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Exhibit 10.1
EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
(a Nevada Corporation)
16801 West 116 th Street, Suite 100
Lenexa, KS 66219
GREAT SOUTH LAND MINERALS LTD.
(an Australian company)
Level 3/65 Murray Street
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000
WIND CITY, INC.
(a Delaware Corporation)
501 Brickell Key Drive, Suite 200
Miami, FL 33131
NOTE AND WARRANT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
Dated December 8, 2006
NOTE AND WARRANT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
US$4,000,000 Floating Rate Note due 2008
of
GREAT SOUTH LAND MINERALS LTD.
(an Australian company)
and
Warrants
for
EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
(a Nevada Corporation)
1. Note and Warrant Purchase :
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a.
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The undersigned, WIND CITY, INC. , a
Delaware corporation ("Purchaser"), hereby agrees to purchase a
US$4,000,000 principal amount floating rate note due 2008 in the
form attached as Schedule "A" (the "Note") issued by Great
South Land Minerals Ltd., a company organized under the laws of
Australia ("GSLM"), guaranteed by Empire Energy Corporation
International, a Nevada corporation ("Empire Energy") (the
"Guarantee") and secured by certain direct and indirect assets of
Empire Energy (the "Pledges").
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b.
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Empire Energy shall issue warrants (the "Traunch
A Warrants") for the purchase of 26,666,667 shares of Class A
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of Empire Energy ("Common Stock")
(the "Traunch A Stock") in the form attached hereto as Schedule
"B-1" and warrants (the "Traunch B Warrants" and together with
the Traunch A Warrants, the "Warrants") for the purchase of
33,333,333 shares of Common Stock (the "Traunch B Stock", and
together with the Traunch A Stock, the "Stock") in the form
attached hereto as Schedule "B-2" , at an exercise price of
US$0.15 per share to be exercisable at any time prior to
30 November, 2007 by providing 15 days prior written notice to
Empire Energy. Upon the exercise of the Traunch A Warrants,
Purchaser will redeem the Note and apply the proceeds of such
redemption toward the payment of the exercise price for the Traunch
A Warrants, with the excess of such proceeds paid to Purchaser upon
redemption. The Note, the Warrants and the Stock are collectively
referred to herein as the "Securities".
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c.
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The Note and the Warrants are to be purchased for
US$4,000,000, to be paid in cash at closing (the "Purchase Price").
All amounts are in United States Dollars unless otherwise
specified.
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d.
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The proceeds of such Note will be used to fund
the payment to Terrex Seismic (ACN 090 147 274) for the provision
of seismic services already invoiced,
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pursuant to Invoice No. G061001, dated
October 1, 2006, by Terrex Seismic to GSLM and to fund the
Drill Rig Purchase Arrangements, and the remainder will be used to
pay closing expenses, including attorney’s fees, for working
capital purposes and partial repayment of certain loans to Empire
Energy.
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e.
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The net cash proceeds received by Empire from the
exercise of the Warrants (other than from the redemption of the
Note) will be used by Empire to fund continuing exploration by GSLM
under the terms of the SEL 13/98 onshore petroleum license held by
GSLM.
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2. Conditions Precedent .
The purchase of the Note is subject to the following terms and
conditions:
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a.
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Satisfactory evidence that Empire Energy is the
legal and beneficial owner, free and clear of any liens or
encumbrances, of (a) 5,100 shares, representing approximately
48% of the outstanding equity of Pacific Rim Foods Ltd. ("Pacific")
and (b) 100% of the outstanding equity of Cyber Finance Group
Limited ("Cyber") and that Cyber is the legal and beneficial owner,
free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, of 7,281,407 shares
(representing approximately 10.5% of the outstanding equity) in
Zeehan Zinc Ltd. ("Zeehan").
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b.
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Issuance of the Traunch A Warrants and Traunch B
Warrants.
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c.
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Approval of the board of directors of Empire
Energy and agreement of such number of holders of stock in Empire
Energy which may be necessary in connection with the issuance of
the Note and the Warrants, including with respect to the
Antitakeover Laws (as defined below).
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d.
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Execution of the Put Agreement dated as of the
date hereof between Purchaser and Cyber for the put of up to
4,500,000 shares of Zeehan stock to Purchaser at US$1.00 per share
(the "Put Agreement").
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e.
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Satisfaction of all regulatory requirements in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Note and the Warrants,
including without limitation termination or expiration of the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, if required, any
necessary oil, gas or drilling approvals, and any other regulatory
or governmental approvals that are determined to be
required;
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f.
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Delivery of an opinion by Australian counsel to
GSLM;
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g.
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Delivery of an opinion by Ballard Spahr, as
counsel to Empire Energy and GSLM; and
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h.
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Delivery of an opinion by British Virgin Islands
counsel to Cyber.
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3. Closing . The Closing shall
occur simultaneously with the execution of this Note and Warrant
Purchase Agreement. At the Closing, Purchaser shall have paid the
Purchase Price by a wire transfer of immediately available funds to
Terrex Seismic and Gefco, with the balance to be paid to Ballard
Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, legal counsel for Empire
Energy for the benefit of GSLM, pursuant to written instructions
set forth on Schedule "C" . The Securities will not be
deemed issued to, or owned by, the Purchaser until the execution of
this Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement by Empire Energy, GSLM and
Purchaser, and the Purchase Price has been paid in accordance with
the previous sentence. Prior to the Closing, Empire Energy and GSLM
shall have fulfilled the following conditions (the "Conditions")
for the benefit of Purchaser and shall have delivered a Certificate
of the chief executive officer of Empire Energy (acting without
personal liability) to that effect to the Purchaser in the form
attached hereto as Schedule "D" :
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a.
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all relevant documentation and approvals as may
be required, by applicable securities laws, regulations, policy
statements and interpretations by applicable securities regulatory
authorities and by applicable rules shall have been
obtained;
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b.
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Empire Energy and GSLM shall have taken all
necessary and appropriate action to authorize and approve the
execution and delivery of this Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement,
the issuance and delivery of the Note, Warrants, Guarantee and the
Pledges, as applicable, and the other transactions contemplated by
this Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement; and
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c.
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the representations and warranties of Empire
Energy and GSLM set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
correct as of the Closing.
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4. Issuance of Securities . At
the Closing, GSLM and Empire Energy will deliver the Note and the
Warrants to the Purchaser. The Certificates representing the
Securities, delivered pursuant to this Purchase bear a legend in
the following form, unless such Securities have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act") or where
exempted:
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"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED
STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT") OR THE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY BE
OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE 1933 ACT OR (I) TO
GSLM OR EMPIRE ENERGY, AS APPLICABLE, (II) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE 1933 ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, OR (III) IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANOTHER
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION, IN EACH CASE AFTER PROVIDING AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO GSLM OR EMPIRE
ENERGY THAT SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE MADE WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER
THE 1933 ACT. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY
NOT
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5. Purchaser Representations and Warranties .
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to GSLM and Empire Energy
and acknowledges that GSLM and Empire Energy are relying on such
representations and warranties:
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a.
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PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT THE SECURITIES HAVE
NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES AGENCY.
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b.
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Purchaser is not an underwriter and acquired the
Securities, solely for investment for its own account and not with
a view to, or for, resale in connection with any distribution of
securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act; and is not being
purchased with a view to or for the resale, distribution,
subdivision or fractionalization thereof; and the undersigned has
no contract, undertaking, understanding, agreement, or arrangement,
formal or informal, with any person to sell, transfer, or pledge to
any person the securities for which it hereby subscribes, or any
part thereof; and it understands that the legal consequences of the
foregoing representations and warranties to mean that it must bear
the economic risk of the investment for an indefinite period of
time because the Securities have not been registered under the 1933
Act, and, therefore, may be resold only if registered under the
1933 Act or an exemption from such registration is
available.
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c.
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Purchaser understands the speculative nature and
risks of investments associated with GSLM and Empire Energy and
that there may not be any public market for the securities for
herein.
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d.
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The Securities purchased herein may not be
transferred, encumbered, sold, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed
of to any person, except in compliance with the 1933 Act and
applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws.
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e.
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Purchaser represents that (i) it is able to
bear the economic risk of the investment, (ii) it is able to
hold the Securities for an indefinite period of time, (iii) it
is able to afford a complete loss of its investment, (iv) it
has adequate means of providing for its current needs and possible
personal contingencies, (v) it has no need for liquidity in
this investment; (vi) this investment is suitable for
Purchaser based upon its financial situation and
(vii) Purchaser, by reason of its business or financial
experience, could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to
protect its own interests in connection with this
transaction.
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f.
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The Purchaser has not purchased the Securities as
a result of any form of general solicitation or general
advertising, including advertisements, articles, notices or other
communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar
media or broadcast over radio, or television, or any seminar or
meeting whose attendees have been invited by general solicitation
or general advertising.
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g.
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The Purchaser is not an affiliate of Empire
Energy nor is any affiliate of the Purchaser an affiliate of Empire
Energy.
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h.
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The Purchaser, and each beneficial person for
whom it is contracting hereunder, is responsible for obtaining such
legal and tax advice as it considers appropriate in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance of this purchase and the
transactions contemplated hereunder.
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i.
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All information which the Purchaser has provided
concerning the Purchaser is correct and complete as of the date set
forth below, and if there should be any change in such information
prior to the acceptance of this Agreement by Empire Energy, the
Purchaser will promptly provide such information to Empire
Energy.
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6. Empire Energy and GSLM Representations,
Warranties and Covenants . Empire Energy and GSLM, as
appropriate, represent, warrant and covenant that, except as set
forth on Schedule 6 attached hereto (and acknowledges that the
Purchaser is relying on such representations, warranties and
covenants) as of the Closing and as of the date of the exercise of
any Warrants:
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a.
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each of Empire Energy, its subsidiaries and, to
the knowledge of Empire Energy, Zeehan is a valid and subsisting
corporation duly incorporated and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Empire Energy has no
subsidiaries other than as set forth in Empire Energy’s
reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2005 and
any reports filed due to events which occurred in 2006, and Empire
is the legal and beneficial owner, free and clear of any lien or
encumbrances, of (a) 100% of the outstanding equity of GSLM,
(b) 100% of the outstanding equity of Expedia International
Limited, and (c) 100% of the outstanding equity of Bob
Owen & Co.;
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b.
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except where a failure to comply with this
representation would not result in a material adverse effect on the
business, properties, operations, financial condition or results of
operations of Empire Energy and its subsidiaries, each of Empire
Energy and its subsidiaries is duly registered and licensed to
carry on business in the jurisdictions in which it carries on
business or owns property where so required by the laws of that
jurisdiction;
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c.
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to the knowledge of Empire Energy, except where a
failure to comply with this representation would not result in a
material adverse effect on its business, properties, operations,
financial condition or results of operations, Zeehan is duly
registered and licensed to carry on business in the jurisdictions
in which it carries on business or owns property where so required
by the laws of that jurisdiction;
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d.
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Empire Energy, its subsidiaries and, to the
knowledge of Empire Energy, Zeehan own, possess or has obtained,
and is operating in compliance with, all governmental,
administrative and third party licenses (including, without
limitation, the SEL 13/98 onshore petroleum license held by GSLM),
permits,
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certificates, registrations, approvals, consents
and other authorizations (including, without limitation,
intellectual property rights in respect of (I) the Nanokey
ball mill, (II) the Multistack, (III) the energy storage battery
and (IV) the geopolymer) (collectively, "Permits") necessary to own
or lease (as the case may be) and operate its properties, and to
conduct its businesses or operations as currently conducted, except
such Permits the failure of which to obtain would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, properties, operations,
financial condition or results of operations of Empire Energy, and
neither Empire Energy nor any of its subsidiaries has received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation, modification or
suspension of any Permits), if such proceedings would have a
material adverse effect on Empire Energy, or any circumstance which
would lead it to believe that such proceedings are reasonably
likely;
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e.
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the business and operations of Empire Energy and
its subsidiaries have been conducted in accordance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations of all governmental
authorities, except for such violations which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, operations, financial condition or
results of operations of Empire Energy and its
subsidiaries;
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f.
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to the knowledge of Empire Energy, the business
and operations of Zeehan have been conducted in accordance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations of all governmental
authorities, except for such violations which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, operations, financial condition or
results of operations of Zeehan;
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g.
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as of the date hereof, the authorized capital of
Empire Energy consists of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
Schedule 6(e) of this Agreement sets forth issued and outstanding
capital of Empire Energy, including, but not limited to, shares of
Class A Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock,
exchangeable shares, options, warrants and other securities
convertible into equity securities of Empire Energy (collectively,
the "Outstanding Securities") and includes the details of the
shareholding, to the best of Empire Energy’s knowledge, of
all of Empire Energy’s stockholders who hold 2% or more of
the outstanding capital stock of Empire Energy. There are no other
securities of Empire Energy issued, or, except as set forth in
Section 6(e) of this Agreement, reserved for issuance, or
authorized or outstanding. All of the Outstanding Securities are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
none were issued in violation of any preemptive or subscription
rights of any person;
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h.
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Empire Energy will reserve or set aside
sufficient shares of Common Stock in its treasury to issue the
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and all such Stock
will upon payment of the recited consideration and issuance be duly
and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable;
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i.
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the issuance of Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants will not be subject to any pre-emptive right or other
contractual right to purchase securities granted by Empire Energy
or to which Empire Energy is bound;
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j.
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the issue and sale of the Securities and the
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants by GSLM or Empire
Energy, as applicable, does not and will not conflict with, and
does not and will not result in a breach of, any of the terms of
its incorporating documents or any agreement or instrument to which
GSLM or Empire Energy, as applicable, is a party;
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k.
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the stock of Zeehan to be sold upon exercise of
the Put (as defined in the Put Agreement) does not and will not
conflict with, and does not and will not result in a breach of, any
of the terms of its incorporating documents or any agreement or
instrument to which Cyber or Empire Energy, as applicable, is a
party;
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l.
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(I) there is no "control share acquisition,"
"combination with interested stockholders" provision of Nevada law
(specifically, Nevada Revised Statutes, Sections 78.378 et. seq.
and 78.411—78.444), or other similar anti-takeover provision
under the articles of incorporation or by-laws of Empire Energy,
the laws of the State of Nevada, or other antitakeover laws and
regulations of any state (collectively, the "Antitakeover Laws")
that is or could become applicable to the Purchaser as a result of
the issuance of Stock to the Purchaser upon exercise of any
Warrants; (II) there is no restriction under any Antitakeover Laws
on the ability of the Purchaser to vote the Stock in accordance
with the terms thereof or to exercise their rights thereunder; and
(III) the Purchaser has been approved as an interested shareholder
by the board of directors of Empire Energy such that the
prohibitions, restrictions, limitations and conditions of Sections
78.438 to 78.442 of the NRS do not apply to Purchaser;
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m.
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Empire Energy has complied and will comply fully
with the requirements of all applicable corporate and securities
laws in all matters relating to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement;
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n.
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there are no legal or governmental actions,
suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to Empire
Energy’ knowledge, threatened, to which Empire Energy or any
of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or of which property owned
or leased by Empire Energy or any of its subsidiaries is or may be
the subject, or related to environmental, title, discrimination or
other matters, which actions, suits, proceedings or investigations,
individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse
effect on the business, properties, operations, financial condition
or results of operations of Empire Energy;
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to the knowledge of Empire Energy, there are no
legal or governmental actions, suits, proceedings or investigations
pending or threatened, to which Zeehan is or may be a party or of
which property owned or leased by Zeehan is or may be the subject,
or related to environmental, title, discrimination or other
matters, which actions, suits, proceedings or investigations,
individually or in the aggregate, could
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have a material adverse effect on the business,
properties, operations, financial condition or results of
operations of Zeehan;
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p.
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there are no judgments against Empire Energy or
any of its subsidiaries, if any, which are unsatisfied, nor is
Empire Energy or any of its subsidiaries, if any, subject to any
injunction, judgment, decree or order of any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency or other governmental body;
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q.
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to the knowledge of Empire Energy, there are no
judgments against Zeehan, if any, which are unsatisfied, nor is
Zeehan, if any, subject to any injunction, judgment, decree or
order of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other
governmental body;
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r.
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this Agreement, and all other documents
contemplated hereby (the "Transaction Documents") have been or will
be by the Closing Date, duly authorized by all necessary action on
the part of Empire Energy and GSLM, and Empire Energy and GSLM have
full power and authority to undertake the Transaction Documents and
all the transactions contemplated hereby;
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s.
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the Transaction Documents have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by Empire Energy and constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of Empire Energy enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting the rights of
creditors generally and except as limited by the application of
equitable principles when equitable remedies are sought, and by the
fact that rights to indemnity, contribution and waiver, and the
ability to sever unenforceable terms, may be limited by applicable
law;
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t.
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the Transaction Documents have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by GSLM and constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of GSLM enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors
generally and except as limited by the application of equitable
principles when equitable remedies are sought, and by the fact that
rights to indemnity, contribution and waiver, and the ability to
sever unenforceable terms, may be limited by applicable
law;
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u.
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neither Empire Energy nor any of its subsidiaries
is in violation of its organizational or incorporating documents
nor in violation of, or in default under, any lien, mortgage,
lease, agreement or instrument, except for such defaults which
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, properties or business
of Empire Energy or it subsidiaries;
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v.
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to the knowledge of Empire Energy, Zeehan is not
in violation of its organizational or incorporating documents nor
in violation of, or in default under, any lien, mortgage, lease,
agreement or instrument, except for such defaults which
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would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties or
business of Zeehan;
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w.
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subject to the accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, the
offer, sale and issuance of the Securities as contemplated by this
Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933
Act, from the registration or qualifications requirements of the
state securities or "blue sky" laws and regulations of any
applicable state or other applicable jurisdiction;
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x.
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Empire Energy’ shares of Common Stock are
quoted for trading on the National Association of Securities
Dealers over-the-counter electronic bulletin board (the
"OTCBB");
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y.
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no order ceasing, halting or suspending trading
in securities of Empire Energy nor prohibiting the sale of the
Securities has been issued to and is outstanding against Empire
Energy or its directors, officers or promoters, and, to the best of
Empire Energy knowledge, no investigations or proceedings for such
purposes are pending or threatened;
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z.
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neither Empire Energy nor any subsidiary thereof
will have taken any action which would be reasonably expected to
result in the delisting or suspension of quotation of Empire
Energy’ shares of common stock on or from the OTCBB and
Empire Energy will have complied, in all material respects, with
the rules and regulations of eligibility on the OTCBB;
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aa.
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no person, firm or corporation acting or
purporting to act at the request of Empire Energy is entitled to
any brokerage, agency or finder’s fee in connection with the
purchase and sale of the Securities described herein;
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bb.
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Empire Energy is a "reporting issuer" under
section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act") and to Empire Energy’s knowledge is not in
default of any of the requirements of the 1934 Act;
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cc.
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as of their respective filing dates, each report,
schedule, registration statement and proxy filed by Empire Energy
with the SEC (each, an "SEC Report" and collectively, the "SEC
Reports") (and if any SEC Report filed prior to the date of this
Agreement was amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date
of this Agreement, then also on the date of filing of such
amendment or superseding filing), (i) to Empire Energy’s
knowledge where required, were prepared in all material respects in
accordance with the requirements of the 1933 Act, or the 1934 Act,
as the case may be, and the rules and regulations promulgated under
such Acts applicable to such SEC Reports, (ii) did not contain
any untrue statements of a material fact and did not omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and
(iii) to Empire Energy’s knowledge are all the forms,
reports and documents required to be filed by Empire Energy with
the SEC since that time.
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Empire Energy’ subsidiaries are not
required to file any reports or other documents with the SEC. Each
set of audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited
interim financial statements of Empire Energy (including any notes
thereto) included in the SEC Reports (i) to Empire
Energy’s knowledge, complies as to form in all material
respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto, and (ii) have been prepared in accordance
with United States generally acc
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