ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Exhibit 2.2

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

INDEPENDENCE LEAD MINES COMPANY,

HECLA MINING COMPANY,

and

HECLA MERGER COMPANY

Dated as of

February 13, 2008

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of February 13, 2008, by and among Independence Lead Mines Company, an Arizona corporation (the “ Company ”), Hecla Mining Company, a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), and Hecla Merger Company, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned direct Subsidiary (as defined below) of Parent (“ Buyer ”). Each of Parent, Buyer and the Company are referred to herein as a “ Party ” and together as “ Parties .”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and has declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement with Parent and Buyer providing for the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets to, and the assumption of certain expressly identified liabilities by, Buyer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “ Asset Sale ”), and in accordance with the Business Corporation Act of the State of Arizona (“ ABCA ”), and the Company Board has approved this Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and has, upon such terms and subject to such conditions, recommended that the shareholders of the Company vote in favor of the approval of the principal terms of this Agreement and the Asset Sale;

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that the Asset Sale will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Buyer has unanimously approved and declared advisable this Agreement;

WHEREAS, Parent, on its own behalf and as the sole shareholder of Buyer, has adopted this Agreement and approved the Asset Sale and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to sell to Buyer, all of the Acquired Assets (as defined below) and the Assumed Liabilities (as defined below) of the Company for the consideration and on the terms set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, as soon as practicable after receipt of the consideration for the Acquired Assets and the Assumed Liabilities sold by the Company hereunder, the Company will distribute the consideration it receives pro rata to its shareholders and subsequently liquidate;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Buyer’s and Parent’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company are entering into a Shareholder Agreement with Buyer in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Shareholder Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, Parent, Buyer and the Company wish to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Asset Sale and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Asset Sale, as set forth herein.

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AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

Article 1.

Defined Terms and Interpretation

Section 1.1     Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the term:

“ Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to a specific Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

“ Assigned Claims ” shall mean any Claims the Company has against Parent, Buyer, and any of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents, representatives, or attorneys, and any other Person relating to Company Properties and Contracts relating thereto or to any Parent disclosures or non-disclosures prior to the date of this Agreement.

“ Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday under the Laws of the State of Idaho or the State of Arizona.

“ Claims ” means all claims, causes of action, choses in action, rights of recovery and rights of set-off of whatever kind or description against any person or entity arising out of or relating to the Acquired Assets, the Company’s business, or relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates, predecessors, or Subsidiaries.

“ Company Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean any event, change, circumstance, trend or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has a material adverse effect on the Acquired Assets or the business, prospects, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company.

“ Company Stock ” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.10 per share.

“ Employee Benefit Plan ” shall mean any “Employee Pension Benefit Plan” or “Employee Welfare Benefit Plan” as defined under ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA), and any incentive compensation plan, benefit plan for retired employees, plan or agreement providing for bonuses, commissions, pensions, profit-sharing, stock options, stock purchase rights, restricted stock, phantom stock, deferred compensation, accident, health or sickness insurance, retirement benefits, vacation, severance, disability, compensation, employee assistance or counseling, educational assistance, §125/cafeteria/flexible benefits, adoption

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assistance, group legal (taxable or nontaxable, direct or indirect), fringe, or payroll practice of any nature, covering any current or former (including retired) employees of the Company.

“ Equity Interest ” shall mean any share, capital stock, partnership or membership unit or similar interest in any entity and any option, warrant, right, or security convertible, exchangeable or exercisable therefor.

“ ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ Governmental Entity ” shall mean the United States or any state, local or foreign government, or instrumentality, division, subdivision, agency, department or authority of any thereof.

“ Knowledge ” shall mean (a) in the case of the Company, the actual knowledge of the Persons listed in Section 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and (b) in the case of Parent or Buyer, the actual knowledge of the Persons listed in Section 1.1 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.

“ Law ” shall mean any domestic or foreign law, statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or Order.

“ Lock-up Date ” shall mean March 12, 2008.

“ Material Adverse Change ” shall mean a change or series of changes the consequence of which is a Company Material Adverse Effect.

“ Parent Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.25 per share, of the Parent.

“ Pending Litigation ” shall mean any existing lawsuits the Company has pending against Buyer, Parent, or any of their Affiliates, including the Company’s existing lawsuits (a) pending in the United States District Court For The District Of Idaho, Case No. CV06-495-C-EJL, with Notice Of Appeal filed on October 5, 2007, to the United States Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit; and (b) pending in the District Court Of The First Judicial District Of The State Of Idaho In And For The County Of Shoshone, Case No. CV-2007-3, with Notice Of Appeal filed in the Idaho Supreme Court on July 16, 2007, Supreme Court Docket No. 34400.

“ Person ” shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

“ Retained Liabilities ” shall mean any liabilities or obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates or predecessors, including, without limitation, those related to or associated with the Acquired Assets or the operation or condition of the Company’s business, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, whether direct or indirect, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, choate or inchoate including, without limitation, any collective bargaining agreement, any debts, liabilities, Claims (but excluding Assigned Claims) or obligations of any kind or nature, including, without limitation, those of any employee or former employee or relating to or

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arising out of any Employee Benefit Plan and any Claims (but excluding Assigned Claims), grievances, lawsuits, arbitrations, administrative or other legal proceedings or investigations, but excluding the Assumed Liabilities.

“ Shareholder Ratification ” shall mean the ratification by the Company’s shareholders at the Company Shareholders’ Meeting, in compliance with the Company Articles, the Company Bylaws, and all applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the ABCA (collectively, the “ Voting Requirements ”), of all past actions purportedly taken by the Company that, under the Voting Requirements, required the consent of the Company’s shareholders at a validly called and duly held meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which a valid quorum as required by the Voting Requirements was present, but which consent was obtained at a shareholders’ meeting that for any reason did not comply with the Voting Requirements, including, but not limited to, because a valid quorum as required by the Voting Requirements was not present at any such meeting, including the following past actions of the Company: (i) amending the Company Articles to increase the number of authorized shares of Company Stock from 5,000,000 shares to 10,000,000 shares, as the Company attempted to do at a special shareholders meeting held on or about September 23, 2005, (ii) all issuances of Company Common Stock in excess of 5,000,000 shares, and (iii) the election of the Company’s board of directors at every purported annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders held between 1998 and 2007.

“ Stay Order ” shall mean the Stipulations and proposed Orders (if any proposed order is required) to stay the existing Pending Litigation as provided in Section 2.10 of this Agreement. The forms of such Stipulations and proposed Orders (if any proposed order is required) shall be those set forth in Exhibit D .

“ Subsidiary ” or “ Subsidiaries ” of the Company, Parent, Buyer or any other Person shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other legal entity of which the Company, Parent, Buyer or such other Person, as the case may be (either alone or through or together with any other Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof), owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the stock or other Equity Interests, the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other legal entity.

“ Superior Proposal ” shall mean a bona fide Takeover Proposal which the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) (a) is reasonably likely to be consummated and (b) if consummated, would result in a transaction more favorable to the holders of Company Stock than the transactions provided for in this Agreement, in each case with respect to clauses (a) and (b), taking into account, in the reasonable good faith business judgment of the Company Board after consultation with its legal counsel and financial advisors, such factors as identity, reputation, and financial wherewithal of the Third Party making such Takeover Proposal and the legal, financial, regulatory, fiduciary and other aspects of this Agreement and such Takeover Proposal, including any conditions relating to financing, regulatory approvals or other events or circumstances.

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“ Takeover Proposal ” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Third Party relating to, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, (a) a merger, reorganization, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving a direct or indirect acquisition of the Company, (b) the acquisition (including by way of tender or exchange offer) in any manner, directly or indirectly, of over 20 percent of (i) the Company Stock then outstanding or (ii) the consolidated total assets (based on fair market value) of the Company in each case other than the Asset Sale, or (c) the assignment of any substantial portion of the Company’s existing contractual rights relating to Parent, Buyer or the Lucky Friday mine or any real estate or mining right, prospect, or property.

“ Third Party ” shall mean any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company, Parent or Buyer or any of their Subsidiaries.

Section 1.2        Terms Defined Elsewhere . The following terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as indicated below:

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Section 1.3        Interpretation . In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified, the following rules of interpretation apply:

(a)       references to Sections, Schedules, Annexes, Exhibits, clauses and Parties are references to sections or subsections, schedules, annexes, exhibits and clauses of and parties to, this Agreement;

(b)       references to any Person include references to such Person’s successors and permitted assigns;

(c)       words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa;

(d)       words importing one gender include the other gender;

(e)       references to the word “including” do not imply any limitation;

(f)       references to months are to calendar months;

(g)       the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(h)       references to “$” or “dollars” refer to U.S. dollars;

(i)        a defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement and in each Exhibit and Schedule to this Agreement, regardless of whether it appears before or after the place where it is defined; and .

(j)        references to any specific provision of any Law shall also be deemed to be references to any successor provisions or amendments thereof and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

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Article 2.

The Asset Sale; Related Transactions

Section 2.1        Transfer of Assets . On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell, transfer, convey and deliver, and Buyer agrees to purchase from the Company, on the Closing Date, free and clear of all Liens, all of the properties and rights listed on Annex 2.1 hereto (“ Acquired Assets ”).

Section 2.2        Excluded Assets . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the assets and Contracts listed on Annex 2.2 hereto (the “ Excluded Assets ”) are not part of the sale and purchase contemplated hereunder, are excluded from the Acquired Assets and shall remain the property of the Company after the Closing.

Section 2.3        Assumption of Liabilities . Buyer does not and will not assume any obligation or liability of the Company or the Business other than obligations under the liabilities listed on Annex 2.3 hereto (the “ Assumed Liabilities ”). Without limiting the foregoing, Buyer will not, and shall not be deemed to, assume or otherwise succeed to, the Retained Liabilities, even if imposed upon Buyer as a successor to the Company.

Section 2.4        Purchase Price . In consideration of the acquisition of the Acquired Assets and in addition to the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities by Buyer, Buyer agrees to pay the aggregate consideration of 6,936,884 shares of Parent Common Stock duly registered for distribution under the Securities Act (the “ Share Consideration ”), but subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.11 hereof. At the Closing, Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price by delivering to the Company the shares of Parent Common Stock that comprise the Share Consideration (“ Parent Shares ”). Subject to the limits set forth in Section 8.3 hereof, Buyer shall bear the fees and costs of any stock certificates representing Parent Shares that are issued to shareholders of the Company pursuant to Section 6.11 hereof.

Section 2.5        Closing . The closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Closing ”) shall be held at the offices of Parent, 6500 North Mineral Drive, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815, on February __, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time or, if later, the second Business Day following waiver or satisfaction of the conditions to Closing set forth herein, or at such other time and place as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Parties (the “ Closing Date ”); provided , however , that this Agreement may be terminated pursuant to and in accordance with Section 8.1 such that the Parties shall not be required to effect the Closing.

Section 2.6       Deliveries at Closing . At the Closing, (a) the Company shall deliver to Parent and Buyer the various agreements, certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Section 7.2; (b) Parent and Buyer shall deliver to the Company the various agreements, certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Section 7.3; (c) the Company shall execute, acknowledge (if appropriate) and deliver to Buyer (i) a bill of sale and assignment and assumption agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Bill of Sale ”) and (ii) such other instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance and assignment as Buyer and its counsel may reasonably request; (d) Buyer shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company (i) the Bill of Sale and (ii) such other instruments of assumption as the Company and its counsel may reasonably request; (e) the Parties shall have delivered the documents and

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performed the obligations set forth in Section 7.1 hereof; (f) the Company will deliver the Acquired Assets to Buyer; and (g) Buyer will deliver to the Company the Purchase Price payable at the Closing as specified in Section 2.4.

Section 2.7        FIRPTA Certificate . On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent a certification, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent, that the Company is not a foreign person in accordance with Treasury Regulations under section 1445 of the Code. If the Company has not provided the certification described above to Parent on or prior to the Closing, Buyer shall be permitted to reduce the Purchase Price by an amount equal to any required withholding tax under section 1445 of the Code.

Section 2.8        Risk and Loss Prior to Closing . Possession of the Acquired Assets will be given to Buyer at the Closing, and assumption of the Assumed Liabilities will occur at the Closing. Buyer will not acquire any title to the Acquired Assets or assume any of the Assumed Liabilities until possession has been given to it in accordance with this Section 2.8, and, accordingly, all risk and loss with respect to the Acquired Assets will be borne by the Company until possession has been given to Buyer.

Section 2.9        Assignment of Assumed Contracts and Rights . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any Contract or any claim or right or any benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom if an attempted assignment thereof, without the consent of a third party thereto, would constitute a breach or other contravention thereof or in any way adversely affect the rights of Buyer or the Company thereunder. The Company will use its best efforts to obtain the consent of the other parties to any Contract included in the Acquired Assets (each an “ Assumed Contract ”) or any claim or right or any benefit arising thereunder for the assignment thereof to Buyer as Buyer may request. If such consent is not obtained, or if an attempted assignment thereof would be ineffective or would adversely affect the rights of the Company thereunder so that Buyer would not in fact receive all such rights, the Company and Buyer will cooperate in any reasonable arrangement designed to provide for Buyer all benefits under such Assumed Contract, including enforcement for the benefit of Buyer of any and all rights of the Company against any other Person arising out of breach or cancellation by such other Person and including, if so requested by Buyer, acting as an agent on behalf of Buyer or as Buyer may otherwise reasonably require. The Company will promptly pay to Buyer when received all monies received by the Company with respect to any Acquired Asset or any claim or right or any benefit arising thereunder.

Section 2.10      Stay Order . Contemporaneously with the execution hereof, the Company and Parent agree to execute Stipulations for an Order staying the existing Pending Litigation in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto and in accordance with the applicable Rules of Procedure on the grounds that the parties have entered into this Agreement which, if successfully concluded in accordance with its terms, will result in dismissal of the pending appeals by further stipulation of the parties and notice to the courts. Such stipulation shall further provide that upon termination of this Agreement, either party may move the courts to lift the stay on the grounds of unsuccessful conclusion of the same.

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Article 3.

Intentionally Omitted

Article 4.

Representations and Warranties of the Company

The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Buyer that the statements contained in this Article 4 are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for date of this Agreement throughout this Article 4), except as set forth herein or in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Buyer on the date hereof (the “ Company Disclosure Schedule ”). Nothing in the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein, however, unless the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies the exception with reasonable particularity and describes the relevant facts in reasonable detail. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item shall not be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein (unless the representation or warranty has to do with the existence of the document or other item itself). The Company Disclosure Schedule will be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the lettered and numbered paragraphs contained in this Article 4.

Section 4.1        Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Arizona. The Company has no Subsidiaries and never has had any Subsidiaries except for Independence Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation. Except as set forth in Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted or contemplated as of the date hereof. Subject to Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or in good standing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Set forth in Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a list of each jurisdiction where the Company is qualified to do business. Attached to Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule are complete and correct copies of the Company Articles and Company Bylaws, and all amendments thereto, as currently in effect. Except as set forth in Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not in violation of its organizational or governing documents.

Section 4.2        Capitalization . Except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the entire authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of which 5,780,737 shares are issued and outstanding and no shares are held in treasury. Except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of the outstanding shares of Company Stock have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all applicable Laws. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights,

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or other contracts or commitments that could require the Company to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the Company. Except as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not a party or subject to any agreement or understanding, and there is no agreement or understanding between any Persons, that affects or relates to the voting or giving of written consents with respect to any securities of the Company or the voting by any director of the Company. A table reflecting all sales, purchases, issuances, and redemptions by the Company of shares of its capital stock for the last three years is set forth in Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

Section 4.3        Authority .

Section 4.3.1     Company Authorization. Except as set forth in Section 4.3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth in Section 4.3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and 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 and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of outstanding shares of Company Stock to approve the principal terms of this Agreement and the Asset Sale (the “ Shareholder Approval ”) and (ii) the affirmative vote of holders of that number of outstanding shares of Company Stock as required under the Voting Requirements for the Company to validly obtain the Shareholder Ratification. Except as set forth in Section 4.3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, this Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of Parent and Buyer, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency (including all Laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or remedies and the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought (the “ Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions ”).

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Section 4.3.2    Board Action. Subject to Section 6.4, the Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted at meetings duly called and held, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions provided for herein are fair to and in the best interest of the Company and the holders of Company Stock, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Asset Sale and the Shareholder Ratification, (c) determined that the Company is solvent under the ABCA and all other applicable Laws, (d) determined that the Purchase Price received by it represents fair value for the Acquired Assets, and (e) resolved to recommend in accordance with applicable Law that the holders of Company Stock vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Asset Sale (the “ Company Recommendation ”) and the Shareholder Ratification; provided, however , that the foregoing representations and warranties by the Company that the board resolutions were duly adopted at meetings called and held, are subject to the disclosure contained in Section 4.3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

Section 4.4        No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents .

Section 4.4.1     No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, (a) assuming the Shareholder Approval and the Shareholder Ratification is obtained, conflict with or violate any provision of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (as amended), as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Company Articles ”), or the Bylaws of the Company (as amended), as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Company Bylaws ”), (b) assuming that all consents, approvals and authorizations described in Section 4.4.2 have been obtained prior to the Closing and all filings and notifications described in Section 4.4.2 have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired prior to the Closing, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or (c) require any consent or approval under, result in any breach of or any loss of any benefit under, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, suspension, revocation, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances or security interests of any kind whatsoever (collectively, “ Liens ”) on any property or asset of the Company pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, permit, concession, franchise, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation (each, a “ Contract ”) to which the Company is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound, except, with respect to clauses (b) and (c), for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.4.2     Consents. Except in the case of the contingent event described in Section 6.14, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, require the Company to obtain any consent, approval or authorization of, or make any filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except (a) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”) (including the filing of the Proxy Statement) and any applicable state securities, takeover or “blue sky” Laws and (b) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals or authorizations, or to make such filings or notifications would not (i) prevent or materially delay or impede performance by

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the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.4.3     HSR Act . The Company is its own “ultimate parent entity” as that term is defined under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ HSR Act ”), and the Company has annual net sales of less than $12 million and has total assets of less than $12 million, determined in accordance with the HSR Act.

Section 4.5        Compliance with Laws . Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company holds all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, registrations, qualifications, rights, variances, certificates, certifications and consents granted by Governmental Entities (collectively, “ Company Permits ”) necessary for the ownership, use and operation of its assets and properties, and such Company Permits are in full force and effect and (ii) the Company is not in violation of any Law applicable to the Company. Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all Company Permits.

Section 4.6        SEC Filings; Financial Statements .

Section 4.6.1     Company SEC Filings . Except as set forth in Section 4.6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements or other documents required to be filed by it under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), and the Exchange Act since January 1, 2002 (collectively, the “Company SEC Filings”). Except as set forth in Section 4.6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each Company SEC Filing (a) as of its date, complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, as in effect on the date so filed, (b) did not, at the time it was filed (or, if subsequently amended or supplemented, at the time of such amendment or supplement), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (c) which contains annual financial statements, such financial statements have been audited by an independent certified public accounting firm.

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Section 4.6.2     Financial Statements . Except as set forth in Section 4.6.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) of the Company contained in the Company SEC Filings (collectively, the “Company Financial Statements”) was audited (or reviewed and consented to in the case of Form 10-Q or 10-QSB) by an independent certified public accounting firm and prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q or 10-QSB under the Exchange Act) on a consistent basis during the periods indicated (except as may be permitted or required under GAAP and indicated in the Company SEC Filings), and each of the Company Financial Statements presents fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the respective periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to normal period-end adjustments).

Section 4.6.3     No Undisclosed Liabilities . The Company has no contingencies, liabilities or obligations of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for contingencies, liabilities or obligations (a) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (b) that were incurred after September 30, 2007 in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and which are disclosed in Section 4.6.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (c) that were incurred under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or (d) that were disclosed or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements (including the notes thereto).

Section 4.6.4     Internal Controls . Except as set forth in Section 4.6.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2004, the Company has not disclosed to the Company’s auditors or the audit committee of the Company Board, and to the Company’s Knowledge there are not any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information. Except as set forth in Section 4.6.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2004, there has not been any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraph (e) and (f) of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. Except as set forth in Section 4.6.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2004, the Company has been in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the United States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder.

Section 4.7        Affiliate Transactions . Except as otherwise disclosed in a Shareholder Rights Agreement, as set forth in Form 8-K, filed May 14, 2007, no executive officer or director of the Company or any Person who beneficially owns five percent or more of the Company Stock is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Company or any of its properties or assets or has any

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interest in any property owned by the Company or has engaged in any transaction with the Company within the 12-month period preceding the date of this Agreement.

Section 4.8        Absence of Certain Changes .  Except for the transactions contemplated hereby or related hereto, (i) from December 31, 2006 through the date of this Agreement, the Company has, in all material respects, conducted its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and (ii) since December 31, 2006, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect. For the 90 days preceding the date of this Agreement, the Company has not issued or sold any shares of capital stock, or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock. Section 4.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the Company’s current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (collectively, “ Cash On Hand ”), and the changes (if any) to the Cash On Hand for the 90 days preceding the date of this Agreement that, in the aggregate, total more than $10,000.

Section 4.9        Employees and Benefits .

Section 4.9.1 The Company has no employees, and has not had any employees since January 1, 2000.

Section 4.9.2 The Company is not a party to or bound by any Employee Benefit Plan.

Section 4.9.3 The Company does not maintain, contribute to or have an obligation to contribute to, or have any Liability under or with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.

Section 4.9.4 The Company does not maintain, contribute to or have an obligation to contribute to, or have any Liability under or with respect to any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA).

Section 4.10        Material Contracts; Indebtedness .

Section 4.10.1    Contracts. Set forth in Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a list of all Contracts to which the Company is party or by which the Company is bound:

(i)        which, as of the date hereof, is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC);

(ii)       with respect to (i) any joint venture or partnership arrangements that are material to the Company, or (ii) the purchase of any Equity Interest in any other entity;

(iii)      pursuant to which any indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company is outstanding or may be incurred;

(iv)      relating to a guarantee by the Company of indebtedness of any Third Party;

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(v)       relating to any lease or pending acquisition or disposition by the Company of properties or assets;

(vi)      which contains covenants limiting the ability of the Company to engage in any of its principal lines of business, or to compete with any Person or operate at any geographic location with respect to any of its principal lines of business;

(vii)     any employment or consulting agreement, contract or commitment with any officer, director, or employee of the Company;

(viii)    any Contract the performance of which will involve consideration in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate; or

(ix)      which relate to any interest in any real property, mining claim, mineral interest, or operating business, including any environmental claim or remediation obligation relating thereto.

Each Contract of the type described in this Section 4.10.1 is referred to herein as a “Company Contract.”

Section 4.10.2    Binding Obligations. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) the Company and each other party thereto, has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under each Company Contract (excluding performance obligations not yet due) and (b) the Company has not received written notice of a default under any Company Contract or of any event or condition which, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute a default on the part of the Company under any Company Contract.

Section 4.11      Litigation . Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and the Pending Litigation, (a) there are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, (b) the Company is not subject to any outstanding order, judgment, writ, stipulation, award, injunction, decree, arbitration award or finding of any Governmental Entity (“ Order ”), and (c) all claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending and, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, and any Order to which the Company is subject, including, in all cases where the Company is or was the plaintiff, are disclosed in Section 4.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

Section 4.12      Environmental Matters . Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a) the Company is in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to the protection of the environment or to occupational health and safety (“ Environmental Laws ”), (b) the Company possesses all Company Permits issued pursuant to Environmental Laws that are required to conduct the business of the Company as it is currently conducted, and to lease, own, use and operate its properties (including the Company Properties) and assets, (c) to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no release of any waste, material or substance defined as a “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” or “hazardous waste” under any applicable Environmental Law into the environment as a result of the operations or activities of the Company at any of the Company Properties or any

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properties formerly owned or operated by the Company, in each case that would reasonably be expected to result in any liability to the Company under any Environmental Law and (d) the Company has never received any written claim or notice of violation from any Governmental Entity that remains outstanding alleging that the Company is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law.

Section 4.13      Intellectual Property . Section 4.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks and service marks and material internet domain names owned by the Company. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) the Company owns (free and clear of any Liens), or possesses valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of the Company as it is currently conducted or is currently contemplated, and to lease, own, use and operate its properties (including the Company Properties) and assets, (b) to the Company’s Knowledge, no Third Party is currently infringing or misappropriating any material Intellectual Property owned by the Company, and (c) the Company has not infringed or misappropriated any Intellectual Property of any Third Party or received any material written claim of infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property of any Third Party. For purposes of this Section 4.13, “ Intellectual Property ” means the (a) patents and patent applications, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, internet domain names and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (c) copyrights and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (d) trade secrets and know-how, (e) all renewals and extensions of any registrations or applications thereof, and (f) all software.

Section 4.14      Taxes .

4.14.1    Required Taxes. All Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company have been timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct, and complete in all respects.

4.14.2    Tax Matters. All Taxes of the Company due and payable have been timely paid (other than Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings). The unpaid Taxes of the Company did not, as of the date of the most recent Company Financial Statements, materially exceed the reserve for Tax liabilities (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the balance sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) contained in such Company Financial Statements, and are described in Section 4.14.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

4.14.3    No Deficiency. No deficiency for any amount of Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing by any Governmental Entity against the Company that remains unpaid or unresolved. There are no audits, examinations or other administrative or judicial proceedings currently ongoing or pending with respect to any Taxes of the Company. There are no waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect or requested with respect to Taxes of the Company.

4.14.4    Tax Withholding. All Taxes required to be withheld or collected by the Company in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,

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creditor or stockholder have been withheld and collected and, to