EXHIBIT 10.1
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 22nd day of December,
2006 by and between Gateway Processing Company, a Texas corporation ("Seller"),
and HNNG Development, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Buyer").
Seller and Buyer are each a "party" and together are " parties" to this
Agreement.
RECITALS
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WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement
to Develop Natural Gas Treatment Projects Using Mehra Gas Treating Units, dated
January 1, 2004, as amended January 1, 2005, by and between Advanced Extraction
Technologies, Inc., a Texas corporation ("AET"), and Seller (the "Restated
Agreement"), Seller has certain rights to the gas treating process as described
in the Restated Agreement (the "AET Intellectual Property"); and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to transfer to Buyer the Assets, as
hereinafter defined, and Buyer desires to acquire such Assets, all upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein;
AGREEMENT
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ARTICLE 1 PURCHASE OF ASSETS AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES
1.1 Assets. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and subject to
the representations and warranties made herein, on the dates hereinafter set
forth, Seller shall validly sell, assign, transfer, grant, deliver and convey to
Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Seller, Seller's entire right, title and
interest in and to the following assets, free and clear of any mortgages, liens,
pledges, charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind
whatsoever:
(a) the Restated Agreement and the AET Intellectual Property;
(b) any and all files, records, reports, maps and other
information related to the Restated Agreement, or otherwise related to
projects to treat high nitrogen natural gas or to invest in high
nitrogen natural gas properties; provided, however, that all such
items regarding the two (2) NRU Projects of Seller referenced in
Section 9.5 shall not be included and considered Other Assets except
as provided in Section 9.5; and
(c) any and all goodwill relating to the foregoing;
wherever located and whether or not reflected on Seller's balance sheet
(hereinafter collectively called the "Assets"). The Assets to be transferred by
Seller hereunder shall include only those described or referred to in Section
1.1 and no other assets or properties of Seller shall be transferred hereunder.
The parties agree that: (i) Seller's entire right, title and interest in and to
the Other Assets shall be sold, transferred and assigned to Buyer effective as
of the Closing Date; and (ii) Seller's entire right, title and interest in and
to the Agreement/IP Assets shall be sold, transferred and assigned to Buyer
effective as of the Transfer Date.
1.2 Liabilities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Buyer will, as of the Transfer Date, assume and agree to discharge
the obligations and liabilities of Seller arising under the express written
terms of the Restated Agreement, provided such obligations and liabilities arise
or accrue after the close of business on the Transfer Date and, provided,
further, that such obligations or liabilities do not result from any action or
inaction of Seller taken or not taken on or prior to the Transfer Date
(collectively, the "Assumed Liabilities"). Any and all other obligations and
liabilities of Seller or its affiliates, whether accrued or contingent or due or
not due, which are not expressly described in the definition of the Assumed
Liabilities as specifically assumed herein by Buyer, (collectively, the
"Retained Liabilities") shall be and remain the sole obligations and liabilities
of Seller and its affiliates to pay and discharge, and Buyer shall not be
obligated in any respect therefor.
ARTICLE 2 PURCHASE PRICE
2.1 Aggregate Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price for the
Assets and the covenants set forth in Article 9 as hereinafter provided (the
"Purchase Price") shall be an amount equal to Six Hundred Thousand Dollars
($600,000.00), plus the assumption by Buyer of the Assumed Liabilities as
provided in Section 1.2 hereof, payable by Buyer to Seller as provided in
Section 2.2 below. The Purchase Price shall be subject to a discount as provided
in the last sentence of Section 2.2 below.
2.2 Payment of the Purchase Price. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price by (i) assuming as of the
Transfer Date the Assumed Liabilities to be assumed pursuant to Section 1.2
above pursuant to the Assumption Agreement; (ii) delivering to Seller on the
date hereof an amount in immediately available funds equal to Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) (the "Cash Payment"); and (iii) delivering to
Seller on the date hereof a Promissory Note, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B, in the original principal amount of Four Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($400,000.00) (the "Note"). The Note shall reflect that a prepayment of
the total balance due on the Note, less One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000.00), on or before the 90th day after the Closing Date shall result in
a discount that reduces the total Purchase Price to Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000.00).
2.3 Allocation of Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be
allocated among the Assets in the manner specified on Schedule 2.3 attached
hereto. Seller and Buyer shall cooperate with each other in the preparation,
execution and filing of (a) all information returns and supplements thereto
required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the parties under
Section 1060 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder
relating to the allocation of the Purchase Price and (b) all similar filings
required to be filed with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement with the Internal Revenue Service and other appropriate taxing
authorities.
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ARTICLE 3 CLOSING
3.1 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement (the "Closing") is taking place simultaneously with the execution of
this Agreement at the offices of Seller located at βββ� ββββββ ββββββ, βββββ�
ββββ, βββββββ�, βββββ� βββββ�, at 10:00 am (local time) on the date hereof (the
"Closing Date"). The Closing may, with the consent of the parties, take place by
delivering an exchange of documents and signatures by facsimile transmission or
electronic mail with originals to follow by overnight mail service or courier.
3.2 Deliveries by Seller. At the Closing, Seller is hereby delivering
to Buyer the following:
(a) (i) a written consent to the assignment of the Restated
Agreement to Buyer by AET; and (ii) the written statement of AET that
as of the date hereof to AET's knowledge no defaults or events of
default have occurred and are continuing under the Restated Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto; and
(b) the First General Conveyance, duly executed by Seller.
3.3 Deliveries by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer is hereby delivering to
Seller the following:
(a) the First General Conveyance, duly executed by Buyer; and
(b) the Note, duly executed by Buyer.
ARTICLE 4 SELLER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Seller hereby makes the following representations and warranties to
Buyer, each of which is true and correct on the date hereof and will be true and
correct on the Transfer Date, each of which shall be unaffected by any
investigation heretofore or hereafter made by Buyer and each of which shall
survive the Closing and the transactions contemplated hereby:
4.1 Authorization for Agreement. Seller has all necessary corporate
power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement and the
other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by it in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, has taken all
necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and such other agreements, instruments and documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement
is, and the other agreements, instruments and documents to be executed and
delivered by Seller in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be, the legal, valid, and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent the enforceability hereof and
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or
other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).
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4.2 Corporate. Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own its property and operate its
business as and where it is now being conducted, and to perform all its
obligations under this Agreement and any other agreements, instruments or
documents to be delivered in connection herewith to which it is a party. Except
for the prior consent of AET required to assign the Restated Agreement to Buyer,
Seller has complete and unrestricted power and authority to sell, assign,
transfer, convey and deliver all the Assets to Buyer pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, free and clear of any mortgages, liens, pledges, charges,
claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby requires the consent or approval of or the giving of notice
to, registration, filing or recording with or the taking of any other action by
Seller in respect of any federal, state or local governmental authority or any
third party, other than the requirement to obtain the prior consent of AET to
the assignment of the Restated Agreement.
4.3 Title to Assets. Seller has, and on the Closing Date will transfer
to Buyer, good and marketable title to the Other Assets, free and clear of all
mortgages, liens, pledges, charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances
of any nature whatsoever, and subject to no restrictions with respect to
transferability. Seller has, and on the Transfer Date will transfer to Buyer,
good and marketable title to the Agreement/IP Assets, free and clear of all
mortgages, liens, pledges, charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances
of any nature whatsoever, and subject to no restrictions with respect to
transferability. Upon Seller's and Buyer's execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the First General Conveyance, Buyer will own good and marketable
title to the Other Assets, free and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges,
charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.
Upon Seller's and Buyer's execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Assumption Agreement and the Second General Conveyance, Buyer will own good and
marketable title to the Agreement/IP Assets, free and clear of all mortgages,
liens, pledges, charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances of any
nature whatsoever. Upon Seller's and Buyer's execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Assumption Agreement, and the General Conveyances, Buyer will own
good and marketable title to all of the Assets, free and clear of all mortgages,
liens, pledges, charges, claims, leases, restrictions or encumbrances of any
nature whatsoever.
4.4 No Litigation or Adverse Events. There are no (i) outstanding
orders, judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any court, arbitrator, or
governmental or regulatory body involving Seller; (b) suits, actions or legal,
administrative, arbitration or other proceedings or, to Seller's knowledge,
threatened suits, actions or legal, administrative, arbitration or other
proceedings involving Seller; or (c) to Seller's knowledge, investigations by
any governmental agency, which could adversely affect the Assets or materially
adversely affect the ability of Seller to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreements, instruments or documents
to be delivered in connection herewith to which Seller is a party.
4.5 No Violation.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other
agreements, instruments and documents contemplated and delivered
hereby by Seller and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby will not conflict with or violate or constitute a
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breach or default under the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Seller or any provision of any mortgage, trust indenture, lien, lease,
agreement, instrument, order, judgment, decree or other restriction of
any kind or character to which Seller is subject or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, claim, charge or encumbrance of
any nature whatsoever upon the Assets.
(b) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by
Seller, and the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated by the agreements, instruments and documents delivered
hereby by Seller, will not cause any violation or breach of, any laws,
statutes, ordinances or regulations or any health, safety or
environmental laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations or other laws,
statutes, ordinances or regulations.
4.6 No Brokers. Seller has not employed or authorized anyone to
represent it as a broker, finder or consultant in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no broker, consultant, finder
or other person is entitled to any commission, finder's or consulting fee from
Seller in connection with such transactions. Seller will indemnify and hold
harmless Buyer from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, damages,
costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses Buyer may sustain or incur as a result of any claim for a
commission or fee by a broker, finder or consultant acting on behalf of Seller.
4.7 Restated Agreement in Full Force and Effect. The Restated
Agreement is valid, binding and in full force and effect, has not been amended
or supplemented in any manner or respect, and upon assignment and assumption,
with applicable consents if necessary, will be enforceable by Buyer following
the Transfer Date in accordance with its terms. There are no defaults by Seller
under the Restated Agreement and Seller knows of no defaults thereunder by any
other party thereto, and, to Seller's knowledge, no event has occurred that with
the lapse of time or action or inaction by any party thereto would result in a
violation thereof or a default thereunder. None of the rights under the Restated
Agreement will be impaired by the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, and all such rights will inure to and be enforceable by Buyer
after the Transfer Date without the authorization, consent, approval, permit or
licenses of, or filing with, any other person, except the consent of AET
required under the terms of the Restated Agreement.
ARTICLE 5 BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Buyer hereby makes the following representations and warranties to
Seller, each of which is true and correct on the date hereof and will be true
and correct on the Transfer Date, each of which shall be unaffected by any
investigation heretofore or hereafter made by Seller and each of which shall
survive the Closing and the transactions contemplated hereby:
5.1 Authorization for Agreement. Buyer has all necessary power and
authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement and the other
agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by it in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, has taken all necessary action
to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and such other
agreements, instruments and documents and the consummation of the transactions
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contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement is, and the other agreements,
instruments and documents to be executed and delivered by Buyer in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be, the legal, valid, and
binding obligations of Buyer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except
to the extent the enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or other laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
5.2 Corporate. Buyer is a company duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
power and authority to own its property and operate its business as and where it
is now being conducted. Buyer has complete and unrestricted power and authority
to purchase the Assets to be sold to Buyer under this Agreement and execute and
deliver the Note to Seller pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby requires the consent or approval of or the
giving of notice to, registration, filing or recording with or the taking of any
other action by Buyer in respect of any federal, state or local governmental
authority or any third party.
5.3 No Litigation or Adverse Events. There are no (i) outstanding
orders, judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any court, arbitrator, or
governmental or regulatory body involving Buyer, (b) suits, actions or legal,
administrative, arbitration or other proceedings or, to Buyer's knowledge,
threatened suits, actions or legal, administrative, arbitration or other
proceedings involving Buyer, or (c) to Buyer's knowledge, investigations by any
governmental agency, which could adversely affect the ability of Buyer to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4 No Violation.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other
agreements, instruments and documents contemplated hereby by Buyer and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
will not conflict with or violate or constitute a breach or default
under the organizational documents of Buyer or any provision of any
mortgage, trust indenture, lien, lease, agreement, instrument, order,
judgment, decree or other restriction of any kind or character to
which Buyer is subject.
(b) To the knowledge of Buyer, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by Buyer, and the consummation by
Buyer of the transactions contemplated by the agreements, instruments
and documents delivered hereby by Buyer, will not cause any violation
or breach of, any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations or any
health, safety or environmental laws, statutes, ordinances or
regulations or other laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations.
5.5 No Brokers. Buyer has not employed or authorized anyone to
represent it as a broker, finder or consultant in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no broker, consultant, finder
or other person is entitled to any commission, finder's or consulting fee from
Buyer in connection with such transactions. Buyer will indemnify and hold
harmless Seller from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, damages,
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costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses Seller may sustain or incur as a result of any claim for a
commission or fee by a broker, finder or consultant acting on behalf of Buyer.
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CERTAIN OF BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS
The obligation of Buyer to purchase the Agreement/IP Assets and to
assume the Assumed Liabilities shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to or
on the Transfer Date of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by
Buyer:
6.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of Seller contained in Section 4 shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the Transfer Date, except that any such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct in all respects where such representation
and warranty is qualified with respect to materiality in Section 4, as the case
may be.
6.2 Performance. Seller shall have performed and complied with all
covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement
that are required to be performed or complied with by Seller on or before the
Transfer Date.
6.3 Compliance Certificate. An authorized officer of Seller shall
deliver to Buyer on the Transfer Date a certificate certifying that the
conditions specified in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 have been fulfilled.
6.4 Second General Conveyance and Assumption Agreement. Seller shall
have delivered to Buyer the Second General Conveyance and the Assumption
Agreement each duly executed by Seller.
ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CERTAIN OF SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS
The obligation of Seller to sell, assign and transfer the Agreement/IP
Assets to Buyer shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to or on the Transfer
Date of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by Seller:
7.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of Buyer contained in Section 5 shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the Transfer Date, except that any such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct in all respects where such representation
and warranty is qualified with respect to materiality in Section 5, as the case
may be.
7.2 Performance. Buyer shall have performed and complied with all
covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement
that are required to be performed or complied with by Buyer on or before the
Transfer Date.
7.3 Compliance Certificate. An authorized manager or officer of Buyer
shall deliver to Seller on the Transfer Date a certificate certifying that the
conditions specified in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 have been fulfilled.
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7.4 Assumption Agreement and Second General Conveyance. Buyer shall
have delivered to Seller the Assumption Agreement and the Second General
Conveyance each duly executed by Buyer.
7.5 Payment of Note. Buyer shall have paid the Note in full on or
before the Maturity Date in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE 8 INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Seller Indemnification. Seller agrees to defend, indemnify and
hold harmless Buyer and its officers, managers, employees, agents,
representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Buyer Indemnitees")
from, against and in respect of any and all losses, liabilities, claims,
demands, suits, actions, judgments, proceedings, damages, costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements) of every kind, nature
and description (collectively, "Claims" and each a "Claim") sustained by any
Buyer Indemnitee based upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect of:
(a) Any obligations or liabilities of Seller of every kind and
nature, without limitation, known or unknown, contingent or otherwise,
arising out of or relating to the Restated Agreement or the other
Assets, except for the Assumed Liabilities;
(b) Any misrepresentation or breach of a representation, warranty
or covenant of Seller under this Agreement or nonfulfillment of any
obligation by Seller under this Agreement or from any
misrepresentation in or omission from any certificate or other
instrument furnished or to be furnished to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement; and
(c) The Retained Liabilities.
8.2 Buyer Indemnification. Buyer agrees to defend, indemnify and hold
harmless Seller and its officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives,
successors and assigns (collectively, the "Seller Indemnitees") from, against
and in respect of any and all Claims sustained by any Seller Indemnitee based
upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect of:
(a) The Assumed Liabilities; and
(b) Any misrepresentation or breach of a representation, warranty
or covenant of Buyer under this Agreement or nonfulfillment of any
obligation by Buyer under this Agreement or from any misrepresentation
in or omission from any certificate or other instrument furnished or
to be furnished to Seller pursuant to this Agreement.
8.3 Net of Tax Benefit. The indemnities provided for in this Section
are not intended to provide a windfall for any party, and to the extent possible
such indemnities shall be net of the effect of federal, state and local income
tax benefits actually realized by a party as a result of such losses, damages or
deficiencies.
8.4 Claims. If any Buyer Indemnitee or Seller Indemnitee (each an
"Indemnitee") receives notice of any claim or the commencement of any action or
proceeding with respect to which either Seller or Buyer (each an "Indemnifying
Party") is obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to Section 8.1 or
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Section 8.2, the Indemnitee shall promptly give the Indemnifying Party notice
thereof. Such notice shall be a condition precedent to any liability of the
Indemnifying Party under the provisions for indemnification contained in this
Agreement and shall describe the claim in reasonable detail and shall indicate
the amount (estimated if necessary) of the loss that has been or may be
sustained by the Indemnitee. The Indemnifying Party may elect to compromise or
defend, at such Indemnifying Party's own expense and by such Indemnifying
Party's own counsel, any such matter involving the asserted liability of the
Indemnitee; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall secure the
Indemnitee against such contested claims by posting a bond or providing other
reasonably acceptable security. If the Indemnifying Party elects to compromise
or defend such asserted liability, it shall within thirty (30) days (or sooner,
if the nature of the asserted liability so requires) notify the Indemnitee of
its intent to do so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate in all commercially
reasonable respects, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, in the compromise
of, or defense against, any such asserted liability. If the Indemnifying Party
elects not to compromise or defend against the asserted liability, or fails to
notify the Indemnitee of its election as herein provided, the Indemnitee may, if
acting in accordance with its good faith business judgment, pay, compromise or
defend such asserted liability, and such settlement shall be binding on the
Indemnifying Party for purposes of this Section 8.4. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither the Indemnifying Party nor the Indemnitee may settle or
compromise any claim over the objection of the other; provided, however, that
consent to settlement or compromise shall not be unreasonably withheld. In any
event, the Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party may each participate, at its
own expense, in the defense of such asserted liability. If the Indemnifying
Party chooses to defend any claim, the Indemnitee shall make available to the
Indemnifying Party any books, records or other documents within its control that
are necessary or appropriate for such defense.
8.5 Costs. If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the
enforcement or interpretation of any of the rights or provisions of this
Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or
misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions of this Agreement,
the successful or prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable
attorneys' fees and all other costs and expenses incurred in that action or
proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.
8.6 Survival. Except for the representations and warranties of Seller
contained in Section 4.3, which shall survive the Closing indefinitely, all
representations and warranties of the parties in this Agreement shall survive
the Closing and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and
shall remain in full force and effect for a period of two (2) years following
the Closing. All representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and
obligations made by the parties shall not be affected by any investigation
heretofore or hereafter made by and on behalf of any of them and shall not be
deemed merged into any instruments or agreements delivered in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby. The covenants, agreements and obligations
of the parties entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and shall remain in
full force and effect without limitation.
8.7 APPLICABILITY OF INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION. EACH OF THE
AGREEMENTS TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND OR HOLD HARMLESS CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 8.1 OR
8.2 SHALL APPLY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE SUBJECT CLAIM IS BASED IN WHOLE OR
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IN PART UPON THE SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER ACTIVE, PASSIVE OR
GROSS), BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR BREACH OR VIOLATION OF ANY DUTY IMPOSED BY ANY
LAW OR REGULATION, ON THE PART OF THE BENEFICIARY OF THE AGREEMENT, EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.
8.8 Limitation of Liability. Seller will have no liability (for
indemnification or otherwise) with respect to Claims for indemnification under
Section 8.1 or for Claims as a result of any breach of, or in connection with,
this Agreement or any documents entered into by Seller in connection herewith
whatsoever (except with respect to Claims for indemnification associated with,
or for Claims resulting from, any breach of Section 9.3 or Article 10 by Seller)
until the total of all Claims with respect to such matters exceed Fifty Thousand
Dollars and No/100 ($50,000) (the "Threshold Amount"), whereupon the Buyer may
claim indemnification or payment for the full amount of such Claims. Buyer will
have no liability (for indemnification or otherwise) with respect to Claims for
indemnification under Section 8.2 or for Claims as a result of any breach of, or
in connection with, this Agreement or any documents entered into by Buyer in
connection herewith whatsoever (except with respect to a claim for payment of
the Note in accordance with its terms) until the total of all Claims with
respect to such matters exceed the Threshold Amount, whereupon Seller may claim
indemnification or payment for the full amount of such Claims. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither Buyer nor Seller shall have or incur liability (for
indemnification or otherwise) under this Article VIII or for any breach of, or
in connection with, this Agreement or any documents entered into by Buyer or
Seller in connection herewith whatsoever ((i) except, with respect to Buyer
only, for a claim for payment of the Note in accordance with its terms; and (ii)
except, with respect to Seller only, for Claims for indemnification associated
with, or for Claims resulting from, any breach of Section 9.3 or Article 10 by
Seller) which in the aggregate exceeds Six Hundred Thousand Dollars and No/100
($600,000). However, this Section 8.8 will not apply to any intentional breach
by Buyer or Seller of any of its covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder
or under any agreements entered into in connection herewith, and Buyer or
Seller, as the case may be, will be liable for all Claims with respect to such
intentional breaches. Seller and Buyer will only have liability (for
indemnification or otherwise) with respect to Claims under Sections 8.1 or 8.2
or for any breach of, or in connection with, this Agreement or any documents
entered into by Seller or Buyer in connection herewith ((i) except, with respect
to the Buyer only, for a claim for payment of the Note in accordance with its
terms and (ii) except, with respect to the Seller only, for Claims for
indemnification associated with, or for Claims resulting from, any breach of
Section 9.3 or Article 10 by Seller) if, on or prior to the second anniversary
of the Closing Date (or in the case of covenants, the performance of which
occurs after the Closing Date, within two (2) years after the date performance
did, or should have, occurred), the Indemnitee (or Buyer or Seller, as the case
may be) shall notify the Indemnifying Party (or Seller or Buyer, as the case may
be) of a Claim specifying the factual basis for the Claim in reasonable detail
to the extent then known. IN ADDITION, EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS FOR
INDEMNIFICATION ASSOCIATED WITH, OR FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM, ANY BREACH OF
SECTION 9.3 BY SELLER, SELLER AND BUYER SHALL ONLY BE LIABLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE
VIII FOR DIRECT CLAIMS AND NOT FOR ANY CLAIMS THAT ARE INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR FOR LOST PROFITS, EVEN IF SELLER OR BUYER IS
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH CLAIMS.
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8.9 Exclusive Remedy. Except with respect to specific performance
under Section 12.11 and except for a claim for payment of the Note pursuant to
its terms, and absent a showing of fraud or misrepresentation, the remedies
provided in this Article VIII will be exclusive of and limit all other remedies
that may be available to the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Section 8.9 shall prevent a party from terminating this Agreement in
accordance with the terms of Article 10.
ARTICLE 9 COVENANTS
9.1 Further Assurances. Seller agrees as follows:
(a) Seller will use its reasonable best efforts (i) to obtain any
consents by any third party or government authority or agency required
or deemed desirable by Buyer in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) to fulfill or
cause to be fulfilled each of the conditions precedent to Buyer's
obligations set forth in Section 6 hereof on or prior to the Transfer
Date; and (iii) to perform each of the acts and things required to be
performed by it hereunder at or prior to the Transfer Date; and
(b) Seller shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and
delivered such further instruments and take such other action as Buyer
may require to remedy any misrepresentation or any breach of warranty
made by Seller herein and to more effectively carry out the transfer
of the Assets and the consummation of the matters contemplated by this
Agreement.
9.2 Confidential Information. Seller agrees not to communicate,
divulge or use for the benefit of any person, firm, partnership or corporation
or any other third party any of the trade secrets, business methods, business
records and files, customer lists, promotional materials, product
specifications, drawings and prototypes, price lists, instruction manuals,
reports, or any other confidential or proprietary information of any type or
description acquired by Buyer as part of the Assets pursuant to this Agreement.
9.3 Stand-Down Agreement. Except as permitted pursuant to Sections 9.4
and 9.5, for a period, commencing on the Closing Date and continuing until the
earlier of (a) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 10, or (b)
until the Transfer Date, Seller shall not engage in the business of developing,
constructing, financing, licensing, marketing, selling or otherwise offering
nitrogen rejection solutions utilizing the AET Intellectual Property or its
rights under the Restated Agreement, and Seller shall remove all references on
its website to the treatment of high nitrogen natural gas to remove nitrogen.
9.4 Pipeline Participation Rights. If, from time to time, prior to the
fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer initiates discussions with a
third party regarding an opportunity to construct and own, either solely or in
part, a gathering system and/or tailgate pipeline for a gathering or
transportation fee in association with any nitrogen rejection unit project (a
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"NRU Project") to be undertaken by Buyer in the U.S. (a "Pipeline Opportunity"),
then Buyer will promptly provide Seller with notice of such Pipeline
Opportunity. Such notice from Buyer shall include material relevant information
in Buyer's possession regarding the Pipeline Opportunity, including any
information reasonably necessary for Seller to evaluate such Pipeline
Opportunity. Seller shall have thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to
provide a non-binding indication of interest to Buyer as to whether Seller
desires to pursue the Pipeline Opportunity. If Seller provides such indication
of interest, then as between Seller and Buyer, Seller will have the right to
take an ownership interest that Buyer would otherwise have had in the Pipeline
Opportunity equal to (i) not less than 25% and (ii) up to the greater of (a) 75%
or (b) 100% less the percentage ownership interest of Buyer in the Pipeline
Opportunity, on the same terms and conditions as Buyer, and Buyer shall have a
right to take up to a 25% ownership interest in the Pipeline Opportunity that
Buyer would otherwise have. If Seller does not elect to take all of the
ownership interest in the Pipeline Opportunity permitted by this Section, then
Buyer may take not only its 25% but any remaining ownership interest not taken
by Seller.
9.5 NRU Sublicense. Seller shall have the right to pursue, solicit and
negotiate not more than two (2) NRU Projects utilizing the nitrogen rejection
technology covered by the Restated Agreement for natural gas as defined in the
Restated Agreement, which will be disclosed by Seller and approved by Buyer as
NRU Projects that Buyer is not then pursuing or Buyer has not entered into an
agreement giving Buyer the right to issue a license at the time the NRU Project
is disclosed. One NRU Project shall be disclosed to Buyer by Seller at Closing
and the second NRU Project shall be disclosed to Buyer by Seller not later than
March 31, 2007. For each such NRU Project, Buyer shall have the right to
participate on the same terms and conditions as Seller up to 25% (but not less
than 10%) of the ownership interest available to Seller. Buyer shall issue a
site specific sublicense to Seller for each approved NRU Project and each
sublicense shall specify the fee structure that is payable to AET under the
Restated Agreement. This provision shall be null and void with respect to any
NRU Project that is not undertaken by Seller on or before December 31, 2007. All
Other Assets for any NRU Project of Seller allowed under this Section 9.5 but
not undertaken by Seller on or before December 31, 2007 will be sold, assigned
and transferred to Buyer pursuant to Section 1.1 and Seller shall, within five
(5) business days following December 31, 2007, deliver an additional First
General Conveyance, duly executed by Seller, to Buyer. For purposes of this
Section, "undertaken" shall mean that Seller has made the first 50% payment to
AET provided for under the first paragraph of Section 2.6 of the Restated
Agreement and provided AET with the information required by such paragraph of
Section 2.6 of the Restated Agreement, in both cases as required by the Restated
Agreement, to cause AET to prepare a Process Design Basis Package (as said term
is defined in the Restated Agreement) for such NRU Project.
9.6 ΐΦΜμΜΓappΟΒΤΨt Venture Projects. Unless otherwise agreed, each project in
which both parties participate pursuant to Section 9.4 and 9.5 will be organized
as a separate limited liability company (an "LLC"), governed by, and managed
pursuant to, a separate limited liability company agreement or regulations, with
terms and conditions as set forth substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit E, with blanks completed appropriately (each, a "LLC Agreement"). The
LLC Agreement for each project shall specify that (a) as between Seller and
Buyer, Seller or its subsidiary shall be the manager of each LLC and shall
receive a fee to cover all its direct costs associated with the project,
together with overhead as a fixed percentage of direct costs (or as otherwise
agreed); (b) such fees shall be borne by the parties in proportion to ownership
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interests; (c) all items of income, gain, loss or deductions will be allocated
in proportion to ownership as provided for in Sections 9.4 and 9.5, as
applicable; (d) all excess cash from the project will be distributed, in
proportion to such ownership; and (e) if either party wishes to transfer its
interest in the LLC, it must first offer such interest to the other party.
ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION
This Agreement may be terminated on or prior to the Maturity Date as
follows:
(a) by mutual consent of all parties hereto;
(b) by Buyer or by Seller if there has been a material breach by
(i) Seller (in the case of the termination of this Agreement by Buyer)
or (ii) Buyer (in the case of the termination of this Agreement by
Seller) of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this
Agreement, which in either case cannot be, or has not been, cured
prior to the Maturity Date after written notice of such breach is
given to the party committing such breach at least five (5) days prior
to the Maturity Date (the "Cure Period"), provided that the right to
effect such cure shall not extend beyond the Maturity Date;
provided, however, that this Agreement may not be terminated for any reason by
any party following the Transfer Date. If this Agreement is terminated by Buyer
pursuant to subsection (b) above then within ten (10) days following the end of
the Cure Period:
(i) Seller shall refund the Cash Payment to Buyer;
(ii) Seller shall return the original Note to Buyer and the Note
and any of Buyer's obligations to pay Seller thereunder shall be of no
further force and effect;
(iii) Buyer shall deliver the Other Assets to Seller and the
First General Conveyance(s) shall be null and void and of no further
force and effect; and
(iv) all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will
terminate, except that the obligations of the parties in this Article
10 and Article 12 (except for those in Section 12.11) will survive.
If this Agreement is terminated by Seller pursuant to subsection (b) above then:
(i) Seller may retain the Cash Payment;
(ii) Seller shall return the original Note to Buyer within ten
(10) days following the end of the Cure Period and the Note and any of
Buyer's obligations to pay Seller thereunder shall be of no further
force and effect;
(iii) Buyer shall deliver the Other Assets to Seller and the
First General Conveyance(s) shall be null and void and of no further
force and effect; and
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(iv) all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will
terminate, except that the obligations of the parties in this Article
10 and Article 12 (except for those in Section 12.11) will survive.
In the event of termination by any party as provided above, written
notice shall promptly be given to the other party. Each party's right of
termination under Article 10 is in addition to any other rights it may have
under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of such right of termination
will not be an election of remedies. A termination under the provisions of this
Article 10 shall not prejudice any claim for damages that any party may have
hereunder or in law or in equity.
ARTICLE 11 DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following
respective meanings:
"AET" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"AET Intellectual Property" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Agreement/IP Assets" means the Assets listed in Sections 1.1(a) and
(c).
"Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
"Assumed Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
"Assumption Agreement" means that certain Assumption Agreement,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
"Buyer Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
"Cash Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Claims" and "Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Cure Period" has the meaning set forth in Article 10.
"First General Conveyance" means that certain General Conveyance,
Transfer and Assignment, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
"General Conveyance Agreements" means the First General Conveyance and
the Second General Conveyance.
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"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.
"Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.
"LLC" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.
"LLC Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.
"Maturity Date" means the Maturity Date as defined in the Note.
"Note" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"NRU Project" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
"Pipeline Opportunity" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
"Other Assets" means the Assets listed in Section 1.1(b).
"Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Restated Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Retained Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
"Second General Conveyance" means that certain General Conveyance,
Transfer and Assignment, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
"Seller" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
"Seller Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
"Threshold Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.8.
"Transfer Date" means the date that Buyer pays in full the Note.
"Transfer Provisions" has the meaning set forth in Section 12.11.
ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party
without the prior written consent of the other party which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld and any attempted assignment without such written consent
shall be null and void and without legal effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Buyer may, without the prior written consent of Seller, assign this Agreement
and all of its rights and obligations hereunder to (a) any subsidiary or
affiliate of Buyer, (b) any entity or person acquiring substantially all of the
assets or capital stock of Buyer or (c) any successor in interest to Buyer.
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12.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of Texas applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State, including all
matters of enforcement, validity and performance.
12.3 Amendment and Modification. Buyer and Seller may amend, modify
and supplement this Agreement in such manner as may be mutually agreed by them
in writing.
12.4 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to be duly given if delivered by hand or if mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid or sent by prepaid overnight
delivery service, or sent by facsimile, to the parties at the following
addresses:
If to Seller: with copy to:
Gateway Processing Company βββββββ� ββββββββ ββββββ LLP
βββ� ββββββ ββββββ, βββββ� ββββ ββββ ββββββ, βββββ� ββββ
βββββββ�, βββββ� βββββ� ββββββ ββββ, ββββββββ βββββ�
Facsimile: (βββ�) βββ�-ββββ Facsimile: (βββ�) βββ�-ββββ
Attn: ββββββ ββββββ, Attn: βββββ� β�. βββββ�, Esq.
President and CEO
with copy to:
If to Buyer: with a copy to:
HNNG Development, LLC ββββββ and βββββ�, LLP
βββ� βββββββββ� ββββββ, βββββ� βββ� βββ� βββββββ� ββββββ
βββββββ�, ββ βββββ� ββββ ββββββββ, βββββ� ββββ
Facsimile: (βββ�) βββ�-ββββ βββββββ�, βββββ� βββββ�
Attn: βββββββ� β�. βββββββββββ�, Facsimile: (βββ�) βββ�-ββββ
Chairman of the Board and CEO Attn.: βββ� ββββ, Esq.
or to such other address as any party may provide to the other in writing.
12.5 Entire Agreement. This instrument embodies the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated herein,
and there have been and are no agreements, representations or warranties between
the parties other than those set forth or provided for herein.
12.6 Successors and Counterparts. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and to their
respective successors and assigns and may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
12.7 Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience
only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement.
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12.8 Exhibits. All of the Exhibits attached hereto are incorporated
herein and made a part of this Agreement by reference thereto.
12.9 Negotiated Transactions. The provisions of this Agreement were
negotiated by the parties hereto and said Agreement shall be deemed to have been
drafted by all the parties hereto.
12.10 Expenses. Each party shall pay its or his own expenses incident
to the preparation for the consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.11 Specific Performance. Seller acknowledges and agrees that Buyer
would be irreparably damaged if Seller does not perform, in accordance with
their specific terms, the provisions of this Agreement regarding the sale,
assignment, transfer, grant, delivery and conveyance to Buyer of the
Agreement/IP Assets on the Transfer Date following Buyer's payment of the Note
(collectively, the "Transfer Provisions") and that any such breach of this
Agreement by Seller could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary
damages alone. Seller further acknowledges and agrees that Seller's failure to
perform the Transfer Provisions will result in imminent irreparable harm to
Buyer and its business for which there is no available remedy at law.
Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which Buyer may be
entitled, at law or equity, it shall be entitled to enforce the Transfer
Provisions of this Agreement by decree or specific performance and to temporary,
preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened
breaches of the Transfer Provisions, without posting any bond or other
undertaking.
12.12 Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. The rights and remedies of the
parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither any
failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
under this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement will
operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege will preclude any other or
further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law,
(a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or any of the documents
referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole of in
part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed
by the other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party will be
applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no
notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation
of that party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take
further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the
documents referred to in this Agreement.
12.13 Mediation. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
to this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated herein or therein will be settled in the
following manner: (a) senior executives representing each of Seller and Buyer
will meet to discuss and attempt to resolve the controversy or claim; (b) if the
controversy or claim is not resolved as contemplated by clause (a), Seller and
Buyer will, by mutual consent, select an independent third party to mediate such
controversy or claim, provided that such mediation will not be binding upon any
of the parties; and (c) if such controversy or claim is not resolved as
contemplated by clauses (a) or (b), the parties will have such rights and
remedies as are available under this Agreement or, if and to the extent not
provided for in this Agreement, are otherwise available.
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12.14 Jurisdiction; Service of Process. Any litigation or proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein or therein may be
brought in the courts of the State of Texas, County of ββββββ, or, if it has or
can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Texas, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of each such court in any such litigation or proceeding, waives any
objection it may now or hereafter have to venue or to convenience of forum,
agrees that all claims in respect of the litigation or proceeding shall be heard
and determined only in any such court and agrees not to bring any litigation or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the documents
referred to in this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein in any other court. The parties agree that either or both of them may
file a copy of this Section with any court as written evidence of the knowing,
voluntary and bargained agreement between the parties irrevocably to waive any
objections to venue or to convenience of forum. Process in any litigation or
proceeding referred to in the first sentence of this Section may be served on
any party anywhere in the world.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
GATEWAY PROCESSING COMPANY
By: /s/ ββββββ ββββββ
-------------------------------
ββββββ ββββββ
President and CEO
HNNG DEVELOPMENT, LLC
By: /s/ βββββββ� β�. ββββββ
-------------------------------
βββββββ� β�. ββββββ
Executive Vice President
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