Purchase Agreement, dated December 8, 2021, by and between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation and ACP Crotona Corp

Execution Copy
 
 
 

CORNING NATURAL GAS HOLDING CORPORATION

AND

ACP CROTONA CORP.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 8, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 8, 2021, between Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Company”), and ACP Crotona Corp., a Delaware Corporation (the “Purchaser”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, certain shares of the Company’s 1.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series D Preferred Stock”), at a price per share of $1,000, in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The shares of Series D Preferred Stock to be purchased under this Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Shares.”

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.       Sale and Purchase.

In reliance upon the representations and warranties contained herein and the information provided and/or incorporated by reference herein, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on the Closing Date, the Company agrees to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase, the Shares.

Section 2.       Closing.

The closing of the sale and purchase of the Shares (the “Closing”) is taking place via the electronic exchange of documents on December 8, 2021 and upon receipt of the Purchase Price (as defined below) and this Agreement.

2.1       Purchase of Shares; Payment of Purchase Price.

At the Closing, the Purchaser is purchasing, and the Company is selling to the Purchaser, 5,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock at a per share cash price of $1,000 for an aggregate cash purchase price of $5,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”). At the Closing, the Purchaser is delivering cash in an amount equal to the Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available funds in full payment for the Shares to the account designated by the Company and the Company is delivering to the Purchaser certificates representing the Shares.

At the Closing:

(a)       the Company shall issue certificated Shares to Purchaser;

(b)       the Purchaser shall deliver the Purchase Price to the order of the Company; and

(c)       the Purchaser shall deliver a Form W-9 or comparable substitute or appropriate alternative form to the Company, or the Purchaser has previously delivered such for and no changes have occurred since such delivery.

2.2       Expenses.

At Closing, the Company will reimburse the Purchaser for its expenses related to the sale and purchase of the Shares, including the fees and expenses of its legal counsel.

Section 3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company.

The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

(a)       The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of New York and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).

(b)       The Company does not own any interest in any other entity other than the entities listed on Schedule 3.1(b). Schedule 3.1(b) lists the ownership of the outstanding equity interests in such entities, their jurisdiction of organization and indicates whether or not such entities are consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes. Each of the consolidated entities is referred to as a “Subsidiary” and collectively as the “Subsidiaries”. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or formation and have full power and authority to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their businesses as now being conducted, and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing or to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)       As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance or condition that has had or is reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or that would materially impair the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(d)       The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein (including the sale and delivery of the Shares) will not conflict with or result in a breach by the Company of, or constitute a default by the Company under or result in the creation of any lien, security interest or encumbrance upon the stock or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under: (i) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the New York Secretary of State on July 19, 2013 (“Certificate of Incorporation”), as amended by the Certificates of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the New York Secretary of State on January 28, 2016, February 9, 2016, March 30,

2016, June 27, 2017, April 30, 2018, March 18, 2020, June 29, 2020 and December 3, 2021, (the Certificate of Incorporation as so amended, the “Amended Certificate of Incorporation”), or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (the “By-Laws”), (ii) any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which its properties are subject, or (iii) any existing applicable law, rule, published regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Company, except in the cases of the foregoing clause (ii) and clause (iii) for such breaches, defaults, liens, security interests or encumbrances upon the stock or assets of the Company, or imposition of additional burdens which, in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)       The Company has filed a Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate”) with the Department of State of the State of New York, and the Certificate has been accepted for filing and is effective.

3.2       No Material Default.

None of the Company or the Subsidiaries: (a) is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any obligation, covenant or condition contained in any agreement, contract, commitment, instrument, plan, undertaking or regulatory requirement (including, without limitation, any and all leases, mortgages, and other contractual arrangements with respect to real property) material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (collectively, the “Contracts”), and (b) no event has occurred which, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute or result in a default thereunder except, in the case of each of (a) and (b), for such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Contracts is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except for those failures of Contracts (or provisions thereof) to be valid or enforceable which would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.3       Shares.

The Company has all requisite corporate right, power and authority to issue, sell, and deliver the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement; and upon such issuance, sale and delivery, and payment of the Purchase Price therefor as contemplated by this Agreement, the Purchaser will receive good and valid title to the Shares, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge, claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind and such Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable, except as may be otherwise provided by Section 630 of the New York Business Corporation Law.

3.4       Obligations Binding.

This Agreement to has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,

moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) equitable principles of general applicability relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

3.5       Capitalization.

(a)       The authorized capital stock of the Company as of the date of this Agreement consists of: 4,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 3,083,577 shares were issued and outstanding; 261,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 260,600 shares were issued and outstanding; 360,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, of which 244,263 shares were issued and outstanding; 180,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, of which 180,000 shares were issued and outstanding; 5,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock and 59,000 shares of preferred stock not designated to a class. A total of 750,000 preferred shares are authorized. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, except as may be provided by Section 630 of the New York Business Corporation Law, and are free from preemptive rights.

(b)       Except for the Series B Preferred Stock which is convertible into common stock at a 1 for 1.2 basis (as adjusted from time to time) and options to acquire 20,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into equity securities of the Company.

3.6       No Registration Under the Securities Act.

Assuming (a) the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, and (b) the due performance by the Purchaser of its covenants and agreements contained herein (including, without limitation, compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legends on the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares), it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement to register the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

3.7       Financial Statements.

The financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Company’s periodic filings filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 10-K for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, are complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates specified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited interim financial statements) and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited interim financial statements); such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”) on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as indicated therein or in the notes thereto. None of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has any material liability

(whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or to become due) known to the Company, other than:

(i)        liabilities disclosed in any publicly available report filed by the Company under the Exchange Act since January 1, 2020, including Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K filed prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Exchange Act Reports”),

(ii)       liabilities which have arisen after the date of the last Exchange Act Report in the ordinary course of business,

(iii)       liabilities set forth on Schedule 3.7, and

(iv)       liabilities which would not have, in aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

3.8       [Intentionally Omitted.]

3.9       Exchange Act Compliance.

The Company has timely filed all Exchange Act Reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act. All such Exchange Act Reports, when so filed, complied in form and substance in all material respects with the Exchange Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3.10       No Material Adverse Changes.

Since September 30, 2020 except as stated in any Exchange Act Report filed since such date or as disclosed herein pursuant to Section 3.7: (a) there has been no event, circumstance or condition relating to or affecting the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company to continue to conduct business in the usual and ordinary course of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth on Schedule 3.7, or as set forth in the Exchange Act Reports, there has been no material transaction entered into by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries other than (i) transactions in the ordinary course of business or (ii) transactions which would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) there have not been any changes in the capital stock of the Company. On the date hereof, no dividend or other distribution with respect to the Company’s Common Stock has been declared but not yet paid or distributed which has a record date prior to the date hereof, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.7.

3.11       Litigation.

Other than as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, proceedings by Corning Natural Gas with the New York Public Service Commission and its staff, proceedings by Pike County with the

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, proceedings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, applications and proceedings with various municipal bodies with respect to permits, franchises, rights-of-way and similar actions in the ordinary course of business, of which the material applications and proceedings are listed on Schedule 3.11 hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries) before or by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, which in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

3.12       Title to Properties; Leasehold Interests.

(a)       Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, or except to the extent that the inaccuracy of any of the following, in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries, has such title to real properties where its assets are located as provides reasonable assurance of the Company’s ability to use such assets in its business in the ordinary course, and has good title or an enforceable leasehold interest, license or other lawful right to use all assets that are used in the Company’s or one or more of the Subsidiaries’ business substantially in the manner in which they currently are operated, in each case, subject only to Permitted Exceptions (as herein defined); (ii) all leases under which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries leases any property that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole are in full force and effect, and none of the Company nor any such Subsidiary is in default in any material respect of any of the terms or provisions of any of such leases and to the Company’s knowledge no claim has been asserted by anyone adverse to any such entity’s rights as lessee under any of such leases, or affecting or questioning any such entity’s right to the continued possession or use of the properties under any such leases or asserting a default under any such leases, and (iii) all liens, charges or encumbrances on or affecting any of the property and assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries which are required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act Reports are disclosed therein.

(b)       As used in this Agreement, “Permitted Exceptions” means: (i) real estate taxes and assessments not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith; (ii) covenants, restrictions, easements and other similar agreements; (iii) zoning laws, ordinances and regulations, building codes, rules and other local governmental laws, regulations, rules and orders affecting any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s property, provided that the same are not violated by existing improvements or the current use and operation of such property; (iv) any imperfection of title which does not materially and adversely affect the current use, operation or enjoyment of any of the Company’s real property and does not render title to such real property unmarketable or uninsurable and does not materially impair the value of such property; and (v) liens securing financing by the Company.

3.13       Environmental Compliance.

(a)       Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries has complied and is in compliance

with all Environmental Statutes (as hereinafter defined), except for such noncompliance as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)       The Company has no knowledge of any occurrence or circumstance that, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any federal, state or local Environmental Statute pertaining to Hazardous Materials on or originating from any real property owned or occupied by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, including without limitation pursuant to any Environmental Statute, which claim would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)       As used herein, “Hazardous Materials” means (i) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (ii) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant or any other hazardous material as defined by any federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance, rule or regulation, relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials (individually, an “Environmental Statute”) or by any federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over the properties and assets described in the Company’s periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (a “Governmental Authority”).

3.14       Taxes.

The Company has timely filed or filed for extensions of the filing period and filed within such extended period all federal, state, local, foreign and other tax returns, reports, information returns and statements (except for returns, reports, information returns and statements the failure timely to file which will not result in any Material Adverse Effect) required to be filed by it. The Company has paid or caused to be paid all material taxes (including interest and penalties) that are due and payable by the Company and the Subsidiaries, except those taxes which are being contested by the Company and the Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which adequate reserves are being maintained on the Company’s books in accordance with GAAP. The Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities for taxes other than those incurred in the ordinary course of business and in respect of which adequate reserves are being maintained by the Company in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. No deficiency or assessment with respect to, or proposed adjustment of, the Company’s federal, state, local, foreign or other tax returns is pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened. There is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, local or other tax authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no applicable taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance to the Purchaser by the Company of the Shares.

3.15       Insurance.

The Company and the Subsidiaries each carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably sufficient under the circumstances or is customary in the industry and all such insurance is in full force and effect.

3.16       Employees, ERISA.

The Company and its Subsidiaries have good relationships with its employees and, since September 30, 2017, have not had any labor issues which have has a Material Adverse Effect on their business or operations. There is no strike or work stoppage existing or, to the knowledge of the Company threatened against the Company or the Subsidiaries. Other than as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, the Company and the Subsidiaries have not established, sponsored, maintained, made any contributions to or been obligated by law to establish, maintain, sponsor or make any contributions to any “employee pension benefit plan” or any material “employee welfare benefit plan” (as such terms are defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)), including, without limitation, any “multi-employer plan,” except where the liabilities associated with such plan or plans would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws relating to the employment of labor, including bargaining and the payment of social security and other taxes, and with ERISA, except where the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.17       Governmental Consents.

Other than such consents as have been obtained and filings under applicable federal and state securities laws, no consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, any governmental authority on the part of the Company is required for the valid execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the valid offer, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares.

3.18       Legal Compliance.

Except as disclosed in any Exchange Act Report, the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, licenses, judgments, writs, injunctions or decrees, except to the extent that failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries have all necessary permits, licenses and other authorizations required to conduct their businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted, except where a failure to have such permits, licenses or other authorizations would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports, none of the Company nor any Subsidiary has violated any domestic or foreign law or any regulation or requirement, which violation has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any such violation. There are no adverse orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees or demands of any court or administrative body, domestic or foreign, or of any other governmental agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, outstanding against the Company or the Subsidiaries which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.       Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

4.1       Agreement.

This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Purchaser, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

4.2       Governmental and Other Consents.

No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any governmental authority or any other person is required to be obtained by the Purchaser in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser or of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

4.3       Investment Representation, Transfer Restrictions.

The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for its own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The Purchaser was not solicited by means of any general solicitation or advertising nor at any seminar or meeting whose attendees has been invited by any general solicitation of advertising. The Purchaser understand that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, that the Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any applicable blue sky or state securities laws and that if it decides to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Shares, the Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction and the restrictions set forth in the legends on the certificates evidencing the Shares. As used herein, “Affiliates” means any entity controlling or under direct or common control with the Purchaser.

4.4       No Violation or Conflict.

The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein (including the purchase and acceptance of the Shares) will not conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of, or constitute a default by the Purchaser under: (i) organizational documents, (ii) any contract, agreement or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound, or (iii) any existing applicable law, rule, published regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, except for such breach or default as would not adversely affect the ability of the Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.5       Sophisticated Purchaser/Accredited Investor.

The Purchaser has such knowledge of business and financial affairs to enable the Purchaser to evaluate the merits and risks of the investment, and the suitability of an investment in the Shares for the Purchaser. The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

4.6       Disclosure; Access to Information.

The Purchaser has had access to the Exchange Act Reports and the Exhibits thereto and has reviewed the Disclosure Letter. The Purchaser has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answer from, officers of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares and to obtain any additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary in Purchaser’s sole judgment for the Purchaser to verify the accuracy of the information provided by the Company in the Exchange Act Reports, in this Agreement, in the Disclosure Letter and otherwise. The Purchaser has conducted such diligence about the Shares, the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Purchaser believes in connection with its investment.

Section 5.       Covenants of the Company.

5.1       No Sale of Security.

Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which would be integrated with the sale of the Shares in a manner which would require registration under the Securities Act of the offer or sale of the Shares to the Purchaser.

5.2       No General Solicitation.

Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the Shares by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner which would require registration of the offer or sale of the Shares to the Purchaser under the Securities Act.

5.3       Filing of Exchange Act Reports.

After the date of this Agreement, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act except where the failure to so timely file would not have a Material Adverse Effect or cause the requirements of Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act not to be met.

Section 6.       Survival of Representations and Warranties.

The representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained in this Agreement or otherwise made in writing in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall survive the making of this Agreement and sale of the Shares, through and until the earlier of the twelve

month anniversary of the date of this Agreement or the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect thereto.

Section 7.       Notices.

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (a) when delivered by hand (providing proof of delivery); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the date sent by email if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or to such other Persons or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a written notice given in accordance with this Section 7):

If to Purchaser:

ACP Crotona Corp.

c/o Argo Infrastructure Partners LP

650 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Richard Klapow

Email: ***@***

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to Parent or Merger Sub) to:

Mayer Brown LLP

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

Attention: Frederick J. Lark, Esq.

Elena V. Rubinov, Esq.

Email: ***@***

             ***@***

If to the Company, to:

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation

330 West William Street

Corning NY 14830

Attention: Mike German

Email: ***@***

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to the Company) to:

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

1375 East 9^th Street, 29^th Floor

Cleveland, OH 44114

Attention: Christopher Hubbert

Email: ***@***

Section 8.       Entire Agreement.

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, whether oral or written. This Agreement may be modified or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. Representations made by the Company in this Agreement are modified by any disclosures with respect thereto made in the schedules to this Agreement and are solely for the benefit of the Purchaser and may not be relied upon by any other person. Where a specific representation applies to any matter of fact or law, such representation shall be the exclusive representation with respect to the subject matter thereof and no other or general representation shall be deemed to apply to such matter of fact or law.

Section 9.       Successors and Assigns.

This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other party, provided, however, that Purchaser may assign all or any portion of this Agreement to any Affiliate. Any attempted assignment in contravention with the foregoing shall be void. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the parties hereto and any permitted assignee and/or successor of the Purchaser shall succeed to (and have the right to enforce) all of the Purchaser’s rights hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 10.       Headings.

The headings of the sections of this Agreement are solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions hereof.

Section 11.       Governing Law.

This Agreement, and all legal actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement or the actions of any of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the State of New York. Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such legal action in the manner provided in Section 7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such legal action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal

jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any legal action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any legal action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 11; (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, any claim that (i) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

Section 12.       Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in one or more separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 13.       No Delay, Waiver.

No delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

Section 14.       Severability.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons, entities or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed this Agreement on the dates set forth below, to be effective as of the date first above-written.