the Companies (collectively, for purposes of this Section 10.1
only,
“Buyer”)
and
hold it harmless against any Loss, whether or not actually incurred prior
to the
applicable date referred to in Section 10.1(d),
arising
from, relating to or constituting (i) any breach or inaccuracy in any of
the
representations and warranties of Seller and Guarantor contained in this
Agreement or in the Disclosure Schedule (as modified by any Seller Permitted
Updates) as the same may be brought down to the Closing Date or any closing
certificate delivered by or on behalf of Seller or Guarantor pursuant to
this
Agreement (the calculation of Loss resulting from any such breach or inaccuracy
to be determined without regard to any qualification for “materially”, “in all
material respects” or similar qualification), (ii) failure of Seller or
Guarantor to assume, pay and discharge the obligations of the Companies pursuant
to Section 6.4(a),
(iii)
any liability under the WARN Act or any similar state or local Law that may
result from an “Employment
Loss,”
as
defined by 29 U.S.C. 2101(a)(6), caused by any action of any Company prior
to
the Closing; (iv) any Plan established or maintained by any Company
prior
to the Closing Date, Seller or Guarantor; (v) any Litigation instituted by
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; (vi) any claim arising under any of the Indemnification
Agreements; (vii) the circumstances described on Schedule
4.19(c);
(viii)
the matters described in Schedule
4.14
under
subheadings A.2 and A.3, (ix) any unenforceability of the D&O Letters, (x)
the Standard mine xxxxx pad leak disclosed as Item 4 in Schedule
4.17(f),
up
to a
maximum of $500,000, or (xi) any
breach of any of the agreements or covenants of Seller or Guarantor contained
in
this Agreement (collectively, “Buyer
Losses”).
-51-
(b) Seller
and Guarantor will indemnify Buyer for Buyer Losses arising pursuant to
Section 10.1(a)
only if
the aggregate amount of all Buyer Losses attributable to
Section 10.1(a)
exceeds
$200,000 (the “Basket
Amount”),
in
which case Seller will be liable for the aggregate amount of all Buyer
Losses
(provided that the foregoing limitation
shall
not apply to any Loss arising from Litigation instituted by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
any
claim arising under any of the Indemnification Agreements, any unenforceability
of the D&O Letters or the circumstances described on Schedule
4.19(c),
and the
Standard mine xxxxx pad leak disclosed as Item 4 in Schedule
4.17(f)).
(c) Seller
and Guarantor’s collective liability will not exceed the Purchase Price
for
Buyer
Losses arising pursuant to Section 10.1(a)
or any
Loss arising pursuant to Section 10.3(a).
(d) If
Buyer
has a claim for indemnification under this Section 10.1,
Buyer
must deliver to Seller or Guarantor one or more written notices of Buyer
Losses
(each a “Buyer
Claim”)
within
twenty-two (22) months after the Closing Date, except for Buyer Losses (i)
arising from a breach or inaccuracy in the representations and warranties
made
in Section 4.17,
for
which Buyer must deliver a Buyer Claim prior to the second anniversary of
the
Closing Date, or (ii) arising from a breach or inaccuracy in the representations
and warranties made in Section 3.1
or
Section 4.11,
any
Loss arising from any Litigation instituted by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, any Loss
arising
from any claim arising under any of the Indemnification Agreements, any Loss
arising from the matters described in Schedule
4.14
under
subheadings A.2 and A.3 or any breach of any of the agreements by Seller
or
Guarantor contained in this Agreement, for which Buyer must deliver a Buyer
Claim prior to two months after the expiration of the applicable statute
of
limitations. Seller and Guarantor will have no liability under this Section
10.1
unless
the written notices required by the preceding sentence are given by the date
specified. Any Buyer Claim will state in reasonable detail the basis for
such
Buyer Losses to the extent then known by Buyer and the nature of the Buyer
Loss
for which indemnification is sought, and it may state the amount of the Buyer
Loss claimed. If such Buyer Claim (or an amended Buyer Claim) states the
amount
of the Buyer Loss claimed and Seller or Guarantor notifies Buyer that Seller
or
Guarantor does not dispute the claim described in such notice or fails to
notify
Buyer within 20 Business Days after delivery of such notice by Buyer whether
Seller or Guarantor disputes the claim described in such notice, the Buyer
Loss
in the amount specified in Buyer’s notice will be admitted by Seller and
Guarantor (an “Admitted
Claim”),
and
Seller and Guarantor will pay the amount of such Buyer Loss to Buyer. If
Seller
or Guarantor has timely disputed the liability of Seller or Guarantor with
respect to a Buyer Claim (or an amended Buyer Claim) stating the amount of
a
Buyer Loss claimed, Seller and/or Guarantor, as applicable, and Buyer will
proceed in good faith to negotiate a resolution of such dispute. If a claim
for
indemnification has not been resolved within 30 calendar days after delivery
of
the Seller’s or Guarantor’s notice, Buyer may seek judicial recourse. If a Buyer
Claim does not state the amount of the Buyer Loss claimed, such omission
will
not preclude Buyer from recovering from Seller or Guarantor the amount of
the
Buyer Loss described in such Buyer Claim if any such amount is subsequently
provided in an amended Buyer Claim (although in that event, Seller and Guarantor
will have the right to dispute the claim in accordance with the provisions
of
this Section 10.1(d)).
In
order to assert its right to indemnification under this Article X, Buyer
will
not be required to provide any notice except as provided in this Section
10.1(d).
-52-
(e) Seller
and Guarantor will pay the amount of any Buyer Loss to Buyer within 10 Business
Days following a determination of Seller’s or Guarantor’s liability for and the
amount of a Buyer Loss (whether such determination is made pursuant to the
procedures set forth in this Section 10.1,
by
agreement between Buyer and Seller or Guarantor, by arbitration award or
by
final adjudication).
10.2 Indemnification
by Buyer
Parties.
(a) Buyer
Parties will, jointly and severally, indemnify in full Seller and Guarantor
(collectively, for purposes of this Section 10.2
only,
“Seller”) and hold it harmless against any Loss, whether or not actually
incurred prior to the date referred to in Section 10.2(d),
arising
from, relating to or constituting (i) any breach or inaccuracy in any of
the
representations and warranties of Buyer (as modified by any Buyer Permitted
Updates) contained in this Agreement or in any closing certificate delivered
by
or on behalf of Buyer pursuant to this Agreement (the calculation of Loss
resulting from any such breach or inaccuracy to be determined without regard
to
any qualification as to “materiality”, “in all material respects” or similar
qualification), or (ii) any breach of any of the agreements or covenants
of
Buyer contained in this Agreement (“Seller
Losses”).
(b) Buyer
Parties will indemnify Seller for the Seller Losses pursuant to Section
10.2(a) only
if
the aggregate amount of all Seller Losses attributable to Section 10.2(a)
exceeds
$200,000 (the “Seller’s
Basket Amount”),
in
which case Buyer will be liable for the aggregate amount of all Seller
Losses.
(c) The
Buyer
Parties’ liability will not exceed the Purchase Price for Seller Losses
attributable to Section 10.2(a)
or any
Loss arising pursuant to Section 10.4(a).
(d) If
Seller
has a claim for indemnification under this Section 10.2,
Seller
must deliver to Buyer or Parent one or more written notices of Seller Losses
within twenty-two (22) months after the Closing Date, except for Seller Losses
arising from any breach of any of the agreements by Buyer Parties contained
in
this Agreement, for which Seller must deliver such written notice prior to
two
months after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. The
Buyer
Parties will have no liability under this Section 10.2
unless
the written notices required by the preceding sentence are given by the date
specified. Any written notice will state in reasonable detail the basis for
such
Seller Losses to the extent then known by Seller and the nature of Seller
Losses
for which indemnification is sought, and it may state the amount of Seller
Losses claimed. If such written notice (or an amended notice) states the
amount
of Seller Losses claimed and either Buyer or Parent notifies Seller that
the
Buyer Parties do not dispute the claim described in such notice or fails
to
notify Seller within 20 Business Days after delivery of such notice by Seller
whether the Buyer Parties dispute the claim described in such notice, Seller
Losses in the amount specified in Seller’s notice will be admitted by the Buyer
Parties, and either Buyer or Parent will pay the amount of such Seller Losses
to
Seller. If the Buyer Parties have timely disputed their liability with respect
to such claim, Buyer and Seller will proceed in good faith to negotiate a
resolution of such dispute. If a claim for indemnification has not been resolved
within 30 calendar days after delivery of Buyer’s notice, the Seller may seek
judicial recourse. If a written notice does not state the amount of Seller
Losses claimed, such omission will not preclude Seller from recovering from
Buyer the amount of Seller Losses with respect to the claim described in
such
notice if any such amount is promptly provided once determined (although
in that
event, the Buyer Parties will have the right to dispute the claim in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 10.2(d)).
In
order to assert its right to indemnification under this Article X, Seller
will
not be required to provide any notice except as provided in this Section
10.2(d).
-53-
(e) The
Buyer
Parties will pay the amount of any Seller Losses to Seller within 10 Business
Days following a determination of the Buyer Parties’ liability for and the
amount of the Seller Losses (whether such determination is made pursuant
to the
procedures set forth in this Section 10.2,
by
agreement between Seller and Buyer, by arbitration award or by final
adjudication).
10.3 Third-Party
Actions
Against Buyer Parties.
(a) Seller
and Guarantor will, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each of Parent, Buyer, the Companies and their officers, directors, employees,
agents, shareholders and Affiliates (collectively, the “Buyer
Indemnified Parties”)
against any Loss (i) for which Seller and Guarantor have agreed to indemnify
Buyer Parties pursuant to Section 10.1(a)
or (ii)
arising out of the actions or inactions of Seller or Guarantor after the
Closing, in each case arising from any Litigation instituted by any third
party
(any such third party action or proceeding being referred to as a “Buyer
Third-Party Action”).
A
Buyer Indemnified Party will give Seller or Guarantor prompt written notice
of
the commencement of a Buyer Third-Party Action. The complaint or other papers
pursuant to which the third party commenced such Buyer Third-Party Action
will
be attached to such written notice. The failure to give prompt written notice
will not affect any Buyer Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification unless
such failure has materially and adversely affected Seller’s or Guarantor’s
ability to defend successfully such Buyer Third-Party Action.
(b) Seller
and Guarantor will contest and defend such Buyer Third-Party Action on behalf
of
any Buyer Indemnified Party that requests that they do so. Notice of the
intention to so contest and defend will be given by Seller or Guarantor to
the
requesting Buyer Indemnified Party within 20 Business Days after the Buyer
Indemnified Party’s notice of such Buyer Third-Party Action (but, in all events,
at least five Business Days prior to the date that a response to such Buyer
Third-Party Action is due to be filed). Such contest and defense will be
conducted by reputable attorneys retained by Seller or Guarantor. A Buyer
Indemnified Party will be entitled at any time, at its own cost and expense,
to
participate in such contest and defense and to be represented by attorneys
of
its own choosing. If the Buyer Indemnified Party elects to participate in
such
defense, the Buyer Indemnified Party will cooperate with Seller and Guarantor
in
the conduct of such defense. A Buyer Indemnified Party will cooperate with
Seller and Guarantor to the extent reasonably requested by Seller and Guarantor
in the contest and defense of such Buyer Third-Party Action, including providing
reasonable access (upon reasonable notice) to the books, records and employees
of the Buyer Indemnified Party if relevant to the defense of such Buyer
Third-Party Action; provided,
that
such cooperation will not unduly disrupt the operations of the business of
the
Buyer Indemnified Party or cause the Buyer Indemnified Party to waive any
statutory or common law privileges, breach any confidentiality obligations
owed
to third parties or otherwise cause any confidential information of such
Buyer
Indemnified Party to become public.
-54-
(c) If
any
Buyer Indemnified Party does not request that Seller contest and defend a
Buyer
Third-Party Action, or if after such request Seller and Guarantor do not
contest
and defend a Buyer Third-Party Action or if any Buyer Indemnified Party
reasonably determines that Seller and Guarantor are not adequately representing
or, because of a conflict of interest, may not adequately represent any
interests of the Buyer Indemnified Party at any time after requesting Seller
or
Guarantor to do so, such Buyer Indemnified Party will be entitled to conduct
its
own defense and to be represented by attorneys of its own choosing, all at
Seller’s and Guarantor’s cost and expense. Seller and Guarantor will pay as
incurred (no later than 25 days after presentation) the fees and expenses
of the
counsel retained by such Buyer Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section
10.3(c).
(d) Neither
a
Buyer Indemnified Party nor Seller or Guarantor may concede, settle or
compromise any Buyer Third-Party Action without the consent of the other
party,
which consents will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, (i) if a Buyer Third-Party Action seeks the issuance of an
injunction, the specific election of an obligation or similar remedy or (ii)
if
the subject matter of a Buyer Third-Party Action relates to the ongoing business
of any Buyer Indemnified Party, which Buyer Third-Party Action, if decided
against any Buyer Indemnified Party, would materially adversely affect the
ongoing business or reputation of any Buyer Indemnified Party, the Buyer
Indemnified Party alone will be entitled to settle such Buyer Third-Party
Action
in the first instance and, if the Buyer Indemnified Party does not settle
such
Buyer Third-Party Action, Seller and Guarantor will then have the right to
contest and defend (but not settle) such Buyer Third-Party Action.
10.4 Third-Party
Actions Against Seller
and
Guarantor.
(a) Buyer
Parties will, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each of
Seller, Guarantor and their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders
and Affiliates (collectively, the “Seller
Indemnified Parties”)
against any Loss (i) for which Buyer Parties have agreed to indemnify Seller
and
Guarantor pursuant to Section 10.2(a)
or (ii)
arising out of the actions or inactions of the Buyer Parties or the Companies
after the Closing, in each case arising from any Litigation instituted by
any
third party (any such third party action or proceeding being referred to
as a
“Seller
Third-Party Action”).
A
Seller Indemnified Party will give Buyer prompt written notice of the
commencement of a Seller Third-Party Action. The complaint or other papers
pursuant to which the third party commenced such Seller Third-Party Action
will
be attached to such written notice. The failure to give prompt written notice
will not affect any Seller Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification unless
such failure has materially and adversely affected Buyer’s or Parent’s ability
to defend successfully such Seller Third-Party Action.
-55-
(b) Buyer
and
Parent will contest and defend such Seller Third-Party Action on behalf of
any
Seller Indemnified Party that requests that they do so. Notice of the intention
to so contest and defend will be given by Buyer or Parent to the requesting
Seller Indemnified Party within 20 Business Days after the Seller Indemnified
Party’s notice of such Seller Third-Party Action (but, in all events, at least
five Business Days prior to the date that a response to such Seller Third-Party
Action is due to be filed). Such contest and defense will be conducted by
reputable attorneys retained by Buyer or Parent. A Seller Indemnified Party
will
be entitled at any time, at its own cost and expense, to participate in such
contest and defense and to be represented by attorneys of its own choosing.
If
the Seller Indemnified Party elects to participate in such defense, the Seller
Indemnified Party will cooperate with Buyer and Parent in the conduct of
such
defense. A Seller Indemnified Party will cooperate with Buyer and Parent
to the
extent reasonably requested by Buyer and Parent in the contest and defense
of
such Seller Third-Party Action, including providing reasonable access (upon
reasonable notice) to the books, records and employees of the Seller Indemnified
Party if relevant to the defense of such Seller Third-Party Action; provided,
that
such cooperation will not unduly disrupt the operations of the business of
the
Seller Indemnified Party or cause the Seller Indemnified Party to waive any
statutory or common law privileges, breach any confidentiality obligations
owed
to third parties or otherwise cause any confidential information of such
Seller
Indemnified Party to become public.
(c) If
any
Seller Indemnified Party does not request that Buyer contest and defend a
Seller
Third-Party Action, or if after such request Buyer and Parent do not contest
and
defend a Seller Third-Party Action or if any Seller Indemnified Party reasonably
determines that Buyer and Parent are not adequately representing or, because
of
a conflict of interest, may not adequately represent any interests of the
Seller
Indemnified Party at any time after requesting Buyer or Parent to do so,
such
Seller Indemnified Party will be entitled to conduct its own defense and
to be
represented by attorneys of its own choosing, all at Buyer’s and Parent’s cost
and expense. Buyer and Parent will pay as incurred (no later than 25 days
after
presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by such Seller
Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 10.4(c).
(d) Neither
a
Seller Indemnified Party nor Buyer or Parent may concede, settle or compromise
any Seller Third-Party Action without the consent of the other party, which
consents will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) if a Seller Third-Party Action seeks the issuance of an
injunction, the specific election of an obligation or similar remedy or (ii)
if
the subject matter of a Seller Third-Party Action relates to the ongoing
business of any Seller Indemnified Party, which Seller Third-Party Action,
if
decided against any Seller Indemnified Party, would materially adversely
affect
the ongoing business or reputation of any Seller Indemnified Party, the Seller
Indemnified Party alone will be entitled to settle such Seller Third-Party
Action in the first instance and, if the Seller Indemnified Party does not
settle such Seller Third-Party Action, Buyer and Parent will then have the
right
to contest and defend (but not settle) such Seller Third-Party
Action.
-56-
10.5 Sole
and Exclusive Remedy.
Prior
to or in connection with the Closing, the parties will have available to
them
all remedies available at law or in equity, including specific performance
or
other equitable remedies except as expressly limited elsewhere in this
Agreement. After the Closing, the rights set forth in Sections 10.1
and
10.2,
Article
XI and, to the extent applicable, Sections 10.3
and
10.4
will be
the exclusive remedy for breach or inaccuracy of any of the representations
and
warranties contained in Article III through V of this Agreement and will
be in
lieu of contract remedies, but the parties otherwise will have available
to them
all other remedies available at law or in equity. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Agreement will prevent any party from bringing an action
based
upon fraud or willful misconduct by the other party in connection with this
Agreement. In the event such action is brought, the prevailing party’s
attorneys’ fees and costs will be paid by the nonprevailing party.
10.6 Tax
Adjustment.
Any
payment under this Article X, Section 11.9
or
Section 11.10
will be,
for Tax purposes, to the extent permitted by Law, an adjustment to the Purchase
Price. Each such payment shall be calculated on a net after tax basis, taking
into account (i) any Tax savings actually realized by Buyer in the year of
receipt of the payment resulting from the payment and (ii) any Tax liability
actually imposed on Buyer in the year of receipt of the payment resulting
from
receipt of the payment.
XI.
Allocation
of Taxes; Tax Return
11.1 Allocation
of Tax Liabilities.
(a) Seller
will be responsible for all Taxes of the Companies regardless of when due
and
payable, (i) with respect to all Tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date and (ii) with respect to all Tax periods beginning before the Closing
Date
and ending after the Closing Date, but only with respect to the portion of
such
period up to and including the Closing Date.
(b) Buyer
will be responsible for all Taxes of the Companies, regardless of when due
and
payable, (i) with respect to all Tax periods beginning after the Closing
Date,
(ii) with respect to all Tax periods beginning before the Closing Date and
ending after the Closing Date, but only with respect to the portion of such
period commencing after the Closing Date.
11.2 Tax
Return.
(a) Seller
will include the income or loss of the Companies for all Tax periods ending
on
or before the Closing Date on Seller’s timely filed income Returns and will file
all such Returns when due (including extensions). Seller shall include the
income of the Companies (including any deferred items triggered into income
by
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13 and any excess loss account taken into
income by Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-19 or comparable provisions
of
state and local income Tax regulations) on Seller’s consolidated federal income
Tax Returns and comparable consolidated or combined state income Tax Returns
for
all periods through the Closing Date and pay any federal, state, and local
income Taxes attributable to such income. Seller will cause to be prepared,
and
will cause to be filed when due (including any extensions), all other Returns
of
the Companies for all Tax periods ending on or before the Closing Date for
which
Return have not been filed as of such date. Where such other Return must
be
filed by the Companies, upon the request of Seller, Buyer will cause such
Return
to be filed when due (including any extensions). Seller will submit copies
of
all such Returns (in the case of consolidated Return, the consolidating portion
thereof applicable to the Companies) to Buyer at least 30 days prior to the
due
date, as it may be extended, for Buyer’s review and approval. Seller will cause
all such Returns to be accurate and complete in accordance with applicable
Laws
and to be prepared on a basis consistent with the Returns filed by or on
behalf
of the Companies for the preceding Tax periods. Seller will not elect to
retain
any net operating loss carryovers or capital loss carryovers of the
Companies.
-57-
(b) Buyer
will prepare and file when due (including any extensions) all Returns of
the
Companies for Tax periods ending after the Closing Date; provided,
however,
that
Seller will have the right to review and approve prior to filing all Returns
for
any Tax period that includes the Closing Date or any period prior to the
Closing
Date. Buyer will cause all such Returns to be accurate and complete in
accordance with applicable Laws and to the extent permitted under applicable
Tax
law, to be prepared on a basis consistent with the Returns filed by or on
behalf
of the Companies for the preceding Tax periods.
11.3 Income
and Loss Allocation.
For
purposes of this Article XI, in the case of any Taxes that are imposed on
a
periodic basis and are payable for a Tax period that includes (but does not
end
on) the Closing Date, the portion of such Tax related to the Tax period ending
on the Closing Date will (i) in the case of Taxes other than Taxes based
upon or
related to income, sales, gross receipts, wages, capital expenditures, expenses
or any similar Tax base, be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire
period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days in
the Tax period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is
the
number of days in the entire Tax period and (ii) in the case of any Tax based
upon or related to income, sales, gross receipts, wages, capital expenditures,
expenses or any similar Tax base, be deemed equal to the amount that would
be
payable if the relevant Tax period had ended on the Closing Date. All
determinations necessary to give effect to the foregoing allocations will
be
made in a manner consistent with prior practice of the Companies.
11.4 Cooperation.
After
the Closing Date, Buyer and Seller will make available to the other, as
reasonably requested, all information, records or documents (including state
apportionment information) relating to Tax liabilities or potential Tax
liabilities of any Company with respect to (i) Tax periods ending on or prior
to
the Closing Date and (ii) Tax periods beginning before the Closing Date and
ending after the Closing Date, but only with respect to the portion of such
period up to and including the Closing Date. Buyer and Seller will preserve
all
such information, records and documents until the expiration of any applicable
statute of limitations thereof. Buyer will prepare and provide to Seller
any
information or documents reasonably requested by Seller for Seller’s use in
preparing or reviewing the Returns referred to in Section 11.2.
At the
request of Buyer, Seller shall promptly provide Buyer with information relevant
to determining whether it is advisable for Buyer to request that elections
be
made under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code as discussed in Section 11.8.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, each party will bear its own
expenses in complying with the foregoing provisions.
-58-
11.5 Audits.
Each
party will promptly notify the other in writing upon receipt by such party
(or
any of its Tax Affiliates) of notice of any pending or threatened Tax
liabilities of the Companies for any (i) Tax period ending on or before the
Closing Date or (ii) Tax Period ending after the Closing Date but which includes
the Closing Date. Seller will have the sole right to represent the interests
of
the Companies in any Tax audit or administrative or court proceeding for
Tax
periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date and to employ counsel of its
choice at its expense, and Buyer and Seller agree to cooperate in the defense
of
any claim in such proceeding; provided, however, Seller shall not settle
any
such audit or administrative or court proceeding in a manner that would
materially and adversely affect any Company after the Closing Date without
the
Buyer’s prior written consent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed. Seller will have the right to participate at its expense in
representing the interests of the Companies in any Tax audit or administrative
or court proceeding for any Tax period ending after the Closing Date, if
and to
the extent that such period includes any Tax Period before the Closing Date,
and
to employ counsel of its choice at its expense. Seller and Buyer agree to
cooperate in the defense of any claim in such proceeding. Buyer shall not
settle
any audit or administrative or court proceeding in a manner that would
materially and adversely affect the Seller without the Seller’s prior written
consent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
11.6 Tax
Refunds.
(a) All
refunds of Taxes relating to any Company received by Seller or any of its
Tax
Affiliates with respect to Tax periods or partial periods ending on or before
the Closing Date will be for the account of Seller. At Seller’s request Buyer
will take such action as reasonably requested by Seller to obtain such refunds,
provided such action will not materially adversely affect any Company, the
Buyer
or the Parent. Buyer will pay over to Seller any such refunds that Buyer
may
receive immediately upon receipt of such request.
(b) All
other
refunds of Taxes with respect to any Company will be for the account of Buyer.
At Buyer’s request, Seller will take such action as reasonably requested by
Buyer to obtain such refunds, provided such action will not materially adversely
affect the Seller, and will pay over to Buyer any such refunds immediately
upon
receipt thereof.
11.7 Tax
Sharing Agreements.
All tax
sharing agreements between Seller, on the one hand, and any Company, on the
other hand, will be terminated as of the Closing Date after normal operations
but before any “deemed sale of assets” under Section 338(h)(10).
11.8 Section
338(h)(10) Election.
(a) At
the
written request of Buyer on or before seven (7) months after the Closing
Date,
Seller will join, in an appropriate and timely manner, with Buyer in making
one
or more elections under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code (and any comparable
elections under state or local law) with respect to the acquisition of the
Companies by Buyer. If Buyer requests that a Section 338(h)(10) election
be
made, Buyer and Seller will: (a) cooperate fully with each other in the making
of any such election including the filing of all required IRS forms and related
forms under state and local Law and (b) endeavor in good faith to agree on
an
allocation of the Purchase Price among the assets of the Companies for purposes
of Section 338 of the Code prior to the Closing Date to be evidenced by a
written schedule signed and dated by Buyer and Seller, and Buyer and Seller
will
each file their Tax Return in a manner consistent with such
allocation.
-59-
(b) Seller
will pay all Taxes attributable to the making of any Section 338(h)(10)
election, including any federal, state, local or foreign Tax attributable
to an
election under federal, state, local or foreign law similar to the election
available under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code.
(c) If
Buyer
requests that a Section 338(h)(10) election be made, Buyer will initially
prepare a complete set of IRS Forms 8023 (and any comparable forms required
to
be filed under state, local or foreign tax law) and any additional data or
materials required to be attached to Form 8023 pursuant to the Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 338 of the Code (“Section
338 Forms”).
Buyer
will deliver such forms to Seller for review no later than 60 days prior
to the
date the Section 338 Forms are required to be filed. In the event Seller
reasonably objects to the manner in which the Section 338 Forms have been
prepared, Seller will notify Buyer within 15 days of receipt of the Section
338
Forms of such objection, and the parties will endeavor within the next 15
days
to resolve such dispute in good faith. If the parties are unable to resolve
such
dispute within such 15-day period, Buyer and Seller will submit such dispute
to
an independent accounting firm of recognized national standing (the
“Allocation
Arbiter”)
selected by Buyer or Seller, which firm will not be the regular accounting
firm
of Buyer or Seller. Promptly, but not later than 15 days after its acceptance
of
appointment under this Agreement, the Allocation Arbiter will determine (based
solely on representations of Buyer and Seller and not by independent review)
only those matters in dispute and will render a written report as to the
disputed matters and the resulting preparation of the Section 338 Forms will
be
conclusive and binding upon the parties.
11.9 Tax
Indemnification of Seller and Guarantor.
From
and after the Closing Date, Seller and Guarantor, jointly and severally,
shall
protect, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Parent, Buyer and the Companies
from any and all Taxes which are imposed on the Companies in respect of their
income, business, property or operations or for which the Companies may
otherwise be liable (A) for any period or partial period ending on or prior
to
the Closing Date, (B) resulting by reason of the several liability of the
Companies pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous
state, local or foreign law or regulation or by reason of any Company having
been a member of any consolidated, combined or unitary group on or prior
to the
Closing Date, (C) attributable to any deferred income triggered into income
by
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13, any excess loss accounts taken into
income under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-19 and other similar items
resulting from the Companies ceasing to be a member of any affiliated group
(within the meaning of Code Section 1504(a)), (D) in respect of any period
ending after the Closing Date, attributable to events, transactions, sales,
deposits, services or rentals occurring, received or performed in a period
ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (E) in respect of any period ending
after the Closing Date attributable to any change in accounting method employed
by the Companies during any of its previous taxable years, (F) attributable
to
any discharge of indebtedness that may result from any capital contributions
by
the Seller (or an affiliate of the Seller) to the Companies, or cancellation,
of
any intercompany indebtedness owed by the Companies to Seller (or an Affiliate
of Seller), and (G) resulting from the breach of the Seller’s covenants
regarding Tax matters, including, without limitation those set forth in this
Article XI.
-60-
11.10 Tax
Indemnification of Buyer.
From
and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold
harmless the Seller from any and all Taxes which are imposed on the Companies
in
respect of their income, business, property or operations or for which the
Companies may otherwise be liable: (A) for any period or partial period
beginning after the Closing Date and (B) resulting from the breach of the
Buyer’s covenants regarding Tax matters, including, without limitation those set
forth in this Article XI; provided, however, Buyer shall not indemnify Seller
with respect to any Taxes for which Seller or Guarantor are otherwise
responsible under this Agreement.
XII.
General
12.1 Press
Releases and Announcements.
(a) Neither
Seller and Guarantor, on the one hand, nor Buyer Parties, on the other hand,
shall make any public disclosure or announcement relating to this Agreement
or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Seller and Guarantor,
on
the one hand, or Buyer Parties, on the other hand, may make any public
disclosure required by the United States or Canadian securities commissions
or
stock exchanges on which their shares are traded, or equivalent Japanese
authorities, provided that the parties required to make any such disclosure
shall use reasonable efforts to provide the other parties with two Business
Days’ prior notice. Buyer
Parties will have the right to be present for any in-person announcement
by any
Company.
(b) Effective
as of the Closing Date, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement will cease
to
apply to confidential information relating to the Companies and their business,
but such terms will otherwise remain in effect with respect to any confidential
information relating to Guarantor’s and Seller’s other properties, Subsidiaries
or Affiliates, and their respective businesses, and not relating to the
Companies and their business.
12.2 Expenses.
Except
as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, Seller and Guarantor,
on
the one hand, and Buyer Parties, on the other hand, will each pay all expenses
incurred by each of them (and, in the case of Seller and Guarantor, the expenses
incurred by the Companies) in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, including legal, accounting, investment banking and consulting
fees and expenses incurred in negotiating, executing and delivering this
Agreement and the other agreements, exhibits, documents and instruments
contemplated by this Agreement (whether the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement are consummated or not). Seller and Guarantor agree that none of
the
Companies has borne or will bear any of Seller’s or Guarantor’s expenses in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
12.3 Amendment
and Waiver.
This
Agreement may not be amended, a provision of this Agreement or any default,
misrepresentation or breach of warranty or agreement under this Agreement
may
not be waived, and a consent may not be rendered, except in a writing executed
by the party against which such action is sought to be enforced. Neither
the
failure nor any delay by any Person in exercising any right, power or privilege
under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege,
and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege will
preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege
or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. In addition, no course of
dealing between or among any Persons having any interest in this Agreement
will
be deemed effective to modify or amend any part of this Agreement or any
rights
or obligations of any Person under or by reason of this Agreement. The rights
and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not
alternative.
-61-
12.4 Notices.
All
notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under
or by
reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in writing and will be
deemed
to have been given (i) when delivered if personally delivered by hand (with
written confirmation of receipt), (ii) when received if sent by a nationally
recognized overnight courier service (receipt requested), (iii) five Business
Days after being mailed, if sent by first class mail, return receipt requested,
or (iv) when receipt is acknowledged by an affirmative act of the party
receiving notice, if sent by facsimile, telecopy or other electronic
transmission device (provided that such an acknowledgement does not include
an
acknowledgment generated automatically by a facsimile or telecopy machine
or
other electronic transmission device). Notices, demands and communications
to
Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor will, unless another address is specified
in
writing, be sent to the address indicated below:
If
to any Buyer Party:
Jipangu
Inc.
0-0-0-
Xxxx-Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx-xx
Xxxxx
000-0000
Xxxxx
Attn:
President
Facsimile
No. x000 0000-0000
|
With
a copy to:
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx
XXX
00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
and
with a copy to:
Xxxxx
& Company LLP
Suite
2800 Park Place
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X 0X0
Attn:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
-62-
If
to Seller or Guarantor:
Apollo
Gold Corporation
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XXX
00000-0000
Attn:
President
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
With
a copy to:
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
XXX
00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
and
with a copy to:
Fogler
Xxxxxxxx LLP
00
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx West, Suite 0000
Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X0X 0X0
Xxxxxx
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
12.5 Assignment.
Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement may be assigned by any party to this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the other parties to this Agreement, except that Buyer
may
assign any of its rights under this Agreement to one or more Subsidiaries
of
Parent, so long as Buyer remains responsible for the performance of all of
its
obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement
and
all of the provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to
the
benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors
and
permitted assigns.
12.6 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Nothing
expressed or referred to in this Agreement confers any rights or remedies
upon
any Person that is not a party or permitted assign of a party to this
Agreement.
12.7 No
Partnership and No Corporate Opportunity.
Nothing
in this Agreement creates, or is intended to create, any partnership, joint
venture relationship, fiduciary relationship or relationship of confidence
and
trust between or among the Buyer Parties, Seller and Guarantor. Each party
shall
have the right to engage in, and receive full benefits from, any independent
business activities or operations, whether or not competitive with the business
activities or operations of the other parties or the Companies, without
consulting with, or obligation to, any of the other parties. The doctrines
of
corporate opportunity or business opportunity that sometimes apply to persons
engaged in a joint venture or having a fiduciary relationship or a relationship
of confidence and trust shall not apply in the case of any of the parties
to
this Agreement.
-63-
12.8 Severability.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in
such
manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision
of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable
Law,
such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition
or
invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions of this Agreement.
12.9 Complete
Agreement.
This
Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Promissory Note and, when executed
and delivered, the Transition Services Agreement contain the complete agreement
between the parties and supersede any prior understandings, agreements or
representations by or between the parties, written or oral.
12.10 Schedules.
In the
event of any inconsistency between the statements in this Agreement and
statements in the Disclosure Schedule, the statements in this Agreement will
control and the statements in the Disclosure Schedule will be
disregarded.
12.11 Signatures;
Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, any one of which need
not
contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts
taken
together will constitute one and the same instrument. A facsimile signature
will
be considered an original signature.
12.12 Governing
Law.
THE
DOMESTIC LAW, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES, OF THE STATE
OF
DELAWARE WILL GOVERN ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY
AND
INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED
BY THIS AGREEMENT.
12.13 Specific
Performance.
Each of
the parties acknowledges and agrees that the subject matter of this Agreement,
including the business, assets and properties of the Companies, is unique,
that
the other parties would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached, and that the remedies at law would not be
adequate to compensate such other parties not in default or in breach.
Accordingly, each of the parties agrees that the other parties will be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of
this
Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and
provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they
may
be entitled, at law or in equity (without any requirement that any Buyer
Party
provide any bond or other security). The parties waive any defense that a
remedy
at law is adequate and any requirement to post bond or provide similar security
in connection with actions instituted for injunctive relief or specific
performance of this Agreement.
-64-
12.14 Jurisdiction.
Subject
to the procedures specified in Article II, each of the parties submits to
the
exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Wilmington,
Delaware, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding
may
be heard and determined in any such court. Each party also agrees not to
bring
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in
any
other court. Each of the parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum
to the
maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety
or other security that might be required of any other party with respect
to any
such action or proceeding. Each party appoints The Corporation Trust Company
(the “Process
Agent”)
as its
agent to receive on its behalf service of copies of the summons and complaint
and any other process that might be served in the action or proceeding. Any
party may make service on any other party by sending or delivering a copy
of the
process (i) to the party to be served or (ii) to the party to be served in
care
of the Process Agent at the following address: Corporation Trust Center,
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The parties agree that either
or both
of them may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence
of
the knowing, voluntary and bargained agreement between the parties irrevocably
to waive any objections to venue or to convenience of forum.
12.15 Waiver
of Jury Trial.
EACH
PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE
IT IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY
JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT
SUCH
OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER,
(III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS
IN THIS SECTION 12.15.
12.16 Construction.
The
parties and their respective counsel have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In addition, each of the parties
acknowledges that it is sophisticated and has been advised by experienced
counsel and, to the extent it deemed necessary, other advisors in connection
with the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity
or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed
as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof
will
arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
of
the provisions of this Agreement. The parties intend that each representation,
warranty and agreement contained in this Agreement will have independent
significance. If any party has breached any representation, warranty or
agreement in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation,
warranty or agreement relating to the same subject matter (regardless of
the
relative levels of specificity) that the party has not breached will not
detract
from or mitigate the fact that the party is in breach of the first
representation, warranty or agreement. Any reference to any Law will be deemed
to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the
context
requires otherwise. The headings preceding the text of articles and sections
included in this Agreement and the headings to the schedules and exhibits
are
for convenience only and are not be deemed part of this Agreement or given
effect in interpreting this Agreement. References to sections, articles,
schedules or exhibits are to the sections, articles, schedules and exhibits
contained in, referred to or attached to this Agreement, unless otherwise
specified. The word “including” means “including without limitation.” A
statement that an action has not occurred in the past means that it is also
not
presently occurring. When any party may take any permissive action, including
the granting of a consent, the waiver of any provision of this Agreement
or
otherwise, whether to take such action is in its sole and absolute discretion.
The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural
form of words will not limit any provisions of this Agreement. A statement
that
an item is listed, disclosed or described means that it is correctly listed,
disclosed or described, and a statement that a copy of an item has been
delivered means a true and correct copy of the item has been
delivered.
-65-
12.17 Currency.
All
references in this Agreement to “$” are references to United States
dollars.
12.18 Time
of Essence.
With
regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement,
time is of the essence.
12.19 Consequential
or Special Damages.
IN NO
EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY HERETO BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY
OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
BY THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
-66-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
Buyer
Parties, Seller and Guarantor have executed this Stock Purchase Agreement
as of
the date first above written.
BUYER:
JIPANGU
INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:
/s/ Tamisuke Matsufuji
Name: Tamisuke
Matsufuji
Title:
President and CEO
PARENT:
JIPANGU
INC.
By:
/s/ Tamisuke Matsufuji
Name: Tamisuke
Matsufuji
Title:
President and CEO
|
SELLER:
APOLLO
GOLD, INC.
By:
/s/ R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
President and CEO
GUARANTOR:
APOLLO
GOLD CORPORATION
By:
/s/ R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
President and CEO
|
-67-
DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE
TO
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
among
Jipangu
Inc.,
Jipangu
International Inc.,
Apollo
Gold, Inc.
and
Apollo
Gold Corporation
made
as of
October
17, 2005
Schedule
4.1
Jurisdictions
of Organization, Qualification and Other Corporate Matters
EXPLORATION
|
||
Name
of Company:
|
Apollo
Gold Exploration, Inc.
|
|
US
Federal ID No. (EIN):
|
00-0000000
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization:
|
Delaware
(File No. 3528958)
|
|
Form
as a Legal Entity:
|
Corporation
|
|
Jurisdiction(s)
in Which Qualified:
|
Nevada
(Corp. No. C13297-2002)
|
|
FLORIDA
CANYON
|
||
Name
of Company:
|
Florida
Canyon Mining, Inc.
|
|
US
Federal ID No. (EIN):
|
00-0000000
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization:
|
Delaware
(File No. 2979963)
|
|
Form
as a Legal Entity:
|
Corporation
|
|
Jurisdiction(s)
in Which Qualified:
|
Nevada
(Corp. No. C3475-1999)
|
|
STANDARD
|
||
Name
of Company:
|
Standard
Gold Mining, Inc.
|
|
US
Federal ID No. (EIN):
|
00-0000000
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization:
|
Delaware
(File No. 3539532)
|
|
Form
as a Legal Entity:
|
Corporation
|
|
Jurisdiction(s)
in Which Qualified:
|
Nevada
(Corp. No. C17070-2002)
|
Schedule
4.8(q)
Material
Adverse Effect and Other Changes
Encumbrances
valued at $50,000 or more individually or $100,000 or more in the aggregate
discharged or satisfied other than current liabilities paid in the Ordinary
Course of Business:
Model
|
Description
|
Serial
Number
|
||
785B
|
USED
Caterpillar OFF-HIGHWAY TRUCK
|
6HK00491
|
||
785B
|
USED
Caterpillar OFF-HIGHWAY TRUCK
|
6HK00493
|
||
785B
|
USED
Caterpillar OFF-HIGHWAY TRUCK
|
6HK00494
|
||
834B
|
USED
Caterpillar WHEEL TRACTOR
|
92Z00622
|
||
994
|
USED
Caterpillar WHEEL LOADER
|
9YF00147
|
||
990F
|
USED
Caterpillar WHEEL LOADER
|
7HK00066
|
Schedule
4.9(a)(v)
Buildings,
Plants, Etc.
Building
Name
|
Size
(sq ft)
|
Height
|
||
Truck
Shop & Warehouse
|
20,250
|
2-story
|
||
Main
Administration Office
|
7,200
|
1-story
|
||
Main
Exploration Office
|
2,500
|
1-story
|
||
Exploration
Office Trailer
|
1,500
|
1-story
|
||
Exploration
Storage Trailer #1
|
540
|
1-story
|
||
Core
Shed
|
650
|
1-story
|
||
Exploration
Storage Trailer #2
|
405
|
1-story
|
||
Xxxxx
Crew Office Trailer
|
675
|
1-story
|
||
Acid
Wash/Carbon Regeneration Process Building
|
1350
|
2-story
|
||
Assay
Lab/A Columns Plant/Welding Shop/Refinery
|
7500
|
2-story
|
||
Small
Vehicle Repair Shop (Abandoned)
|
4050
|
2-story
|
||
Crusher
Office
|
950
|
1-story
|
||
Small
Vehicle Repair Quonset Hut
|
2560
|
1-story
|
||
Crusher
Parts Storage
|
4140
|
1-story
|
||
Shed
|
132
|
1-story
|
||
Crusher
Trailer Office #1
|
660
|
1-story
|
||
Crusher
Trailer Office #2
|
660
|
1-story
|
Schedule
4.9(a)(vi)
Equipment
Equipment
Valued at US$ 5,000 or More
MAJOR
& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
|
Equip
#
|
Description
|
Serial
No.
|
Encumbered
Under Cat Installment Sale Contract Number
|
Cat
Lease
|
||||
3105
|
777B
WATER TRUCK
|
4YC01348
|
||||||
3107
|
KENWORTH
WATER TRUCK
|
512431
|
||||||
3108
|
777B
WATER TRUCK
|
4YC00200
|
||||||
3151
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00489
|
2274
|
|||||
3152
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00490
|
2274
|
|||||
3154
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00492
|
2274
|
|||||
3157
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00495
|
2274
|
|||||
3158
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00496
|
2274
|
|||||
3159
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00497
|
2274
|
|||||
3160
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00498
|
2274
|
|||||
3161
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00499
|
2274
|
|||||
3162
|
785B
HAUL TRUCK
|
6HK00500
|
2274
|
|||||
3211
|
992C
LOADER CERTIFIED-OLD PIN #49Z01414
|
49Z75287
(Old 49Z01414)
|
||||||
3213
|
992D
LOADER
|
7MJ00456
|
2274
|
|||||
3215
|
992G
|
ADZ00453
|
7290
|
|||||
3301
|
D9R
CAT DOZER
|
7TL00509
|
2274
|
|||||
3302
|
D9R
CAT DOZER
|
7TL00510
|
2274
|
|||||
3304
|
D10N
CAT DOZER
|
3SK00994
|
2274
|
|||||
3308
|
690
TIGER RUBBER TIRE DOZER
|
05A10987
/ 7MJ00528
|
2274
|
|||||
3401
|
245
DRILL
|
732096
|
||||||
3402
|
245
DRILL
|
732097
|
||||||
3404
|
DRILLTECH
C40 KSH CRAWLER DRILL
|
731749
|
||||||
3406
|
D25KS
DRILTECH DRILL
|
731904
|
||||||
3407
|
D245
DRILLTECH DRILL
|
732107
|
||||||
3516
|
16G
CAT MOTOR GRADER
|
93U03265
|
||||||
3517
|
16H
CAT MOTOR GRADER
|
6ZJ0044
|
2274
|
|||||
3623
|
FORD
L8000 TIRE TRUCK
|
1FDZW82A6KVA077562K
|
||||||
3625
|
DP100
FORK LIFT
|
3DP0040
|
||||||
3627
|
INTERNATIONAL
DUMPTRUCK
|
0XXXXXXX0XXX00000
|
||||||
3631
|
4O
TON LINKBELT CRANE
|
5310-290
|
||||||
3636
|
WATER
STAND/COMPRESSOR
|
|||||||
3700
|
LUBE
TRUCK
|
1NKDX6TXRJ616249
|
MAJOR
& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (cont.)
|
Equip
#
|
Description
|
Serial
No.
|
Encumbered
Under Cat Installment Sale Contract Number
|
Cat
Lease
|
|||||
0000
|
XX
XXXX XXXXX
|
XXXXX0XX0XX000000
|
|||||||
3702
|
FUEL
TRUCK
|
INKDX6TX4RJ616253
|
|||||||
3703
|
SMALL
LUBE TRUCK
|
0XXXX0XXXXXX00000
|
|||||||
3704
|
SMALL
SERVICE TRUCK
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
|||||||
3705
|
SERVICE
TRUCK & WELDER # 705
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
|||||||
3706
|
WELDING
TRUCK & WELDER # 706
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
|||||||
3707
|
GMC
XXX XXX
|
X0XX0X0X0X0000000
|
|||||||
3708
|
SERVICE
TRUCK
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
|||||||
3709
|
ATLAS
COPCO XAS 90 COMPRESSOR
|
YA3-04T084-00225943
|
|||||||
3710
|
CT85
CAT GENERATOR SET
|
2020881
|
|||||||
3711
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951101
|
|||||||
3711-3721
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANTS
|
||||||||
3712
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951102
|
|||||||
3713
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951103
|
|||||||
3714
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951104
|
|||||||
3715
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951105
|
|||||||
3716
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951106
|
|||||||
3717
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951107
|
|||||||
3718
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
951108
|
|||||||
3719
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
870815
|
|||||||
3721
|
MAXI-LIGHT
LIGHT PLANT
|
900704
|
|||||||
3725
|
HOTSY
STATIONARY STEAM CLEANER
|
||||||||
3726
|
HOTSY
STEAM CLEANER
|
H328891095
|
|||||||
3727
|
L90B
VOLVO LOADER
|
L90V61570
|
|||||||
3729
|
CAT
330L EXCAVATOR
|
5YM00357
|
|||||||
3730
|
1990
MACK SERVICE TRUCK
|
VIN#XX0X000X0XX000000
|
|||||||
3731
|
1999
FREIGHTLINER SERVICE TRUCK
|
0XX0XXXX0XXX00000
|
|||||||
3732
|
1989
PETERBUILT & LOWBOY
|
0XX0000X0XX000000
|
|||||||
3737
|
T800
XXXX - LUBE TRUCK
|
J740694
|
|||||||
3740
|
CAT
GEN SET
|
24Z03244
|
|||||||
3741
|
CAT
GEN SET
|
||||||||
3751
|
CAT
GEN SET -- TRAILER MOUNTED (SPARE)
|
8028002
|
|||||||
3752
|
DW2
DEWATERING GENERATOR
|
2015455
|
|||||||
3753
|
DW3
DEWATERING PUMP
|
8221983
1442/99
|
|||||||
3754
|
Blue
dewatering pump
|
PUMP
SN1013568 XXXXXX XXXX
|
|||||||
3755
|
XXXXXX
600 TRAILER MT. WELDER
|
96053
TRAILER /KG195896 XXXXXX
|
|||||||
0000
|
XXXX
XXX XX-0 COMPRESSOR
|
E8388.
1234567890
|
|||||||
3757
|
GEN
SET AT OLD MAINTENANCE SHOP
|
||||||||
3758
|
40D-WELDER--TRAILER
MOUNT
|
KF970706
|
|||||||
3759
|
KONE
SHOP CRANE
|
56654
|
|||||||
3760
|
QUINCY
AIR COMPRESOR
|
91261J
|
LIGHT
VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
|
Equipment
No.
|
Description
|
Serial
No.
|
||
906
|
2001
F250 FORD LARIAT-MINE OPS SPV
|
XXXXX00X00XX00000
|
||
928
|
CRUSHER
MAINTENANCE WELDING TRUCK
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
||
1004
|
2005
CHEVY 3/4 TON - XXX XXXXXXX
|
0XXXX00X00X000000
|
||
1005
|
2005
GMC 3/4 TON XXXXX XXXXX
|
0XXXX00X00X000000
|
ANCILLARY
EQUIPMENT
|
Equipment
No.
|
Description
|
Serial
No.
|
In
Service
|
|||
801-CRANE
|
90
TON CRANE
|
47979
|
Y
|
|||
801-TRUCK
|
90
TO CRANE CARRIER
|
47979
|
Y
|
|||
802
|
NATIONAL
BOOM TRUCK- CRUSHER
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
Y
|
|||
804
|
580
K BACKHOE
|
JJG0009342
|
Y
|
|||
805
|
AIR
COMPRESSOR AT CRUSHER
|
007-87001410
|
Y
|
|||
808
|
GEN
SET AT PLANT
|
3312224
|
Y
|
|||
810
|
DETROIT
DIESEL POWERED GENSET
|
00-X-00
|
X
|
|||
000
|
X0
XXX XXXXX
|
0XX00000
|
Y
|
|||
816
|
HYDRO
BLASTER AT CRUSHER
|
900406
|
Y
|
|||
821
|
CAT
FORK LIFT - LAB
|
3351026
|
Y
|
|||
000
|
XXX
XXXX XXXX- XXXXXXX
|
0XX00000
|
Y
|
|||
823
|
580
C CASE BACKHOE
|
9007575
|
Y
|
|||
824
|
VACUUM
TRUCK
|
94-05-5206
|
Y
|
|||
833
|
GEN
SET AT PLANT
|
66BO8951
|
Y
|
|||
834
|
SKID
STEER LOADER- CRUSHER
|
871319
|
Y
|
|||
835
|
GPL40
FORK LIFT / WAREHOUSE
|
ICM00845
|
Y
|
|||
836
|
GEN
SET AT THE PLANT
|
5TD00824
|
Y
|
|||
837
|
BUCKET
TRUCK INTERNATIONAL S1900 1981
|
9208055956
|
Y
|
|||
842
|
1980
FREIGHTLINER WATER TRUCK 183632
|
CB113HP183632
|
Y
|
|||
843
|
V80E
FORK LIFT
|
37W08364
|
Y
|
|||
844
|
BOBCAT-
CRUSHER
|
510127817
|
Y
|
ANCILLARY
EQUIPMENT
|
Equipment
No.
|
Description
|
Serial
No.
|
In
Service
|
|||
801-CRANE
|
90
TON CRANE
|
47979
|
Y
|
|||
801-TRUCK
|
90
TO CRANE CARRIER
|
47979
|
Y
|
|||
802
|
NATIONAL
BOOM TRUCK- CRUSHER
|
0XXXX00X0XXX00000
|
Y
|
|||
804
|
580
K BACKHOE
|
JJG0009342
|
Y
|
|||
805
|
AIR
COMPRESSOR AT CRUSHER
|
007-87001410
|
Y
|
|||
808
|
GEN
SET AT PLANT
|
3312224
|
Y
|
|||
810
|
DETROIT
DIESEL POWERED GENSET
|
00-X-00
|
X
|
|||
000
|
X0
XXX XXXXX
|
0XX00000
|
Y
|
|||
816
|
HYDRO
BLASTER AT CRUSHER
|
900406
|
Y
|
|||
821
|
CAT
FORK LIFT - LAB
|
3351026
|
Y
|
|||
000
|
XXX
XXXX XXXX- XXXXXXX
|
0XX00000
|
Y
|
|||
823
|
580
C CASE BACKHOE
|
9007575
|
Y
|
|||
824
|
VACUUM
TRUCK
|
94-05-5206
|
Y
|
|||
833
|
GEN
SET AT PLANT
|
66BO8951
|
Y
|
|||
834
|
SKID
STEER LOADER- CRUSHER
|
871319
|
Y
|
|||
835
|
GPL40
FORK LIFT / WAREHOUSE
|
ICM00845
|
Y
|
|||
836
|
GEN
SET AT THE PLANT
|
5TD00824
|
Y
|
|||
837
|
BUCKET
TRUCK INTERNATIONAL S1900 1981
|
9208055956
|
Y
|
|||
842
|
1980
FREIGHTLINER WATER TRUCK 183632
|
CB113HP183632
|
Y
|
|||
843
|
V80E
FORK LIFT
|
37W08364
|
Y
|
|||
844
|
BOBCAT-
CRUSHER
|
510127817
|
Y
|
Schedule
4.9(g)
Machinery,
Equipment, Etc. Required to Operate Business
Caterpillar
Corporation (“Cat”) and Xxxxxxx Equipment Inc. are testing an experimental model
of a Cat 992X Experimental Loader with Serial Number Z4X00151 owned
by Cat
and on loan to Florida Canyon and Standard. The loader will remain on the
premises as long as Cat requires the testing or at the discretion of Florida
Canyon’s and Standard’s management. Operating costs relative to this loader are
paid by Florida Canyon and Standard in the ordinary course of business. The
inclusion of this loader on this Schedule 4.9(g) shall not be read to imply
that
the Companies do not own other loaders sufficient to comply with the
representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.9(g) of the
Agreement.
Schedule
4.11(g)
Income
Tax Returns
U.S.
Federal
Seller
and the Companies filed U.S. Income Tax returns for the following
periods:
01/01/2002
- 12/31/2002
01/01/2003
- 12/31/2003
These
returns have not been audited and are not currently the subject of an
audit.
State
Florida
Canyon filed Nevada State Net Proceeds of Minerals Tax Returns for the following
periods:
01/01/2001
- 12/31/2001
01/01/2002
- 12/31/2002
01/01/2003
- 12/31/2003
01/01/2004
- 12/31/2004
These
returns have not been audited and are not currently the subject of an audit.
Standard
filed Nevada State Net Proceeds of Minerals Tax Returns for the following
periods:
01/01/2004
- 12/31/2004
This
return has not been audited and is not currently the subject of an
audit.
Foreign
Seller
filed Form T2s in Canada for the following periods:
01/01/2002
- 6/24/2002
06/25/2002
- 12/31/2002
01/01/2003
- 12/31/2003 as amended by Amended T2.
01/01/2004
- 12/31/2004
Seller
filed Form CT23s in Canada for the following periods:
01/01/2002
- 06/24/2002
06/25/2002
- 12/31/2002
01/01/2003
- 12/31/2003
Schedule
4.16(b)
Governmental
Authorizations
Governmental
Authorizations
License/Permit
|
Entity
|
Governmental
Level
|
||
Business
License
|
Florida
Canyon
|
State
of Nevada Dept of Taxation
|
||
Business
License
|
Standard
|
State
of Nevada Dept of Taxation
|
||
Business
License
|
Exploration
|
State
of Nevada Dept of Taxation
|
||
Business
License
|
Florida
Canyon
|
County
of Pershing
|
||
Business
License
|
Standard
|
County
of Pershing
|
||
Business
License
|
Exploration
|
County
of Pershing
|
The
Governmental Authorizations relating to the Environmental Law necessary for
operations of the Companies as currently conducted are set forth in
Schedule 4.17(h)(2).
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Schedule
4.17(h)(2)
Governmental
Authorizations Relating to Environmental Law
Environmental
Permits
FLORIDA
CANYON MINE
|
|||
Permit/Approval
Name
|
Granting
Agency
|
Expiration
Date
|
Name
of Permittee
|
Approval
of Plan of Operations, Rights-of-Way Permits
|
Bureau
of Land Management
|
Plan
Of Operations/2008
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Small
Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator
|
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
|
None
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Explosives
Permit
|
Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
|
Held
by contractor
|
|
Surface
Disturbance and Class II Air Quality Operating Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Air Quality
|
Air
Pollution Control / Aug, 2009
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Water
Pollution Control Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation
|
Mining,
Mineral Processing, Ancillary Activities incl landfill/ life of
mine
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Reclamation
Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation
|
Reclamation
& Cost Estimate/life of project
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Permit
to Appropriate Water and to Construct Impoundments
|
Nevada
Division of Water Resources
|
Pump
and use water/various and multiple
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Industrial
Artificial Ponds
|
Nevada
Division of Wildlife
|
Operate
an artificial industrial pond/ May 2008
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Solid
Waste Mining Site Class III Waiver
|
Nevada
Bureau of Waste Management
|
Included
in WPC and Reclaim Permits
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
General
Discharge Permit (Stormwater, Septic Tank Systems)
|
Nevada
Bureau of Water Pollution Control
|
Stormwater/Sept
2010
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Hazardous
Materials Storage Permit
|
Nevada
State Fire Xxxxxxxx
|
Hazardous
Materials Storage/February 28, 2006
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Liquefied
Petroleum Gas License
|
Nevada
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board
|
Operate
Propane tans/December 0000
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Mining Inc
|
Domestic
Water Supply
|
Nevada
Bureau of Health Protection Services
|
Provide
safe drinking water/Life of Project
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Special
Use Permit (Buildings and Structures)
|
Pershing
County Planning & Bldg. Dept.
|
Building
Occupancy/Life of project
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
STANDARD
MINE
|
|||
Permit/
Approval Name
|
Granting
Agency
|
Type/Expiration
Date
|
Name
of Permittee
|
Approval
of Plan of Operations, Rights-of-Way Permits
|
Bureau
of Land Management
|
Powerline
Easement/ Life of Mine
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Small
Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator
|
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
|
Small
Quantity Generator
|
Florida
Canyon Mining Inc
|
Explosives
Permit
|
Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
|
Held
by contractor
|
|
Surface
Disturbance and Class II Air Quality Operating Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Air Quality
|
Air
Pollution Control / Nov 1, 2009
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Water
Pollution Control Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation
|
Mining,
Mineral Processing, Ancillary activities/Life of project with 5-year
updates/renewals
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Reclamation
Permit
|
Nevada
Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation
|
Reclamation
and Cost Estimate/Life of project
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Permit
to Appropriate Water and to Construct Impoundments
|
Nevada
Division of Water Resources
|
Dams
and Xxxxx/ Various lives
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Industrial
Artificial Ponds
|
Nevada
Division of Wildlife
|
Industrial
Artificial Ponds/July 31, 2008
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Solid
Waste Mining Site Class III Waiver
|
Nevada
Bureau of Waste Management
|
Municipal
Solid Waste Landfill (Not activated)
|
|
General
Discharge Permit (Stormwater)
|
Nevada
Bureau of Water Pollution Control
|
Stormwater
General; Discharge Permit/July, 24, 2008
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
Hazardous
Materials Storage Permit
|
Nevada
State Fire Xxxxxxxx
|
Nevada
Hazardous Materials Storage Permit/Febr. 28, 2006
|
Standard
Gold Mining Inc.
|
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Schedule
4.19(a)
Benefit
Plans
1. Apollo
Gold Employee Health Benefit Plan
i. Type:
welfare benefit plan.
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv. (C)
employee welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA.
2. Apollo
Gold, Inc. Cafeteria Plan
i. Type:
Health Care Reimbursement Plan and Health Insurance Benefit components
are
welfare benefit plans; Dependent Care Assistance Program component is a
fringe
benefit plan.
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv.
|
Health
Care Reimbursement Plan and Health Insurance Benefit - (C) employee
welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA
.
|
3. Apollo
Gold Group Term Life Insurance
i.
|
Type:
welfare benefit plan.
|
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv.
|
(C)
employee welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA
.
|
4. Apollo
Gold Group Long Term Disability Insurance
i.
|
Type:
welfare benefit plan.
|
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv.
|
(C)
employee welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA.
|
5. Apollo
Gold, Inc. Employee Savings Plan
i.
|
Type:
pension benefit plan.
|
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv.
|
(B)
plan that is or is intended to be tax qualified under Section 401(a)
or
403(a) of the Code, and (C) defined contribution plan as defined
in
Section 3(34) of ERISA or Section 414(i) of the Code.
|
6. Apollo
Gold Stock Option Incentive Plan
i.
|
Type:
stock option plan.
|
ii. Sponsorship:
Apollo Gold.
iii. Participating
Employer: Apollo Gold.
iv.
|
N/A
|
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Schedule
6.7
Software
Licenses
Florida
Canyon Mining, Inc.
Gemcom
Geological software
Xxxxxxx
software
Accpac
Financial software
AutoCad
-
2 licenses
Xxxxxx
communications interface software - refinery
N
Star -
new drive and man gate software
VIMS
PC
ver 2003a - Caterpillar software
Electronic
Technician 2005a-01
Org
plus
for Windows - 1 copy
Worthit
Fixed Assets ver 4.10
Veritas
Ver 9.00 rev 4367
Veritas
Ver 10.0 rev 5484
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Schedule
7.3
Employment
Terms and Conditions
This
Schedule 7.3 contains the covenants and agreements of the parties with respect
to employee benefits, as set forth below. References to Seller also mean the
Guarantor.
1. |
Seller
will take all actions necessary to cause the Companies and the Companies’
employees to cease to participate in each Plan, as of midnight on
the
Closing Date, provided, however, (a) that any Company employee who
is
disabled on the Closing Date will remain eligible for any benefits
for
which the individual is eligible, or may become eligible in the future
upon satisfying any elimination period, under any short-term or long-term
disability plan of Seller and (b) employees with accounts under the
Apollo
Gold Inc. Employee Savings Plan (“Seller’s 401(k) Plan”) will remain as
inactive participants in such plan until the transfer of assets and
liabilities contemplated in Paragraph
3.
|
2. |
Seller
shall use its best efforts to assist the Buyer and the Companies
in
establishing new employee benefit programs to be maintained by the
Companies for the benefit of employees of the Companies, including
without
limitation providing appropriate information and documentation to
insurance companies and other providers. Seller shall deliver to
the
Companies as of the Closing Date all personnel files and records
relating
to the employees of the Companies as of the Closing Date, and which
are
not already held by the Companies. Buyer (with the assistance of
Seller as
necessary) will take all actions necessary to establish, effective
as of
12:01 a.m. on the day immediately following the Closing Date (or
as soon
thereafter as is administratively feasible in the case of a new 401(k)
plan), benefits for the employees of the Companies similar to benefits
provided under the Plans as set forth on Schedule 4.19(a)
(but not
including a stock option incentive plan). Nothing in this Agreement
shall
be construed as requiring any employee benefit plans to continue
to be
maintained by the Companies for any specified period after Closing.
After
Closing, Seller will have no liability under any plan established
by the
Companies pursuant to this Paragraph 3. For the avoidance of doubt,
Seller
will pay the cost of coverage for Florida Canyon employees and dependents
on or before midnight of the Closing Date. Seller will also pay all
claims
under Seller’s health plan that are incurred by Florida Canyon employees
and dependents and submitted by the Seller's health plan to the Seller
for
payment on or before midnight of the Closing Date. Buyer (or the
Companies) will pay the cost of coverage for Florida Canyon employees
and
dependents after midnight of the Closing Date. Buyer (or the Companies)
will also pay all eligible claims under Seller’s health plan (but only
regarding Florida Canyon employees and dependents) that are submitted
by
the Seller’s health plan to the Seller for payment after midnight of the
Closing Date, irrespective of when such claims were
incurred.
|
3. |
Seller
will take all actions necessary to cause a spin-off of the portion
of
Seller’s 401(k) Plan covering employees of the Companies (along with any
outstanding loans) to a new 401(k) Plan to be established by the
Companies, such spin-off to occur as soon as administratively feasible
after Closing.
|
4. |
Buyer
(or the Companies) will take all actions necessary to continue to
provide
continuation coverage, as required under Code Section 4980B, Part
6 of
Title I of ERISA or any similar state law (collectively, “COBRA”),
following the Closing Date to any former employee of any of the Companies
(or dependent of any employee or former employee of any of the Companies)
whose “qualifying event” occurred on or before the Closing Date at a time
when the individual was covered by such Plan. Seller will provide
Buyer
with a list of all persons currently or formerly associated with
Florida
Canyon who have elected continuation coverage under COBRA under the
Seller’s health plan, and who are still in their available continuation
period, as well as a list of all such persons whose qualifying event
has
occurred before Closing, and who are in their COBRA election period,
but
who have not yet made such election. All the foregoing persons referred
to
as COBRA Continuees. Seller will also provide Buyer with copies of
all
notices previously sent to the COBRA Continuees, and copies of all
elections made by such COBRA Continuees, and such other information
and
documentation that Buyer may request in order to administer COBRA
for the
COBRA Continuees after Closing. Seller will provide the foregoing
information to Buyer at least seven (7) days prior to Closing, and
will
update such information on the date of Closing, as
applicable.
|
5. |
Seller
will take all actions necessary to provide workers compensation coverage
following the Closing Date to any employee or former employee of
any
Company which is attributable to any injury or illness that occurred
or
commenced on or prior to the Closing Date, excluding, however, the
matters
described in Schedule 4.14 under subheadings A.2 and A.3,
for which
Seller will indemnify Buyer (or the Companies) as provided in
Article X of the stock purchase
agreement.
|
6. |
Seller
will take all actions necessary to cause a spin-off of the portion
of the
Apollo Gold, Inc. Cafeteria Plan (“Seller’s Cafeteria Plan”) covering
employees of the Companies to a new Cafeteria Plan to be established
by
the Companies. Participant elections made prior to the Closing Date
will
continue to be effective on and after the Closing Date. Reimbursements
made to participants under the Seller’s Cafeteria Plan from January 1,
2005 until the Closing Date will be carried forward. Seller will
transfer
to Buyer an amount equal to participant contributions to the Seller’s
Cafeteria Plan from January 1, 2005 until the Closing Date, less
participant reimbursements during such
period.
|
7. |
This
Schedule 7.3 shall not create any third party beneficiary rights
nor shall
it inure to the benefit of nor shall it be enforceable by any employee
nor
any person representing the interests of
employees.
|
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Schedule
7.5
Required
Surety
1.
|
Personal
Bond (BLM Bond No. XXX000000) issued by Exploration in the outstanding
penal sum of $1,343.00 fbo United States Bureau of Land Management
(“BLM”)
providing financial assurance with respect to activities undertaken
under
Exploration’s Pirate Gold exploration permit, secured by Irrevocable
Standby Letter of Credit No. SSB-SB-2004/0228 issued by Sterling
Savings
Bank (“SSB”) in the face amount of $1,343.00 for the account of
Exploration as account party and for the benefit of (fbo) the BLM,
all as
amended and in effect and as further described in BLM’s determination
letter accepting such bond dated July 16,
2005.
|
2.
|
Personal
Bond (BLM Bond No. NVB000207) issued by Exploration in the outstanding
penal sum of $7,336.00 fbo the BLM providing financial assurance
with
respect to activities undertaken under Exploration’s Nugget Fields
exploration permit, secured by Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit
No.
SSB-SB-2004/0229 issued by SSB in the face amount of $7,336.00 for
the
account of Exploration, as account party, and fbo the BLM, all as
amended
and in effect and as further described in BLM’s determination letter
accepting such bond dated July 27,
2005.
|
3.
|
Personal
Bond (BLM Bond No. NVB000514) issued by Standard in the outstanding
penal
sum of $138,600.00 fbo the BLM providing financial assurance with
respect
to activities undertaken under Standard exploration permit, secured
by
Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No. SSB-SB-2004/0232 issued
by SSB in
the face amount of $138,600.00 for the account of Standard, as account
party, and fbo the BLM, all as amended and in effect and as further
described in BLM’s determination letter accepting such bond dated August
2, 2005.
|
4.
|
Personal
Bond (BLM Bond No. NV0561) issued by Florida Canyon in the outstanding
penal sum of $3,527,270.00 fbo the BLM providing financial assurance
with
respect to activities undertaken under Florida Canyon’s plan of
operations, secured by Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No.
SSB-SB-2004/0233 issued by SSB in the face amount of $3,527,270.00
for the
account of Florida Canyon and fbo the BLM, all as amended and in
effect
and as further described in BLM’s determination letter accepting such bond
dated May 20, 2005.
|
5.
|
Surety
Bond No. 6067172 (BLM Bond No. NV0672) in the outstanding penal sum
of
$520,000.00 issued by Safeco Insurance Company of America (“Safeco”), as
surety, for the account of Florida Canyon, as principal, for the
benefit
of the BLM, as beneficiary, providing financial assurance with respect
to
activities undertaken under Florida Canyon’s plan of operations, as
amended and in effect and as further described in BLM’s determination
letter accepting such bond dated May 20,
2005.
|
6.
|
Surety
Bond No. 5806498 (BLM Bond No. NV0250) in the outstanding penal sum
of
$16,936,130 issued by Safeco, as surety, for the account of Florida
Canyon, as principal, and for the benefit of the BLM, as beneficiary,
as
amended and in effect, providing financial assurance with respect
to
certain activities undertaken under Florida Canyon’s plan of operations,
as further described in BLM’s determination letter accepting such bond
dated May 20, 2005. Such bond provides financial assurances,
notwithstanding its cancellation, within the area disturbed on August
15,
1999, in accordance with: (i) Florida Canyon’s confirmed plan of
reorganization in the proceedings styled In
re Pegasus Gold Corporation; and related entities,
Debtors,
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada, Case Nos.
BK-N-98-30088 GWZ through BK-N-98-30105 GWZ, inclusive, and (ii)
the
judgment affirmed by the proceedings styled United
States of America, State of Nevada, and Florida Canyon Mining, Inc.,
Appellees v. Safeco Insurance Company of America,
Appellant, in
the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, No. 02-15737
(on
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of
Nevada,
No. CV-N-99-361-DWH (RAM), the consolidated case caption assigned
by the
United States District Court following consolidation with proceedings
removed to that court from the Western District of Washington initially
styled Safeco
Insurance Company of America v. Florida Canyon Mining,
Inc.,
United States District Court for the Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx
Xx. X00 0000X).
|
7.
|
Reclamation
Surety Bond No. ESD 732 5041 in the outstanding penal sum of $4,501,531
issued by American Home Assurance Company (“AIG”), as surety, for the
account of Standard, as principal, and for the benefit of the State
of
Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division
of
Environmental Protection (“NDEP”), as beneficiary, as amended and in
effect, providing financial assurances for activities undertaken
under
Standard’s Phase I plan of operations, as further described in NDEP’s
determination letter accepting such bond dated July 20, 2004.
|
8.
|
Safeco
Bond No. 5798124 in the penal sum of $120,000 issued by Safeco, as
surety,
nominally for the account of Pegasus Gold Corporation, as account
party,
for the benefit of the State of Nevada, as beneficiary, as amended,
assumed by Florida Canyon and in effect notwithstanding such bond’s
cancellation, providing financial assurances in connection with
Certificate of Authority No. 215 with respect to Florida Canyon’s pre-June
30, 1999, self insured worker’s compensation program.
|
9.
|
Personal
Bond (BLM Bond No. unknown) issued by Florida Canyon’s predecessor by
reorganization in the penal sum of $18,119.00 fbo the BLM providing
financial assurance with respect to activities undertaken by Florida
Canyon, secured by a cash deposit made by Florida Canyon’s predecessor by
reorganization directly to BLM in the amount of $18,119.00.
|
EXHIBIT
A
PROMISSORY
NOTE
$2,500,000
|
October
17, 0000
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
|
|
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned (“Maker”) promises to pay to the order of Jipangu
Inc., a Japan corporation (“Holder”), on June 1, 2006, the principal sum of Two
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000), plus interest thereon
from
December 1, 2005 at a rate of seven and three tenths percent (7.3%) per annum
through payment in full; provided, that any amount of principal and interest
which is not paid when due shall bear interest at the default rate of twelve
percent (12%) per annum from the day when due through payment in full.
All
interest shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days, for the
actual
number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) elapsed.
Payments shall be made in funds current and available in Tokyo, Japan, in
lawful
money of the United States of America, at such place as Holder may specify
from
time to time.
Upon
the
occurrence of any one of the following events, all
obligations of Maker hereunder shall become immediately due and payable without
any action by Holder:
(i) Maker
or
any of its subsidiaries makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or
applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver or trustee for it
or
for a substantial part of its property or business, or such a receiver or
trustee shall otherwise be appointed;
(ii) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings
or
relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the relief of debtors shall
be
instituted by or against Maker or any of its subsidiaries; or
(iii) Maker
or
any of its subsidiaries defaults in any payment to any third party or parties
in
an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 or otherwise defaults or fails
to
perform in any agreement in a manner resulting in a right by any third party
or
parties to accelerate the maturity of any indebtedness of Maker or any of
its
subsidiaries in an amount in excess of $500,000;
Maker
agrees to pay all costs and expenses which Holder may incur by reason of
any
default, including without limitation reasonable collection costs and attorneys’
fees with respect to legal services relating to any default and to a
determination of any rights or remedies of Holder under this Note or under
any
other instrument or document made by Maker with or in favor of Holder, and
reasonable attorneys’ fees relating to any actions or proceedings which Holder
may institute or in which Holder may appear or participate and in any reviews
of
and appeals therefrom.
Maker
waives demand, presentment for payment, protest, notice of protest, and notice
of nonpayment. Maker further agrees that any modification or extension of
the
terms of payment of this Note made by Holder shall not diminish or impair
Maker’s liability for the payment hereunder and that none of the terms or
provisions hereof may be waived, altered, modified or amended except as Holder
may consent thereto in a writing duly signed by Holder. Holder may delay
or
forgo enforcing any of its rights or remedies under this Note without losing
them.
THIS
NOTE
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
COLORADO WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. IF A LAWSUIT IS
COMMENCED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTE, MAKER AGREES THAT EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
AND VENUE FOR ANY SUCH ACTION SHALL LIE IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND MAKER AGREES,
UPON HOLDER’S REQUEST, TO SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND
FEDERAL COURTS THEREIN.
Apollo
Gold Corporation, a Yukon corporation
By:
Print
Name:
Print
Title:
EXHIBIT
B
TRANSITION
SERVICES AGREEMENT
This
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is
effective as of _____, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), and is entered into
among Jipangu International Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”),
Jipangu Inc., a Japanese corporation (“Buyer Parent”), Florida Canyon
Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Standard Gold Mining, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and Apollo Gold Exploration, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Florida
Canyon Mining, Inc., Standard Gold Mining, Inc. and Apollo Gold Exploration,
Inc. collectively, the “Companies”), and Apollo Gold Corporation, a
Yukon corporation (“Seller”).
WHEREAS,
Seller, Buyer, and Buyer Parent have
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005 (the
“Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, Apollo Gold, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AGI”), has
agreed to sell, and Buyer Parent, through its subsidiary Buyer, has agreed
to
purchase, all of the outstanding capital stock of the Companies;
WHEREAS,
in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Seller has agreed to enter into this
Agreement with the Companies, Buyer, and Buyer Parent to provide certain
transition services to the Companies on the terms and conditions set forth
in
this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
representations, warranties, and agreements contained in this Agreement,
and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Any term used herein that is not defined in this Agreement but is defined
in the
Purchase Agreement has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase
Agreement.
2. Transition
Services. Seller will provide the transition services described below
(the “Transition Services”) to the Companies during the term of this
Agreement:
(a) Seller
Services. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,
Seller will provide the services to the Companies listed on Schedule A, in
substantially the same scope, nature and manner as was provided to the Companies
(or to AGI with respect to the Companies) immediately prior to the Effective
Date.
(b) Third
Party Services. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the
Companies in procuring the services listed on Schedule B to be provided to
the
Companies, in substantially the same scope, nature and manner as was provided
to
the Companies (or to AGI with respect to the Companies) immediately prior
to the
Effective Date by the providers that provided such services to the Companies
(or
to AGI with respect to the Companies) immediately prior to the Effective
Date
(“Third Party Services”). The Companies and the Buyer acknowledge that
the provision of Third Party Services may require the consent of the relevant
providers. If the Companies, with Seller’s assistance, are unable to obtain such
consent with respect to a particular Third Party Service, then the Seller,
at no
additional cost to Seller, will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist
the Companies in arranging for an alternative person or an alternative
methodology to provide the Third Party Service.
(c) Other
Services. During the term of this Agreement, and subject to availability of
Seller’s resources, Seller will provide to the Companies any other transition
services not referenced in subsection (a) or (b) above of a nature that is
consistent with the services Seller provided to the Companies (or to AGI
with
respect to the Companies) prior to the Effective Date, at levels consistent
with
the past operation of the Companies (or of AGI with respect to the Companies)
and reasonably requested by the Companies. Seller shall render such additional
Transition Services following the parties’ agreeing in writing to the services
to be provided with reasonably sufficient detail. Any fee to be charged by
Seller for any services provided pursuant to this Section 2(c) will be equal
to
the costs and allocations Seller previously charged to the Companies for
such
Transition Services prior to the Effective Date, and including without
limitation allocable overhead and Seller’s out-of-pocket expenses incurred
consistent with past practice (“Seller’s Costs”). At the Buyer’s or the
Companies’ request, Seller will furnish the Buyer or the Companies, as the case
may be, with reasonable supporting documentation evidencing Seller’s Costs
hereunder.
(d) Increased
Staffing. If Seller is required to increase staffing, acquire equipment or
to make any investments or capital expenditures in order to increase the
level
of use of any Transition Service provided as a result of a request by the
Companies to increase the level of use provided by Seller, Seller shall inform
the Companies in writing of the need for such increases in staffing level,
acquisitions of equipment, investments or capital expenditure required before
any such costs or expenses are incurred. Upon the receipt of such notice,
the
Companies may (i) withdraw their request for the increase in the level of
use
provided by Seller, (ii) in the case of equipment or other tangible assets,
make
the required equipment and assets available for Seller’s use during the
provision of the Transition Services at no expense to Seller, or (iii) agree
to
Seller’s increased staffing, acquisition of equipment or investment or capital
expenditure. Upon mutual written agreement under subsection (iii), as to
any
such increase in staffing level, acquisition of equipment, investment or
capital
expenditure required, the Companies shall reimburse Seller for the actual
increased costs and expenses incurred by Seller allocable to the Transition
Services. If the Companies do not agree to reimburse Seller for the actual
increased costs and expenses to be incurred, Seller shall have no obligation
to
increase the level of such Transition Service.
(e) Segregation
of Data or Systems. If any costs and expenses are required to segregate data
or systems of the Companies from data or systems of Seller prior to termination
of this Agreement, the Companies shall reimburse Seller for the costs and
expenses of such segregation; provided, however, that Seller shall not undertake
any such segregation without providing to the Companies a written estimate
of
the costs of such segregation and obtaining the prior written consent of
the
Companies thereto.
(f) No
Modification of Seller’s Software or Equipment. Except as agreed in writing
by the parties, Seller shall not be required to perform any Transition Service
requiring the use of, and shall not be required to install or use, any software
or equipment modified or provided by the Companies. Seller shall not be required
to modify or change any of Seller’s software or equipment to perform any
Transition Service.
-2-
(g) Seller
Representative. Seller shall designate in writing a representative (the
“Seller Representative”) who shall have the authority to act on Seller’s behalf
in connection with the performance of the Transition Services, to enforce
the
provisions of this Agreement, and to serve as the primary contact for
communications between the Companies and Seller concerning the performance
of
the Transition Services and this Agreement. Before any limitation placed
by
Seller on the authority of the Seller Representative may be effective, such
limitation shall first be disclosed to the Companies in writing, and if not
so
disclosed, shall not have any effect.
(h) Companies’
Representative. The Companies shall designate in writing a representative
(the “Companies’ Representative”). The Companies’ Representative shall have the
authority, on behalf of the Companies, to enforce the provisions of this
Agreement, to take any action necessary to cause or promote the orderly and
expeditious performance of the Transition Services, and to serve as the primary
contact for communications between Seller and the Companies concerning the
performance of the Transition Services. Before any limitation placed by the
Companies on the authority of the Companies’ Representative may be effective,
such limitation shall first be disclosed to Seller in writing, and if not
so
disclosed, shall not have any effect.
(i) No
Violation of Law or Contract. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this
Agreement to the contrary, Seller shall not be required to provide any
Transition Service which Seller is prohibited from providing by law or
contractual restriction. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Seller to
violate any agreement with any third party, including, without limitation,
any
software license or agreement. Seller certifies that, to its knowledge, the
provision of the Transition Services will not cause it to violate any law
or
contractual restriction.
(j) Buyer
to Receive Benefit. Seller agrees that any Transition Service to be provided
to the Companies will instead be provided to the Buyer with respect to the
Companies, if so requested by the Companies’ Representative.
3. Compensation.
(a) Payments.
The Companies will pay the amounts listed on Schedule A, the amounts listed
on
Schedule B or Seller’s Costs, as applicable, for the Transition Services. Seller
will invoice the Companies one month following the date of this Agreement,
and
on the same day of each month thereafter in which Transition Services have
been
rendered under this Agreement. If the invoice date is the 29th,
30th or 31st day of the month, any invoice to be sent
during a month with fewer than such number of days shall instead be sent
on the
last day of such month. The Companies will pay all invoices in full by no
later
than thirty days following the date of receipt. In the event the Companies
do
not pay all due and payable invoices in full within thirty days of receipt
of
the applicable invoices, Buyer or Buyer Parent, each jointly and severally
a
guarantor for the Companies, shall make such payment to Seller within five
days.
If Seller does not receive payment within 35 days, Seller may suspend all
Transition Services without any further liability to the Companies, Buyer,
or
Buyer Parent.
-3-
(b) Taxes.
All payments by the Companies, Buyer, or Buyer Parent to Seller under this
Agreement shall be grossed-up by the Companies, Buyer, or Buyer Parent, as
the
case may be, to cover any sales tax, value-added tax, goods and services
tax or
similar tax (but excluding any tax based upon the net income of Seller) payable
with respect to the provision by Seller of Transition Services. Any sales,
use,
transaction, excise or similar tax imposed on or measured by the rendering
of
the Transition Services will be the responsibility of the Companies.
4. Independent
Contractor.
(a) Independent
Contractor Status. Seller will perform the Transition Services under this
Agreement as an independent contractor and as such will have and maintain
exclusive control over all its own employees, agents, subcontractors and
operations. Seller will not be, act as, purport to act as or be deemed to
be any
of the Companies’ agent, representative, employee or servant.
(b) Seller’s
Employees. Seller shall retain the absolute right to reassign, discipline or
dismiss any Seller employee or the employee of any affiliate or third party
retained by the Seller and the Companies shall not purport to exercise any
such
right, provided that at any time the Companies may require Seller to cause
an
employee to cease to provide Transition Services to the Companies and leave
any
premises owned or occupied by the Companies if the Companies in their reasonable
discretion so request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Companies’ request
for Seller to cause an employee to cease to provide Transition Services results
in Seller’s inability to perform the Transition Services, Seller shall not have
any liability to the Companies for failure to perform such Transition
Services.
(c) No
Requirement for New Employees. Seller is not required to hire any new
employees to provide Transition Services to the Companies during the term
of
this Agreement. If Seller is unable to provide Transition Services to the
Companies hereunder, Seller shall notify the Companies of such fact as promptly
as practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2(b) above,
Seller may, but shall not be obligated to, hire a third party vendor to perform
the Transition Services. In the event a third party vendor is hired, the
provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to
the
Transition Services to be provided by the third party vendor.
5. Standard
of Performance.
(a) For
Transition Services provided directly by Seller, Seller will perform such
Transition Services in a reasonably timely and competent manner and provide
Transition Services in a nature and at levels consistent with the Companies’
past and current conduct of their business and AGI’s past conduct with respect
to the Companies’ business. For Transition Services provided by third parties,
Seller, at no additional cost to Seller, will use reasonable efforts to procure
or secure such services hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i)
Seller shall not be liable to the Companies, Buyer, Buyer Parent,
or any third party on account of any action or inaction on the part of any
Seller employee, any employee of a Seller affiliate or any third party, so
long
as the individual in question was acting in good faith in accordance with
or
pursuant to the direction of the Companies; and
-4-
(ii)
Seller shall not be liable to the Companies, Buyer or Buyer
Parent for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Companies,
Buyer or Buyer Parent or any third party in connection with the subject matter
of this Agreement (howsoever any such loss may have occurred);
unless,
such loss arises from gross negligence, bad faith, fraud,
intentional misconduct or willful default in the performance or non-performance
by Seller, any Seller employee or any employee of any Seller affiliate of
the
Transition Services provided under or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
In addition, nothing herein shall obligate Seller to incur direct out-of-pocket
costs or expenses for which Seller will not be reimbursed or compensated
under
this Agreement, even if such failure to incur costs or expenses or assume
obligations would interfere with Seller’s ability to provide Transition
Services. The allocable portion of employees’ salaries and corporate overhead
shall not be considered direct out-of-pocket costs or expenses.
(b) SELLER
MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AND EXTENDS NO WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE TRANSITION SERVICES OR ITS
PERFORMANCE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
6. Confidentiality.
(a) Seller
and its affiliates will keep confidential and protect, and will not divulge,
allow access to or use in any way, (i) intellectual property rights, including
product specifications, formulae, compositions, processes, designs, sketches,
photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions and ideas, past, current
and
planned research and development, current and planned manufacturing and
distribution methods and processes, market studies, business plans, software,
database technologies, systems, structures, architectures and data (and related
processes, formulae, compositions, improvements, devices, know-how, inventions,
discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods and information), (ii) any
and
all information concerning the business and affairs (including historical
financial statements, financial projections and budgets, historical and
projected sales, capital spending budgets and plans, the names and backgrounds
of key personnel, personnel training and techniques and materials), however
documented, and (iii) any and all notes, analyses, compilations, studies,
summaries and other material containing or based, in whole or in part, on
any
information included in the foregoing (collectively, “Confidential Information”)
of Buyer, Buyer Parent or any Company that is delivered or made available
to
Seller or its affiliates pursuant to this Agreement, unless required by (x)
applicable law, (y) any judgment, injunction, writ, order, ruling, award
or
decree made by any governmental or judicial authority or arbitration, or
(z)
policies or rules of stock exchanges on which the shares of Seller or any
affiliate are listed, in which event, if legally permissible, Seller shall
promptly provide written notice to Buyer to allow Buyer or any Company to
seek
(and if only Seller or any affiliate is legally permitted to seek, they will,
if
requested by Buyer seek) (at the expense of Buyer or any Company) a protective
order with respect to such information. Seller acknowledges that such
Confidential Information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of each
Company, Buyer and Buyer Parent and represents a substantial investment of
time
and expense by such Company, Buyer and Buyer Parent, and that any disclosure
or
other use of such Confidential Information other than for the sole benefit
of
such Company, Buyer or Buyer Parent would be wrongful and would cause
irreparable harm to such Company, Buyer or Buyer Parent. Seller will deliver
promptly to the Companies, Buyer or Buyer Parent or destroy, at the request
and
option of the Companies, Buyer or Buyer Parent, all tangible and intangible
embodiments (and all copies) of such Confidential Information that are in
the
possession of Seller or its affiliates. The foregoing obligations of
confidentiality will not apply to any Confidential Information that is or
subsequently becomes generally publicly known, other than as a direct or
indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Seller.
-5-
(b) Seller
acknowledges that the Companies, Buyer and Buyer Parent have required that
Seller make the agreements in this Section 6 as a condition to Buyer’s purchase
of the Companies and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Seller agrees that the agreements contained in this Section 6
are
reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Companies,
Buyer and Buyer Parent and that any violation or breach of this Section 6
will
result in irreparable injury to the Companies, Buyer and Buyer Parent for
which
no adequate remedy would exist at law. Accordingly, in addition to any relief
at
law that may be available to any Company, Buyer or Buyer Parent for such
violation or breach and regardless of any other provision contained in this
Agreement, each Company, Buyer and Buyer Parent will be entitled to injunctive
and other equitable relief restraining such violation or breach (without
any
requirement that any Company, Buyer or Buyer Parent provide any bond or other
security).
(c) In
the event that Seller or any affiliate is requested or required (by oral
question or request for information or documents in any legal proceeding,
interrogatory, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to
disclose any Confidential Information, it will notify the Buyer promptly
of the
request or requirement so that the Companies, Buyer and Buyer Parent may
seek an
appropriate protective order or waive compliance with the provisions of this
Section 6. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt
of a
waiver from Companies, Buyer and Buyer Parent, the Seller is, on the advice
of
counsel, compelled to disclose any Confidential Information to any tribunal
or
else stand liable for contempt, Seller may disclose the Confidential Information
to the tribunal; provided, however, that Seller will use its reasonable
efforts to obtain, at the request of any Company, Buyer or Buyer Parent,
an
order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to
such
portion of the Confidential Information required to be disclosed as the Company,
Buyer or Buyer Parent designates.
7. Indemnification.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANIES,
BUYER,
AND BUYER PARENT SHALL JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD SELLER
HARMLESS, ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES,
AGENTS, CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS,
COSTS OR LIABILITIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER (“CLAIMS”), ARISING OUT OF
THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRANSITION SERVICES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT IN THE CASE
OF SUCH
PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BAD FAITH, FRAUD, INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT OR WILLFUL
DEFAULT.
-6-
8. Terms
and Termination.
(a) The
term of this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and continue until
all Transition Services are completed, unless earlier terminated in accordance
with this Section 8.
(b) The
Companies may terminate this Agreement in whole or with respect to any one
or
more Transition Services at any time without cause upon one week’s written
notice. Such termination will not extinguish the Companies’ or the Buyer’s
obligation to pay for Transition Services or costs incurred by Seller under
this
Agreement prior to the effective date of such termination.
(c) If
any party hereto becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or makes an assignment for
the
benefit of creditors, or if a receiver is appointed to take charge of its
property and such proceeding is not vacated or terminated within thirty days
after its commencement or institution, any other party may immediately terminate
this Agreement by written notice. Any such termination will be without prejudice
to accrued rights of the terminating parties, and to other rights and remedies
for default.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Force
Majeure. No party will be liable in any manner for failure or delay of
performance of all or part of this Agreement (other than the payment of money),
directly or indirectly, owing to acts of God, applicable orders or restrictions
by a governmental authority, strikes or other labor disturbances, riots,
embargoes, power failures, telecommunication line failures, revolutions,
wars,
fires, floods, or any other causes of circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of the parties. The affected party, however, in the case of such
delay
or failure, will give prompt notice to the other parties and will exert
commercially reasonable efforts to remove the causes or circumstances of
nonperformance with reasonable dispatch. In any such event, Seller’s obligations
hereunder and the Companies’ obligations to pay for any Transition Services so
suspended or delayed hereunder shall be postponed for such time as Seller’s
performance is suspended or delayed on account thereof.
(b) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (including the schedules referred to herein)
contains the entire understanding between the parties with respect to Transition
Services and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations,
written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.
(c) Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will
be
an original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
agreement, and any party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any
such
counterpart.
(d) Severability.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in
such
a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision
of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable under any
applicable law or rule, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
other
provision of this Agreement will not be affected or impaired thereby.
-7-
(e) Assignment.
This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder will
not
be assignable, in whole or in part, by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties.
(f) Modification,
Amendment, Waiver or Termination. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified, amended, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing
signed by the parties to this Agreement. No course of dealing between the
parties will modify, amend, waive or terminate any provision of this Agreement
or any rights or obligations of any party under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(g) Notices.
All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals or other communications
provided for herein will be in writing and delivered by personal delivery,
overnight courier, mail, electronic facsimile or e-mail addressed to the
receiving party at the address set forth herein. All such communications
will be
effective when received.
If
to Company:
Florida
Canyon Mining, Inc.
X.X.
Xxx 000
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx
XXX
00000
Attn:
Mine General Manager
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
With
a copy to:
Jipangu
International Inc.
0-0-0-
Xxxx-Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx-xx
Xxxxx
000-0000
Xxxxx
Attn:
President
Facsimile
No. x000 0000-0000
and
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx
&
Whitney LLP
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx
XXX
00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
and
with a copy to:
Xxxxx
&
Company LLP
Suite
2800 Park Place
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X 0X0
Attn:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
-8-
If
to Seller:
Apollo
Gold Corporation
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XXX
00000-0000
Attn:
President
Facsimile
No. (000) 000-0000
|
With
a copy to:
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
XXX
00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No. (000)
000-0000
|
Any
party may change the address set forth above by notice to each
other party given as provided herein.
(h) Headings.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only
and
will not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
(i) Governing
Law. ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION,
VALIDITY AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL
LAWS
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS
THEREOF.
(j) Third-Party
Benefit. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any other person any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
of
any nature whatsoever.
(k) Jurisdiction
and Venue. THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OR
STATE COURT SITTING IN NEVADA, AND EACH PARTY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION
AND
VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUM
IS NOT
CONVENIENT. IF ANY PARTY COMMENCES ANY ACTION UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT
THEORY
ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS AGREEMENT
IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE, ANY OTHER PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WILL
HAVE
THE OPTION OF TRANSFERRING THE CASE TO THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED VENUE OR JURISDICTION
OR, IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED
WITHOUT
PREJUDICE.
-9-
(l) Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(m) Remedies.
Absent gross negligence, bad faith, fraud, intentional misconduct, willful
default or a breach of Section 6, (i) Seller’s sole liability, and the Buyer’s
and the Companies’ exclusive remedy, arising under this Agreement and any claim
related to the performance or non-performance of Transition Services hereunder,
shall be limited to the amount of payments actually made by the Buyer or
the
Companies in relation to the particular Transition Services on which the
Buyer’s
or the Companies’ claim is based, and (ii) in no event shall Seller’s aggregate
liability hereunder exceed that aggregate service fees received from the
Buyer
or the Companies hereunder. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE FOR
ANY
LOST DATA OR SERVICES, LOST PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR FOR ANY INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING
OUT OF
OR RELATING TO THE TRANSITION SERVICES OR THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF ADVISED
OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
(n) Expenses.
Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, each party will pay its
own
expenses (including brokers’, finders’, attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) in
connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, the performance of its
respective obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (whether consummated or not).
(o) Advice
of Counsel. Each party acknowledges that it has been advised by counsel in
the negotiation, execution and delivery of this agreement.
(p) No
Waiver. No delay on the part of the parties in exercising any right
hereunder will operate as a waiver of such right. No waiver, express or implied,
by either party of any right of such party or any breach by the other party
will
constitute a waiver of any other of such party’s right or breach by the other
party.
-10-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto caused this
Transition Services Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
officers as of the day and year first above written.
APOLLO
GOLD CORPORATION
By:__________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________
|
JIPANGU
INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:__________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________
FLORIDA
CANYON MINING, INC.
By:__________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________
|
|
STANDARD
GOLD MINING, INC.
By:__________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________
APOLLO
GOLD EXPLORATION, INC.
By:__________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________
|
-11-
SCHEDULE
A
Seller’s
Services
Transition
Team:
Seller’s
transition team will initially consist of the following
employees with their respective areas of responsibilities:
1.
R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx - Seller’s Representative
2.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx - financial, accounting, and auditing
3.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx - exploration group advisor
4.
Xxx Xxxxxx - human resources and administration
5.
Xxxx Xxxxx - mine operations, technical support, permitting, and
bonding
Transition
Services
|
Compensation
|
Duration
|
||
1.
Seller shall assist the Companies with gold sales consistent with
past and
current practice.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
2.
Seller shall assist the Companies with treasury management, cash
control
management and control of the internal and external audit functions
consistent with past practice, and shall assist the Companies in
addressing those significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
that
Seller’s independent accountants have identified in the internal control
over financial reporting relating to the Subsidiaries and their
business.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
3.
Seller shall assist in the administration to the Companies’ employees of
all benefit and compensation plans and a 401(k) plan consistent
with past
practice.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
4.
Seller shall advise in the administration of the Companies’ reserve data
base and any required reserve/resource calculations, consistent
with past
practice.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
5.
Seller shall advise in preparing and seeking approval of APO 19,
Florida
Canyon trust fund and new Standard permitting for a period of 3
months,
with continuing assistance after the first 3 months as needed and
mutually
agreed to by the parties.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months; potentially extendable
|
||
6.
If any position that reports directly to the Mine General Manager
is not
filled with a permanent employee on the Effective Date (a “Vacant
Position”), Seller shall use its reasonable efforts to assist the
Companies in filling such position as soon as reasonably practicable
with
a candidate, and on terms, reasonably satisfactory to the
Companies.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
Until
completed
|
||
7.
If any Vacant Position exists on the Effective Date, Seller will
provide
the Companies with the services of a member of the transition team,
who
will serve in the Vacant Position until the earlier of 3 months
after the
Effective Date or the date on which a new permanent employee is
hired to
fill the Vacant Position, but only to the extent that such service
does
not unreasonably interfere with that transition team member’s job
responsibilities to Seller.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months or until completed, whichever is earlier
|
||
8.
Seller shall provide guidance, training, information and assistance
to the
newly-hired Mine General Manager, Engineering Manager, Controller
and any
other position filled pursuant to paragraph 6 above, consistent
with
Seller’s past practice with respect to new hires in like
positions.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
9.
Seller shall provide guidance to the Companies with respect to
human
resources issues such as pay, benefits, unions, labor law and
recruiting.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
10.
While providing the services described above, Seller shall use
reasonable
efforts in assisting the Companies to become self-sufficient in
such
matters within 3 months after the date of this Agreement.
|
No
additional charge. (1)
|
3
months
|
||
(1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Companies,
and
Buyer and Buyer Parent as guarantors, shall be reimburse Seller for all usual
and customary documented expenses for travel, lodging, and meals, up to a
maximum of $10,000 per month for the duration of this Agreement. Any additional
out-of-pocket expenses must be approved by the Companies in writing prior
to
being incurred.
A-1
SCHEDULE
B
Third
Party Services
Transition
Service
|
1.Gemcom
Geological Software (annual maintenance contract)
2.
Xxxxxxx Software
3.
AccPac Financial Software
4.
US Bank - Draft Trust Agreement FC - BLM
5.
Xxxxx Insurance Brokerage
6.
Fidelity - 401k Plan Administrator
7.
Scotia Bank (ScotiaMoccata) - Gold Sales Agreement
8.
IT Services -Phone Service: Vartec (000) 000-0000
9.
Price Waterhouse Coopers
10.
Bond support or guaranty arrangements with AIG, Sterling Savings
Bank and
Safeco
|
B-1
EXHIBIT
C
To: |
Boards
of Directors of Florida Canyon Mining, Inc., Standard Gold Mining,
Inc.
and Apollo Gold Exploration, Inc. (each, a “Company”,
and collectively, the “Companies”),
X.X. Xxx 000, Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XXX
00000
|
And to: |
Jipangu
Inc. and Jipangu International Inc., 0-0-0 Xxxx-Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx-xx,
Xxxxx 000-0000 Xxxxx
|
__________,
2005
Dear
Sirs,
I
hereby
resign as a director and/or officer of the Companies, and from any other
position that I might hold with the Companies, as applicable, as of the date
hereof and I irrevocably waive my rights to any notice, contractual or
otherwise.
In
consideration for One Hundred Dollars ($100) in lawful currency of the United
States and other good and valuable consideration received from the Companies,
I
irrevocably release the Companies, their Boards of Directors, officers,
employees, agents and assigns, from all and any claims, charges, complaints,
causes of action or demands of whatever kind or nature (1) that I now have
or
have ever had against any Company, whether known or unknown, arising from
or
relating to my service to the Companies, including but not limited to: wrongful
or tortious termination, specifically including actual or constructive
termination in violation of public policy; implied or express employment
contracts and/or estoppel; discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate
and/or retaliation under any federal, state, provincial or local statute
or
regulation, specifically including any claims I may have under the Fair Labor
Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; the
applicable laws and regulations of the State of Nevada and the state, province
or other jurisdiction in which I reside; any claims brought under any federal,
state, provincial or local statute or regulation for non-payment of wages
or
other compensation (including expense reimbursements and/or bonuses due after
the date hereof); negligent hiring, retention and training; any claims arising
from either tort or contract laws; any claims brought under any federal,
state,
provincial or local statute or regulation related to military leave and/or
reinstatement or related rights; and libel, slander, fraud, misrepresentation,
or breach of contract; and any claims for indemnification or advancement
of
expenses under the Companies’ certificates of incorporation or bylaws, under the
Delaware General Corporation Law or under any agreement to which I am a party
or
a beneficiary; or (2) that I might in the future have against any Company
for
indemnification under the Companies’ certificates of incorporation or bylaws,
under the Delaware General Corporation Law or under any agreement to which
I am
a party or a beneficiary). I further confirm that the Companies are in no
way
obligated or indebted to me in connection with my position as a director
or
officer of any Company or otherwise.
SIGNED as a deed and delivered by | ) |
[NAME] in the | ) |
presence of: | ) |
Witness
Signature:
Witness
Name:
Witness
Address:
Witness
Occupation:
C-1
EXHIBIT
D
CERTIFICATE
OF SELLER’S NON-FOREIGN STATUS
Section 1445
of the Internal Revenue Code provides that a transferee of a U.S. real property
interest must withhold tax if the transferor is a foreign person. To inform
the
transferee that withholding of tax is not required upon the disposition of
the
U.S. real property interest by Apollo Gold, Inc., the undersigned hereby
certifies the following on behalf of Apollo Gold, Inc.:
1. Apollo
Gold, Inc. is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust,
or
foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code and
Income Tax Regulations);
2. Apollo
Gold, Inc. is not a disregarded entity as defined in Treas. Reg. §
1.1445-2(b)(2)(iii);
3. Apollo
Gold, Inc.’s U.S. employer identification number is 00-0000000; and
4. Apollo
Gold, Inc.’s office address is 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XXX 00000-0000.
Apollo
Gold, Inc. understands that this certification may be disclosed to the Internal
Revenue Service by the transferee and that any false statement contained
herein
could be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both.
Under
penalties or perjury I declare that I have examined this certification and
to
the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete, and
I
further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of
Apollo
Gold, Inc..
Apollo
Gold, Inc., a Delaware corporation
By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:________________________________________
Date:________________________________________
D-1