UNANIMOUS SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This
Unanimous Shareholders Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into August 3,
2007 (the “Effective Date”) by and among Access Energy Inc., a corporation
incorporated in Ontario (the “Company”), Blacksands Petroleum, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (“Blacksands”), and H. Reg. X. Xxxxxx (the “Current Access
Shareholder”). The Current Access Shareholder and Blacksands, together with any
subsequent holders of Common Shares (as defined below) that become parties
to
this Agreement, are collectively referred to herein as the "Shareholders."
The
addresses of the Company, Blacksands and the Current Access Shareholder as
of
the date of this Agreement (“Current Shareholders”) are listed on Exhibit A
hereto.
RECITALS
1.
The
Company intends to explore for and develop unconventional and conventional
oil
and gas reserves.
2.
Exhibit
B
sets forth each Shareholder’s Name and number of Common Shares owned by it.
Schedule B may be amended from time to time as Shareholders and shareholdings
change.
3.
As
of the
date hereof, the Corporation is issuing and selling six hundred (600) shares
of
Common Shares to Blacksands (collectively, the "Blacksands Shares") pursuant
to
a Common Share Purchase Agreement by and among Blacksands and the Company of
even date herewith (the "Share Purchase Agreement").
4.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing of the
issuance and sale of the Blacksands Shares pursuant to the Share Purchase
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises set forth above and the
covenants set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
(a)
"Affiliate"
means
(i)
with
respect to any individual, (A) a spouse or descendant, through blood or
adoption, of such individual, (B) any trust, family partnership or limited
liability company whose beneficiaries shall primarily be such individual and/or
such individual’s spouse and/or any Person related by blood or adoption to such
individual or such individual’s spouse, and (C) the estate or heirs of such
individual);
(ii)
with
respect to any Person that is not an individual, any other Person that, directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by,
or
is under common Control with, such Person and/or one or more Affiliates thereof.
(iii)
with respect to the Current Access Shareholder, those persons described in
clause (i) above and those persons to whom he has transferred Shares pursuant
to
the proviso contained in Section 2.3.1; and
(iv)
with
respect to Blacksands, those persons described in clause (ii) above and those
persons to whom it has transferred Shares pursuant to the proviso contained
in
Section 2.3.1.
(b)
"Annual
Plan"
means,
for each fiscal year of the Company, an annual updated consolidated business
and
strategic budget and plan (which budget and plan shall specify which line items
are operational items and which line items are strategic items), including
cash
flow and other financial projections (setting forth in detail the assumptions
therefor) on a monthly basis for the Company for the applicable fiscal year
of
the Company. The Annual Plan for each year will also contain performance
criteria for employee bonuses for such year.
(c)
"Applicable
Law"
means,
in respect of any Person, property, transaction or event, any domestic or
foreign statute, law (including the common law), ordinance, rule, regulation,
treaty, restriction, regulatory policy, standard, code or guideline, by-law
(zoning or otherwise) or Order that applies in whole or in part to such Person,
property, transaction or event;
(d)
"Blacksands
Rights Period"
means
any period during which Blacksands (i) directly or indirectly holds at least
thirty percent (30%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (calculated
in
accordance with Section 2.6 and as adjusted for any share splits, reverse share
splits, share dividends, recapitalizations and the like) or (ii) is required
to
account for its equity interest in the Company under the equity method of
accounting under GAAP or under applicable financial reporting requirements
of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(e)
"Board"
means
the board of directors of the Company.
(f)
"Certificate"
means
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as the same may be amended
from
time to time.
(g)
"Change
of Control of Blacksands"
means
the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)
the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person" or "group" (as those terms
are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d), and 14(d) of the Exchange Act of
"beneficial ownership" (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act) of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
("voting securities") of Blacksands that represent 50% or more of the combined
voting power of Blacksands’ then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii)
any
merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of Blacksands’ assets, other than any
such transaction which results in the Blacksands’ voting securities outstanding
immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of Blacksands or the
person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly,
Blacksands or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of
Blacksands’ assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of Blacksands
(Blacksands or such person, the "Successor Entity")) directly or indirectly,
at
least 50% of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding
voting securities immediately after the transaction.
2
(h)
"Common
Share"
means a
common share of the Company.
(i)
"Common
Share Equivalents"
means
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or exerciseable into, Common
Shares.
(j)
"Control"
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies (investment or otherwise) of a Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
(k)
"Exchange
Act"
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(l)
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
(m)
"IPO"
means
the sale, in an Underwritten Offering, of Common Shares.
(n)
"Person"
shall
be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual,
a
partnership, a limited partnership, an investment fund, a limited liability
company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint
venture, an unincorporated organization, a governmental entity or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof and a natural person is
his
capacity as trustee, executor, administrator or other legal
representative.
(o)
"Securities
Act"
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(p)
"Securities
Laws"
means
the securities legislation and regulations of, and the instruments, policies,
rules, orders, codes, notices and interpretation notes of the applicable
securities regulatory authority or applicable securities regulatory authorities
of, the applicable jurisdiction or jurisdictions collectively;
(q)
"Shareholder’s
Shares"
or
"Shares"
means
all Common Shares of the Company now owned or subsequently acquired by a
Shareholder.
(r)
"Shareholder"
means
each party to this Agreement (other than the Company) and any other Person
who
executes, and agrees to bound by the terms of this Agreement.
(s)
"Underwritten
Offering"
means a
registration under the Securities Act, in which securities of the Company are
sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public.
3
(t)
The
words "sale,"
"sell,"
"transfer"
and the
like shall include any disposition by way of transfer with or without
consideration, to any persons for any purpose and include without limitation,
public or private offerings.
ARTICLE
II
TRANSFERS;
NOTICE; RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL; RIGHT OF CO-SALE
2.1
General
Restriction on Shares.
During
the term of this Agreement, all of a Shareholder’s Shares shall be subject to
the terms of this Agreement. No Shareholder shall transfer, sell, assign or
otherwise dispose (each, a "Transfer") any Shares other than pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, and any Transfers in violation of this Agreement shall
be null and void. All Transfers of Shares shall be subject to compliance with
Securities Laws, and in the event of a Transfer that is not pursuant to an
effective registration statement, the Company may require the transferor to
provide the Company with an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Company to the effect that such Transfer does not require registration under
the
Securities Act or Securities Laws. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Blacksands shall not Transfer (by way of dividend or otherwise)
any
of the Shares held by it to Blacksands’ shareholders if such Transfer would
cause the Company to become subject to the reporting requirements under the
Exchange Act or Securities Laws.
2.2
Notice
Provisions; Contents Thereof.
If any
Shareholder (each, a "Transferring Shareholder") proposes to Transfer to any
Person any Shares (the "Transfer Shares") in one or more related transactions,
then, except as provided in Section 2.7 hereof, the Transferring Shareholder
shall promptly give written notice (the "Notice") to the other Shareholders
(collectively, the "Transfer Offerees") and the Company of such proposed
Transfer. The Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed Transfer
including, without limitation: (a) the number of Transfer Shares to be
Transferred; (b) the nature of such Transfer and the amount and form of
consideration to be paid; (c) the name and address of each prospective purchaser
or transferee; and (d) any other material terms and conditions upon which such
Transfer is to be made, along with copies of all material, proposed agreements
relating to such Transfer, including but not limited to, purchase agreements,
voting or proxy agreements, and other agreements or documents requested by
a
Transfer Offeree.
2.3
Right
of First Refusal.
2.3.1
Within fifteen (15) calendar days of its receipt of the Notice, the Company
shall notify the Transferring Shareholder and the Transfer Offerees of the
Company’s intent to purchase some or all of the Transfer Shares at the same
price and upon the same terms upon which the Transferring Shareholder is
proposing to dispose of such Transfer Shares, and, subject to Section 2.3.3
below, the Transferring Shareholder shall sell to the Company the Transfer
Shares pursuant to such proposed terms. If the Company fails or declines to
exercise fully its right of first refusal as described in the immediately
preceding sentence, the Transferring Shareholder shall promptly deliver a notice
thereof setting forth the number of Transfer Shares that the Company has elected
not to purchase (the "Transfer Offeree Notice") to the Transfer Offerees, and
the Transfer Offerees may elect to purchase the Transfer Shares that the Company
has elected not to purchase at the same price and upon the same terms which
the
Transferring Shareholder is proposing to dispose of such Transfer Shares by
delivering a written notice (an "Acceptance Notice") of such election to the
Transferring Shareholder within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the Transfer
Offeree Notice, provided,
that
the Current Access Shareholder or the current president of Coniston shall not
be
required to sell Transfer Shares to the Company or another Shareholder if the
proposed Transfer of Transfer Shares is to one or more of the following persons:
(i) a duly appointed officer of Access, (ii) a duly nominated and elected
director of Access, or (iii) an individual who provides consulting services
to
Access pursuant to a written agreement duly approved by the Board, and
provided,
further,
that
Blacksands shall not be required to sell Transfer Shares to the Company or
another Shareholder if the proposed Transfer is to one or more of the following
persons: (i) a duly appointed officer of Blacksands or Access, (ii) a duly
nominated and elected director of Blacksands or Access, and (iii) individuals
who provide consulting services to (x) Access pursuant to a written
agreement duly approved by the Board or (y) Blacksands pursuant to a
written agreement duly approved by the Board of Directors of
Blacksands.
4
Each
Transfer Offeree that elects to deliver an Acceptance Notice shall specify
in
the Acceptance Notice the number of Transfer Shares that such Transfer Offeree
is willing to acquire (which may be in excess of (but not less than) such
Transfer Offeree’s Pro Rata Share). If the Transfer Offerees elect to purchase
in the aggregate all of the Transfer Shares specified in the Transfer Offeree
Notice, each such Transfer Offeree so electing shall be entitled and obligated
to purchase, on the terms set forth in the Notice, a number of Transfer Shares
equal to the sum of (a) the amount of such Transfer Offeree’s Pro Rata Share of
Transfer Shares not being purchased by the Company, and (b) to the extent a
Transfer Offeree elected to purchase more than its Pro Rata Share of Transfer
Shares not being purchased by the Company, the lesser of (i) such Transfer
Offeree’s proportionate share of any remaining Transfer Shares to be Transferred
other than those Transfer Shares to be purchased by accepting Offer Transferees
pursuant to clause (a) above (based upon the relative Pro Rata Share of each
Transfer Offeree electing to purchase more than its Pro Rata Share of Transfer
Shares not being purchased by the Company), or (ii) that number of Transfer
Shares equal to the number of shares such Transfer Offeree elected to purchase
minus
such
Transfer Offeree’s Pro Rata Share of Transfer Shares not being purchased by the
Company (it being understood that the allocation procedures contemplated by
this
clause (ii) shall be repeated until all Transfer Shares have been allocated).
Each Transfer Offeree’s "Pro Rata Share" shall mean the ratio, calculated in
accordance with Section 2.6, of the number of Common Shares of the Company
held
by the Transfer Offeree on the date of the Transfer Offeree Notice divided
by
the total number of Common Shares of the Company held by all of the Transfer
Offerees on the date of the Transfer Offeree Notice.
2.3.2
Each Transfer Offeree shall be entitled to apportion its Pro Rata Share to
be
purchased pursuant to this Section 2.3 among its Permitted Transferees (as
defined in Section 2.7), provided that the Transfer Offeree notifies the
Transferring Shareholder of such allocation.
2.3.3
In
the event the Company and/or all or part of the Transfer Offerees, as
applicable, fail to subscribe for all of the Transfer Shares pursuant to
Section
2.3.1,
then
the Transferring Shareholder shall not be required to sell any of the
Transferred Shares to the Company or any of the Transfer Offerees and, subject
to Section 2.4, the Transferring Shareholder may Transfer all (but not less
than
all) of the Transfer Shares to third parties at the same price and upon the
same
terms and conditions specified in the Notice; provided,
however,
that in
the event such Transfer Shares are not sold within ninety (90) calendar days
of
the date of the Notice, such Transfer Shares shall once again be subject to
the
right of first refusal and right of co-sale as provided for in Sections 2.3
and
2.4 of this Agreement.
5
2.3.4
Should the purchase price specified in the Notice be payable in property other
than cash, the Company and/or the Transfer Offerees shall have the option to
pay
the purchase price contemplated by Section 2.3 in the form of cash equal in
amount to the value of such property. If the Transferring Shareholder and the
Company cannot agree on such cash value within ten (10) days after receipt
by
the Company and the Transfer Offerees of the Notice, the valuation shall be
made
by an independent appraiser of recognized standing selected by the Transferring
Shareholder and the Company or, if they cannot agree on an appraiser within
twenty (20) days after receipt by the Company and the Transfer Offerees of
the
Notice, each shall select an independent appraiser of recognized standing and
the two appraisers shall designate a third independent appraiser of recognized
standing, whose appraisal shall be determinative of such value. The cost of
such
appraisal shall be shared equally by the Transferring Shareholder, on the one
hand, and the Company and/or the Transfer Offerees (based on the relative
amounts of Transfer Shares being purchased by the Company and the Transfer
Offerees), on the other hand. If this Section 2.3.4 is applicable, then the
time
periods contemplated by Section 2.3.1 and Section 2.3.3 shall be deemed to
commence on the date that the valuation contemplated by this Section 2.3.4
is determined.
2.4
Right
of Co-Sale.
2.4.1
Co-Sale
Obligations.
(a)
If
any Shareholder (or a direct or indirect transferee thereof) proposes to
Transfer to any Person other than a Permitted Transferee (as defined in Section
2.7) any Transfer Shares in one or more related transactions, and the right
of
first refusal set forth in Section 2.3 above was not fully exercised (such
that
all Transfer Shares proposed to be transferred will not be Transferred to the
Company and/or the Transfer Offerees), then the Transferring Shareholder will,
via written notice, inform the other Shareholders (each, a "Co-Sale
Shareholder") and the Company of such fact and permit each Co-Sale Shareholder
to participate in the Transfer of such Transfer Shares at the same price, and
upon the same terms and conditions specified in the Notice in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 2.4 herein. Such written notice is hereinafter
referred to as the "Co-Sale Notice."
(b)
The
Co-Sale Notice: (i) shall specify the number of Transfer Shares to be
Transferred by the Transferring Shareholder, the sale price, the purchasers
and
all other terms of the Transfer; (ii) shall be titled "Co-Sale Notice"; and
(iii) shall be delivered to each Shareholder and the Company within seven (7)
calendar days after the Company and all Transfer Offerees exercise or decline
to
exercise their right of first refusal, as set forth in Section 2.3 above.
6
2.4.2
Right
of Co-Sale.
No
later than fifteen (15) calendar days after its receipt of the Co-Sale Notice,
each Co-Sale Shareholder shall notify the Transferring Shareholder of such
Co-Sale Shareholder’s intent to sell to the prospective purchaser of the
Transferring Shareholder’s Transfer Shares all or any part of such Co-Sale
Shareholder’s Co-Sale Allocation (as defined below) pursuant to the terms the
Transferring Shareholder proposes to Transfer its Transfer Shares. For purposes
of this Section 2.4.2, each Co-Sale Shareholder’s "Co-Sale Allocation" with
respect to each Transfer of Transfer Shares by the Transferring Shareholder
shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the total number
of
Transfer Shares being Transferred by the Transferring Shareholder by (b) a
fraction, calculated in accordance with Section 2.6, the numerator of which
shall be the total number Common Shares of the Company held by such Co-Sale
Shareholder on the date of the Co-Sale Notice, and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Common Shares of the Company held by all Co-Sale
Shareholders and the Transferring Shareholder on the date of the Co-Sale Notice.
If such Co-Sale Shareholder elects to Transfer to the prospective purchaser
all
or any portion of such Co-Sale Shareholder’s Co-Sale Allocation, then the
Transferring Shareholder shall assign to such Co-Sale Shareholder as much of
the
Transferring Shareholder’s interest in the agreement for the sale of the
Transfer Shares as such Co-Sale Shareholder shall be entitled to pursuant to
the
terms hereof.
2.4.3
Delivery
Requirements.
Each
Co-Sale Shareholder shall effect its participation in the Transferring
Shareholder’s sale of Transfer Shares pursuant to Section 2.4 by promptly
delivering to the Transferring Shareholder for Transfer to the prospective
purchaser:
(a)
one
or more certificates, properly endorsed for Transfer, which represent that
number of Shares which such Co-Sale Shareholder elects to sell; and
(b)
an
Assignment Separate from Certificate, via facsimile or otherwise, which
represents such Co-Sale Shareholder’s Co-Sale Allocation (or applicable portion
thereof).
The
Company agrees to effect any such assignment concurrent with the actual Transfer
of such Transfer Shares to the purchaser.
2.4.4
Transfer
of Shares; Remittance of Sale Proceeds.
The
share certificate or certificates that any Co-Sale Shareholder delivers to
the
Transferring Shareholder pursuant to Section 2.4.3 shall be Transferred to
the
prospective purchaser in consummation of the sale of the Transfer Shares
pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Co-Sale Notice, and the
Transferring Shareholder shall concurrently therewith remit to such Co-Sale
Shareholder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such Co-Sale Shareholder
is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by such Co-Sale
Shareholder. To the extent that any prospective purchaser prohibits such
assignment or otherwise refuses to purchase shares or other securities from
a
Co-Sale Shareholder exercising its rights of co-sale hereunder, the Transferring
Shareholder shall not sell to such prospective purchaser or purchasers any
Transfer Shares unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, the
Transferring Shareholder shall purchase such shares or other securities from
the
Co-Sale Shareholders on the same terms as described in the Notice.
7
2.5
Subsequent
Sales.
The
exercise or non-exercise of the rights of the Company, a Transfer Offeree or
a
Co-Sale Shareholder hereunder to participate in one or more sales of Transfer
Shares made by the Transferring Shareholder shall not adversely affect the
Company’s, such Transfer Offeree’s or such Co-Sale Shareholder’s rights to
participate in subsequent sales of the Transferring Shareholder’s Shares subject
to the terms of this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
2.6
Methodology
for Calculations.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the proposed Transfer of a Common Share Equivalent
shall be treated as the proposed Transfer of Common Shares into which such
Common Share Equivalent can be converted, exchanged, or exercised. Unless
otherwise specifically provided, for purposes of all calculations under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, determining the amount of outstanding
Common Shares as of any date, the amount of Common Shares owned by any Person,
and the percentage of outstanding Common Shares owned by any Person), all Common
Shares into which any Common Share Equivalents are convertible, exchangeable
or
exercisable shall be deemed to be outstanding as of the date of calculation
(and
held by the holder of such Common Share Equivalents).
2.7
Exempt
Transfers of Transferring Shareholder’s Shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 2.1 above, the right
of
first refusal of the Company and the Transfer Offerees under Section 2.3 and
the
right of co-sale of the Co-Sale Shareholders under this Section 2.4 shall not
apply to:
(a)
any
Transfer by a Transferring Shareholder to the Transferring Shareholder’s
Affiliates or any Transfer by way of bequest or inheritance upon death (any
transferee pursuant to this clause (a), a "Permitted Transferee");
(b)
any
Transfer of Shares pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of this Agreement;
(c)
any
pledge of Transfer Shares made pursuant to a bona fide loan transaction that
creates a mere security interest; or
(d)
any
Transfer to the Company;
provided,
however,
that
any pledgee or transferee (other than the Company) shall agree in writing to
be
bound by and comply with all provisions hereof. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, the Transferring Shareholder shall inform the Company of any such
Transfer prior to effecting it. Such Transferred Transfer Shares shall remain
"Shares" hereunder, and such transferee or donee shall agree in writing to
become a party to this Agreement and shall be treated as a "Shareholder" for
purposes of this Agreement.
8
2.8
Sale
of the Company.
2.8.1
Pull
Along Right.
Subject
to Section 2.8.2, if any Shareholder or Shareholders (the "Selling
Shareholders") who own in the aggregate at least 50% of the outstanding Shares
have received a bona fide offer from any Person (other than an Affiliate) to
buy
all the outstanding Shares and Common Share Equivalent which would directly
or
indirectly result in all Shareholders receiving cash in exchange for their
Shares or Common Share Equivalent, as the case may be, equal to or greater
than
the Fair Market Value, as defined in Article 7 of this Agreement, for such
Shares or Common Share Equivalent (including, without limitation, pursuant
to a
merger of the Company) (the "Offer"), the Selling Shareholders shall have the
right (the "Pull Along Right") to require the other Shareholders to accept
the
Offer and shall give notice (the "Pull Along Notice") to the other Shareholders
stating that such Selling Shareholders propose to effect such transaction and
stating the name and address of the offeror (the "Offeror") and the purchase
price under the Offer (the "Third Party Price").
2.8.2
Conditions.
The
Pull Along Notice shall not be effective (and the Selling Shareholder shall
not
be permitted to transfer its Shares to the Offeror) unless all of the following
conditions are met:
(a)
The
Offer shall (1) have been signed by the Offeror, which may not be an Affiliate
of any Selling Shareholder; (2) offer to consummate the proposed transaction
on
or before a date ninety (90) days from the date of the Offer; and (3) obligate
the Offeror to enter into and complete the transactions set forth in the Offer
with all the Shareholders for the same price per Share and on the same terms
as
those which the Selling Shareholders have agreed to sell, provided that the
price for the Common Share Equivalents shall be reduced by the applicable
exercise price per Share, if any, and provided further that in no event shall
the Offer be subject to the delivery by the other Shareholders to the Offeror
of
any more than (A) the Shares or Common Share Equivalents Owned by them to be
purchased pursuant to the Offer, (B) customary representations and warranties
and (C) a customary legal opinion of counsel;
(b)
The
Pull Along Notice shall propose a Third Party Price of an equal amount per
Share, in cash, provided that the price for the Common Share Equivalents shall
be reduced by the applicable exercise price per Share; if any, and
(c)
The
Offeror shall furnish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Selling Shareholders
evidence as to the Offeror's financial ability to consummate the proposed
purchase.
2.8.3
Sale
to Offeror.
If the
Selling Shareholders shall have delivered a Pull Along Notice to all other
Shareholders, then all Shareholders shall sell all of their Shares and Common
Share Equivalents to the Offeror upon the terms and conditions of the Offer
(or
otherwise take all necessary action to cause the Company to consummate the
proposed transaction) at a closing to be held at the principal office of the
Company at or prior to the 90th day from the date of the Offer. If such sale
is
not consummated within such 90-day period, the restrictions provided for in
this
Section 2.8 shall again become effective, and no Transfer of the Shares may
be
made thereafter without complying with the provisions of this
Agreement.
9
ARTICLE
III
PREEMPTIVE
RIGHTS
3.1
Preemptive
Rights.
Except
for Excluded Securities (as hereinafter defined), the Company shall not issue,
sell, or exchange, or agree to issue, sell, or exchange (collectively, "Issue,"
and any issuance, sale, or exchange resulting therefrom, an "Issuance") (a)
any
shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (b) any
other equity security of the Company, including, without limitation, any
options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise
acquire any capital stock or other equity security of the Company, unless,
in
each case, the Company shall have first given written notice (the "Article
3
Notice") to each Shareholder (each, an "Article 3 Offeree") (so long as, in
each
case, such Shareholder directly or indirectly through its Affiliates owns at
least ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (on an
as
converted and as exercised basis) and has not previously forfeited its rights
under this Article 3 pursuant to Section 3.3 below) that shall (i) state the
Company’s intention to sell any of the securities described in (a) and/or
(b) above, the amount to be issued, sold, or exchanged, the terms of such
securities, the purchase price therefor, and a summary of the other material
terms of the proposed issuance, sale, or exchange and (ii) offer (an "Article
3
Offer") to Issue to each Article 3 Offeree such Article 3 Offeree’s
Proportionate Percentage (as defined below) of such securities (with respect
to
each Article 3 Offeree, the "Offered Securities") upon the terms and subject
to
the conditions set forth in the Article 3 Notice, which Article 3 Offer by
its
terms shall remain open for a period of twenty (20) days from the date it is
delivered by the Company to the Article 3 Offerees (and, to the extent the
Article 3 Offer is accepted during such twenty (20)-day period, until the
closing of the Issuance contemplated by the Article 3 Offer). "Proportionate
Percentage" for the purposes of this Section shall mean the quotient, determined
in accordance with Section 2.6, obtained by dividing (x) the number of Common
Shares owned by the Article 3 Offeree, by (y) the total number of Common Shares
owned by all of the Article 3 Offerees on the date of the Article 3 Offer.
Each
Article 3 Offeree shall be entitled to apportion its Offered Securities among
its Permitted Transferees.
3.2
Notice
of Acceptance.
Notice
of an Article 3 Offeree’s intention to accept an Article 3 Offer, in whole or in
part, shall be evidenced in writing signed by such party and delivered to the
Company prior to the end of the twenty (20)-day period of such Article 3 Offer
(each, an "Article 3 Notice of Acceptance"), setting forth the portion of the
Offered Securities that the Article 3 Offeree elects to purchase.
3.3
Failure
to Fully Subscribe.
In the
event that an Article 3 Notice of Acceptance is not given by any Article 3
Offeree in respect of all of the Offered Securities (a "Non-Fully Subscribing
Offeree"), then (a) the other Article 3 Offerees shall each have the right
and
option exercisable for a period of five (5) days commencing upon the expiration
of the Article 3 Offer to purchase the amount of remaining Offered Securities
equal to its Proportionate Percentage of such securities (treating only the
remaining Article 3 Offerees as Article 3 Offerees for these purposes) or such
other amount as may be agreed upon by such Article 3 Offerees and (b) the
Non-Fully Subscribing Offeree shall forfeit its preemptive rights set forth
in
this Article 3 with respect to future Issuances by the Company.
10
3.4
Company’s
Right to Issue.
3.4.1
In
the event that the Article 3 Offerees do not elect to purchase all the Offered
Securities in accordance with Sections 3.2 and 3.3 above, the Company shall
have
ninety (90) calendar days following the earlier of (a) delivery of the Article
3
Notice of Acceptance or the expiration of the five (5)-day period referred
to in
Section 3.3, as applicable, or (b) the twenty (20)-day period referred to in
Section 3.2 above, if no Article 3 Notice of Acceptance is delivered, to Issue
all or any part of such remaining Offered Securities to any other Person(s)
(the
"Other Buyers"), but only at a price not less than the price, and on terms
no
more favorable to the Other Buyers than the terms, stated in the Article 3
Offer
Notice.
3.4.2
If
the Company does not consummate the Issuance of all or part of the remaining
Offered Securities to the Other Buyers within such ninety (90)-day period,
the
right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such securities
shall
not be offered unless first re-offered to each Article 3 Offeree in accordance
with this Article 3.
3.4.3
Within thirty (30) days of the closing of the Issuance to the Other Buyers
of
all or part of the remaining Offered Securities (or, at the request of any
Article 3 Offeree, contemporaneously with such closing), each Article 3 Offeree
shall purchase from the Company, and the Company shall Issue to each such
Article 3 Offeree (or any permitted transferee(s) designated by it), the Offered
Securities that the Article 3 Offeree committed to purchase pursuant to Sections
3.2 and 3.3, on the terms specified in the Article 3 Offer. The purchase by
an
Article 3 Offeree of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the
execution and delivery by the Company and the Article 3 Offeree of a purchase
agreement relating to such Offered Securities in form and substance similar
in
all material respects to the extent applicable to that executed and delivered
between the Company and the Other Buyers.
3.5
Excluded
Securities.
For
purposes of this Article 3, "Excluded Securities" shall mean:
(a)
securities issued pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement;
(b)
any
capital stock issued as a share dividend or upon any share split or other
subdivision or combination of shares of the Company’s capital stock;
(c)
Common Shares issued in any IPO;
(d)
Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents issuable or issued to employees or
directors of the Company or consultants providing bona fide services to the
Company pursuant to an Equity Incentive Plan approved by the Board and the
Shareholders;
(e)
securities issued pursuant to any Common Share Equivalents provided that the
Company shall have complied with the preemptive rights established by this
Article 3 with respect to the initial sale or grant by the Company of such
Common Share Equivalents not already outstanding as of the date hereof;
and/or
11
(g)
Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents issued pursuant to or in connection
with (1) any equipment loan or leasing arrangement, real property leasing
arrangement or debt financing from a bank or similar financial institution
and/or (2) in connection with strategic transactions involving the Company
and
other entities, including (A) acquisitions (of assets or equity interests),
mergers and/or consolidations, (B) joint ventures, manufacturing, marketing
or
distribution agreements, or (C) technology transfer or development arrangements,
provided
that
such issuance is approved by the Board and/or (3) a merger or consolidation
or
acquisition of any other entity or assets thereof that is approved by the
Board.
ARTICLE
IV
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS; GOVERNANCE
4.1
Election
and Designation of Directors.
Subject
to Applicable Law, each Shareholder shall from time to time take such action,
in
his capacity as a direct or indirect Shareholder of the Company, including
the
voting or causing to be voted of all Voting Shares (as defined below) owned
or
controlled by such Shareholder, as may be necessary to cause the Company to
be
managed at all times by a Board composed as follows:
4.1.1
The
authorized number of directors on the Board shall be four (4);
4.1.2
For
so long as the Current Access Shareholder, together with his Affiliates, holds
in the aggregate at least 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (the
"Current Shareholder Designation Period"), he shall be entitled to designate
one
(1) director to be elected to the Board (the "Current Shareholder Director"),
who shall initially be Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx; and
4.1.3
During the Blacksands Rights Period, Blacksands shall designate three (3)
directors to be elected to the Board (the "Blacksands Directors"), who shall
initially be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
4.2
Expenses.
The
Company shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Board
member designated pursuant to Article 4 in connection with attending the
meetings of the Board and any committees thereof.
4.3
Covenant
to Vote.
4.3.1
Each of the Shareholders agrees to vote or cause to be voted, in person or
by
proxy, all of the Shares owned or controlled by such Shareholder and entitled
to
vote at any annual or special meeting of the Shareholders of the Company called
for the purpose of voting on the election of directors ("Voting Shares"), or
to
execute a written consent in lieu thereof, (a) in favor of the election or
removal of the directors in accordance with the provisions of this Article
4,
and (b) if required by Applicable Law, in favor of any transaction approved
by
the Board, if the Current Shareholder Director voted in favor of or consented
to
such transaction (each such transaction an "Approved Transaction"), and shall
take all other necessary or desirable actions within his or its control
(including, without limitation, attending all meetings in person or by proxy
for
purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing all written consents in lieu of
meetings, as applicable), and the Company shall take all necessary and desirable
actions within its control (including, without limitation, calling special
Board
and Shareholder meetings), to effectuate the provisions of this Article 4.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Shareholders expressly
agree that the Shareholders will vote their shares of Voting Shares in favor
of
the election or removal of the directors in accordance with the provisions
of
this Article 4 as if the cumulative voting provisions of any Applicable Law,
statute or regulation did not apply to the election or removal of directors
of
the Company.
12
4.3.2
In
addition to voting in favor of (or consenting to) such Approved Transaction
in
accordance with Section 4.3.1, each Shareholder agrees to each take all
necessary and desirable actions approved by the Board in connection with the
consummation of the Approved Transaction, including the execution of such
agreements and such instruments and other actions reasonably necessary to (a)
provide the representations, warranties, indemnities, covenants, conditions,
non-compete agreements, escrow agreements and other provisions and agreements
relating to such Approved Transaction and (b) effectuate the allocation and
distribution of the aggregate consideration upon the Approved Transaction;
provided
that
this
Section 4.3.2 shall not require any Shareholder to indemnify the purchaser
in
any Approved Transaction for breaches of the representations, warranties or
covenants of the Company or any other Shareholder, except to the extent (i)
such
Shareholder is not required to incur more than its pro
rata
share of
such indemnity obligation (based on the total consideration to be received
by
all Shareholders that are similarly situated and hold the same class or series
of capital stock) and (ii) such indemnity obligation is provided for and limited
to a post-closing escrow or holdback arrangement of cash or stock paid in
connection with the Approved Transaction; further
provided
that
this Section 4.3.2 shall not require Blackksands to enter into any
non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement or similar agreement
restricting the manner in which Blacksands may conduct business in connection
with such Approved Transaction. Further, each Shareholder also agrees (1) to
refrain from exercising any dissenters’ rights or rights of appraisal under
Applicable Law at any time with respect to such Approved Transaction, and (2)
to
direct and use such Shareholder’s commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Shareholder’s employees, agents and representatives not to, directly or
indirectly, initiate, solicit, encourage or otherwise facilitate any inquiries
or the making of any proposal for the Approved Transaction or any proposal
that
is intended, or could otherwise reasonably be expected, to delay, prevent,
impair, interfere with, postpone or adversely affect the ability of the Company
to consummate the Approved Transaction. All Shareholders will bear their
pro
rata
share
(based upon the amount of consideration to be received) of the reasonable costs
of any Approved Transaction to the extent such costs are incurred for the
benefit of all selling Shareholders and are not otherwise paid by the Company
or
the other party. Costs incurred by any Shareholder on its own behalf will not
be
considered costs of the Approved Transaction hereunder.
13
4.4
Removal
of Directors.
4.4.1
At
all times (a) during the Current Shareholder Designation Period, the Current
Shareholders shall have the right to require the removal, with or without cause,
of the Current Shareholder Director, and no other Person shall have any rights
to remove the Current Shareholder Director; and (b) during the Blacksands Rights
Period, Blacksands shall have the right to require the removal, with or without
cause, of any or all of the Blacksands Directors, and no other Person shall
have
any rights to remove any Blacksands Director.
4.4.2
In
the event that any of the Current Shareholders or Blacksands shall, in
accordance with Section 4.4.1, request the removal of the Current Shareholder
Director or any Blacksands Director, then each of the other Shareholders hereby
agrees to join with the Current Shareholders or Blacksands, as applicable,
in
recommending such removal as described above, and in causing the Company either
to promptly hold a special meeting of Shareholders and to vote or cause to
be
voted, in person or by proxy, all of the Common Shares owned or controlled
by
such Shareholder and entitled to vote at such meeting or to execute a written
consent in lieu thereof, as the case may be, effecting such removal.
4.5
Quorum.
For
purposes of meetings of the Board, the Bylaws of the Company shall provide
for a
quorum to consist of at least 51% of the full Board including the Current
Shareholder Director.
4.6
Vacancies.
Except
as described below, in the event a vacancy is created on the Board by reason
of
the death, disability, removal or resignation of any director or otherwise,
(a)
such vacancy may be filled by the remaining directors in accordance with the
Bylaws, and with respect to the Current Shareholder Director or the Blacksands
Directors, after obtaining the designation of the Current Shareholders or
Blacksands, as applicable, and (b) if not so filled, each of the Shareholders
hereby agrees, in its capacity as a Shareholder of the Company, to elect a
director to fill such vacancy in accordance with the selection procedures set
forth in Section 4.1. Upon the designation of a successor director, each of
the
Shareholders hereby agrees, in his capacity as a Shareholder of the Company,
to
use its best efforts to cause the Company either to promptly hold a special
meeting of Shareholders or to execute a written consent in lieu thereof, and
each of the Shareholders hereby agrees to vote or cause to be voted all of
the
Common Shares owned or controlled by such Shareholder and entitled to vote
at
such meeting, in person or by proxy, or pursuant to such written consent of
Shareholders, in favor of the person or persons selected in accordance with
Section 4.1 to fill such vacancy and, if necessary, in favor of removing any
director elected to fill such vacancy other than in accordance with the
selection procedures of Section 4.1.
4.7
Indemnification
Provisions.
The
Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with each of its executive
officers and directors, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.
14
ARTICLE
V
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION; INSPECTIONS;
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
5.1
Delivery
of Financial Information.
Prior
to the consummation of a IPO, the Company shall comply with the provisions
of
this Article 5:
5.1.1
Monthly
Statements.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect (with respect to Blacksands) or
so
long as the Current Shareholder Designation Period is in effect (with respect
to
the Current Shareholders), then as soon as available, but not later than 15
business days after the end of each monthly accounting period, the Company
shall
cause to be delivered to Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder,
as
applicable, an unaudited internal financial report of the Company in the form
provided to the Company’s senior management, and which shall include at least
the following:
(a)
a
profit and loss statement for such monthly accounting period, together with
a
cumulative profit and loss statement from the first day of the current fiscal
year to the last day of such monthly accounting period;
(b)
a
balance sheet as at the last day of such monthly accounting period;
(c)
a
cash flow analysis for such monthly accounting period on a cumulative basis
for
the current fiscal year to date;
(d)
a
narrative summary (including a comparison to the Annual Plan and to prior
accounting periods) of the Company’s operating and financial performance for
such monthly accounting period; and
(e)
if
applicable, a comparison between the actual figures for such monthly accounting
period and the comparable figures for the prior year for such monthly accounting
period, with an explanation of any material differences between them.
5.1.2
Quarterly
Financial Statements.
So
long as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect (with respect to Blacksands)
or so long as the or so long as the Current Shareholder Designation Period
is in
effect (with respect to the Current Shareholders), then, as soon as available,
but not later than 10 days prior to the date that Blacksands or, if applicable,
the Company is required to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q or 10-QSB
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company shall cause to
be delivered to Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable,
unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company, which shall include
a statement of cash flows and statement of operations for such quarter and
a
balance sheet as at the last day thereof, each prepared in accordance with
GAAP
(except as set forth in the notes thereto), and setting forth in each case
in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarterly periods of the
previous fiscal year, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end
adjustments, all in reasonable detail and certified by the principal financial
or accounting officer of the Company.
15
5.1.3
Budget.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect (with respect to Blacksands) or
so
long as the Current Shareholder Designation Period is in effect (with respect
to
the Current Shareholders), then, as soon as available, but not later than thirty
(30) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the Company shall cause
to
be delivered to Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable,
the Annual Plan for the next fiscal year. Blacksands shall contribute sufficient
capital to the Company to enable it to comply with the Annual Plan, until such
time as the Company’s internal capital resources are sufficient to fund the
Annual Plan without such contributions.
5.1.4
Annual
Audit.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect (with respect to Blacksands) or
so
long as or so long as the Current Shareholder Designation Period is in effect
(with respect to the Current Shareholders), then, (i) as soon as available,
but
not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the
Company shall cause to be delivered to Blacksands and/or the Current Access
Shareholder, as applicable, draft financial statements of the Company, which
shall include a draft statement of cash flows and statement of operations for
such fiscal year and a draft balance sheet as at the last day thereof, and
(ii)
as soon as available, but not later than 20 days prior to the date that
Blacksands or, if applicable, the Company is required to file its annual report
on Form 10-K or 10-KSB with the SEC, the Company shall cause to be delivered
to
Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, the audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company, which shall include a
statement of cash flows and statement of operations for such fiscal year and
a
balance sheet as at the last day thereof, each prepared in accordance with
GAAP,
and accompanied by the report of a firm of independent certified public
accountants of recognized standing that is the same firm of independent
certified public accountants that has been retained by Blacksands to deliver
an
audited opinion to Blacksands with respect to Blacksands’s financial statements.
In addition, during such period, the Company shall cause to be delivered to
Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, copies of
all
reports and management letters prepared for or delivered to the management
of
the Company by its independent accountants.
5.1.5
Subsidiaries.
If for
any period the Company shall have any subsidiary or subsidiaries whose accounts
are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period
the
financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing clauses shall be
consolidated (and consolidating if normally prepared by the Company) financial
statements of the Company and all such consolidated subsidiaries.
5.1.6
GAAP
Reporting.
The
financial statements and reports delivered under this subsection shall fairly
present in all material respects the financial position and results of
operations of the Company at the dates thereof and for the periods then ended
and shall have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject, in the case
of
unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
5.1.7
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
and Exchange Act Compliance.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect:
(a)
The
Company will establish and maintain internal control over financial reporting
(as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and the
Company shall take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that such internal
control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company shall establish
policies and procedures so as to: (i) maintain records that in reasonable detail
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets
of
the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded
as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with
GAAP,
and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company;
and
(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection
of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could
have a material effect on the financial statements. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, such policies and procedures will be designed
in a
manner that will enable the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of Blacksands to engage in the review and evaluation process mandated by the
Exchange Act and to ensure that all information (both financial and
non-financial) regarding the Company required to be disclosed by Blacksands
in
the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
rules and forms of the SEC;
16
(b)
The
Company shall disclose to Blacksands at or prior to the delivery of each of
quarterly and annual financial statements referenced above, based on its
evaluation with respect to the most recent fiscal period covered by such
financial statements: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which
are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s or Blacksands’s ability
to record, process, summarize and report financial information, in each case
to
the extent necessary for an officer of Blacksands, to accurately make the
certifications required under Section 302 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002;
and
(ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case who have
a
significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;
(c)
The
Company will disclose to Blacksands at or prior to the delivery of the Quarterly
and Annual Financial Statements pursuant to Sections 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 any change
in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
ended covered by such financial statements that has materially affected, or
is
reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial
reporting, including any corrective actions taken with regard to significant
deficiencies or material weaknesses; and
(d)
Without the prior consent of Blacksands, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall
not establish any material off-balance sheet obligation or liability of any
nature (matured or unmatured, fixed or contingent) to, or any financial interest
in, any third party or entities, the purpose or effect of which is to defer,
postpone, reduce or otherwise avoid or adjust the recording of debt expenses
incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without
limitation, in connection with any "off-balance sheet arrangements" (as defined
in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K and/or Item 303(c) of Regulation S-B)
effected by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
17
5.1.8
Inspection
Rights.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect (with respect to Blacksands) or
so
long as the Current Access Shareholder (together with their Affiliates) directly
or indirectly hold at least ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding
Common Shares (calculated in accordance with Section 2.6 and as adjusted for
any
share splits, reverse share splits, share dividends, recapitalizations and
the
like) (with respect to the Current Shareholders), the Company shall afford
to
Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, and to each
of
their respective employees, counsel and other authorized representatives, during
normal business hours, access, upon reasonable advance notice, to all of the
books, records and properties of the Company, and to make copies of such records
and permit such Persons to discuss all aspects of the Company with any officers,
employees or accountants of the Company, and the Company shall provide to
Blacksands and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, such other
information (in writing if so requested) regarding the assets, properties,
operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Company as
Blacksands or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, may reasonably
request; provided,
however,
that
such investigation and preparation of responses shall not unreasonably interfere
with the operations of the Company. During such period, the Company will
instruct its independent public accountants to discuss such aspects of the
financial condition of the Company with Blacksands or the Current Shareholders
and their respective representatives as Blacksands and/or the Current Access
Shareholder, as applicable, may reasonably request, and to permit Blacksands
and/or the Current Access Shareholder, as applicable, and their respective
representatives to inspect, copy and make extracts from such financial
statements, analyses, work papers, and other documents and information
(including electronically stored documents and information) prepared by such
accountants with respect to the Company as Blacksands or the Current Access
Shareholder, as applicable, may reasonably request. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Company shall provide such assistance, access,
information and documents to Blacksands as Blacksands may reasonably require
to
enable Blacksands to meet its financial reporting and other disclosure
obligations with respect to the Company under the Exchange Act. In addition,
the
Company shall notify Blacksands of the occurrence of any event relating to
the
Company that would result in Blacksands having to file a Current Report on
Form
8-K under the Exchange Act within one (1) business day of the occurrence of
such
event (assuming, for this purpose, that the Company constitutes a material
subsidiary of Blacksands) and shall provide the Company with copies of any
contracts or other documents that it may be required to file as an exhibit
to
such Current Report; provided that the Company shall notify Blacksands
immediately upon becoming aware of the disclosure of any information relating
to
the Company that may constitute material nonpublic information of Blacksands
within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act (other
than information described in Rule 100(b)(2) of Regulation FD).
5.1.9
Confidentiality;
Compliance with Securities Laws.
(a)
Each
Shareholder agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential and
proprietary information of the Company obtained by it (including, without
limitation, any material nonpublic information) ("Confidential Information");
provided,
however,
that
Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) is or
becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure
by the receiving party or its representatives, (ii) is already in the receiving
party’s possession, provided that such information is not subject to a
contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality for the benefit
of
the Company, or (iii) becomes available to the receiving party on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its
affiliates or representatives, provided
that
such
source is not bound by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to keep
such
information confidential for the benefit of the Company; further
provided
that the
foregoing will not prohibit a Shareholder from disclosing Confidential
Information to (x) the extent it is required to do so by Applicable Law so
long
as such Shareholder provides Blacksands immediate notice of the Confidential
Information that it is legally required to disclose and takes appropriate steps
to preserve the confidentiality of such information to the extent reasonably
practicable (including by, for example, cooperating with the Company to seek
an
appropriate protective order), or (y) to its attorneys, accountants,
consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their
services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company, or to
any
Affiliate, partner, member, Shareholder or wholly owned subsidiary of such
Shareholder in the ordinary course of business, provided
that
any such
Person that is not under a pre-existing confidentiality obligation with respect
to such Confidential Information that is similar in scope to the provisions
on
Section 5.1.9 shall first agree in writing to be bound by terms no less
restrictive than those provided for in this Section 5.1.9 in respect of such
Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Shareholders
acknowledge that Blacksands has reporting obligations with respect to the
Company under the Exchange Act and that disclosure by Blacksands of Confidential
Information that it reasonably determines it is required to disclose shall
not
constitute a breach of this Section 5.1.9.
18
(b)
The
Company will take such measures as are reasonably requested by Blacksands to
enable Blacksands to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and Exchange
Act, which measures shall include implementation of internal policies to ensure
that the Company’s personnel preserve the confidentiality of Confidential
Information (including by requiring all employees and consultants to execute
proprietary information and inventions agreements) and adopting Blacksands’s
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy.
5.1.10
Reporting
Currency.
In
regard to the financial statements of the Company, the reporting currency shall
be in Canadian dollars but may be modified at the Company’s
discretion.
5.1.11
Press
Release.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect, the Company shall pre-clear with
Blacksands all press releases or similar public disclosures. Blacksands shall
approve or provide its comments to any such proposed press release within 48
hours of receipt of a draft of the proposed press release.
19
ARTICLE
VI
LEGEND
Each
certificate representing the Shares now or hereafter owned by a Shareholder
or
issued to any Person in connection with a transfer pursuant to Article 2 or
Article 3 hereof shall be endorsed with the following legend:
THE
SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT AMONG THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES, THE COMPANY, AND CERTAIN
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON
WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
Each
Shareholder agrees that the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose
transfer restrictions on the shares represented by certificates bearing the
legend referred to in this Article 6 above to enforce the provisions of this
Agreement and the Company agrees to promptly do so. The legend shall be removed
upon termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
PURCHASE
OPTION
7.1
Purchase
Option.
7.1.1
General.
So long
as the Blacksands Rights Period (the "Purchase Option Period") is in effect,
in
the event Blacksands receives a bona fide third-party offer with respect to
a
Change of Control of Blacksands (a "Change of Control Offer"), then, following
receipt of such offer (and provided discussions relating to such offer are
then-ongoing), Blacksands shall have the right to purchase (the "Purchase
Option") up to 100% of Common Shares and Common Share Equivalents of the Company
held by the other Shareholders, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, for
the
purchase price described in Section 7.1.2 (the "Purchase Price") subject to
the
terms and conditions set forth in this Article 7.
7.1.2
Purchase Price. If Blacksands exercises the Purchase Option, the Purchase Price
to be paid by Blacksands to each respective Shareholder at the time of the
consummation of the Purchase Option shall equal:
(a)
For
the Current Shareholders, an amount equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of the
total number of Common Shares of the Company, multiplied
by
(ii) a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares held
by
each Current Shareholder (calculated in accordance with Section 2.6) and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares (calculated
in
accordance with Section 2.6 and as adjusted for any share splits, reverse share
splits, share dividends, recapitalizations and the like) (the aggregate Purchase
Price paid to the Current Shareholders under this Section 7.1.2(a) being the
"Current Shareholder Purchase Price"); and
20
(b)
For
each other Shareholder, an amount equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of the
total number of Common Shares of the Company
minus
the
Current Shareholder Purchase Price, multiplied
by (ii)
a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares held
by
such Shareholder (calculated in accordance with Section 2.6) and the denominator
of which shall be the total number of Common Shares (calculated in accordance
with Section 2.6 and as adjusted for any share splits, reverse share splits,
share dividends, recapitalizations and the like) then held by all Shareholders
other than the Current Shareholders on the date that Blacksands delivers the
Purchase Notice (as defined below).
7.1.3
Procedures.
To
exercise the Purchase Option, following receipt of a Change of Control Offer,
Blacksands shall deliver to the Company and the other Shareholders at any time
during the Purchase Option Period a written notice indicating that it has
elected to exercise of the Purchase Option (the "Purchase Notice"). The Purchase
Notice shall specify the date for the consummation of the Purchase Option (the
"Purchase Date") which shall be within ninety (90) days after the delivery
of
the Purchase Notice to such Shareholders or such longer period of time as may
be
necessary to comply with any regulatory conditions applicable to such
transaction. The consummation of the Purchase Option (the "Purchase Option
Closing") shall take place at the offices of the Company, Blacksands or such
other reasonable location designated by Blacksands at the time and on the
Purchase Date set forth in the Purchase Notice. At the Purchase Option closing,
(a) Blacksands shall deliver to the Shareholders the Purchase Price applicable
to each Shareholder and (b) each Shareholder shall deliver to Blacksands the
certificates representing all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company (and any securities which are exercisable for, convertible
into, or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company) being
purchased under the Purchase Option, duly endorsed for transfer, such shares
to
be delivered free and clear of any liens or encumbrances.
7.1.4
Issuances
of Shares During Purchase Option Period.
During
the Purchase Option Period, the Company shall not issue Common Shares or Common
Share Equivalents to any Person unless such Person agrees to be bound by the
terms of this Article 7 with respect to the Purchase Option and to require
each
of its transferees to be bound by the Purchase Option. In addition, during
the
Purchase Option Period, the Company shall not issue stock options to employees,
directors or consultants unless such employee, director or consultant agrees
to
be bound by the Purchase Option.
7.1.5
Limitations
on Purchase Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Blacksands may not exercise the Purchase Option
if (a) the Company has previously received a bona fide third party offer to
purchase the Company’s capital stock or assets for a purchase price greater than
the Fair Market Value and discussions regarding such acquisition between the
Company and such third party are ongoing, or (b) the Company has previously
filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission
for a
IPO (and such registration statement has not been withdrawn).
21
7.1.6
Definition
of Fair Market Value.
The
"Fair Market Value" of the Common Shares as of any date of determination, shall
be determined by the Board as follows:
(a)
If
the Common Shares are listed on one or more National Securities Exchanges
(within the meaning of the Exchange Act), each share so listed shall be valued
at the closing price on the principal exchange on which such shares are then
trading on the most recent trading day preceding such date of
determination;
(b)
If
such shares are not traded on a National Securities Exchange but are quoted
on
Nasdaq or a successor quotation system, each such share shall be valued at
the
mean between the closing representative bid and asked prices for such share
on
the most recent trading day preceding such date of determination as reported
by
Nasdaq or such successor quotation system; or
(c)
If
such shares are not publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange and are
not quoted on Nasdaq or a successor quotation system, the Fair Market Value
of
such shares to be repurchased shall be determined in good faith by the Board,
with the concurrence of the Current Shareholder Director.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1
Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of
New
York without giving effect to the choice of law provisions thereof. Each of
the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to
the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of the United
States of America, in each case located in the County of New York, for any
action, proceeding or investigation in any court or before any governmental
authority ("Litigation") arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any Litigation
relating thereto except in such courts), and further agrees that service of
any
process, summons, notice, or document by U.S. registered mail to its respective
address set forth in this Agreement, or such other address as may be given
by
one or more parties to the other parties in accordance with the notice
provisions of Section 8.6, shall be effective service of process for any
Litigation brought against it in any such court. Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of
venue of any Litigation arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby in the courts of the State of New York or the United States
of America, in each case located in the County of New York, and hereby further
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in
any
such court that any such Litigation brought in any such court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum.
8.2
Market
Standoff.
Each of
the parties to this Agreement agree that, upon request by the managing
underwriter of any Underwritten Offering by the Company, for a period of (a)
fourteen (14) days prior to the expected date of effectiveness of any
Underwritten Offering (such expected date to be indicated to the Shareholder
in
a notice by the Company which may be amended at any time by the Company in
good
faith), and (b) one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date
of
the Company’s initial underwritten public offering of its Common Shares on Form
SB-2 or similar form under the Securities Act, each party hereto shall not,
unless otherwise agreed to by the managing underwriters, directly or indirectly
sell, offer to sell, contract to sell (including, without limitation, any short
sale), grant any option to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of (other
than to donees who agree to be similarly bound), any securities of the Company
held by it or enter into any hedging or other transaction that transfers the
economic consequences of such investment, at any time during such period except
such Common Shares included by the parties hereto in such registration;
provided,
however,
that
all executive officers and directors of the Company and all other Persons with
demand registration rights shall be required to enter into similar agreements.
In addition, each party hereto agrees to acknowledge the undertaking provided
for in this Section 8.2 by entering into customary written "lock-up" agreements,
consistent with the foregoing, with the managers of the relevant underwriting.
In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to the securities held by each party hereto (and
the
shares or securities of every person subject to the foregoing restriction)
until
the end of such period.
22
8.3
Amendment.
Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be
waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or
prospectively), by the written consent of Shareholders holding of at least
a
majority of the outstanding Common Shares (calculated pursuant to Section 2.6)
including (a) the written consent of Blacksands so long as the Blacksands Rights
Period is in effect, and (b) the written consent of the Current Shareholders
so
long the Current Shareholder Designation Period is in effect; provided
that
any
Shareholder may waive any of its rights hereunder without obtaining the consent
of any other Shareholder. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with
this paragraph shall be binding upon such Shareholder, its successors and
assigns, and the Company, as applicable.
8.4
Assignment
of Rights.
This
Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall inure
to
the benefit of, and be binding upon, their respective successors and assigns;
provided
that
the
rights of any party to this Agreement may not be assigned except to a transferee
of such party in connection with a Transfer of Common Shares or Common Share
Equivalents in accordance with this Agreement.
8.5
Term.
The
term of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof. Except for any provision
of this Agreement which specifically provides that it shall survive termination,
this Agreement (and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto) shall
terminate upon the occurrence of the earliest of the following: (i) the closing
of a IPO; (ii) the closing of the sale of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets to another entity; (iii) the merger, consolidation or
reorganization of the Company, in which transaction the Company’s Shareholders
immediately prior to such transaction own immediately following such transaction
less than fifty (50%) of the surviving entity or its parent; or (iv) written
agreement of Shareholders holding of at least a majority of the outstanding
Common Shares (calculated pursuant to Section 2.6) including (a) the written
consent of Blacksands so long as the Blacksands Rights Period is in effect,
and
(b) the written consent of the Current Shareholders so long as the Current
Shareholder Designation Period is in effect.
23
8.6
Notices.
All
notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effectively delivered upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, or
upon the passage of five (5) calendar days after deposit in the United States
mail, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or the passage of two
(2) days if sent by the next day delivery service of a nationally-recognized
reputable courier, each properly addressed to the party to be notified, as
set
forth on the Exhibit A hereto or at such other address as such party or any
subsequent Shareholder may designate by ten (10) calendar days’ advance written
notice to the other parties hereto, or, if sent by facsimile, upon completion
of
such facsimile transmission, as conclusively evidenced by the transmission
receipt thereof.
8.7
Severability.
In the
event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason,
be
held to contravene any Applicable Law, be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
in
any respect, such contravention, invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed as if such contravened, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
provision had never been contained herein.
8.8
Attorney
Fees.
In the
event that any dispute among the parties to this Agreement should result in
litigation, the prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to recover
from the losing party all fees, costs, and expenses of enforcing any right
of
such prevailing party under or with respect to this Agreement, including without
limitation, such reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and accountants,
which shall include, without limitation, all fees, costs, and expenses of
appeals.
8.9
Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts and signature pages may
be
delivered by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8.10
Specific
Performance.
Without
limiting the rights of each party hereto to pursue all other legal and equitable
rights available to such party for any other party’s failure to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, each such party acknowledges and agrees that
the remedy at law for any failure to perform obligations hereunder would be
inadequate and all such parties shall be entitled to specific performance,
injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies in the event of any such failure.
The availability of these remedies shall not prohibit the parties from pursuing
any other remedies for such breach, including the recovery of monetary damages.
8.11
Further
Actions and Instruments.
The
parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further
action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
The Shareholders agree to cooperate affirmatively with the Company to enforce
the rights and obligations hereto.
8.12
Representation
by Counsel.
Each
party hereto represents and agrees with each other that it has been represented
by or had the opportunity to be represented by, independent counsel of its
own
choosing, and that it has had the full right and opportunity to consult with
its
respective attorney(s), that to the extent, if any, that it desired, it availed
itself of this right and opportunity, that it or its authorized officers (as
the
case may be) have carefully read and fully understand this Agreement in its
entirety and have had it fully explained to them by such party’s respective
counsel, that each is fully aware of the contents thereof and its meaning,
intent, and legal effect, and that it or its authorized officer (as the case
may
be) is competent to execute this Agreement free from coercion, duress, or undue
influence. The parties to this Agreement participated jointly in the negotiation
and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, then this Agreement will be construed as if drafted
jointly by the parties to this Agreement, and no presumption or burden of proof
will arise favoring or disfavoring any party to this Agreement by virtue of
the
authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
24
8.13
Unanimous Shareholder Agreement.
This
Agreement is a unanimous shareholder agreement within the meaning ascribed
to
that term by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), as amended from time
to
time, and the powers of the directors to manage or supervise the management
of
the business and affairs of the Company shall be restricted as and to the extent
provided in this Agreement.
8.14
Gender. In
this
Agreement words importing the singular number only shall include the plural
and
vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall include one or more
persons, companies, heirs, executors, administrators or permitted assigns,
as
the case may be.
8.15
Headings.
The
headings of the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only
and
do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
8.16
Conflict
with By-Laws or Articles.
In the
event of any conflict between the provisions and spirit of this Agreement and
the articles and/or by-laws of the Company, the provisions of this Agreement
shall govern. Each of the Shareholders agrees to vote or cause to be voted
the
Common Shares owned by him, or consent as required, so as to cause the articles
and/or the by-laws to be amended to resolve any such conflict in favour of
the
provisions of this Agreement.
8.17
Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining
to the subject matter of this Agreement. There are no warranties,
representations or agreements between the Parties in connection with such
subject matter except as specifically set forth or referred to in this
Agreement. No reliance is placed on any representation, opinion, advice or
assertion of fact made by any party hereto, or its directors, officers and
agents, to any other party hereto or its directors, officers and agents, except
to the extent that the same has been reduced to writing and included as a term
of this Agreement. Accordingly, there shall be no liability, either in tort
or
in contract, assessed in relation to any such representation, opinion, advice
or
assertion of fact, except to the extent aforesaid.
(Signature
page follows)
25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
/s/ H. Reg. X. Xxxxxx | ||
H. Reg. X. Xxxxxx |
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ACCESS
ENERGY INC.
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By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Office: President |
By: | /s/ H. Reg. X. Xxxxxx | |
Name: H. Reg X. Xxxxxx |
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Office: Vice President |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Office: President |
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxx
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Office: Director
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