Asset Purchase Agreement between SKH Management Entities, Antares Exploration Fund, and AUSAM Energy Corporation
This agreement is between several SKH Management entities, Antares Exploration Fund, and AUSAM Energy Corporation. The Vendors agree to sell, and AUSAM Energy Corporation agrees to purchase, certain oil, gas, and mineral assets, including leases, rights, contracts, and records. The sale is subject to specific terms, conditions, and closing requirements, with a final closing date no later than December 31, 2006. Both parties outline their obligations and the process for transferring ownership of the assets.
INTERPRETATION
1.1 | Definitions |
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: |
(a) | Affiliate shall mean any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person. The term control and its derivatives with respect to any Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. | ||
(b) | Assets means all of each of the Vendors right, title and interests in and to the following: |
(i) | all oil, gas or mineral leases, leasehold estates, operating rights and other rights authorizing the owner thereof to explore or drill for and produce Hydrocarbons and other minerals, contractual rights to acquire any such of the foregoing interests which have been earned by performance, and fee mineral, royalty and overriding royalty interests, net profits interests, production payments and other interests payable out of Hydrocarbon production, in each case, described in Schedule A (it being understood that, prior to Closing, the Vendors may substitute one or more prospects of equal value for a Prospect designated on Schedule A with the consent of the Purchaser), together with any Additional Leases acquired as contemplated by Section 2.3(d) (collectively, the Leases); | ||
(ii) | all of the rights-of-way, easements, leases, fee estates, servitudes, permits, and licenses of any of the Vendors that are necessary or useful for the location, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, use or ownership of the Leases or processing, storing, gathering, transporting or marketing of Hydrocarbons therefrom (collectively, the Easements); | ||
(iii) | to the extent transferable without payment of any fees or penalty (unless the Purchaser expressly agrees to pay such fees), all contracts and agreements relating to the Leases or the processing, storing, gathering, transporting or marketing of Hydrocarbons therefrom, including seismic licenses (collectively, the Contracts); and | ||
(iv) | all original files, records, data, information and documentation of the Vendors (or if originals are not available, copies of such items) pertaining to or evidencing any of the Vendors use, ownership or operation of any of the foregoing Assets, including, without limitation, lease files, land files, division order files, title opinions and abstracts, legal records (excluding any records or information the disclosure of which would result in the waiver of an attorney-client privilege), tax records (other than income tax of the Vendors), governmental, tribal and |
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regulatory filings and permits, environmental records, geological and geophysical data, seismic records, maps, and computer software (subject to the Vendors licensing obligations) (collectively, the Records). |
(c) | Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a statutory holiday in Calgary, Alberta; | ||
(d) | Closing means the closing of the purchase and sale herein provided for; | ||
(e) | Closing Date means the third Business Day subsequent to the day on which all of the conditions stated in Article 3 hereof are satisfied or waived, or such other date as may be agreed upon in writing by the Vendors and the Purchaser, but in no event later than December 31, 2006; | ||
(f) | Closing Place means the offices of the Purchaser, or such other place as may be agreed upon in writing by the Vendors and the Purchaser; | ||
(g) | Closing Time means 10:00 am Mountain Time on the Closing Date or such other time as may be agreed upon in writing by the Vendors and the Purchaser; | ||
(h) | Conveyance means the form of Conveyance attached hereto as Schedule B; | ||
(i) | Environmental Liabilities means all Losses and Liabilities pertaining to the Assets in respect of the environment, whether or not caused by a breach of the Regulations and whether or not resulting from operations conducted with respect to the Assets, including Losses and Liabilities related to: |
(i) | the transportation, storage, use or disposal of toxic or hazardous substances or hazardous, dangerous or non-dangerous oilfield substances or waste; | ||
(ii) | the release, spill, escape or emission of toxic or hazardous substances; | ||
(iii) | any other pollution or contamination of the surface, substrate, soil, air, ground water, surface water or marine environments; and | ||
(iv) | any obligations imposed by the Regulations to protect the environment or to rectify environmental problems; |
(j) | Financing has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(c). | ||
(k) | Governmental Authority shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitle to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, belief, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal, including any tribal authority having or asserting jurisdiction. | ||
(1) | Hydrocarbons means oil, condensate, gas, casinghead gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, or any of them or any combination thereof, and all products and substances produced therewith, extracted, separated, processed and produced therefrom. |
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(m) | Information Circular means the information circular to be mailed by the Purchaser to its shareholders in connection with the annual and special general meeting of the shareholders of the Purchaser called for the purpose of, among other things, obtaining approval of the shareholders of the Purchaser to the issue of the Shares to the Vendors; | ||
(n) | Joint Operating Agreement means an operating agreement governing the conduct of operations on each Prospect after an assignment by the Purchaser to the Vendors of an interest in the Prospect which shall be substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Schedule G. | ||
(o) | Leases has the meaning ascribed to it in the definition of Assets. | ||
(p) | Losses and Liabilities means all claims, liabilities, actions, proceedings, demands, losses, costs, penalties, fines, damages and expenses which may be sustained or incurred by any of a Party, its directors, officers, agents and employees, including reasonable legal fees and disbursements; | ||
(q) | Party means a party to this Agreement; | ||
(r) | Permitted Encumbrances means: |
(i) | liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges which are not due or contested in good faith; | ||
(ii) | vendors, carriers, warehousemens, repairmens, mechanics, workmens, materialmens, construction or other like liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the construction or improvement of any property in respect of obligations which are not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings by or on behalf of any Vendor; | ||
(iii) | easements, rights of way, servitudes and other similar rights in land (including without limitation rights of way and servitudes for highways and other roads, railways, sewers, drains, gas and oil pipelines, gas and water mains, electric light, power, telephone, telegraph and cable television conduits, poles, wires and cables) which do not materially impair the use of the Assets affected thereby; | ||
(iv) | the right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate any of the Assets, including all rights to consent by, required notices to, filings with, or other actions by Governmental Authorities in connection with the sale or conveyance of oil and gas leases or interests therein, if the same are customarily obtained subsequent to such sale or conveyance; | ||
(v) | any security held by any Third Party encumbering the Vendors interest in and to the Assets or any part or portion thereof, in respect of which the Vendors deliver a release thereof to the Purchaser at or prior to Closing; and | ||
(vi) | all royalty burdens, liens, adverse claims, penalties, reductions in interests and other encumbrances set out in Schedule A under Encumbrances; |
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(vii) | preferential rights to purchase and required Third Party consents to assignments and similar agreements with respect to, each of which, prior to Closing, (i) waivers or consents are obtained from the appropriate parties, (ii) the appropriate time period for asserting such rights has expired without an exercise of such rights,; | ||
(viii) | conventional rights of reassignment requiring less than ninety (90) days notice to the holders of such rights; | ||
(ix) | such title or other property defects as the Purchaser may have waived in writing; and | ||
(x) | rights of a common owner of any interest in rights-of-way or easements currently held by any Vendor and such common owner as tenant in common or through common ownership; |
(s) | Person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or any other entity. | ||
(t) | Prime Rate means the annual rate of interest equal to the annual rate of interest announced from time to time by the Royal Bank in the City of Calgary as the reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian dollar commercial loans in Canada; | ||
(u) | Prospect means an area in which there is expected to occur, based upon the information developed as a result of the interpretation of the geological and geophysical data, one or more commercial accumulations of oil and/or gas in one or more specific structural or stratigraphic traps and the requisite acreage covering said structural or stratigraphic traps to control the testing and development of the same for the production of oil and/or gas. Each Prospect is further described in Schedule A. Each Prospect shall be deemed protected by a Prospect AMI established pursuant to the terms of the Participation and Right of First Refusal Agreement; | ||
(v) | Regulations means all statutes, laws, rules, orders, directives and regulations in effect from time to time and made by governments or governmental agencies having jurisdiction over the Assets or the Parties; | ||
(w) | Shares means common shares in the capital of the Purchaser; | ||
(x) | Third Party means any individual or entity other than the Vendors and the Purchaser, including without limitation any partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization, union, government and any department and agency thereof and any heir, executor, administrator or other legal representative of an individual; | ||
(y) | this Agreement, herein, hereto, hereof and similar expressions mean and refer to this Asset Purchase Agreement; | ||
(z) | TSXV means the TSX Venture Exchange. |
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1.2 | Headings | |
The expressions Article, section, subsection, clause, subclause, paragraph and Schedule followed by a number or letter or combination thereof mean and refer to the specified article, section, subsection, clause, subclause, paragraph and schedule of or to this Agreement. | ||
1.3 | Interpretation Not Affected by Headings | |
The division of this Agreement into Articles, sections, subsections, clauses, subclauses and paragraphs and the provision of headings for all or any thereof are for convenience and reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. | ||
1.4 | Included Words | |
When the context reasonably permits, words suggesting the singular shall be construed as suggesting the plural and vice versa, and words suggesting gender or gender neutrality shall be construed as suggesting the masculine, feminine and neutral genders. | ||
1.5 | Schedules | |
There are appended to this Agreement the following schedules pertaining to the following matters: |
Schedule A | | Leases | ||||
Schedule B | | Form of Conveyance | ||||
Schedule C | Value Allocation | |||||
Schedule D | Disclosure Schedules | |||||
Schedule E | Interim Report Current Lease Obligations and Commitments | |||||
Schedule F | Participation and Right of First Refusal Agreement | |||||
Schedule G | Form of Joint Operating Agreement | |||||
Schedule H | Form of Accredited Investor Certificate |
Such schedules are incorporated herein by reference as though contained in the body hereof. Wherever any term or condition of such schedules conflicts or is at variance with any term or condition in the body of this Agreement, such term or condition in the body of this Agreement shall prevail. | ||
1.6 | Knowledge | |
In this Agreement, references to a Partys knowledge or awareness and similar references mean the knowledge of the current officers of such Party after reasonable inquiry. |
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PURCHASE AND SALE AND CLOSING
2.1 | Purchase and Sale | |
The Vendors hereby agree to assign, sell, transfer, convey and set over to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Vendors, the Assets subject to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. | ||
2.2 | Closing | |
Closing shall take place at the Closing Place at the Closing Time. Subject to all other provisions of this Agreement, possession, risk and beneficial ownership of the Vendors interest in and to the Assets shall pass from the Vendors to the Purchaser at the Closing Time. | ||
2.3 | Consideration |
(a) | The consideration (the Consideration) to be paid by the Purchaser to the Vendors for the Vendors interest in and to the Assets shall be the issuance and delivery of an aggregate of 63,417,143 Shares plus an aggregate amount of cash equal to $13,419,558 USD to the Vendors as follows plus any Post Execution GG&L (as defined below): |
(i) | Vendor A, Zero Shares plus $ -0- USD in cash; | ||
(ii) | Vendor A-2, 2,846,451 Shares plus $602,331USD in cash; | ||
(iii) | Vendor A-3, 16,299,778 Shares plus $3,449,159 USD in cash; | ||
(iv) | Vendor B, 11,630,140 Shares plus $2,461,028 USD in cash; and | ||
(v) | Vendor C, 32,640,775 Shares plus $6,907,041 USD in cash. | ||
(vi) | The allocation of the Consideration among the Vendors will be adjusted as of the Closing Time based upon the relative increase in value of the Assets attributed to any Post Execution GG&L. |
(b) | At Closing, the Purchaser shall cause to be delivered to each of the Vendors a share certificate in the name of such Vendor representing the number of the Shares to be issued to such Vendor and the Purchaser shall cause each of the Vendors to be recorded and registered in the share register of the Purchaser as the registered holder of such number of the Shares. | ||
(c) | The value of the Consideration shall be allocated among the Assets as set forth in Schedule C and any Post Execution GG&L will be allocated to the Prospects on which such costs are expended. The value of the Shares shall be deemed to be CA $0.35 per Share. | ||
(d) | The cash portion of the Consideration is intended to allow the Vendors to recover the expenditures made by them pertaining to the acquisition, ownership, and maintenance of the Leases included in each of the Prospects, together with the costs and expenses incurred and paid by the Vendors in connection with the geological and geophysical |
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analysis and development of the Prospects included in the Assets incurred prior to the date of this Agreement (such cash amount is referred to herein as GG&L and is allocated among the Prospects on Schedule C). Following the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Vendors may continue to acquire Leases on lands included within the area covered by one or more Prospects (the Additional Leases), and to the extent that the Vendors continue to incur and pay costs and expenses in connection with the acquisition of Additional Leases and the maintenance of Leases already held by the Vendors, the Vendors are entitled to reimbursement of all of such costs and expenses so incurred and paid as a part of the Consideration contemplated in this Section 2.3; provided, however, that following the date of the this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Vendors cannot incur such costs in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate or $200,000 in any individual incurrence without the prior consent of AEC. Such additional costs and expenses related are referred to herein as the Post Execution GG&L. The cash portion of the Consideration shall be allocated among the respective Vendors in the proportion that the aggregate GG&L of the Prospects contributed by each of the Vendors bears to the aggregate GG&L of all of the Prospects as set forth on Schedule C. |
2.4 | Deliveries at Closing |
(a) | At Closing, the Vendors shall deliver the following: |
(i) | Conveyances for the Assets in the form set forth in Schedule B hereto, duly executed by the appropriate Vendors in sufficient counterparts for filing in the counties and parishes where the Assets are located; | ||
(ii) | duly executed counterparts of the Participation Agreement in the form set forth as Schedule F hereto; | ||
(iii) | such other items, including executed general conveyance documents sufficient to transfer the Assets not conveyed by the Conveyances, as may be specifically required by this Agreement. |
(b) | At Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver the following: |
(i) | share certificates in the name of each of the Vendors as set forth in Section 2.3 hereof; | ||
(ii) | cash in the amounts specified in Section 2.3(a) by wire transfer of immediately available funds; | ||
(iii) | duly executed counterparts of the Participation Agreement in the form set forth as Schedule F hereto; which may be executed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser to which Purchaser has assigned its interest in the Assets pursuant to Section 11.4; and | ||
(iv) | such other items as may be specifically required by this Agreement. |
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2.5 | Post Closing Deliveries | |
In addition to the deliveries made under Section 2.4 hereof, at any time within 15 business days of the Closing pursuant to the Purchasers reasonable request, the Vendors shall deliver to the Purchaser possession of the Records. |
CONDITIONS OF CLOSING
3.1 | Purchasers Conditions of Closing | |
The purchase of the Assets by the Purchaser is subject to the following conditions precedent for the exclusive benefit of the Purchaser, which may be waived in whole or in part by the Purchaser by written notice to the Vendors at or prior to Closing: |
(a) | all necessary shareholder and regulatory approval for the purchase of the Assets by the Purchaser shall have been obtained including, without limitation, TSXV and shareholder approval, and such further approvals as may be necessary or required by law or contract to consummate the transaction contemplated by this Agreement; | ||
(b) | the representations and warranties of the Vendors set forth in this agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Time, with the same force and effect as though such representations and warranties had been made or given at and as of the Closing Date; | ||
(c) | the Vendors shall have materially performed or complied with all obligations, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement as to which performance or compliance by the Vendors is required prior to or at the Closing Date; | ||
(d) | no material suit, action, or other proceeding shall be pending before any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain, prohibit, enjoin, or declare illegal, or seeking substantial damages in connection with, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; | ||
(e) | the Purchaser shall have completed a due diligence review of the Assets and shall have obtained satisfactory results therefrom as determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion; and | ||
(f) | the Purchaser shall have obtained binding commitments from investors to purchase securities of the Purchaser on or before the Closing Time such that the Purchaser will realize gross proceeds of at least USD $45 million (the Financing). To the extent applicable, the price per security will be determined in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and will be acceptable to the Purchaser, acting reasonably. |
If any of the foregoing conditions has not been complied with, or waived by the Purchaser at or before the Closing Time the Purchaser may, in addition to any other remedies which it may have available to it, terminate its obligations to purchase the Assets by written notice to the Vendors at or prior to the Closing Time specifying the conditions which have not been satisfied and, in such event, the Purchaser shall be released and discharged from all further obligations hereunder, other than those contained in Section 10.1 and Article 11. |
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3.2 | Vendors Conditions on Closing | |
The sale of the Assets by the Vendors is subject to the condition precedent, for the exclusive benefit of the Vendors, that the Vendors shall have completed a due diligence review of the Purchaser and shall have concluded that no adverse material fact exists concerning the business or affairs of the Purchaser that has not been publicly disclosed, or disclosed to the Vendor in writing, prior to the date of the Information Circular. The Vendors may waive this condition in whole or in part by written notice to the Purchaser at or prior to October 15, 2006. | ||
If the foregoing condition has not been complied with or waived by the Vendors by October 15, 2006, the Vendors may, in addition to any other remedies which they may have available to them, terminate their obligations to sell the Assets by written notice to the Purchaser at or prior to the close of the Business Day on October 15, 2006, specifying what conditions have not been satisfied and, in such event, the Vendors shall be released and discharged from all further obligations hereunder, other than those contained in Section 10.1 and Article 11. | ||
The sale of the Assets by the Vendors is subject to the condition precedent, for the exclusive benefit of the Vendors, that the Purchaser shall have obtained binding commitments from investors with respect to the Financing. | ||
The sale of the Assets by the Vendors is also subject to the following conditions precedent for the exclusive benefit of the Vendors and which may be waived in whole or in part by the Vendors by written notice to the Purchaser at or prior to Closing: |
(a) | the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in this agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Time, with the same force and effect as though such representations and warranties had been made or given an and as of the Closing Date; | ||
(b) | the Purchaser shall have materially performed or complied with all obligations, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement as to which performance or compliance by the Purchaser is required prior to or at the Closing Date; and | ||
(c) | no material suit, action, or other proceeding shall be pending before any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain, prohibit, enjoin, or declare illegal, or seeking substantial damages in connection with, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 | Representations and Warranties of Vendor | |
Each of the Vendors jointly and severally makes the following representations and warranties to the Purchaser, no claim in respect of which shall be made or be enforceable by the Purchaser unless written notice of such claim, with reasonable particulars, is given by the Purchaser to the Vendors within a period of twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Time: |
(a) | each Vendor is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is authorized to carry on business in the jurisdiction in which the Lands are located, and now has good right, full power and absolute authority to sell, assign, |
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transfer, convey and set over the interest of such Vendor in and to the Assets according to the true intent and meaning of this Agreement; | |||
(b) | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by any and all requisite corporate, partnership, shareholders and directors actions with respect to each Vendor and will not result in any violation of, be in conflict with or constitute a default under any articles, charter, bylaw or other governing document to which such Vendor is bound; | ||
(c) | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in any violation of, be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term or provision of any agreement or document to which the Vendors are party, by which the Vendors are bound or to which the Assets are subject, nor under any judgment, decree, order, statute, regulation, rule or license applicable to the Vendors; | ||
(d) | this Agreement and any other agreements delivered in connection herewith constitute valid and binding obligations of each Vendor enforceable against each Vendor in accordance with their terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws, as well as to principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); | ||
(e) | no authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body exercising jurisdiction over the Assets is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Vendors of this Agreement, other than authorizations, approvals or exemptions from requirements therefor, previously obtained and currently in force; | ||
(f) | none of the Vendors have incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokers or finders fees in respect of this Agreement or the transaction to be effected by it for which the Purchaser shall have any obligation or liability; | ||
(g) | except for the Permitted Encumbrances, the Assets are free and clear of all liens, mortgages, royalties, encumbrances, net profits interests, options, security interests or other burdens or adverse claims created by, through or under the Vendors and, to the knowledge of the Vendors, by Third Parties; | ||
(h) | there are no judgments and no claims, proceedings, actions or lawsuits in existence or, to the Vendors knowledge, contemplated or threatened against or with respect to the Assets; | ||
(i) | the sale of the Assets pursuant hereto is not subject to (i) any rights of first refusal which have not been waived by the holder thereof, or similar pre-emptive rights created by, through or under the Vendors or (ii) any other transfer restriction; | ||
(j) | as of the Closing Time, there are no AFEs, unit budget or similar financial commitments which have not already been disclosed and as are included in Schedule E, pursuant to which expenditures by the Purchaser in respect of the Assets are or may be required after the Closing Time; . |
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(k) | to the Vendors knowledge, each of the Vendors has given the Purchaser access to all written information in its possession relating to Environmental Liabilities and Abandonment and Reclamation Obligations; | ||
(1) | none of the Vendors have received actual notice, written or oral, of: |
(A) | any material non-compliance in relation to the Assets with any law; or | ||
(B) | any claim in relation to the Assets by any Third Party of material Environmental Liabilities (including pollution) or material Abandonment and Reclamation Obligations; |
(m) | the Leases, Easements and Contracts are in full force and effect, and none of the Vendors is, and to the Vendors knowledge no other party is, in breach of any Lease Easement or Contract and to the Vendors knowledge no default exists thereunder; | ||
(n) | (i) none of the Leases contain royalty provisions (other than those allowing a lessor the right to take in kind and other than royalties due to governmental entities) requiring the payment of royalty on any basis other than proceeds actually received by the lessee, (ii) there are no Leases that are subject to a fixed term of duration, (iii) there are no unfulfilled drilling obligations affecting the Leasehold Interests, other than provisions requiring optional drilling as a condition of maintaining or earning all or a portion of a Lease, (iv) all royalties, rentals and other payments due in respect of the Leases have been timely paid and all other conditions necessary to keep such properties and interests in full force and effect during their primary term, and thereafter if commercial production has been established thereon or on lands pooled therewith, have been fully performed; (v) except as otherwise noted on Schedule D, there are no limitations as to the depths covered or minerals to which the Leases to apply; and (vi) except as otherwise noted on Schedule D, there are no restrictions on the Purchasers ability to utilize the surface of the Leases, to conduct operations on the Leases, or to have access to the Leases that would have an adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate on the value of any of the Assets or on the Purchasers ownership or operation thereof; | ||
(o) | (i) None of the Contracts subject all or any portion of the Assets to any tax partnership or to any obligation requiring a partnership income tax return to be filed under the application of Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code, or any similar state statute; (ii) none of the Contracts will subject the Purchaser to any area of mutual interest, non competition or similar provision restricting the Purchaser from independently conducting operations in any geographic area; and (iii) the Contracts include all contracts and agreement that are material to the ownership and operation of the Assets, as currently owned and operated; | ||
(p) | the Vendors have obtained all governmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required to own and operate the Assets; all such authorizations are in full force and effect; and to the Vendors knowledge no violations exist thereunder; | ||
(q) | all ad valorem, property, production, severance, sales, use, windfall profits and similar taxes and assessments based on or measured by the ownership of the Assets or the production of Hydrocarbons or the receipt of proceeds therefrom that have become due and payable with respect to the Assets have been, or will be, paid timely and all tax and |
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information returns to tax authorities required to be filed with respect to the Assets have been, or will be, filed timely; | |||
(r) | the Vendors own and have the right to use without any limitations or restrictions (including without limitation restrictions related to transfers to, or use by, third parties), all technology, processes, maps, seismic records, shot points, field notes, interpretations and programs, geological and geophysical information and libraries included as part of the Assets and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not alter or impair any such rights or breach any agreements with Third Party vendors or require payments of additional sums to such persons; | ||
(s) | none of the Vendors, their Affiliates nor anyone acting on their behalf has issued, sold or offered any security of the Purchaser to any person under circumstances that would cause the sale of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement, to be subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act); | ||
(t) | each of the Vendors understands that the offering and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement has not been registered under and is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and Regulation D thereunder and each Vendor acknowledges that each certificate representing the Shares shall bear a legend substantially in the following form: | ||
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER SUCH ACT, OR UNLESS THE CORPORATION HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. | |||
UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES SHALL NOT TRADE THE SECURITIES BEFORE . | |||
WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRADED ON OR THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE OR OTHERWISE IN CANADA OR TO OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CANADIAN RESIDENT UNTIL . | |||
(u) | each of the Vendors is an accredited investor (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and has truthfully and accurately completed the certificate attached hereto as Schedule G indicating the basis on which it is representing its status as an accredited investor; | ||
(v) | each of the Vendors is acquiring the Shares to be acquired hereunder for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof in violation of any securities law; and |
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(w) | each Vendor (A) has been furnished with or has had full access to all of the information that it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Shares, (B) has had an opportunity to discuss with management of the Purchaser the intended business and financial affairs of the Purchaser and to obtain information (to the extent the Purchaser possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify any information furnished to him or to which he had access, (C) can bear the economic risk of (I) an investment in the Shares indefinitely and (II) a total loss in respect of such investment and (D) has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters so as to enable it to understand and evaluate the risks of and form an investment decision with respect to its investment in the Shares and to protect its own interest in connection with such investment. |
4.2 | Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser | |
The Purchaser makes the following representations and warranties to the Vendors, no claim in respect of which shall be made or be enforceable by the Vendors unless written notice of such claim, with reasonable particulars, is given by the Vendors to the Purchaser within a period of twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Time: |
(a) | The Purchaser is a corporation duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Purchaser, as of Closing will be authorized to carry on business in the jurisdiction in which the Assets are located, and, subject to obtaining all necessary shareholder and regulatory approval, now has good right, full power and absolute authority to purchase the interest of the Vendors in and to the Assets according to the true intent and meaning of this Agreement; | ||
(b) | the execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by any and all requisite corporate and directors actions and, following shareholder approval thereof, will not result in any violation of, be in conflict with or constitute a default under any articles, charter, bylaw or other constating document to which the Purchaser is bound; | ||
(c) | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in any violation of, be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term or provision of any agreement or document to which the Purchaser is party or by which the Purchaser is bound, nor under any judgment, decree, order, statute, Regulation, rule or license applicable to the Purchaser; | ||
(d) | this Agreement and any other agreements delivered in connection herewith constitute valid and binding obligations of the Purchaser enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with their terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws, as well as to principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).; | ||
(e) | subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, the Purchaser is authorized to issue and deliver the Shares to the Vendors, the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of which are defined in the articles of incorporation of the Purchaser; |
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(f) | the Purchaser (A) has been furnished with or has had full access to all of the information that it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Assets, (B) has had an opportunity to discuss with management of the Vendors the financial status of the Assets and to obtain information (to the extent the Vendors possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify any information furnished to the Purchase or to which it had access, (C) can bear the economic risk of (I) an investment in the Assets indefinitely and (II) a total loss in respect of such investment and (D) has such knowledge and experience in oil and gas exploration, drilling and development matters so as to enable it to understand and evaluate the risks of and form an investment decision with respect to its investment in the Assets and to protect its own interest in connection with such investment. In addition, by the Purchasers having had full access to all data in the possession of the Vendors regarding the Assets, the Purchaser exercising its own judgment has made its own evaluation and decisions regarding the Assets and has not relied upon the analyses performed by the Vendors in making its decision to acquire the Assets; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall operate to relieve the Vendors from their obligations under this Agreement or any liability they may have for any breach of a representation or warranty made by the Vendors in this Agreement; | ||
(g) | no authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body exercising jurisdiction over the Assets is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement, other than authorizations, approvals or exemptions from requirements therefor, previously obtained and currently in force; and | ||
(h) | the Shares issued to each of the Vendors pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be issued as fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Purchaser. |
INDEMNITIES FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
5.1 | The Vendors Indemnities for Representations and Warranties | |
The Vendors shall be jointly and severally liable to the Purchaser for and shall, in addition, indemnify the Purchaser, its Affiliates, and all of its and their respective shareholders, partners, members, directors, officers, managers, employees, agents and representatives (the Purchaser Indemnified Parties) from and against all Losses and Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from any breach by any of the Vendors of any of the representations and warranties contained in section 4.1 or any covenant or agreement of any Vendor contained in this Agreement. | ||
5.2 | Purchasers Indemnities for Representations and Warranties | |
The Purchaser shall be liable to the Vendors for and shall, in addition, indemnify the Vendors, their Affiliates, and all of their respective shareholders, partners, members, directors, officers, managers, employees, agents and representatives (the Vendor Indemnified Parties) from and against all Losses and Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from any breach by any of the Purchaser of any of the representations and warranties contained in section 4.2 or any covenant or agreement of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement. |
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5.3 | Time Limitation | |
No claim under this Article 5 shall be made or be enforceable by a Party unless written notice of such claim, with reasonable particulars, is given by such Party to the Party against whom the claim is made within a period of twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Time. |
PURCHASERS INDEMNITIES
6.1 | General Indemnity | |
The Purchaser shall be liable to the Vendors for and shall, in addition, indemnify the Vendors from and against all Losses and Liabilities suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by the Vendors which arise out of any matter or thing occurring or arising from and after the Closing Time and which relates to the Assets (other than any interest in the Assets assigned to the Vendors following Closing), provided that the Purchaser shall not be liable to the Vendors under this Section 6.1 in respect of Losses and Liabilities for which the Vendors have agreed to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnified Parties under Section 5.1 hereof. | ||
6.2 | Environmental Matters | |
The Purchaser shall be liable to the Vendors for and shall, in addition, indemnify the Vendors from and against all Losses and Liabilities suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by the Vendors which pertain to Environmental Liabilities pertaining to or caused by the Assets or operations thereon or related thereto (other than any interest in the Assets assigned to the Vendors following Closing), however and by whomsoever caused, and whether such Environmental Liabilities occur or arise in whole or in part, from and after the Closing Time; provided that the Purchaser shall not be liable to the Vendors under this Section 6.2 in respect of Losses and Liabilities for which the Vendors have agreed to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnified Parties under Section 5.1 hereof. |
STATEMENT OF OBLIGATIONS/COMMITMENTS
7.1 | Conduct of Business Prior to Closing |
(a) | Each Vendor agrees that from and after the date hereof until Closing, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as expressly consented to in writing by the Purchaser, to: |
(i) | operate and maintain the Assets in the usual, regular and ordinary manner consistent with past practice; | ||
(ii) | maintain the books of account and records relating to the Assets in the usual, regular and ordinary manner, in accordance with the usual practices of each such Vendor; | ||
(iii) | not enter into any contract or agreement related to the Assets that if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would be required to be listed in a schedule |
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attached to this Agreement, or materially amend or change the terms of any of the Contracts; and | |||
(iv) | not transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge or dispose of any material portion of the Assets. |
(b) | Each Vendor will notify the Purchaser promptly after the discovery by such Vendor that any representation or warranty of such Vendor contained in this Agreement is, becomes or will be untrue in any material respect on or before the Closing Date. | ||
(c) | From and after the date hereof and through the Closing Date, each Vendor will provide the Purchaser and its representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to the Assets and the books and records relating to the Assets for review by the Purchaser. |
7.2 | Adjustments |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7 and subject to all other provisions of this Agreement, the Parties will adjust and apportion expenditures and revenues of every kind and nature incurred, payable or paid in respect of the Assets including royalties, property taxes, and taxes and assessments (other than income taxes), as at the Closing Time. | ||
(b) | The Vendors are entitled to the revenues and benefits from the ownership and operation of the Assets accrued prior to the Closing Time and are responsible for and will pay for the expenditures pertaining to the ownership, operation and development of the Assets incurred prior to the Closing Time; provided, however, that following the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Vendors may continue to acquire Leases on lands included within the area covered by one or more Prospects, and to the extent that the Vendors continue to incur and pay costs and expenses in connection with the acquisition of Additional Leases and the maintenance of Leases already held by the Vendors (both of which are contemplated to occur), the Vendors shall be entitled to reimbursement as provided in Section 2.3; provided that the Vendors shall not incur such cost in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate or $200,000 in any individual incurrence without the prior consent of the Purchaser. | ||
(c) | The Purchaser is entitled to the revenues and benefits from the ownership and operation of the Assets accrued from and after the Closing Time and is responsible for and will pay for the expenditures pertaining to the ownership, operation and development of the Assets incurred from and after the Closing Time, subject to the Participation Agreement. | ||
(d) | To the extent that any of the Leases in a Prospect terminates, for any reason, prior to the Closing, there shall be a downward adjustment of the cash consideration payable to the Vendors based upon the acquisition and maintenance costs attributable to the terminated Lease; provided, however, that if the downward adjustment is less than $20,000, there shall be no downward adjustment, anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding. Prior to the Closing Time, each of the Vendors shall deliver to the Purchaser a written interim statement of obligations and commitments, including all applicable taxes, surface and mineral lease bonus, rentals and any similar payments made or required to be made by any of the Vendors to purchase or to preserve any of the Leases or any Easement, under this Agreement, including lease brokers expenses, legal fees and other related costs, and each of the Vendors will make available to representatives of the Purchaser all information necessary for the Purchaser to confirm the calculations in the |
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statement as included in Schedule E. The Parties will cooperate in settling the adjustments and payment to be made on an interim basis, and the amount so agreed will be employed for the purposes of the Closing and completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. | |||
(e) | Within 60 days following the Closing Time, the Parties will cooperate in preparing a final statement of all obligations, commitments and payments to be made pursuant to this Agreement. Upon agreement as to all adjustments and payments to be made, the net amount will be remitted by the Party who in the net result is obliged to make payment. | ||
(f) | Notwithstanding the preceding subsection, each Party will have the right, within the later of three months following the distribution of the final statement of adjustments by the Vendors or six months following the Closing Time, to examine, copy and audit the records of the other relative to the Assets for the purpose of effecting or verifying adjustments required under this Article. The auditing Party will, upon reasonable notice, conduct that audit at its sole expense during normal business hours at the offices of the audited Party or at such other premises where those records are maintained. Any material claims of discrepancies disclosed by that audit will be made in writing to the audited Party within two months following the completion of that audit. That Party will respond in writing to any such claims within three months of the receipt of notice of those claims. | ||
(g) | All payments made after the Closing Time are to be paid within 30 days after the amount is determined and, if not paid within the 30 days, will thereafter bear interest until paid at a rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus 1% compounded annually. | ||
(h) | Notwithstanding when Closing occurs, the Vendors shall perform the accounting and continue to collect, prepare, file and complete the information, reports, forms and documents normally required to be collected, prepared, filed and completed in the ordinary course of business for the entire month in which Closing occurs. |
POST-CLOSING OBLIGATIONS
8.1 | Post-Closing | |
In the event that for any reason, the Parties are unable on the Closing Date to cause the Purchaser to become the recognized holder of any of the Assets in the place and stead of the Vendors, then the Vendors shall: |
(a) | Standard of Care: hold and stand possessed of such Assets fully on behalf of the Purchaser, as bare trustee, and receive and hold all proceeds, benefits and advantages accruing in respect of the Assets fully for the benefit, use and ownership of the Purchaser, and cause such proceeds to be delivered to the Purchaser as soon as reasonably possible; | ||
(b) | Notices from Third Parties: in a timely manner, deliver to the Purchaser all third party notices and communications received by it in respect of such Assets; | ||
(c) | Notices to Third Parties: in a timely manner, deliver to third parties all such notices and communications as the Purchaser may reasonably request and all such monies and other items as the Purchaser may reasonably provide in respect of such Assets; |
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(d) | General: as agent of the Purchaser, do and perform all such acts and things and execute and deliver all such agreements, notices and other documents and instruments, as the Purchaser may reasonably request in writing for purposes of facilitating the exercise of rights incidental to the ownership of such Assets or required by any government or regulatory agency of appropriate authority having jurisdiction. |
The Purchaser shall pay all invoices, cash calls and bills forwarded to it by the Vendors which pertain to the Assets in respect of any period after the Closing Time. | ||
8.2 | Liability | |
The Vendors shall not be liable to the Purchaser for any loss or damages suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by the Purchaser in connection with the arrangements established by section 8.1, except to the extent that the loss or damage is caused by the Vendors gross negligence or its willful misconduct. The Purchaser shall: |
(a) | be liable to the Vendors for all losses whatsoever which the Vendors may suffer, sustain, pay or incur; and | ||
(b) | indemnify and save harmless the Vendors and each of their directors, officers, servants, agents, consultants and employees from and against any claims and losses whatsoever which may be brought against or suffered by any of them or which they may sustain, pay or incur arising out of the non-performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under section 8.1. An action or omission of the Vendors or any of their directors, officers, servants, agents or employees shall not be regarded as gross negligence or willful misconduct, however, to the extent it was done or omitted to be done in accordance with the instructions of or with the concurrence of the Purchaser. Nothing in this section 8.2 shall be construed as extending or restricting or limiting in any manner any of the other covenants, warranties, representations or other obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. |
TERMINATION
9.1 | Right of Termination | |
This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein may be terminated at any time at or prior to Closing: |
(a) | by Purchaser, at Purchasers option, if any of the conditions set forth in Section 3.1 have not been satisfied on or before December 31, 2006 (the Termination Date); | ||
(b) | by the Vendors, at the Vendors option, if any of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 have not been satisfied on or before the Termination Date; |
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9.2 | Effect of Termination | |
If the obligation to close the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is terminated pursuant to any provision of Section 9.1 hereof, then, except as provided in this Section 9.2, Section 10.1 and Article 11, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and the Parties shall have no liability or obligation hereunder except and to the extent such termination results from the willful breach by a Party of any of its covenants or agreements hereunder; provided that if Purchaser is entitled to receive the Termination Fee as liquidated damages pursuant to Section 9.2(b), then such retention shall constitute full and complete satisfaction of any and all damages Purchaser may have against the Vendors. |
CONFIDENTIALITY
10.1 | Confidentiality | |
Further to recent discussions between the Vendors and the Purchaser regarding the Assets, the Parties have or will be supplying each other with information which includes, but is not limited to, financial, geological, geophysical, engineering, environmental and land data concerning the Assets or the Purchaser, as applicable, which is either non-public, confidential, or proprietary in nature (referred to hereinafter as the Confidential Information). As used herein, the term Receiving Party refers to the Party receiving Confidential Information and the term Disclosing Party refers to the Party disclosing Confidential Information. Confidential Information may be in any form whatsoever, including, without limitation, writings, computer code or programs, logic diagrams, component specifications, drawings, or other media, and may be in writing, oral, tangible or intangible and includes all notes, analyses, summaries or studies prepared by the receiving party from the disclosed information. | ||
In consideration of the mutual exchange of Confidential Information between the Vendors and the Purchaser, and in consideration of the Parties desire to be assured that confidentiality shall be maintained subsequent to the Closing, each of the Parties hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its employees, directors, consultants and advisors, as follows: |
(a) | the Confidential Information shall be kept in strict confidence and shall be used only for the purpose of evaluating the technical and financial aspects of the Assets or the Purchaser, as applicable. The Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to any person other than such of the Parties directors, employees, consultants and advisors who are directly involved with and require access to such information in connection with the proposed acquisition. If the Confidential Information is disclosed to any of the Parties directors, employees, consultants or advisors, such persons shall be informed of the confidential nature of the information and agree to be bound by this Agreement prior to disclosure of the confidential information unless as otherwise agreed and which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Receiving Party shall be directly responsible to the Disclosing Party for the compliance of its representatives hereunder and shall be responsible for any breach of any of the terms or conditions hereof by such representatives; | ||
(b) | the Parties agree that all rights to Confidential Information disclosed pursuant to this Agreement are reserved to the Disclosing Party and no license or conveyance of any intellectual property rights is granted or implied by the Disclosing Party to the Receiving Party; |
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(c) | the restrictions set forth in paragraph (a) shall not apply to any part of the Confidential Information which: |
(i) | was, at the time of disclosure generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Receiving Party in breach of this Agreement; or | ||
(ii) | was, at the time of disclosure, as shown by the Receiving Partys records, already in such Partys possession on a lawful basis; |
(d) | prior to the Closing, the Vendors shall not, and shall direct such of its directors, employees, consultants and advisors who have access to the Confidential Information, to not, disclose to any person any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any possible transaction concerning the Assets. | ||
(e) | at any time, upon the request of the Purchaser, the Vendors shall return the Confidential Information to the Purchaser, and shall not retain any copies, extracts or other reproductions nor any materials derived from such Confidential Information. | ||
(f) | following the Closing, the Vendors shall keep the Confidential Information provided to the Purchaser and all other information regarding the Assets in strict confidence and shall not disclose such information to any other person; | ||
(g) | the Parties shall be entitled to disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by an order issued by a court, or regulatory body or competent jurisdiction, provided that the Receiving Party shall; |
(i) | provide to the Disclosing Party reasonable advance written notice of any such requirement for disclosure so that the Disclosing Party may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy; | ||
(ii) | consult with the Disclosing Party, if requested, on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or narrow such order; and | ||
(iii) | take such steps as are reasonably necessary and available to maintain confidentiality with the court, stock exchange or regulatory body; |
(h) | each of the Parties acknowledge and agree that a Disclosing Party will be irreparably injured by a breach of obligations contained in this Article 10, which could not be adequately compensated for by damages. The Disclosing Party shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, in the event of any breach of the provisions of this Article 10. Such remedies shall not be deemed to be exclusive remedies but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or at equity; and | ||
(i) | following the Closing, the Purchaser shall not be subject to this Section 10.1 with respect to the Assets acquired at Closing. |
10.2 | Non-Competition. | |
The Purchaser agrees that if the transaction contemplated by this Agreement does not close for any reason, for a period to two (2) years following the termination of the Agreement the Purchaser shall not engage in any competition with any of the Vendors with |
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GENERAL
11.1 | Further Assurances | |
Each Party will, from time to time and at all times after Closing, without further consideration, do such further acts and deliver all such further assurances, deeds and documents as shall be reasonably required in order to fully perform and carry out the terms of this Agreement. |
11.2 | No Merger | |
The covenants, representations, warranties and indemnities contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be restated in any and all assignments, conveyances, transfers and other documents conveying the interests of the Vendors in and to the Assets to the Purchaser, subject to any and all time and other limitations contained in this Agreement. There shall not be any merger of any covenant, representation, warranty or indemnity in such assignments, conveyances, transfers and other documents notwithstanding any rule of law, equity or statute to the contrary and such rules are hereby waived. | ||
11.3 | Entire Agreement | |
The provisions contained in any and all documents and agreements collateral hereto shall at all times be read subject to the provisions of this Agreement and, in the event of conflict, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. No amendments shall be made to this Agreement unless in writing, executed by the Parties. This Agreement supersedes all other agreements, documents, writings and verbal understandings among the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof and expresses the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. | ||
11.4 | Assignment of Assets | |
Each of the Vendors hereby acknowledges that the Purchaser may wish to assign its interest in the Assets to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser, and each of the Vendors hereby consents to such assignment. If the Purchaser determines to make such assignment prior to the Closing Time, the Vendors shall transfer title to the Assets into the name of the Purchasers assignee. | ||
11.5 | Governing Law | |
This Agreement shall, in all respects, be subject to, interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with and under the laws of the Province of Alberta and applicable laws of Canada and shall, in all respects, be treated as a contract made in the Province of Alberta. The Parties irrevocably attorn and submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Alberta and courts of appeal therefrom in respect of all matters arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. |
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11.6 | Expenses | |
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Vendors or the Purchaser in negotiating this Agreement or in consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring the same, including, without limitation, legal and accounting fees, costs and expenses. | ||
11.7 | Assignment | |
Except as contemplated by Section 11.4, this Agreement may not be assigned by a Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be unreasonably and arbitrarily withheld. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective administrators, trustees, receivers, successors and permitted assigns. | ||
11.8 | Publicity | |
The Parties shall consult with each other with regard to all press releases or other public or private announcements issued or made at or prior to the Closing concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, and, except as may be required by applicable laws or the applicable rules and regulations of any governmental agency or stock exchange, no Party shall issue any such press release or other publicity without the prior written consent of the other Parties, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. | ||
11.9 | Time of Essence | |
Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement. | ||
11.10 | Notices | |
The addresses for service and the fax numbers of the Parties shall be as follows: |
Vendor - | SKH Management L.P. SKH Management II, L.P., and SKHManagement III, L.L.C. Suite 500, 7700 San Felipe Drive Houston, Texas 77063 | |||
Attention: Paul J. Sigmund, President Fax: + ###-###-#### and + ###-###-#### | ||||
Vendor- | SKH Energy Fund L.P. Suite 500, 7700 San Felipe Drive Houston, Texas 77063 | |||
Attention: Paul J. Sigmund, President Fax: + ###-###-#### and + ###-###-#### |
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Vendor- | Antares Exploration Fund L.P. Suite 500, 7700 San Felipe Drive Houston, Texas 77063 | |||
Attention: Paul J. Sigmund, President Fax: + ###-###-#### and + ###-###-#### | ||||
Purchaser - | Ausam Energy Corporation Suite 1430, 1122 Fourth Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 1M1 | |||
Attention: Mark Avery, Chairman, President and CEO Fax: + ###-###-#### |
All notices, communications and statements required, permitted or contemplated hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be delivered as follows: |
(a) | by personal service on a Party at the address of such Party set out above, in which case the item so served shall be deemed to have been received by that Party when personally served; | ||
(b) | by facsimile transmission to a Party to the fax number of such Party set out above, in which case the item so transmitted shall be deemed to have been received by that Party when transmitted; or | ||
(c) | except in the event of an actual or threatened postal strike or other labour disruption that may affect mail service, by mailing first class registered post, postage prepaid, to a Party at the address of such Party set out above, in which case the item so mailed shall be deemed to have been received by that Party on the third Business Day following the date of mailing. |
A Party may from time to time change its address for service or its fax number or both by giving written notice of such change to the other Party. | ||
11.11 | Invalidity of Provisions | |
In case any of the provisions of this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. | ||
11.12 | Waiver | |
No failure on the part of any Party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right or remedy in law or in equity or by statute or otherwise conferred. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement, including without limitation, this section, shall be effective otherwise than by an instrument in writing dated |
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subsequent to the date hereof, executed by a duly authorized representative of the Party making such waiver. | ||
11.13 | Amendment | |
Subject to all required approval therefore, this Agreement shall not be varied in its terms or amended by oral agreement or by representations or otherwise other than by an instrument in writing dated subsequent to the date hereof, executed by a duly authorized representative of each Party. | ||
11.14 | Counterpart Execution | |
This Agreement may be executed in counterpart, no one copy of which need be executed by the Vendors and the Purchaser. A valid and binding contract shall arise if and when counterpart execution pages are executed and delivered by the Vendors and the Purchaser. |
THE VENDORS | ||||||||||
SKH Management, L.P. | SKH Management II, L.P. | |||||||||
Per: | /s/ Paul J. Sigmund | Per: | /s/ Paul J. Sigmund | |||||||
SKH Management III, L.L.C. | SKH Energy Fund, L.P. | |||||||||
Per: | /s/ Paul J. Sigmund | Per: | /s/ Paul J. Sigmund | |||||||
Antares Exploration Fund, L.P. | ||||||||||
Per: | /s/ Paul J. Sigmund | |||||||||
THE PURCHASER: | ||||||||||
AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION | ||||||||||
Per: | /s/ Mark G. Avery | |||||||||
Chairman President CEO |
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Prospect. | Propect | Gross Lease | Net Lease | Lease | Target Objective | |||||||||
Number | Name | Acreage | Acreage | Description | (Estimated TD) | |||||||||
1 | Iola | 13,093 | 12,433 | Grimes County, TX 18 lessors | CV Bossier (20,000-ft) | |||||||||
2 | Nolte Marsh | 320 | 190 | Liberty County, TX 3 lessors | Yegua Cook Mountain (14,000-ft) | |||||||||
3 | Wetherford | 1,008 | 251 | Liberty County, TX 10 lessors | Yegua Cook Mountain (14,000-ft) | |||||||||
4 | Wiseman | 360 | 154 | Liberty County, TX ?????????? | Yegua Cook Mountain (14,000-ft) | |||||||||
5, 6, 7 | Patch I, II, III | 8,893 | 4,714 | Starr- County, TX 72 lessors | Reklaw (Wilcox) (9,000-ft) | |||||||||
8 | East Maben | 471 | 528 | (???) | Oktibbeha County, MS 12 lessors | Upper Knox (15,100-ft) | ||||||||
9 | Bideman Gully | 2,122 | 2,097 | Acadia Parish, LA 94 lessors | Upper Wilcox (19,000-ft) | |||||||||
10 | Constitution | 1,339 | 1,313 | Jefferson County, TX 29 lessors | Deep Yegua (16,000-ft) |
Prospect. | Propect | Gross Lease | Net Lease | Lease | Target Objective | |||||||||
Number | Name | Acreage | Acreage | Description | (Estimated TD) | |||||||||
11 | Z Sand | 210 | 210 | Duval County, TX 2 lessors | Wilcox Z Sand (17,000-ft) | |||||||||
12 | Rosita | 456 | 456 | Duval County, TX 12 lessors | Wilcox S Sand (15,000-ft) | |||||||||
13 | Saudi | 7,738 | 7,738 | Perry County, MS 130 lessors | Norphlet (23,000-ft) | |||||||||
14 | Plantation | 9,307 | 6,813 | Lowndes County, MS 76 lessors | Ordovican (13,000-ft) | |||||||||
15 | Sugar Grove | 6,917 | 5,976 | Logan County, AR 93 lessors | Arbuckle (17,000-ft) | |||||||||
16 | Hoffman Creek | 975 | 975 | Duval County, TX 8 lessors | Wilcox (18,000-ft) | |||||||||
17 | Womack Hills | 1,733 | 1,469 | Clarke County, AL 51 lessors | Smackover (12,500-ft) | |||||||||
18 | Oak Grove | 2,161 | 2,121 | Bienville Parish, LA 9 lessors | Bossier (17,000-ft) |
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Granting and Habendum
No Warranty and Disclaimers
Miscellaneous
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STATE OF | § | |
§ | ||
COUNTY OF | § |
LOUISIANA | On this date before me, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared , of , a , who signed said document before me in the presence of the two witnesses, whose names are thereto subscribed as such, being competent witnesses, and who acknowledged, in my presence and in the presence of said witnesses, that he signed the above and foregoing document as his own free act and deed on behalf of such corporation by authority of its and as the free act and deed of such and for the uses and purposes therein set forth. | |
TEXAS | This instrument was acknowledged before me on this day, by , of , a , on behalf of said . | |
ALABAMA | I, the undersigned notary in and for the said county and state, hereby certify that , whose name as the of , a , is signed to the foregoing instrument, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that, being informed of the contents of the instrument, he, as such agent and attorney-in-fact and with full authority, executed the same voluntarily, for and as the act of said . | |
MISSISSIPPI | Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this day within my jurisdiction, the within named , who acknowledged that he is of , a , and that for and on behalf of the corporation, and as its act and deed he executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first having been duly authorized by the so to do. | |
ARKANSAS | I, the undersigned notary in and for the said county and state, hereby certify that , whose name as the of , a , is signed to the foregoing instrument, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that, being informed of the contents of the instrument, he, as such agent |
and attorney-in-fact and with full authority, executed the same voluntarily, for and as the act of said . | ||
MICHIGAN | I, the undersigned notary in and for the said county and state, hereby certify that , whose name as the of , a , is signed to the foregoing instrument, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that, being informed of the contents of the instrument, he, as such agent and attorney-in-fact and with full authority, executed the same voluntarily, for and as the act of said . |
Notary Public in and for the State of
Printed name of Notary:
Date commission expires:
ATTACHED TO AND FORMING PART OF AN ASSET PURCHSASE AGREEMENT DATED THE 15th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2006, BETWEEN SKH MANAGEMENT L.P. ET AL., AS VENDORS AND AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION, AS PURCHASER
[attached]
(i) | Payout shall occur, with respect to any Test Well, in two phases. The First Payout, which shall trigger the obligation of AEC to assign the initial 20% Test Well Back-in to the Vendors, shall be deemed to occur on the first day of the calendar month following the month during which the cumulative Production Income from the Test Well (and, if applicable, the second well undertaken on the Prospect on which the Test Well is located, as set forth in Section 2.5 below) equals the cumulative Exploration and |
Development Costs of such Test Well. The Second Payout shall be deemed to occur on the first day of the calendar month following the month during which the cumulative Production Income allocated to AEC from the Test Well and, if applicable, the second well undertaken on the Prospect on which the Test Well is located as set forth in Section 2.5, following the First Payout equals the Stock Value of the Prospect on which the Test Well is located. | |||
(ii) | Production Income from any well shall mean the total proceeds realized from the sale of production from such well after excluding Existing Leasehold Burdens encumbering the production from the well. | ||
(iii) | Existing Leasehold Burdens as to any well shall mean all royalties, overriding royalties, net profit interests, production or severance taxes and other burdens measured by or payable out of production from the well. | ||
(iv) | Exploration and Development Costs of any Test Well shall include all of the actual (w) Drilling Costs, (x) Completion Costs, and (y) Operating Costs plus (z) the aggregate GG&L attributed in the Purchase Agreement to the Prospect on which the Test Well is located, together with the Post Execution GG&L attributable to the same Prospect as contemplated in the Purchase Agreement. | ||
(v) | Drilling Costs with respect to a Test Well shall mean the costs of drilling up to the casing point and all pre-drilling activities associated therewith (including, without limitation, the costs of seismic data, preparing the location, title opinions as well as all other typical pre-drilling costs incurred by operators in similar circumstances). | ||
(vi) | Completion Costs with respect to a Test Well shall mean the costs incurred after a well has been logged and a decision has been made to attempt a completion through the actual completion of the Test Well so that it is capable of producing oil and/or gas at the surface, including surface facilities located on the drill site of the Test Well and connection to the tanks or to the inlet flange of the gathering line located on the drill site (but not including any pipelines or other facilities located off of the drill site. | ||
(vii) | Operating Costs of any Test Well shall include all costs incurred during the drilling, testing and completion of such well until it is capable of producing at the surface including, but not limited to: |
(viii) | Stock Value means the value of the AEC stock issued to the Vendors with respect to a Prospect, as set forth on Schedule C of the Purchase Agreement, to which reference is here made for all purposes. To the extent that AEC disposes of any interest in a Prospect to a third party, the Stock Value set forth on Schedule C shall be deemed to be proportionately reduced by the fractional reduction of AECs interest in the Prospect. |
(i) | AEC shall bear all of the cost, risk and expense of the second well notwithstanding the Outside Acreage Conveyance to the Vendors, and if the same is completed as a well capable of producing hydrocarbons, all Production Income from the second well on the Prospect shall be allocated to AEC until Payout shall have occurred as to the Test Well {not payout of the second well), at which point the Vendors who contributed the Prospect shall be entitled (A) to the assignments of the Test Well Back-in as provided in Section 2.3 , and (B) to have the option, but not the obligation, to pay to AEC their working interest share of the costs incurred and paid by AEC in the drilling, completion, testing and equipping of the second well, and connecting the same to the tanks or the pipeline of the purchaser of production, upon payment of which the Vendors shall be entitled to their proportionate working interest share in all production from the second well accruing from and after Payout of the Test Well on the Prospect. At Payout of the Test Well on a Prospect, if AEC has undertaken the drilling of a second well on the same Prospect, it shall invoice the Vendors who own an interest in the Prospect for the costs of the second well, as provided above, and the Vendors receiving such invoice shall have thirty (30) days after receipt thereof within which to pay the same, after payment of which the Vendors shall be entitled to their share of production from the second well on the Prospect undertaken by AEC effective as of and from Payout of the Test Well on the Prospect (and failure to pay the invoice in a timely manner will result in the Vendors not being entitled to share in the production from the second well on the Prospect, but without effect on the Vendors right to share in production from the Test Well or to participate in a third well on the Prospect if one is proposed). Accordingly, in the event that the Vendors fail to pay such |
invoice in a timely manner, the Vendors will promptly assign their interests in such second well and the Leases relating thereto insofar as they cover the associated production unit for such well to AEC. The election by the Vendors pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall govern and control over any right of the Vendors to participate in the second well proposed by AEC prior to Payout of the Test Well on the Prospect, or elect to go non-consent therein, under the applicable Joint Operating Agreement. | |||
(ii) | The Parties shall make the tax election provided in the attached Annex A, which shall be appropriately completed and attached to and made a part of the applicable Joint Operating Agreement as Exhibit G thereto and referenced in Article II thereof, and Article IX thereof shall be stricken (provided, however, that if no second well is undertaken prior to Payout, the parties may make the election contemplated in Article IX of the Joint Operating Agreement and forego the tax election described above). |
(i) | AEC shall have the right for a period of time ending 36 months after Closing to undertake a substitute well for the Shallow Completion Well as the Test Well and endeavor to drill the same to the Objective Depth. If the substitute well achieves the Objective Depth, then the obligation of AEC to test the Prospect by drilling a well to the Objective Depth will have been satisfied and such substitute well will be considered a Test Well for purposes of this Agreement. | ||
(ii) | Upon the expiration of the 36 month period after Closing, if AEC has elected not to drill a substitute well for the Shallow Completion Well in an effort to drill the substitute well to the Objective Depth, then for purposes of this Agreement, the Shallow Completion Well shall be deemed a completed Test Well; provided that AEC shall retain all rights in the Prospect on which a Shallow Completion Well is deemed to be a completed Test Well from the surface to 100 feet below the base of the producing formation in the Shallow Completion Well, subject to the Test Well Back-in and subject to the obligation to convey to the Vendor which contributed the same as set forth on Schedule C to the Purchase Agreement an undivided 25% working interest in the Shallow Completion Well and the Leases relating thereto insofar as they cover the associate production unit pursuant to Section 2.3 above. If the Shallow Completion Well shall have achieved Payout before the end of the 36 month period after Closing, all Production Income allocable to the after Payout interest of the Vendors shall be paid over to them, and all costs allocable to the Vendors as if such Shallow Completion Well were subject to the Joint Operating Agreement following such Payout shall be paid by the Vendors |
to AEC, within thirty days following the termination of the 36 month period after Closing; and | |||
(iii) | With respect to all depths 100 feet below the base of the producing formation in the Shallow Completion Well (the Prospect Deep Rights) the same shall be deemed to be an UnTested Prospect, as defined below, and the obligations of Section 3.1 below shall apply to the Prospect Deep Rights. |
AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION | SKH MANAGEMENT III, L.L.C. | |||||||||||||
By: | By: | |||||||||||||
Name: | Name: | |||||||||||||
Title: | Title: | |||||||||||||
SKH MANAGEMENT L.P. | SKH ENERGY FUND, L.P. | |||||||||||||
By: | By: | |||||||||||||
Name: | Name: | |||||||||||||
Title: | Title: | |||||||||||||
SKH MANAGEMENT II, L.P. | ANTARES EXPLORATION FUND, L.P. | |||||||||||||
By: | By: | |||||||||||||
Name: | Name: | |||||||||||||
Title: | Title: | |||||||||||||
(insert identifying reference to underlying operating agreement)
1. General Provisions | 2 | |||||||||
1.1 | Designation Of Documents | 2 | ||||||||
1.2 | Relationship of the Parties | 2 | ||||||||
1.3 | Priority Of Provisions Of This Exhibit | 2 | ||||||||
1.4 | Survivorship | 2 | ||||||||
2. Tax Reporting Partner and Tax Matters Partner | 2 | |||||||||
2.1 | Tax Reporting Partner | 2 | ||||||||
2.2 | If Small Partnership Exception From TEFRA Not Applicable | 2 | ||||||||
3. Income Tax Compliance and Capital Accounts | 3 | |||||||||
3.1 | Tax Returns | 3 | ||||||||
3.2 | Fair Market Value Capital Accounts | 3 | ||||||||
3.3 | Information Requests | 3 | ||||||||
3.4 | Best Efforts Without Liability | 4 | ||||||||
4. TAX and FMV Capital Account Elections | 4 | |||||||||
4.1 | General Elections | 4 | ||||||||
4.2 | Depletion | 4 | ||||||||
4.3 | Election Out Under Code §761(a) | 4 | ||||||||
4.4 | Consent Requirements For Subsequent Tax Or FMV Capital Account Elections | 4 | ||||||||
5. Capital Contributions and FMV Capital Accounts | 4 | |||||||||
5.1 | Capital Contributions | 4 | ||||||||
5.2 | FMV Capital Accounts | 5 | ||||||||
6. Partnership Allocations | 5 | |||||||||
6.1 | FMV Capital Account Allocations | 5 | ||||||||
6.2 | Tax Return and Tax Basis Capital Account Allocations | 6 | ||||||||
7. Termination and Liquidating Distribution | 6 | |||||||||
7.1 | Termination of the Partnership | 6 | ||||||||
7.2 | Balancing of FMV Capital Accounts | 7 | ||||||||
7.3 | Deemed Sale Gain/Loss Charge Back | 7 | ||||||||
7.4 | Deficit Make-Up Obligation and Balancing Cash Contributions | 7 | ||||||||
7.5 | Distribution to balance capital accounts | 7 | ||||||||
7.6 | FMV determination | 7 | ||||||||
7.7 | Final Distribution | 7 | ||||||||
8. Transfers Indemnification and Correspondence | 7 | |||||||||
8.1 | Transfer of Partnership Interests | 7 | ||||||||
8.2 | Correspondence | 8 | ||||||||
9. Elections and Changes to above Provisions | 8 | |||||||||
9.1 | Operator not the TRP | 8 | ||||||||
9.2 | Special Tax Elections | 8 | ||||||||
9.3 | Change of Majority for Other Tax Elections | 8 |
TRP | Att to: reference |
Yes | ||||
e) that the Partnership shall elect to account for dispositions of depreciable assets under the general asset method to the extent permitted by Code §168(i)(4); | ||||
f) that the Partnership shall elect under Code §754 to adjust the basis of Partnership property, with the adjustments provided in Code §734 for a distribution of property and in Code §743 for a transfer of a partnership interest. In case of distribution of property the TRP shall adjust all tax basis capital accounts. In the case of a transfer of a partnership interest the acquiring party(ies) shall establish and maintain its (their) tax basis capital account(s); | ||||
g) that the Partnership shall elect under Code §6231 to be subject to the TEFRA rules. | ||||
With respect to Sec. 0, Depletion the Parties agree that the Partnership shall use simulated percentage depletion instead of simulated cost depletion. | ||||
With respect to Sec.0, under the rules of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1 (b)(2)(iv)(f) the Parties agree that the FMV capital accounts shall be revalued to reflect value changes of the Partnership property upon the occurrence of the events specified in (5)(i) through (iii) of said -1 (b)(2)(iv)(f) regulations. | ||||
With respect to Sec. 0, the income attributable to take-in-kind production will be reflected on the tax return. |
Property Description | FMV |
[attached]
FORM OF ACCREDITED INVESTOR CERTIFICATE
o | a bank as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or any savings and loan association or other institution as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; a broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Securities Exchange Act); an insurance company as defined in Section 2(13) of the Securities Act; an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of that Act; a small business investment company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; a plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, and such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such Act, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or registered investment adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors; | |
o | a private business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; | |
o | an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000; | |
o | a natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with the undersigneds spouse, at the time of this purchase exceeds $1,000,000; | |
o | a natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with the undersigneds spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; | |
o | a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; or | |
o | an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors by virtue of their meeting one or more of the above standards. | |
o | an individual who is a director or executive officer of Ausam Energy Corporation. |
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||