|
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
among
KENTUCKY
USA ENERGY, INC.
(formerly
known as Las Rocas Mining Corp.)
KY
ACQUISITION CORP.
and
KY
USA ENERGY, INC.
May
2, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER |
1
|
|
1.1
|
The
Merger
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
The
Closing
|
2
|
|
1.3
|
Actions
at the Closing
|
2
|
|
1.4
|
Additional
Actions
|
3
|
|
1.5
|
Conversion
of Company Securities
|
3
|
|
1.6
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
4
|
|
1.7
|
Fractional
Shares
|
4
|
|
1.8
|
Options
and Warrants
|
5
|
|
1.9
|
Escrow
|
5
|
|
1.10
|
Certificate
of Incorporation and ByLaws
|
6
|
|
1.11
|
No
Further Rights
|
6
|
|
1.12
|
Closing
of Transfer Books
|
6
|
|
1.13
|
Post-Closing
Adjustment
|
6
|
|
1.14
|
Exemption
from Registration
|
7
|
|
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY |
7
|
|
2.1
|
Organization,
Qualification and Corporate Power
|
7
|
|
2.2
|
Capitalization
|
8
|
|
2.3
|
Authorization
of Transaction
|
8
|
|
2.4
|
Noncontravention
|
8
|
|
2.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
9
|
|
2.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
10
|
|
2.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
10
|
|
2.8
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
10
|
|
2.9
|
Tax
Matters
|
10
|
|
2.10
|
Assets
|
12
|
|
2.11
|
Owned
Real Property
|
12
|
|
2.12
|
Real
Property Leases
|
12
|
|
2.13
|
Contracts
|
13
|
|
2.14
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
14
|
|
2.15
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
15
|
|
2.16
|
Insurance
|
15
|
|
2.17
|
Litigation
|
15
|
|
2.18
|
Employees
|
15
|
|
2.19
|
Employee
Benefits
|
16
|
|
2.20
|
Environmental
Matters
|
18
|
|
2.21
|
Legal
Compliance
|
19
|
|
2.22
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
19
|
|
2.23
|
Permits
|
19
|
|
2.24
|
Certain
Business Relationships with Affiliates
|
19
|
|
2.25
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
19
|
|
2.26
|
Books
and Records
|
19
|
|
2.27
|
Intellectual
Property
|
20
|
|
2.28
|
Independent
and Internal Engineering Report
|
21
|
|
2.29
|
Title
to Interests
|
21
|
|
2.30
|
Compliance
with Leases and Laws; Operation of Assets
|
22
|
|
2.31
|
Sale
of Production
|
24
|
|
2.32
|
Status
of Wells
|
25
|
|
2.33
|
Hedging
|
25
|
|
2.34
|
Drilling
Obligations
|
25
|
|
2.35
|
Royalty
Interests
|
25
|
|
2.36
|
Seismic
Information
|
25
|
|
2.37
|
Tax
Partnerships
|
26
|
|
2.38
|
Disclosure
|
26
|
|
2.39
|
Duty
to Make Inquiry
|
26
|
|
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT AND THE ACQUISITION
SUBSIDIARY |
26
|
|
3.1
|
Organization,
Qualification and Corporate Power
|
26
|
|
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
27
|
|
3.3
|
Authorization
of Transaction
|
27
|
|
3.4
|
Noncontravention
|
28
|
|
3.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
28
|
|
3.6
|
Exchange
Act Reports
|
29
|
|
3.7
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
29
|
|
3.8
|
Financial
Statements
|
30
|
|
3.9
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
30
|
|
3.10
|
Litigation
|
30
|
|
3.11
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
31
|
|
3.12
|
Tax
Matters
|
31
|
|
3.13
|
Assets
|
32
|
|
3.14
|
Owned
Real Property
|
32
|
|
3.15
|
Real
Property Leases
|
32
|
|
3.16
|
Contracts
|
33
|
|
3.17
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
34
|
|
3.18
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
34
|
|
3.19
|
Insurance
|
34
|
|
3.20
|
Warranties
|
35
|
|
3.21
|
Employees
|
35
|
|
3.22
|
Employee
Benefits
|
35
|
|
3.23
|
Environmental
Matters
|
37
|
|
3.24
|
Permits
|
38
|
|
3.25
|
Certain
Business Relationships with Affiliates
|
38
|
|
3.26
|
Tax-Free
Reorganization
|
38
|
|
3.27
|
Split-Off
|
39
|
|
3.28
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
39
|
|
3.29
|
Disclosure
|
39
|
|
3.30
|
Interested
Party Transactions
|
40
|
|
3.31
|
Duty
to Make Inquiry
|
40
|
|
3.32
|
Accountants
|
40
|
|
3.33
|
Minute
Books
|
40
|
|
3.34
|
Board
Action
|
41
|
|
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS |
41
|
|
4.1
|
Closing
Efforts
|
41
|
|
4.2
|
Governmental
and Thirty Party Notices and Consents
|
41
|
|
4.3
|
Current
Report
|
41
|
|
4.4
|
Operation
of Company Business
|
41
|
|
4.5
|
Access
to Company Information
|
43
|
|
4.6
|
Operation
of Parent Business
|
43
|
|
4.7
|
Access
to Parent Information
|
45
|
|
4.8
|
Expenses
|
45
|
|
4.9
|
Indemnification
|
45
|
|
4.10
|
Listing
of Merger Shares
|
46
|
|
4.11
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
46
|
|
4.12
|
Name
Change
|
46
|
|
4.13
|
Split-Off
|
46
|
|
4.14
|
Stock
Option Plan
|
46
|
|
4.15
|
Parent
Board; Amendment of Charter Documents
|
46
|
|
4.16
|
Information
Provided to Company Stockholders
|
46
|
|
4.17
|
No
Registration
|
47
|
|
4.18
|
No
Shorting
|
47
|
|
4.19
|
No
Organic Changes
|
47
|
|
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF MERGER |
47
|
|
5.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligations
|
47
|
|
5.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of the Parent and the Acquisition
Subsidiary
|
48
|
|
5.3
|
Conditions
to Obligations of the Company
|
49
|
|
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION |
50
|
|
6.1
|
Indemnification
by the Company Stockholders
|
50
|
|
6.2
|
Indemnification
by the Parent
|
51
|
|
6.3
|
Indemnification
Claims by the Parent
|
51
|
|
6.4
|
Survival
of Representations and Warranties
|
54
|
|
6.5
|
Limitations
on Parent’s Claims for Indemnification
|
54
|
|
ARTICLE VII
DEFINITIONS |
55
|
| ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION |
58
|
|
8.1
|
Termination
by Mutual Agreement
|
58
|
|
8.2
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
58
|
|
8.3
|
Termination
by Operation of Law
|
58
|
|
8.4
|
Termination
for Failure to Perform Covenants or Conditions
|
58
|
|
8.5
|
Effect
of Termination or Default; Remedies
|
58
|
|
8.6
|
Remedies;
Specific Performance
|
58
|
|
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS |
59
|
|
9.1
|
Press
Releases and Announcements
|
59
|
|
9.2
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
59
|
|
9.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
59
|
|
9.4
|
Succession
and Assignment
|
59
|
|
9.5
|
Counterparts
and Facsimile Signature
|
59
|
|
9.6
|
Headings
|
60
|
|
9.7
|
Notices
|
60
|
|
9.8
|
Governing
Law
|
60
|
|
9.9
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
60
|
|
9.10
|
Severability
|
61
|
|
9.11
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction
|
61
|
|
9.12
|
Construction
|
61
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A Form
of Split-Off Agreement
Exhibit
B Form
of Escrow Agreement
Exhibit
C Signatories
to Lock-Up Agreements
Exhibit
D Opinion
of Counsel to the Company
Exhibit
E Opinion
of Counsel to the Parent and the Acquisition
Subsidiary
Exhibit
F Form
of IR Shares Escrow Agreement
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION (this
“Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2008, by and among
Kentucky USA Energy, Inc. (formerly known as Las Rocas Mining
Corp.), a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), KY
Acquisition Corp., a Kentucky corporation (the “Acquisition
Subsidiary”), and KY USA Energy, Inc., a Kentucky corporation
(the “Company”). The Parent, the Acquisition
Subsidiary and the Company are each a “Party” and
referred to collectively herein as the
“Parties.”
WHEREAS,
this Agreement contemplates a merger of the Acquisition
Subsidiary with and into the Company, with the Company
remaining as the surviving entity after the merger (the
“Merger”), whereby the stockholders of the Company
will receive common stock of the Parent in exchange for their
capital stock of the Company;
WHEREAS,
prior to the execution of this Agreement, pursuant to the
terms of that certain Promissory Note, dated as of October 5,
2007 and related documents, the Company has borrowed $800,000
(the “Bridge Loan”) from Somerset Recycling,
Inc.;
WHEREAS,
contemporaneously with the closing of the Merger, the Parent
intends to split-off its wholly owned subsidiary, Las Rocas
Leaseco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Leaseco”),
through the sale of all of the outstanding capital stock of
Leaseco (the “Split-Off”) upon the terms and
conditions of a split-off agreement by and among the Parent,
Christopher Greenwood (“Buyer”), the Company and
Leaseco, substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (the “Split-Off Agreement”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and the Company desire
that the Merger qualifies as a “plan of
reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and
not subject the holders of equity securities of the Company to
tax liability under the Code;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties
and covenants herein contained, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto,
intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1
The Merger . Upon and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Acquisition Subsidiary shall
merge with and into the Company at the Effective Time (as defined
below). From and after the Effective Time, the separate
corporate existence of the Acquisition Subsidiary shall cease and
the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation in the
Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”). The
“Effective Time” shall be the time at which the
Articles of Merger (the “Articles of Merger”) and other
appropriate or required documents prepared and executed in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Kentucky Business
Corporation Act (the “BCA”) are filed with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable
provisions of the BCA.
1.2
The Closing . The closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall
take place at the offices of Gottbetter & Partners, LLP in New
York, New York commencing at 10:00 a.m. local time on May 2, 2008,
or, if all of the conditions to the obligations of the Parties to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby have not been
satisfied or waived by such date, on such mutually agreeable later
date as soon as practicable (and in any event not later than three
(3) business days) after the satisfaction or waiver of all
conditions (excluding the delivery of any documents to be delivered
at the Closing by any of the Parties) set forth in Article V hereof
(the “Closing Date”).
1.3
Actions at the Closing . At the
Closing:
(a)
the
Company shall deliver to the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary
the various certificates, instruments and documents referred to in
Section 5.2;
(b)
the
Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary shall deliver to the Company
the various certificates, instruments and documents referred to in
Section 5.3;
(c)
the
Surviving Corporation shall file the Articles of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky;
(d)
each
of the stockholders of record of the Company immediately prior to
the Effective Time (collectively, the “Company
Stockholders”) shall, if requested by the Parent, deliver to
the Parent the certificate(s) representing his, her or its Company
Shares (as defined below);
(e)
the
Parent shall deliver certificates for the Initial Shares (as
defined below) to each Company Stockholder in accordance with
Section 1.5 and shall deliver Parent Warrants (as defined below) to
the applicable holders of Warrants (as defined below), as
contemplated by Section 1.8(d);
(f)
the
Parent shall deliver to the Company (i) evidence that the
Parent’s board of directors is authorized to consist of five
individuals, (ii) the resignations of all individuals who served as
directors and/or officers of the Parent immediately prior to the
Closing Date, (iii) evidence of the appointment of five directors
to serve immediately following the Closing Date, four of whom shall
have been designated by the Company and one of whom shall have been
designated by the Parent, provided that such Parent designee is
reasonably acceptable to the four Company designees, and (v)
evidence of the appointment of such executive officers of the
Parent to serve immediately following the Closing Date as shall
have been designated by the Company; and
(g)
the
Parent, Steven D. Eversole and C.G. Collins (the
“Indemnification Representatives”) and Gottbetter &
Partners, LLP (the “Escrow Agent”) shall execute and
deliver the Escrow Agreement in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the
“Escrow Agreement”), and the Parent shall deliver to
the Escrow Agent a certificate for the Escrow Shares (as defined
below) being placed in escrow on the Closing Date pursuant to
Section 1.9.
(h)
the
Parent and the Escrow Agent shall execute and deliver the IR Shares
Escrow Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
F (the “IR Shares Escrow Agreement”), and the
Parent shall deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate for the IR
Escrow Shares (as defined below) being placed in escrow on the
Closing Date pursuant to Section 1.9.
1.4
Additional Actions . If at any time after the
Effective Time the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be
advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances or
any other acts or things are necessary, desirable or proper (a) to
vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving
Corporation, its right, title or interest in, to or under any of
the rights, privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of
either the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary or (b) otherwise
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the Surviving
Corporation and its proper officers and directors or their
designees shall be authorized (to the fullest extent allowed under
applicable law) to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf
of either the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary, all such
deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and do, in the
name and on behalf of the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary,
all such other acts and things necessary, desirable or proper to
vest, perfect or confirm its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises, properties
or assets of the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary, as
applicable, and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement.
1.5
Conversion of Company Securities . At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of any Party or the holder of any of the following
securities:
(a)
Each
share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company
(“Company Shares”) issued and outstanding, on a
fully-diluted basis, immediately prior to the Effective Time (other
than Company Shares owned beneficially by the Parent or the
Acquisition Subsidiary and Dissenting Shares (as defined below))
shall be converted into and represent the right to receive (subject
to the provisions of Section 1.6) such number of shares of common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Parent (“Parent
Common Stock”) as is equal to the Common Conversion Ratio (as
defined below). An aggregate of 18,000,000 shares of
Parent Common Stock, on a fully-diluted basis, shall be issued to
the security holders of the Company in connection with the
Merger.
(b)
The
“Common Conversion Ratio” shall be obtained by dividing
(i) 18,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock by (ii) the total
number of outstanding Company Shares immediately prior to the
Effective Time on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the
exercise of all outstanding common stock purchase warrants
(“Warrants”), the exercise of all outstanding options
to purchase Company Shares (“Options”) and the
conversion or exercise of all other rights to acquire Company
Shares. The parties agree that the Common Conversion
Ratio shall be 9,000 shares of Parent Common Stock for every one
Company Share. The Company Stockholders
shall be entitled to receive immediately 95% of the
shares of Parent Common Stock into which their Company Shares were
converted pursuant to this Section 1.5 (the “Initial
Shares”) pro rata in accordance with their respective
holdings of Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing; the
remaining 5% of the shares of
Parent Common Stock into which their Company Shares were converted
pursuant to this Section 1.5, rounded to the nearest whole
number (with 0.5 shares rounded upward to the nearest whole number)
(the “Escrow Shares”), shall be deposited in escrow
pursuant to Section 1.9 and shall be held and disposed of in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement and, if and as
released from escrow, will be distributed to the Company
Stockholders pro rata according to their holdings of the Initial
Shares as of the Closing. The Initial Shares and the
Escrow Shares shall together be referred to herein as the
“Merger Shares.”
(c)
Each
issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of the Acquisition Subsidiary shall be converted into one
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation.
1.6
Dissenting Shares .
(a)
For
purposes of this Agreement, “Dissenting Shares” means
Company Shares held as of the Effective Time by a Company
Stockholder who has not voted such Company Shares in favor of the
adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and with respect to which
appraisal shall have been duly demanded and perfected in accordance
with Section 210 of the BCA and not effectively withdrawn or
forfeited prior to the Effective Time. Dissenting Shares
shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive
shares of Parent Common Stock unless such Company
Stockholder’s right to appraisal shall have ceased in
accordance with the BCA. If such Company Stockholder has
so forfeited or withdrawn his, her or its right to appraisal of
Dissenting Shares, then, (i) as of the occurrence of such
event, such holder’s Dissenting Shares shall cease to be
Dissenting Shares and shall be converted into and represent the
right to receive the Merger Shares issuable in respect of such
Company Shares pursuant to Section 1.5, and (ii) promptly
following the occurrence of such event, the Parent shall deliver to
such Company Stockholder a certificate representing 95% of the
Merger Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to
Section 1.5 (which shares shall be considered Initial Shares
for all purposes of this Agreement) and shall deliver to the Escrow
Agent a certificate representing the remaining 5% of the Merger
Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to
Section 1.5 (which shares shall be considered Escrow Shares
for all purposes of this Agreement).
(b)
The
Company shall give the Parent prompt notice of any written demands
for appraisal of any Company Shares, withdrawals of such demands,
and any other instruments that relate to such demands received by
the Company. The Company shall not, except with the
prior written consent of the Parent, make any payment with respect
to any demands for appraisal of Company Shares or offer to settle
or settle any such demands.
1.7
Fractional Shares . No certificates or scrip
representing fractional Initial Shares shall be issued to Company
Stockholders on the surrender for exchange of certificates that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company Shares
converted into Merger Shares pursuant to Section 1.5
(“Certificates”) and such Company Stockholders shall
not be entitled to any voting rights, rights to receive any
dividends or distributions or other rights as a stockholder of the
Parent with respect to any fractional Initial Shares that would
have otherwise been issued to such Company
Stockholders. In lieu of any fractional Initial Shares
that would have otherwise been issued, each former Company
Stockholder that would have been entitled to receive a fractional
Initial Share shall, on proper surrender of such person’s
Certificates, receive such whole number of Initial Shares as is
equal to the precise number of Initial Shares to which such Company
Stockholder would be entitled, rounded up or down to the nearest
whole number (with a fractional interest equal to 0.5 rounded
upward to the nearest whole number); provided that each such
Company Stockholder shall receive at least one Initial
Share.
1.8
Options and Warrants .
(a)
As
of the Effective Time, all Options to purchase Company Shares
issued by the Company, whether vested or unvested, shall be
canceled and exchanged for options to purchase shares of Parent
Common Stock (“Parent Options”) without further action
by the holder thereof. Each Parent Option shall
constitute an option to acquire such number of shares of Parent
Common Stock as is equal to the number of Company Shares subject to
the unexercised portion of the Option multiplied by the Common
Conversion Ratio (with any fraction resulting from such
multiplication to be rounded to the nearest whole number, and with
0.5 shares rounded upward to the nearest whole
number). The exercise price per share of each Parent
Option shall be equal to the exercise price of the Option prior to
conversion divided by the Common Conversion Ratio. On
October 19, 2007, the Parent adopted its 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
(the “Parent Option Plan”).
(b)
As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Parent or the
Surviving Corporation shall take appropriate actions to collect the
Options and the agreements evidencing the Options, which shall be
deemed to be canceled and shall entitle the holder to exchange the
Options for Parent Options in the Parent.
(c)
The
Company shall cause the termination, as of the Effective Time, of
any and all outstanding Warrants to purchase capital stock of the
Company which remain unexercised and the Parent shall, at Closing,
issue new warrants (the “Parent Warrants”) in
substitution for the Warrants, on substantially the same terms and
conditions of the Warrants, but reflecting the Common Conversion
Ratio.
(d)
The
Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for
issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for
delivery upon exercise of (i) the Parent Options to be issued for
the Options and (ii) the Parent Warrants to be issued for the
Warrants, in accordance with this Section 1.8.
1.9
Escrow . On the Closing Date, the Parent shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent certificates (issued in the name of the
Escrow Agent or its nominee) representing (i) the Escrow Shares, as
described in Section 1.5, for the purpose of securing the
indemnification obligations of the Company Stockholders set forth
in this Agreement and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the
“IR Escrow Shares”) to be issued to consultants
providing public and investor relations services to the
Company. The Escrow Shares and the IR Escrow Shares
shall be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement
and the IR Shares Escrow Agreement, respectively. The
Escrow Shares and the IR Escrow Shares shall be held as a trust
fund and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee
process or any other judicial process of any creditor of any Party,
and shall be held and disbursed solely for the purposes and in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement and the IR Shares
Escrow Agreement, respectively.
1.10
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
.
(a)
The
certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended or
repealed.
(b)
The
bylaws of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until duly
amended or repealed.
1.11
No Further Rights . From and after the Effective
Time, no Company Shares shall be deemed to be outstanding, and
holders of Certificates shall cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except as provided herein or by law.
1.12
Closing of Transfer Books . At the Effective
Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and
no transfer of Company Shares shall thereafter be
made. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are
presented to the Parent or the Surviving Corporation, they shall be
cancelled and exchanged for Merger Shares in accordance with
Section 1.5, subject to Section 1.9 and to applicable law
in the case of Dissenting Shares.
1.13
Post-Closing Adjustment . In the event that,
during the period commencing from the Closing Date and ending on
the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Parent or the
Surviving Corporation incurs any Loss (as defined below) with
respect to, in connection with, or arising from any Parent
Liabilities (as defined below), then promptly following the filing
by the Parent with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) of a quarterly report relating to the most
recent completed quarter for which such determination has been
made, the Parent shall issue to the Company Stockholders and/or
their designees such number of shares of Parent Common Stock as
would result from dividing (x) the whole dollar amount representing
such Losses by (y) the average of the closing bid prices of the
Common Stock during the 30 trading days immediately prior to the
Closing Date, rounded to the nearest whole number (with 0.5 shares
rounded upwards to the nearest whole number). The limit
on the aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
under this Section 1.13 shall be 2,000,000 shares. As
used in this Section 1.13: (a) “Loss” shall mean any
and all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’
fees, court costs, reasonable accountants’ fees, and damages
and losses, net of any insurance proceeds actually received by the
Party suffering the Loss with respect thereto; (b)
“Claims” shall include, but are not limited to, any
claim, notice, suit, action, investigation or other proceedings
(whether actual or threatened); and (c) “Parent
Liabilities” shall mean all Claims against and liabilities,
obligations or indebtedness of any nature whatsoever of Leaseco,
whenever accruing, and of the Parent and the Acquisition
Subsidiary, accruing on or before the Closing Date (whether
primary, secondary, direct, indirect, liquidated, unliquidated or
contingent, matured or unmatured), including, but not limited to
(i) any breach by the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary of any
of their respective representations or warranties set forth in
Article III herein, (ii) any litigation threatened, pending or for
which a basis exists against the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary
(as defined in this Agreement); (iii) any and all outstanding debts
owed by the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary; (iv) any and all
internal or employee related disputes, arbitrations or
administrative proceedings threatened, pending or otherwise
outstanding; (v) any and all liens, foreclosures, settlements, or
other threatened, pending or otherwise outstanding financial, legal
or similar obligations of the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary; (vi)
any and all Taxes (as defined below) for which the Parent or any of
its direct or indirect assets may be liable or subject, for any
taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing
Date, including, without limitation, any and all Taxes resulting
from or attributable to the Parent’s ownership or operation
of Leaseco’s assets; (vii) any and all Taxes for which the
Parent or its direct or indirect assets may be liable or subject
(including, without limitation, the interests and assets of the
Surviving Corporation and any Parent Subsidiary) as a consequence
of the Parent’s acquisition, formation, capitalization,
ownership, and Split-Off of Leaseco, whether related to a taxable
period (or portion thereof) ending on or after the Closing Date;
and (viii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
effecting the adjustments contemplated by this Section 1.13, as
such Parent Liabilities are determined by the Parent’s
independent auditors, on a quarterly basis. Any shares
of Parent Common Stock that are issued under this Section 1.13
shall be issued to the Company Shareholders pro rata according to
their respective holdings of the Initial Shares as of the
Closing.
1.14
Exemption from Registration . The Parent and the
Company intend that the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to Section 1.5 hereof or upon exercise of Parent
Options and Parent Warrants, if applicable, granted pursuant to
Section 1.8 hereof or upon the provisions of Section 1.13 hereof,
in each case in connection with the Merger, will be issued in a
transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), by reason of
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, Rule 506 of Regulation D
promulgated by the SEC thereunder and/or Regulation S promulgated
by the SEC.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The
Company represents and warrants to the Parent that the
statements contained in this Article II are true and
correct, except as set forth in the disclosure schedule
provided by the Company to the Parent on the date hereof and
accepted in writing by the Parent (the “Disclosure
Schedule”). The Disclosure Schedule shall be
arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and
lettered paragraphs contained in this
Article II. The inclusion of any item on the
Disclosure Schedule shall constitute disclosure for all
purposes under this Agreement, and shall not be construed as
an indication of the materiality or lack thereof of such
item.
2.1
Organization, Qualification and Corporate Power
. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in corporate and tax good standing under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Company is duly
qualified to conduct business and is in corporate and tax good
standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the nature of
its businesses or the ownership or leasing of its properties
requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate,
has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). The Company
has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on the
businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties
owned and used by it. The Company has furnished or made
available to the Parent complete and accurate copies of its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The Company is
not in default under or in violation of any provision of its
certificate of incorporation, as amended to date, or its bylaws, as
amended to date. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means a material
adverse effect on the assets, business, financial condition, or
results of operations or future prospects of the Company taken as a
whole.
2.2
Capitalization . The authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 2,000 shares of common stock and no shares
of preferred stock. As of the date of this Agreement,
2,000 Company Shares were issued and outstanding and no preferred
shares were issued and outstanding, and no Company Shares or
preferred shares were held in the treasury of the
Company. As of the date of this Agreement, there were no
issued and outstanding Options or Warrants to purchase Company
Shares. Section 2.2 of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and accurate list of (i) all stockholders of
the Company, indicating the number and class of Company Shares held
by each stockholder, and (ii) all stock option plans and other
stock or equity-related plans of the Company. All of the
issued and outstanding Company Shares are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of all preemptive
rights. There are no outstanding or authorized options,
warrants, rights, agreements or commitments to which the Company is
a party or which are binding upon the Company providing for the
issuance or redemption of any of its capital
stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the
Company. Other than as listed in Section 2.2 of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements to which the Company
is a party or by which it is bound with respect to the voting
(including without limitation voting trusts or proxies),
registration under the Securities Act, or sale or transfer
(including without limitation agreements relating to pre-emptive
rights, rights of first refusal, co-sale rights or
“drag-along” rights) of any securities of the
Company. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no
agreements among other parties, to which the Company is a party and
by which it is bound, with respect to the voting (including without
limitation voting trusts or proxies) or sale or transfer (including
without limitation agreements relating to rights of first refusal,
co-sale rights or “drag-along” rights) of any
securities of the Company. All of the issued and
outstanding Company Shares were issued in compliance with
applicable federal and state securities laws.
2.3
Authorization of Transaction . The Company has
all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and,
subject to the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger by no less than a majority of the votes represented by the
outstanding Company Shares entitled to vote on this Agreement and
the Merger (the “Stockholder Approval”), the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the board of directors of the Company
(i) determined that the Merger is fair and in the best
interests of the Company and the Company Stockholders,
(ii) adopted this Agreement in accordance with the provisions
of the BCA, and (iii) directed that this Agreement and the
Merger be submitted to the Company Stockholders for their adoption
and approval and resolved to recommend that the Company
Stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and
the approval of the Merger. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.
2.4
Noncontravention . Subject to receipt of
Stockholder Approval and the filing of the Articles of Merger as
required by the BCA, neither the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement, nor the consummation by the Company of
the transactions contemplated hereby, will (a) conflict with
or violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws of the Company, as amended to date, (b) require on the
part of the Company any filing with, or any permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any court, arbitrational tribunal,
administrative agency or commission or other governmental or
regulatory authority or agency (a “Governmental
Entity”), except for such permits, authorizations, consents
and approvals for which the Company is obligated to use its
Reasonable Best Efforts (as defined below) to obtain pursuant to
Section 4.2(a), (c) conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under, result in the acceleration of obligations under,
create in any party the right to terminate, modify or cancel, or
require any notice, consent or waiver under, any contract or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
is bound or to which any of its assets is subject, except for (i)
any conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination,
modification or cancellation in any contract or instrument set
forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, for which the
Company is obligated to use its Reasonable Best Efforts to obtain
waiver, consent or approval pursuant to Section 4.2(b),
(ii) any conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination,
modification or cancellation which would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
(iii) any notice, consent or waiver the absence of which would
not have a Company Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely
affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
(d) result in the imposition of any Security Interest (as
defined below) upon any assets of the Company or (e) violate
any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company or any of its properties or
assets. For purposes of this Agreement: “Security
Interest” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
encumbrance, charge or other lien (whether arising by contract or
by operation of law), other than (i) mechanic’s,
materialmen’s, and similar liens, (ii) liens arising
under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social
security, retirement, and similar legislation, and (iii) liens
on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of
credit, in each case arising in the Ordinary Course of Business (as
defined below) of the Company and not material to the Company; and
“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course
of the Company’s business, consistent with past custom and
practice (including with respect to frequency and
amount).
2.5
Subsidiaries .
(a)
The
Company has no Company Subsidiaries. For purposes of
this Agreement, a “Subsidiary” shall mean any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which a
Party has, directly or indirectly, an equity interest representing
50% or more of the equity securities thereof or other equity
interests therein; a “Company Subsidiary” is a
Subsidiary of the Company.
(b)
[Intentionally
Omitted]
(c)
Except
as set forth in Section 2.5(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
Company does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct
or indirect equity participation or similar interest in any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
trust or other business association which is not a Company
Subsidiary.
2.6
Financial Statements . The Company has provided
or made available to the Parent the audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Company (the “Company Balance Sheet”) at
October 31, 2007 (the “Company Balance Sheet Date”),
and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash
flows for the period from October 5, 2007 (date of inception)
through October 31, 2007 (the “Company Financial
Statements”). The Company Financial Statements
have been prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the respective
dates thereof and for the periods referred to therein, comply as to
form with the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC for
inclusion of such Company Financial Statements in the
Parent’s filings with the SEC as required by the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
and are consistent in all material respects with the books and
records of the Company.
2.7
Absence of Certain Changes . Since the Company
Balance Sheet Date, and except for the indebtedness incurred in
connection with the Bridge Loan or as set forth in Section 2.7 of
the Disclosure Schedule, (a) to the knowledge of the
Company, there has not occurred any event or development
which, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or could
reasonably be expected to have in the future, a Company Material
Adverse Effect, and (b) the Company has not taken any of the
actions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (m) of
Section 4.4.
2.8
Undisclosed Liabilities . The Company does not
have any liability (whether known or unknown, whether absolute or
contingent, whether liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or
to become due), except for (a) liabilities shown on the
Company Balance Sheet referred to in Section 2.6,
(b) liabilities which have arisen since the Company Balance
Sheet Date in the Ordinary Course of Business and
(c) contractual and other liabilities incurred in the Ordinary
Course of Business which are not required by GAAP to be reflected
on a balance sheet.
2.9
Tax Matters .
(a)
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i)
“Taxes”
means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments
or liabilities, including without limitation income, gross
receipts, ad valorem, premium, value-added, excise, real property,
personal property, sales, use, transfer, withholding, employment,
unemployment insurance, social security, business license, business
organization, environmental, workers compensation, payroll,
profits, license, lease, service, service use, severance, stamp,
occupation, windfall profits, customs, duties, franchise and other
taxes imposed by the United States of America or any state, local
or foreign government, or any agency thereof, or other political
subdivision of the United States or any such government, and any
interest, fines, penalties, assessments or additions to tax
resulting from, attributable to or incurred in connection with any
tax or any contest or dispute thereof.
(ii)
“Tax
Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements
or other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority
in connection with the Taxes.
(b)
Except
as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
has filed on a timely basis all Tax Returns that it was required to
file, and all such Tax Returns were complete and accurate in all
material respects. The Company is not and has never been
a member of a group of corporations with which it has filed (or
been required to file) consolidated, combined or unitary Tax
Returns, other than a group of which only the Company is or was a
member. The Company has paid on a timely basis all Taxes
that were due and payable. The unpaid Taxes of the
Company for tax periods through the Company Balance Sheet Date do
not exceed the accruals and reserves for Taxes (excluding accruals
and reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing
differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Company
Balance Sheet. The Company does not have any actual or
potential liability for any Tax obligation of any taxpayer
(including without limitation any affiliated group of corporations
or other entities that included the Company during a prior period)
other than the Company. All Taxes that the Company is or
was required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld
or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the
proper Governmental Entity.
(c)
Except
as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
has delivered or made available to the Parent complete and accurate
copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports and
statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the
Company since the date of the Company’s incorporation in
Kentucky (the “Organization Date”). No
examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company by any
Governmental Entity is currently in progress or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened or contemplated. The Company
has not been informed by any jurisdiction that the jurisdiction
believes that the Company was required to file any Tax Return that
was not filed. The Company has not waived any statute of
limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to an extension of time
with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(d)
The
Company: (i) has not been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the
Code during the applicable period specified in
Section 897(c)(l)(A)(ii) of the Code; (ii) has not made
any payments, is not obligated to make any payments, or is not a
party to any agreement that could obligate it to make any payments
that may be treated as an “excess parachute payment”
under Section 280G of the Code; (iii) does not have any
actual or potential liability for any Taxes of any person (other
than the Company) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of federal, state, local or foreign law),
or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise; or
(iv) is not and has not been required to make a basis
reduction pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-20(b)
or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-2(b).
(e)
None
of the assets of the Company: (i) is property that is required
to be treated as being owned by any other person pursuant to the
provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Code;
(ii) is “tax-exempt use property” within the
meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code; or (iii) directly
or indirectly secures any debt the interest on which is tax exempt
under Section 103(a) of the Code.
(f)
The
Company has not undergone a change in its method of accounting
resulting in an adjustment to its taxable income pursuant to
Section 481 of the Code.
(g)
No
state or federal “net operating loss” of the Company
determined as of the Closing Date is subject to limitation on its
use pursuant to Section 382 of the Code or comparable
provisions of state law as a result of any “ownership
change” within the meaning of Section 382(g) of the Code
or comparable provisions of any state law occurring prior to the
Closing Date.
2.10
Assets . The Company owns or leases all tangible
assets reasonably necessary for the conduct of its businesses as
presently conducted and as presently proposed to be
conducted. Except as set forth in Section 2.10 of the
Disclosure Schedule, each such tangible asset is free from material
defects, has been maintained in accordance with normal industry
practice, is in good operating condition and repair (subject to
normal wear and tear) and is suitable for the purposes for which it
presently is used. Except as set forth in Section 2.10
of the Disclosure Schedule, no asset of the Company (tangible or
intangible) is subject to any Security Interest.
2.11
Owned Real Property . The Company does not own
any real property.
2.12
Real Property Leases . Section 2.12 of the
Disclosure Schedule lists all real property leased or subleased to
or by the Company and lists the term of such lease, any extension
and expansion options, and the rent payable
thereunder. The Company has delivered or made available
to the Parent complete and accurate copies of the leases and
subleases listed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each lease and sublease listed
in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(a)
the
lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full
force and effect;
(b)
the
lease or sublease will continue to be legal, valid, binding,
enforceable and in full force and effect immediately following the
Closing in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect
immediately prior to the Closing;
(c)
neither
the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party
is in breach or violation of, or default under, any such lease or
sublease, and no event has occurred, is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, is threatened, which, after the giving of
notice, with lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute a breach
or default by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any
other party under such lease or sublease;
(d)
the
Company has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded
in trust or encumbered any interest in the leasehold or
subleasehold; and
(e)
to
the knowledge of the Company, there is no Security Interest,
easement, covenant or other restriction applicable to the real
property subject to such lease, except for recorded easements,
covenants and other restrictions which do not materially impair the
current uses or the occupancy by the Company of the property
subject thereto.
2.13
Contracts .
(a)
Section
2.13 of the Disclosure Schedule lists the following agreements
(written or oral) to which the Company is a party as of the date of
this Agreement:
(i)
any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of
personal property from or to third parties providing for lease
payments in excess of $25,000 per annum or having a remaining term
longer than 12 months;
(ii)
any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the purchase or sale
of products or for the furnishing or receipt of services
(A) which calls for performance over a period of more than one
year, (B) which involves more than the sum of $25,000, or
(C) in which the Company has granted manufacturing rights,
“most favored nation” pricing provisions or exclusive
marketing or distribution rights relating to any products or
territory or has agreed to purchase a minimum quantity of goods or
services or has agreed to purchase goods or services exclusively
from a certain party;
(iii)
any
agreement which, to the knowledge of the Company, establishes a
partnership or joint venture;
(iv)
any
agreement (or group of related agreements) under which it has
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed (or may create, incur,
assume or guarantee) indebtedness (including capitalized lease
obligations) involving more than $25,000 or under which it has
imposed (or may impose) a Security Interest on any of its assets,
tangible or intangible;
(v)
any
agreement concerning confidentiality or
noncompetition;
(vi)
any
employment or consulting agreement;
(vii)
any
agreement involving any officer, director or stockholder of the
Company or any affiliate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the
Exchange Act) thereof (an “Affiliate”);
(viii)
any
agreement or commitment for capital expenditures in excess of
$25,000, for a single project (it being represented and warranted
that the liability under all undisclosed agreements and commitments
for capital expenditures does not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate
for all projects);
(ix)
any
agreement (A) for the sale of oil or other liquid hydrocarbons or
minerals produced or to be produced from the Interests (as defined
below) that is not terminable by the Company or its successors
without penalty on more than 90 days’ notice or (B) for the
sale of gas produced or to be produced from the Interests that has
a term exceeding one year that warrants the amount of gas to be
delivered or has a pricing provision not based on current market
value;
(x)
any
advance payment agreement or any oil and gas balancing agreement,
or any group of related agreements of such type, under which the
Company has a net obligation, as of the most recent date available,
which shall be no more than 90 days prior to the date hereof, in
excess of $25,000 in cash or market value in oil or
gas;
(xi)
any
agreement under which the consequences of a default or termination
would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;
(xii)
any
agreement which contains any provisions requiring the Company to
indemnify any other party thereto (excluding indemnities contained
in agreements for the purchase, sale or license of products entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business);
(xiii)
any
other agreement (or group of related agreements) either involving
more than $25,000 or not entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business; and
(xiv)
any
agreement, other than as contemplated by this Agreement, relating
to the sales of securities of the Company to which the Company is a
party.
(b)
The
Company has delivered or made available to the Parent a complete
and accurate copy of each agreement listed in Section 2.13 of
the Disclosure Schedule. With respect to each agreement
so listed, and except as set forth in Section 2.13 of the
Disclosure Schedule: (i) the agreement is legal,
valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect;
(ii) the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding
and enforceable and in full force and effect immediately following
the Closing in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect
immediately prior to the Closing; and (iii) neither the
Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party, is
in breach or violation of, or default under, any such agreement,
and no event has occurred, is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, is threatened, which, after the giving of notice, with
lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute a material breach or
default by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any
other party under such contract.
2.14
Accounts Receivable . All accounts receivable of
the Company reflected on the Company Balance Sheet are valid
receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims and are current
and collectible (within 90 days after the date on which it first
became due and payable), net of the applicable reserve for bad
debts on the Company Balance Sheet. All accounts
receivable reflected in the financial or accounting records of the
Company that have arisen since the Company Balance Sheet Date are
valid receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims and are
collectible (within 90 days after the date on which it first became
due and payable), net of a reserve for bad debts in an amount
proportionate to the reserve shown on the Company Balance
Sheet.
2.15
Powers of Attorney . Except as set forth in
Section 2.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding
powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Company.
2.16
Insurance . Section 2.16 of the Disclosure
Schedule lists each insurance policy (including fire, theft,
casualty, general liability, workers compensation, business
interruption, environmental, product liability and automobile
insurance policies and bond and surety arrangements) to which the
Company is a party. Such insurance policies are of the
type and in amounts customarily carried by organizations conducting
businesses or owning assets similar to those of the
Company. There is no material claim pending under any
such policy as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or
disputed by the underwriter of such policy. All premiums
due and payable under all such policies have been paid, the Company
is not liable for retroactive premiums or similar payments, and the
Company is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with
the terms of such policies. The Company does not have
any knowledge of any threatened termination of, or material premium
increase with respect to, any such policy. Each such
policy will continue to be enforceable and in full force and effect
immediately following the Effective Time in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
2.17
Litigation . As of the date
of this Agreement, there is no action, suit, proceeding, claim,
arbitration or investigation before any Governmental Entity or
before any arbitrator (a “Legal Proceeding”) which is
pending or has been threatened in a writing received by the Company
against the Company which (a) seeks either damages in excess of
$10,000 individually, or $25,000 in the aggregate, or (b) if
determined adversely to the Company, could have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.18
Employees .
(a)
Section
2.18 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all employees of
the Company whose annual rate of compensation exceeds $100,000
per
year, along with the position and the annual rate of compensation
of each such person. Section 2.18 of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a list of all employees of the Company who are a
party to a non-competition agreement with the Company; copies of
such agreements have previously been delivered to the
Parent. To the knowledge of the Company, no key employee
or group of employees has any plans to terminate employment with
the Company.
(b)
The
Company is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement, and does not have experienced any strikes, grievances,
claims of unfair labor practices or other collective bargaining
disputes. To the knowledge of the Company, no
organizational effort has been made or threatened, either currently
or within the past two years, by or on behalf of any labor union
with respect to employees of the Company. To the
knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances or facts which
could individually or collectively give rise to a suit based on
discrimination of any kind.
2.19
Employee Benefits .
(a)
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i)
“Employee
Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit
plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any
“employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other written or oral plan,
agreement or arrangement involving direct or indirect compensation,
including without limitation insurance coverage, severance
benefits, disability benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses,
stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation or
other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement
compensation.
(ii)
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
(iii)
“ERISA
Affiliate” means any entity which is, or at any applicable
time was, a member of (1) a controlled group of corporations
(as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (2) a group
of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in
Section 414(c) of the Code), or (3) an affiliated service
group (as defined under Section 414(m) of the Code or the
regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which
includes or included the Company.
(b)
Section 2.19(b)
of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of
all Employee Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate (collectively, the “Company
Plans”). Complete and accurate copies of
(i) all Company Plans which have been reduced to writing,
(ii) written summaries of all unwritten Company Plans,
(iii) all related trust agreements, insurance contracts and
summary plan descriptions, and (iv) all annual reports filed
on IRS Form 5500, 5500C or 5500R and (for all funded plans) all
plan financial statements for the last five plan years for each
Company Plan, have been delivered or made available to the
Parent. Each Company Plan has been administered in all
material respects in accordance with its terms and each of the
Company and the ERISA Affiliates has in all material respects met
its obligations with respect to such Company Plan and has made all
required contributions thereto. The Company, each ERISA
Affiliate and each Company Plan are in compliance in all material
respects with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Code and the regulations thereunder (including without limitation
Section 4980B of the Code, Subtitle K, Chapter 100 of the
Code and Sections 601 through 608 and Section 701 et seq.
of ERISA). All filings and reports as to each Company
Plan required to have been submitted to the Internal Revenue
Service or to the United States Department of Labor have been duly
submitted.
(c)
To
the knowledge of the Company, there are no Legal Proceedings
(except claims for benefits payable in the normal operation of the
Company Plans and proceedings with respect to qualified domestic
relations orders) against or involving any Company Plan or
asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Company Plan
that could give rise to any material liability.
(d)
All
the Company Plans that are intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code have received determination letters
from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such Company
Plans are qualified and the plans and the trusts related thereto
are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and
501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such determination letter has
been revoked and revocation has not been threatened, and no such
Company Plan has been amended since the date of its most recent
determination letter or application therefor in any respect, and no
act or omission has occurred, that would adversely affect its
qualification or materially increase its cost. Each
Company Plan which is required to satisfy Section 401(k)(3) or
Section 401(m)(2) of the Code has been tested for compliance
with, and satisfies the requirements of, Section 401(k)(3) and
Section 401(m)(2) of the Code for each plan year ending prior
to the Closing Date.
(e)
Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained an Employee
Benefit Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of
ERISA.
(f)
At
no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate been obligated to
contribute to any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
(g)
There
are no unfunded obligations under any Company Plan providing
benefits after termination of employment to any employee of the
Company (or to any beneficiary of any such employee), including but
not limited to retiree health coverage and deferred compensation,
but excluding continuation of health coverage required to be
continued under Section 4980B of the Code or other applicable
law and insurance conversion privileges under state
law. The assets of each Company Plan which is funded are
reported at their fair market value on the books and records of
such Company Plan.
(h)
No
act or omission has occurred and no condition exists with respect
to any Company Plan maintained by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate that would subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to
(i) any material fine, penalty, tax or liability of any kind
imposed under ERISA or the Code or (ii) any contractual
indemnification or contribution obligation protecting any
fiduciary, insurer or service provider with respect to any Company
Plan.
(i)
No
Company Plan is funded by, associated with or related to a
“voluntary employee’s beneficiary association”
within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the
Code.
(j)
Each
Company Plan is amendable and terminable unilaterally by the
Company at any time without liability to the Company as a result
thereof and no Company Plan, plan documentation or agreement,
summary plan description or other written communication distributed
generally to employees by its terms prohibits the Company from
amending or terminating any such Company Plan.
(k)
Section
2.19(k) of the Disclosure Schedule discloses each:
(i) agreement with any stockholder, director, executive
officer or other key employee of the Company (A) the benefits
of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially
altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company
of the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (B) providing any term of employment or
compensation guarantee or (C) providing severance benefits or
other benefits after the termination of employment of such
director, executive officer or key employee; (ii) agreement,
plan or arrangement under which any person may receive payments
from the Company that may be subject to the tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code or included in the determination of
such person’s “parachute payment” under
Section 280G of the Code; and (iii) agreement or plan
binding the Company, including without limitation any stock option
plan, stock appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock
purchase plan, severance benefit plan or Company Plan, any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits
of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of
the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
accruals for vacation, sickness and disability expenses are
accounted for on the Company Balance Sheet and are adequate and
materially reflect the expenses associated therewith in accordance
with GAAP.
2.20
Environmental Matters .
(a)
The
Company has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws (as
defined below), except for violations of Environmental Laws that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened civil or criminal litigation, written notice of
violation, formal administrative proceeding, or investigation,
inquiry or information request by any Governmental Entity, relating
to any Environmental Law involving the Company, except for
litigation, notices of violations, formal administrative
proceedings or investigations, inquiries or information requests
that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Environmental Law” means any federal, state or local
law, statute, rule or regulation or the common law relating to the
environment, including without limitation any statute, regulation,
administrative decision or order pertaining to (i) treatment,
storage, disposal, generation and transportation of industrial,
toxic or hazardous materials or substances or solid or hazardous
waste; (ii) air, water and noise pollution;
(iii) groundwater and soil contamination; (iv) the
release or threatened release into the environment of industrial,
toxic or hazardous materials or substances, or solid or hazardous
waste, including without limitation emissions, discharges,
injections, spills, escapes or dumping of pollutants, contaminants
or chemicals; (v) the protection of wild life, marine life and
wetlands, including without limitation all endangered and
threatened species; (vi) storage tanks, vessels, containers,
abandoned or discarded barrels, and other closed receptacles;
(vii) health and safety of employees and other persons; and
(viii) manufacturing, processing, using, distributing,
treating, storing, disposing, transporting or handling of materials
regulated under any law as pollutants, contaminants, toxic or
hazardous materials or substances or oil or petroleum products or
solid or hazardous waste. As used above, the terms
“release” and “environment” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
(“CERCLA”).
(b)
Set
forth in Section 2.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedule is a list
of all documents (whether in hard copy or electronic form) that
contain any environmental reports, investigations and audits
relating to premises currently or previously owned or operated by
the Company (whether conducted by or on behalf of the Company, and
whether done at the initiative of the Company or directed by a
Governmental Entity) which were issued or conducted during the past
five years and which the Company has possession of or access
to. A complete and accurate copy of each such document
has been provided to the Parent.
(c)
To
the knowledge of the Company, there is no material environmental
liability with respect to any solid or hazardous waste transporter
or treatment, storage or disposal facility that has been used by
the Company.
2.21
Legal Compliance . The Company, and the conduct
and operations of its business, is in compliance with each
applicable law (including rules and regulations thereunder) of any
federal, state, local or foreign government, or any Governmental
Entity, except for any violations or defaults that, individually or
in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.22
[Intentionally
Omitted]
2.23
Permits . Section 2.23 of the Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a list of all material permits, licenses, registrations,
certificates, orders or approvals from any Governmental Entity
(including without limitation those issued or required under
Environmental Laws and those relating to the occupancy or use of
owned or leased real property) (“Permits”) issued to or
held by the Company. Such listed Permits are the only
material Permits that are required for the Company to conduct its
business as presently conducted except for those the absence of
which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Each such Permit is in full force and effect
and, to the knowledge of the Company, no suspension or cancellation
of such Permit is threatened and, to the knowledge of the Company,
there is no reasonable basis for believing that such Permit will
not be renewable upon expiration. Each such Permit, to
the knowledge of the Company, will continue in full force and
effect immediately following the Closing.
2.24
Certain Business Relationships with Affiliates
. Except as listed in Section 2.24 of the Disclosure
Schedule, no Affiliate of the Company (a) owns any material
property or right, tangible or intangible, which is used in the
business of the Company, (b) has any claim or cause of action
against the Company, or (c) owes any money to, or is owed any
money by, the Company. Section 2.24 of the
Disclosure Schedule describes any transactions involving the
receipt or payment in excess of $25,000 in any fiscal year between
the Company and any Affiliate of the Company thereof which have
occurred or existed since the Organization Date, other than
employment agreements.
2.25
Brokers’ Fees . The Company does not have
any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any
broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except as listed in Section 2.25 of
the Disclosure Schedule.
2.26
Books and Records . The minute books and other
similar records of the Company contain complete and accurate
records in all material respects of all actions taken at any
meetings of the Company’s stockholders, board of directors or
any committees thereof and of all written consents executed in lieu
of the holding of any such meetings.
2.27
Intellectual Property .
(a)
The
Company owns, is licensed or otherwise possesses legally
enforceable rights to use, license and exploit all issued patents,
copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets,
and registered domain names and all applications for registration
therefor (collectively, the “Intellectual Property
Rights”) and all computer programs and other computer
software, databases, know-how, proprietary technology, formulae,
and development tools, together with all goodwill related to any of
the foregoing (collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”), in each case as is necessary to conduct their
respective businesses as presently conducted, the absence of which
would be considered reasonably likely to result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b)
Section
2.27(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to all
issued patents and all registered copyrights, trademarks, service
marks and domain names registered with any Governmental Entity by
the Company or for which an application for registration has been
filed with any Governmental Entity by the Company, (i) the
registration or application number, the date filed and the title,
if applicable, of the registration or application and (ii) the
names of the jurisdictions covered by the applicable registration
or application. Section 2.27(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule identifies each agreement currently in effect containing
any ongoing royalty or payment obligations of the Company in excess
of $25,000 per annum with respect to Intellectual Property Rights
and Intellectual Property that are licensed or otherwise made
available to the Company.
(c)
Except
as set forth on Section 2.27(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, all
Intellectual Property Rights of the Company that have been
registered with any Governmental Entity are valid and subsisting,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. As of the Effective Date, in connection
with such registered Intellectual Property Rights, all necessary
registration, maintenance and renewal fees will have been paid and
all necessary documents and certificates will have been filed with
the relevant Governmental Entities.
(d)
The
Company is not, and will not as a result of the consummation of the
Merger or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement be, in
breach in any material respect of any license, sublicense or other
agreement relating to the Intellectual Property Rights of the
Company, or any licenses, sublicenses or other agreements as to
which the Company is a party and pursuant to which the Company uses
any patents, copyrights (including software), trademarks or other
intellectual property rights of or owned by third parties (the
“Third Party Intellectual Property Rights”), the breach
of which would be reasonably likely to result in a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
(e)
Except
as set forth on Section 2.27(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, the
Company has not been named as a defendant in any suit, action or
proceeding which involves a claim of infringement or
misappropriation of any Third Party Intellectual Property Right and
the Company has not received any written notice of any actual or
alleged infringement, misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized
use of any Third Party Intellectual Property Right. With
respect to its product candidates and products in research or
development, after the same are marketed, the Company will not, to
its knowledge, infringe any Third Party Intellectual Property
Rights in any material manner.
(f)
To
the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth on Section
2.27(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, no other person is infringing,
misappropriating or making any unlawful or unauthorized use of any
Intellectual Property Rights of the Company in a manner that has a
material impact on the business of the Company, except for such
infringement, misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized use as
would not be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
2.28
Independent and Internal Engineering Reports .
(a)
The
Company has made available to the Parent the results of the
Independent Engineering Report, prepared by Willard F. Glover (the
“Independent Engineer”) with respect to reserves as of
October 31, 2007 (the “Independent Engineering Report”)
on the oil and gas fields listed on the attachment thereto (the
“Evaluated Properties”) in which the Company will have
interests subsequent to the Effective Time. The
Independent Engineering Report is the latest independent
engineering report available to the Company relating to the
Evaluated Properties. The Company has provided no
materially false or misleading information to and has not withheld
from the Independent Engineer any material information with respect
to the preparation of the Independent Engineering
Report. Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.28 of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not aware of any facts or
circumstances that should reasonably cause the Company to conclude
that (i) any of the information that was supplied by the Company to
the Independent Engineer in connection with its preparation of the
Independent Engineering Report is not currently correct in all
material respects (other than normal depletion by production in the
ordinary course) or (ii) the Independent Engineering Report is
incorrect in any material respect.
(b)
The
Company has made available to the Parent the results of the
internal engineering report, with respect to reserves as of October
31, 2007, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule 2.28(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule (the “Internal Engineering
Report”), on the Evaluated Properties. The
Internal Engineering Report is the latest engineering report
available to the Company relating to the Evaluated
Properties. The Internal Engineering Report does not
contain any materially false or misleading information and is
currently correct in all material respects (other than normal
depletion by production in the ordinary course).
2.29
Title to Interests .
(a)
Except
as disclosed in Section 2.29 of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) the
Company owns the interest in producing oil wells and producing gas
wells described in the Independent Engineering Report,
(individually, a “Well” and collectively, the
“Wells”), (ii) the Company’s net revenue interest
and leasehold cost bearing interest (i.e., working interest) in
each Well are as described in the Independent Engineering Report,
and (iii) each oil, gas, and mineral lease in which the Company
owns any interest and the type of interest owned by the Company
(individually and collectively, the “Leases”) are as
described to the Parent. The lands identified in the
Leases and owned by the Company are individually and collectively
called the “Land.” The Wells, the Leases, and the Land,
together with all of the Company’s right, title and interest
in (i) all contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, permits,
authorization, easements and orders (individually and collectively
called “Property Agreements”) in any way relating to
the Wells, the Leases and/or the Land, the operations conducted or
to be conducted pursuant thereto or thereon, or the production,
treatment, sale or disposal of hydrocarbons or water produced
therefrom or attributable thereto, (ii) all personal property,
fixtures (including, without limitation, pipe, plants and
pipelines), equipment (including, without limitation, compressors,
parts, rods, tubular goods and supplies) and improvements located
at, under or on the Wells, the Leases and/or the Land, or used or
obtained in connection therewith or with the operation or
maintenance of the Wells or other facilities thereon or with the
production, treatment, sale or disposal of hydrocarbons or water
produced therefrom or attributable thereto, and (iii) all other
rights and interests in, to or under or derived from the Wells, the
Leases, the Property Agreements, and/or the Land (including,
without limitation, all mineral and royalty interests, and all
overriding royalty interests and all other interests in or payable
out of or measured by production, and all surface interests, for a
term or in fee), or in any way relating thereto, are referred to
herein as the “Interests.”
(b)
With
respect to each Well, the Company’s interests in the Leases
and the Land are such that, after giving effect to the Property
Agreements, existing spacing orders, operating agreements, unit
agreements, communitization agreements and orders, unitization
orders and pooling designations and orders, subject to any
limitations described in Section 2.29 of the Disclosure Schedule,
and after taking into account all royalty interests, overriding
royalty interests, net profits interests, production payments and
other burdens on production attributable to third parties, (i) the
Company is entitled, during the respective terms of the Leases
covering such Well, to a share (expressed as a decimal) of all oil,
gas and other minerals produced from such Well which is not less
than the “net revenue interest” set forth in connection
with the description of such Well, free and clear of all liens,
claims, mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of production, and
security interests, other than those described in Section 2.29 of
the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) the Company owns an undivided
interest (expressed as a decimal) equal to the “working
interest” set forth in connection with the description of
such Well in and to all property and rights incident thereto,
including all rights in, to and under all agreements, leases,
permits, easements, licenses and orders in any way relating
thereto, and in and to all wells, personal property, fixtures and
improvements thereon, appurtenant thereto or used or obtained in
connection therewith or with the production or treatment or sale or
disposal of hydrocarbons or water produced therefrom or
attributable, for a share of the costs relating to the exploration,
development, and operation of such Well which is no greater than
the “working interest” set forth in connection with the
description of such Well. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
title to the Company’s Interests classified as proved
developed producing, proved developed nonproducing and proved
undeveloped in the Independent Engineering Report is of a type and
nature customarily acceptable to the reasonably prudent oil and gas
operator of oil and gas interests.
2.30
Compliance with Leases and Laws; Operation of Assets
. Except as set forth in Section 2.30 of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a)
Each
Lease is in full force and effect and all rentals, royalties,
shut-in well payments, bonuses and other payments due or payable
from or by the Company under the Leases and applicable laws, rules
and regulations, have been properly and timely paid, except where
the failure to pay properly and timely is in the normal course of
business and would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and
all conditions necessary to keep the Leases in full force and
effect as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date have been
or shall be fully performed, including, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, all payments or obligations due from or
by third parties except where the failure to satisfy such
conditions is in the normal course of business and would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b)
The
Company is entitled to receive (and are currently receiving with
respect to producing oil, gas and/or mineral leases) without
present suspense or presently required indemnity against asserted
or known defects or disputes regarding the Company’s
ownership, from each pipeline purchaser or other purchaser of
production, or from the person receiving payments from any such
purchasers, the proceeds attributable to the net revenue interest
in production from each of the Leases, except as set forth in
Section 2.30 of the Disclosure Schedule, where the failure to
receive such proceeds would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;
(c)
All
Wells operated by the Company have been drilled, completed and
bottomed within the boundaries of each of the respective Leases or
within the limits otherwise permitted by contract and by law, and
no such Well is subject to material penalties or restrictions on
allowables because of any over
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