United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
or
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 000-50216
ADA-ES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado | 84-1457385 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
8100 SouthPark Way, B, Littleton, Colorado | 80120 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(303) 734-1727
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller reporting company | x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Yes ¨ No x
APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING
FIVE YEARS:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ¨ No ¨
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class |
Outstanding at July 31, 2010 |
|
Common Stock, no par value | 7,461,660 |
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. | Consolidated Financial Statements. |
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
See accompanying notes.
2
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30, |
Six Months
Ended
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
R EVENUE : |
||||||||||||||||
Emissions control |
$ | 1,600 | $ | 4,476 | $ | 4,664 | $ | 9,186 | ||||||||
CO 2 capture |
337 | 282 | 1,140 | 543 | ||||||||||||
Refined coal |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues |
1,937 | 4,758 | 5,804 | 9,729 | ||||||||||||
C OST OF R EVENUES : |
||||||||||||||||
Emissions control |
1,199 | 2,634 | 3,021 | 5,327 | ||||||||||||
CO 2 capture |
144 | 150 | 408 | 259 | ||||||||||||
Refined coal |
586 | 169 | 1,012 | 181 | ||||||||||||
Total cost of revenues |
1,929 | 2,953 | 4,441 | 5,767 | ||||||||||||
G ROSS M ARGIN |
8 | 1,805 | 1,363 | 3,962 | ||||||||||||
O THER C OSTS AND E XPENSES : |
||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
6,176 | 3,484 | 10,755 | 5,563 | ||||||||||||
Research and development |
197 | 184 | 381 | 390 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
330 | 139 | 539 | 277 | ||||||||||||
Total expenses |
6,703 | 3,807 | 11,675 | 6,230 | ||||||||||||
O PERATING L OSS |
(6,695 | ) | (2,002 | ) | (10,312 | ) | (2,268 | ) | ||||||||
O THER I NCOME (E XPENSE ): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest and other income |
1,791 | 10 | 1,811 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Equity in loss from unconsolidated entities (see Note 2) |
(1,568 | ) | (665 | ) | (2,750 | ) | (1,279 | ) | ||||||||
Total other income (expense) |
223 | (655 | ) | (939 | ) | (1,259 | ) | |||||||||
L OSS B EFORE I NCOME T AX P ROVISION AND N ON - CONTROLLING I NTEREST |
(6,472 | ) | (2,657 | ) | (11,251 | ) | (3,527 | ) | ||||||||
I NCOME T AX B ENEFIT |
2,087 | 963 | 3,700 | 1,278 | ||||||||||||
N ET L OSS B EFORE N ON - CONTROLLING I NTEREST |
(4,385 | ) | (1,694 | ) | (7,551 | ) | (2,249 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest |
675 | 64 | 1,021 | 76 | ||||||||||||
N ET L OSS A TTRIBUTABLE TO ADA-ES |
$ | (3,710 | ) | $ | (1,630 | ) | $ | (6,530 | ) | $ | (2,173 | ) | ||||
N ET L OSS P ER C OMMON S HARE B ASIC AND D ILUTED A TTRIBUTABLE TO ADA-ES |
$ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (0.89 | ) | $ | (0.31 | ) | ||||
W EIGHTED A VERAGE C OMMON S HARES O UTSTANDING |
7,412 | 6,929 | 7,305 | 6,899 | ||||||||||||
W EIGHTED A VERAGE D ILUTED C OMMON S HARES O UTSTANDING |
7,412 | 6,929 | 7,305 | 6,899 | ||||||||||||
See accompanying notes.
3
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders Equity
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 and 2009
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
C OMMON S TOCK |
(
ACCUMULATED
D EFICIT ) |
T
OTAL
ADA-ES,
I NC . S TOCKHOLDERS E QUITY |
N
ON
-
C ONTROLLING I NTEREST |
TOTAL
EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||
S HARES | A MOUNT | |||||||||||||||||||||
B ALANCES , January 1, 2009 |
6,755,932 | $ | 35,812 | $ | (3,977 | ) | $ | 31,835 | $ | 25,152 | $ | 56,987 | ||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
180,350 | 559 | 0 | 559 | 0 | 559 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock on exercise of options |
1,250 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Stock to 401(k) plan |
22,484 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 0 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||
Deconsolidation of Carbon Solutions |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (25,050 | ) | (25,050 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Expense of stock registration |
0 | (7 | ) | 0 | (7 | ) | 0 | (7 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net loss |
0 | 0 | (2,173 | ) | (2,173 | ) | (76 | ) | (2,249 | ) | ||||||||||||
B ALANCES , June 30, 2009 |
6,960,016 | $ | 36,429 | $ | (6,150 | ) | $ | 30,279 | $ | 26 | $ | 30,305 | ||||||||||
B ALANCES , January 1, 2010 |
7,093,931 | $ | 37,000 | $ | (12,748 | ) | $ | 24,252 | $ | 99 | $ | 24,351 | ||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
189,859 | 805 | 0 | 805 | 0 | 805 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock on exercise of options |
2,250 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock to 401(k) plan |
22,297 | 140 | 0 | 140 | 0 | 140 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of stock for cash |
143,885 | 1,000 | 0 | 1,000 | 0 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||||
Expense of stock issuance and registration |
0 | (21 | ) | 0 | (21 | ) | 0 | (21 | ) | |||||||||||||
Equity contributions |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,535 | 1,535 | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (2,793 | ) | (2,793 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net loss |
0 | 0 | (6,530 | ) | (6,530 | ) | (1,021 | ) | (7,551 | ) | ||||||||||||
B ALANCES , June 30, 2010 |
7,452,222 | $ | 38,930 | $ | (19,278 | ) | $ | 19,652 | $ | (2,180 | ) | $ | 17,472 | |||||||||
See accompanying notes.
4
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Six Months
Ended
June 30, |
||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
C ASH F LOWS FROM O PERATING A CTIVITIES : |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (6,530 | ) | $ | (2,173 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
555 | 277 | ||||||
Loss on asset dispositions and securities |
0 | 18 | ||||||
Deferred tax benefit |
(3,699 | ) | (1,282 | ) | ||||
Expenses paid with stock and stock options |
532 | 620 | ||||||
Equity in loss from unconsolidated entities |
2,750 | 1,279 | ||||||
Non-cash gain from joint venture partner |
(1,768 | ) | 0 | |||||
Non-controlling interest in loss of subsidiary |
(1,021 | ) | (76 | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Trade receivables, net |
2,928 | 209 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
619 | (1,347 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable |
592 | 230 | ||||||
Accrued payroll and related liabilities |
174 | (411 | ) | |||||
Deferred revenue |
9,262 | (446 | ) | |||||
Accrued liabilities |
4,557 | 1,795 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
126 | 271 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) by operating activities |
9,077 | (1,036 | ) | |||||
C ASH F LOWS FROM I NVESTING A CTIVITIES : |
||||||||
Capital expenditures for equipment and other assets |
(2,829 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||
Cash balance held in deconsolidated subsidiary |
0 | (25,171 | ) | |||||
Cash paid for equity contributions to unconsolidated entity |
(283 | ) | 0 | |||||
Investment in certificate of deposit |
(105 | ) | (400 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(3,217 | ) | (25,834 | ) | ||||
C ASH F LOWS FROM F INANCING A CTIVITIES : |
||||||||
Equity investments in joint venture by non-controlling interest |
1,535 | 0 | ||||||
Distributions by joint venture to non-controlling interest |
(2,793 | ) | 0 | |||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock |
1,006 | 4 | ||||||
Stock issuance and registration costs |
(21 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(273 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
I NCREASE (D ECREASE ) IN C ASH AND C ASH E QUIVALENTS |
5,587 | (26,873 | ) | |||||
C ASH AND C ASH E QUIVALENTS , beginning of period |
1,456 | 28,201 | ||||||
C ASH AND C ASH E QUIVALENTS , end of period |
$ | 7,043 | $ | 1,328 | ||||
S UPPLEMENTAL S CHEDULE OF N ON -C ASH F LOW F INANCING A CTIVITIES : |
||||||||
Stock and stock options issued for services |
$ | 945 | $ | 620 | ||||
See accompanying notes.
5
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
June 30, 2010
(1) Basis of Presentation
ADA-ES, Inc. (ADA), its wholly-owned subsidiary, ADA Environmental Solutions, LLC (ADA LLC) and ADAs 50% joint venture interest in Clean Coal Solutions, LLC and its subsidiaries (Clean Coal), are collectively referred to as the Company. Our Company is principally engaged in providing environmental technologies and specialty chemicals to the coal-burning utility industry. Our Company generates a substantial part of its revenue from the sale of emissions control systems including Activated Carbon Injection (ACI) systems and contracts co-funded by the government and industry. Our sales occur principally throughout the United States.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of ADA and its subsidiaries, ADA LLC and Clean Coal. We have eliminated all significant intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation.
In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.
These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The accounting policies used in preparing these consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in our Form 10-K except with respect to revenue recognition on significant agreements which is discussed in Note 4.
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(2) Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
On October 1, 2008, the Company entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and formed a joint venture with Energy Capital Partners I, LP and its affiliated funds (ECP) known as ADA Carbon Solutions, LLC (Carbon Solutions) at which time ADA controlled Carbon Solutions through its 50% interest and previously consolidated Carbon Solutions with the accounts of ADA. As of June 30, 2009, the Company deconsolidated Carbon Solutions as the Company no longer held a controlling 50% interest in Carbon Solutions as the Companys joint venture partner converted a portion of its preferred equity contribution to ordinary capital contributions as of that date. Additional preferred equity contributions have been converted since that time and accordingly, the Companys interest has been decreased to 30.2% which represents the Companys interest as of June 30, 2010. Carbon Solutions includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, which include Red River Environmental Products, LLC (Red River) for which the Company provides guarantees as described in Note 9 as well as other subsidiaries. The Companys net investment of $19.1 million as of June 30, 2010 in Carbon Solutions is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Companys equity in the net loss of Carbon Solutions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 has been recognized in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations and its investment in Carbon Solutions has been reduced by our respective share of such loss. Carbon Solutions is principally engaged in development activities related to its activated carbon (AC) business and construction of an AC manufacturing facility (the AC Facility).
The Company provides certain services to Carbon Solutions under a Master Services Agreement (MSA). Sales and other revenues under the MSA totaled $78,000 and $190,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, which amounts are included in emissions control revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. At June 30, 2010, $103,000 was due from Carbon Solutions, which amount is included in the Companys consolidated balance sheet in trade receivables.
Under the terms of the JDA, the Company is required to indemnify ECP and Carbon Solutions for certain damages and expenses they have incurred with respect to the Companys litigation and arbitration with Norit Americas, Inc. (Norit) described in Part II, Item 1. As of June 30, 2010, the Company has recorded a liability to Carbon Solutions of approximately $11.4 million related to such damages and expenses recorded by Carbon Solutions. These amounts have been classified as non-current liabilities as the Company expects to satisfy the obligation through resources not involving current assets.
6
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
Following are summarized information as to assets, liabilities and results of operations of Carbon Solutions:
As
of
June 30, 2010 |
As of
December 31, 2009 |
|||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Current assets |
$ | 45,730 | $ | 29,029 | ||||
Property, equipment and other long term assets |
327,566 | 230,588 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 373,296 | $ | 259,617 | ||||
Total liabilities |
$ | 213,260 | $ | 95,680 | ||||
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2010 |
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2010 |
|||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Net revenue |
$ | 4,934 | $ | 10,025 | ||||
Net loss |
$ | (4,861 | ) | $ | (8,540 | ) |
On January 20, 2010, the Company, together with Clean Coal, formed Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC (CCSS) for the purpose of operating Clean Coals refined coal (RC) facilities. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in CCSS (but does not control it) and the Companys investment of $218,000 as of June 30, 2010 includes its share of Clean Coal Services losses since its formation which have been accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
Following are summarized information as to assets, liabilities and results of operations of CCSS:
As
of
June 30, 2010 |
||||
(In thousands) | ||||
Current assets |
$ | 375 | ||
Property, equipment and other long term assets |
364 | |||
Total assets |
$ | 739 | ||
Total liabilities |
$ | 312 | ||
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2010 |
||||
(In thousands) | ||||
Net revenue |
$ | 63 | ||
Net loss |
$ | (129 | ) |
(3) Notes Receivable
NexGen Refined Coal, LLC (NexGen), our partner in Clean Coal, is required to pay the Company up to $4 million in order to maintain its 50% interest in Clean Coal. On June 29, 2010, NexGen executed notes payable to the Company for approximately $1.8 million with a due date of June 29, 2012. Prior to that date, the Company expects to receive payments from NexGen based upon a portion of cash distributed to NexGen from Clean Coal, with a portion of that amount to be applied as payment on the notes and any additional amounts to be applied to the total $4 million expected to be paid by NexGen.
Payments on the principal amounts of the notes expected to be received by the Company within the period ending June 30, 2011 are $1.5 million, with the remaining balance expected to be received on or prior to June 29, 2012. We recognized a non-operating gain of $1.8 million as a result of these notes, which is included in interest and other income on the consolidated statement of operations.
7
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
(4) Deferred Revenue
Deferred Revenue consists of (1) billing in excess of costs and earnings on incomplete contracts; (2) unearned revenues on licensing of the Companys intellectual property (as discussed further below); and (3) deferred rent revenue related to Clean Coals lease agreements in which it recently leased its RC facilities (as discussed further below).
In June 2010, the Company entered into a Development and License Agreement with Arch Coal, Inc. (Arch Coal) in which the Company licensed, on an exclusive non-transferable basis, the use of certain of its technology to enhance coal by the application of additives and received a non-refundable license fee of $2 million in cash. The Company expects to recognize these revenues as the technology is further evaluated and developed and the licensee realizes the benefits of the technology. The Company expects to sell certain chemical additives to the licensee which is expected to enhance the licensees coal. Future revenues which are expected to be recognized in the near term are included in current deferred revenues and those revenues expected to be recognized subsequent to June 30, 2011 are included in deferred revenue, accrued warranty and other. A summary of expected revenue recognition is as follows for the periods ending:
June 30, |
Expected
revenue recognition |
||
(In thousands) | |||
2011 |
$ | 1,300 | |
2012 |
700 | ||
Total |
$ | 2,000 | |
In June 2010, Clean Coal executed agreements to lease its RC facilities. The agreements to lease provide for, among other things, a prepaid rent payment of $9.0 million for both leases.
Future revenues to be recognized with respect to the $9.0 million prepaid rent paid by the lessee are included in deferred revenues for the current period and in deferred revenues, accrued warranty and other for the long-term period, and are as follows for the period ending:
June 30, |
Expected
revenue recognition |
||
(In thousands) | |||
2011 |
$ | 3,600 | |
2012 |
3,600 | ||
2013 |
1,800 | ||
Total |
$ | 9,000 | |
(5) Net Loss Per Share
Basic loss per share is computed based on the weighted average common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted loss per share is computed based on the weighted average common shares outstanding in the period and the effect of dilutive securities (stock options and awards) except where the inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
All outstanding stock options (See Note 7) to purchase shares of common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were excluded from the calculation of diluted shares as their effect is anti-dilutive.
8
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
(6) Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consisted of the following at the dates indicated:
Life in
years |
As of June 30,
2010 |
As of December
31,
2009 |
||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||
Machinery and equipment |
3-10 | $ | 6,864 | $ | 2,346 | |||||
Leasehold improvements |
2 | 504 | 504 | |||||||
Furniture and fixtures |
3-7 | 250 | 250 | |||||||
7,618 | 3,100 | |||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(2,736 | ) | (2,252 | ) | ||||||
Total property, plant and equipment, net |
$ | 4,882 | $ | 848 | ||||||
At December 31, 2009, $1,987,000 of accumulated costs, net of related depreciation, on the Companys RC facilities was classified as assets held for sale in anticipation of a sale of such equipment. This equipment was subsequently leased in June 2010 and reclassified as machinery and equipment as of June 30, 2010.
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $550,000 and $271,000, respectively.
(7) Share Based Compensation
Since 2003, the Company has had several stock option plans, in addition to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2007 Plan) described below, available to issue options for shares of Common Stock to employees, Board of Directors and non employees. In general, all options granted under the plans expire ten years or less from the date of grant unless otherwise specified by the Companys Board of Directors. The exercise price of an option was determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors at the time the option was granted and was equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date the option was granted. As of June 30, 2010, options for 12,065 shares remain available for issuance under these plans. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, options for 13,333 shares expired related to service provided by the Board of Directors and options for 1,162 shares related to service provided by an employee were forfeited with an exercise price of $13.80 per share of Common Stock. In June 2010, options for 2,250 shares were exercised by an employee with an exercise price of $2.80 per share of Common Stock.
Following is a table summarizing the option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2010:
Director
&
Employee Options |
Non-
Employee Options |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
|||||||
O PTIONS O UTSTANDING , January 1, 2010 |
270,265 | 9,000 | $ | 10.23 | |||||
Granted |
0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||||||
Exercised |
(2,250 | ) | 0 | (2.80 | ) | ||||
Forfeited |
(14,495 | ) | 0 | (13.80 | ) | ||||
O PTIONS O UTSTANDING , June 30, 2010 |
253,520 | 9,000 | $ | 10.10 | |||||
O PTIONS E XERCISABLE , June 30, 2010 |
253,520 | 9,000 | $ | 10.10 | |||||
The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable at June 30, 2010 was a loss of $1.3 million based on a market price of $5.31 as of June 30, 2010.
9
ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
Stock options outstanding at June 30, 2010 are summarized in the table below:
Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | |||||||||||
Range of Exercise Prices |
Number
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number
|
Weighted
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||
$2.80 | 8,165 | $ | 2.80 | 8,165 | 3.3 | $ | 2.80 | |||||
$8.60 - $10.00 |
183,343 | $ | 8.64 | 183,343 | 5.3 | $ | 8.64 | |||||
$13.80 - $15.20 |
71,012 | $ | 14.68 | 71,012 | 3.6 | $ | 14.68 | |||||
262,520 | $ | 10.10 | 262,520 | 4.8 | $ | 10.10 | ||||||
No stock options were granted and/or vested during the three or six months ended June 30, 2010.
During 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Plan. The 2007 Plan authorizes the issuance to employees, directors and consultants of up to 745,779 shares of common stock, either as restricted stock grants or to underlie options to purchase shares of the Companys common stock. As of June 30, 2010, 118,173 shares of restricted stock or shares underlying options were available to be issued under this plan.
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Board of Directors awarded restricted stock under the 2007 Plan. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, 2,283 net of repurchased shares of restricted stock were issued to new and anniversary employees, 14,769 of restricted stock were issued under incentive programs for which the shares were previously reserved for and 172,807 shares of stock were issued as compensation to employees, officers, and directors for services rendered to the Company. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recognized $69,000 and $108,000, respectively, of compensation costs related to the vesting of restricted stock and $67,000 and $697,000, respectively, related to the issuance of stock.
A summary of the status of the non-vested shares as of June 30, 2010 is presented below:
Non-vested Shares |
Shares | ||
Non-vested at January 1, 2010 |
116,313 | ||
Granted |
18,957 | ||
Vested |
(3,858 | ) | |
Forfeited |
(1,905 | ) | |
Non-vested at June 30, 2010 |
129,507 | ||
As of June 30, 2010, there was $211,000 of total unrecognized cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Companys equity incentive plans. This cost is expected to be recognized over a five year period.
In June 2009, the Company revised its ADA-ES, Inc. Profit Sharing Retirement Plan, which is a plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the 401(k) Plan). The revision permits the Company to issue shares of its common stock to employees to satisfy its obligation to match employee contributions under the terms of the 401(k) Plan in lieu of matching contributions in cash. The Company reserved 300,000 shares of its common stock for this purpose. The value of common stock issued as matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan is determined based on the per share market value of our Common Stock on the date of issuance. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company issued 22,297 shares of stock under the 401(k) Plan and recognized $132,000 of expense relating to such issuances. As of June 30, 2010, after giving effect to shares issued for the Companys second quarter 2010 obligations, the remaining shares available to be issued under the 401(k) Plan are 195,300.
(8) Stockholders Equity
On March 23, 2010, the Company executed a stock subscription agreement in accordance with a private placement memorandum and issued 143,885 shares of its common stock to Arch Coal and received proceeds, net of issuance costs, totaling $993,000. The Company has filed a registration statement to register these shares in accordance with provisions of the registration rights agreement which was executed at the time of the stock subscription agreement.
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ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
For the periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, the non-controlling interest portion of stockholders equity includes a non-controlling interest and deficit related to Clean Coal.
(9) Commitments and Contingencies
Under certain contracts to supply ACI systems, the Company may grant performance guaranties to the owner of the system that guarantee the performance of the associated equipment for a specified period. The Company may also guarantee the achievement of a certain level of mercury removal based upon the injection of a specified quantity of a qualified AC at a specified rate given other plant operating conditions. In the event the equipment fails to perform as specified, the Company is obligated to correct or replace the equipment. In the event the level of mercury removal is not achieved, the Company may have a make right obligation within the contract limits. The Company assesses the risks inherent in each applicable contract and accrues an estimate that is based on costs incurred over the performance period of the contract. Such costs are included in the Companys accrued warranty and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Any warranty costs paid out in the future will be charged against the accrual. The adequacy of warranty accrual balances is assessed at least quarterly based on current facts and circumstances and adjustments are made as needed. The change in the carrying amount for the Companys equipment warranties and performance guaranties follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30, |
Six Months Ended
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
$ | 615 | $ | 556 | $ | 604 | $ | 546 | ||||||||
Warranties and guaranties accrued |
23 | 44 | 57 | 58 | ||||||||||||
Expenses paid |
(8 | ) | (1 | ) | (31 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||||
Ending Balance |
$ | 630 | $ | 599 | $ | 630 | $ | 599 | ||||||||
At June 30, 2010, the Company had a standby letter of credit for $105,000 related to an installation of an ACI system. This commitment was not recorded on the Companys consolidated balance sheet as the Company does not expect the funds to be called upon under the letter of credit.
The Company has extended its operating lease that was to expire on August 31, 2010 for two years and has the option to three one-year renewals in the future. The lease is for approximately 23,000 square foot of combined office and warehouse space in Littleton, Colorado. The future obligations under the new operating lease at June 30, 2010 are approximately $430,000.
In 2008, the Company made certain guaranties and undertook other obligations related to Carbon Solutions. No liabilities associated with such guaranties and obligations were recorded on the Companys consolidated balance sheet as the Company does not expect such guaranties and obligations to be called upon.
Summaries of the guaranties and obligations related to Carbon Solutions as of June 30, 2010 are as follows:
The Company has guaranteed all amounts owed by Red River under its $243.6 million contract for the turn-key engineering, design, construction and other services for the AC Facility. Red River can terminate this contract for convenience at any time but would be liable for (a) the amount earned by the contractor under the contract through the effective date of termination, (b) cancellation charges to the contractors subcontractors, (c) other reasonable termination-related costs incurred by the contractor, (d) costs of demobilization, and (e) unreimbursed sales taxes paid by the contractor. The remaining obligation under this contract at June 30, 2010 is approximately $14.6 million.
In 2008, Red River entered into four contracts with an independent equipment supplier for the purchase of certain equipment. At or prior to the closing of Carbon Solutions debt financing for its activated carbon facility, Red River will provide the supplier with a parent guaranty to guarantee payment and other obligations for which Red River is obligated under the equipment contracts. The parent guaranty is applicable to both the Company and the partner in the joint venture. At June 30, 2010, the remaining obligation under these contracts totaled approximately $8.3 million. Red River may terminate these contracts for convenience at any time and would be liable for (a) reimbursable costs and amounts owing for achievement of milestones and progress payments to date, (b) reasonable and necessary cancellation charges incurred by the supplier in relation to its subcontractors, and (c) reasonably incurred actual costs of demobilization.
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ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
Red River entered into a sales contract with a major utility. The terms of the contract, including amendments, provide for ADAs guarantee of Red Rivers performance up to a maximum of $750,000. This guaranty would expire upon the earlier of consummation of debt financing for the AC Facility or the date commercial operations commence at the AC Facility.
The Company has also guaranteed the obligations of Red River under a sales contract (which has since been amended) with another major utility. This contract required Red River to commence deliveries of AC from the AC Facility by April 15, 2010, and this deadline was not met, allowing the customer to terminate. If this customer terminates the agreement because of Red Rivers default prior to commencement of delivery of AC from its AC Facility, damages can be awarded, up to a maximum of $10 million. Both parties are entitled to require specific performance of the other in limited circumstances when the cover remedies prove inadequate. No later than five business days after the third party debt financing portion for the AC Facility is obtained, each party is obligated to deliver to the other a $10 million standby, unconditional, irrevocable letter of credit to secure the obligations to the other party in the event of default.
The Company has also guaranteed the obligations of Red River under a sales contract (which has since been amended) with a third major utility. The guaranty is effective until Red River has fulfilled its contractual obligations, which is estimated to occur in the second quarter of 2012, and may be terminated earlier based on Red Rivers financial position or the credit rating of its debt financing for the AC Facility. In any event, the Companys maximum aggregate liability under the guaranty is capped at $1 million.
Under the terms of the JDA, the Company is required to indemnify ECP and Carbon Solutions for certain damages and expenses they have incurred with respect to the Companys litigation and arbitration with Norit described in Part II, Item 1. As of June 30, 2010, the Company has recorded a liability to Carbon Solutions of approximately $11.4 million related to such damages and expenses recorded by Carbon Solutions. These amounts have been classified as non-current liabilities as the Company expects to satisfy the obligation through resources not involving current assets.
The Company also has certain obligations in connection with the obligations of Clean Coal. Summaries of the guaranties and obligations related to Clean Coal as of June 30, 2010 are as follows:
We, NexGen and two entities affiliated with NexGen have provided the lessee of its RC facilities with joint and several guaranties (the CCS Party Guaranties) guaranteeing all payments and performance due under the related transaction agreements. We also entered into a contribution agreement with NexGen under which any party called upon to pay on a CCS Party Guaranty is entitled to receive contribution from the other party equal to 50% of the amount paid.
The parent of the lessee in the RC facilities lease transactions discussed above has provided Clean Coal with a guaranty as to the payment only of all the initial term fixed rent payments and the renewal term fixed rent payments under the related leases, which, although terminable at any time, cannot be terminated without the substitution of such guaranty with another guaranty on similar terms from a creditworthy guarantor.
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ADA-ES, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)(Continued)
June 30, 2010
(10) Business Segment Information
The following information relates to the Companys three reportable segments: Emissions control (EC), CO 2 capture (CC) and Refined coal (RC). All assets are located in the U.S. and are not evaluated by management on a segment basis. All significant customers are U.S. companies.
Three Months Ended
June 30, |
Six Months
Ended
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||
R EVENUE : |
||||||||||||||||
EC |
$ | 1,600 | $ | 4,476 | $ | 4,664 | $ | 9,186 | ||||||||
CC |
337 | 282 | 1,140 | 543 | ||||||||||||
RC |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,937 | $ | 4,758 | $ | 5,804 | $ | 9,729 | ||||||||
S EGMENT PROFIT ( LOSS ): |
||||||||||||||||
EC |
$ | 61 | $ | 1,700 | $ | 991 | $ | 3,278 | ||||||||
CC |
170 | 90 | 668 | 202 | ||||||||||||
RC |
(888 | ) | (151 | ) | (1,533 | ) | (216 | ) | ||||||||
Total |
$ | (657 | ) | $ | 1,639 | $ | 126 | $ | 3,264 | |||||||
A reconciliation of the reported total segment profit to net loss for the periods shown above is as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30, |
Six Months
Ended
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Total segment profit (loss) |
$ | (657 | ) | $ | 1,639 | $ | 126 | $ | 3,264 | |||||||
Non-allocated general and administrative expenses |
(5,708 | ) | (3,502 | ) | (9,899 | ) | (5,255 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
(330 | ) | (139 | ) | (539 | ) | (277 | ) | ||||||||
Interest and other income |
1,791 | 10 | 1,810 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Equity in loss of Carbon Solutions |
(1,568 | ) | (665 | ) | (2,749 | ) | (1,279 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit |
2,087 | 963 | 3,700 | 1,278 | ||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest |
675 | 64 | 1,021 | 76 | ||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (3,710 | ) | $ | (1,630 | ) | $ | (6,530 | ) | $ | (2,173 | ) | ||||
Non-allocated general and administrative expenses include costs that benefit the business as a whole and are not directly related to any one of our segments. Such costs include but are not limited to accounting and human resources staff, information systems costs, facility costs, audit fees, non-project specific legal fees and corporate governance expenses.
(11) Subsequent Event
On July 29, 2010, the Company received a favorable jury verdict from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Calgon Carbon Corp. v. ADA-ES, Inc., awarding the Company damages of $12.0 million as a result of Calgon Carbon Corp.s breach of contract. Payment of the award is subject to appeal and therefore, the gain contingency has not been recognized on these financial statements. See Part II, Item 1 of this report for further information.
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Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Words or phrases such as anticipate, assume, believe, hope, expect, intend, plan, the negative expressions of such words, or similar expressions are used in this Report to identify forward-looking statements, and such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements or expectations regarding:
(a) | when Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)-based mercury and other regulations will be promulgated and/or legislation impacting our business will be enacted and become effective and the scope and impact of such regulations or legislation; |
(b) | expected long-term growth in our target markets; |
(c) |
expected growth in the power industrys interest in and funding for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture projects; |
(d) |
continued funding by Congress of our Department of Energy (DOE) CO 2 projects; |
(e) | impact of the rejection of permits for new coal-fired power plants by state officials; |
(f) | the effectiveness of our technologies; |
(g) | the timing of awards of, and work under, our contracts and their value; |
(h) | possible changes in the level of our ownership of ADA Carbon Solutions, LLC, our joint venture with Energy Capital Partners I, LP and its affiliated funds (ECP); |
(i) | the expected costs, capacity of, funding of and timing for the commencement of full production of the activated carbon facility (AC) that is being built by Red River Environmental Products, LLC (Red River) in Coushatta, Red River Parish, Louisiana (the AC Facility); |
(j) | the willingness and ability of ECP to continue to fund the final construction costs and operations of the AC Facility and legal expenses relating to the arbitration with Norit Americas, Inc. (Norit) through contributions and loans to Carbon Solutions; |
(k) | timing and amounts of or changes in future revenues, funding for our business, margins, expenses, cash flow, working capital, liquidity and other financial measures; |
(l) | impact of pending legal actions, including the costs thereof and our indemnity obligations to Carbon Solutions and ECP; and |
(m) | the materiality of any future adjustments to previously recorded revenue as a result of DOE audits. |
The forward-looking statements included in this Report involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, lack of working capital to operate our businesses, pay ongoing legal expenses and satisfy our indemnity obligations relating to the Norit legal proceedings; timing of new and pending regulations and any legal challenges to them; the governments failure to enact legislation, promulgate regulations or appropriate funds that benefit our business; changes in laws and regulations, prices, economic conditions and market demand; impact of competition and legal proceedings; availability, cost of and demand for alternative energy sources and other technologies; technical, start up and operational difficulties; inability to commercialize our technologies on favorable terms; our inability to ramp up our operations to effectively address expected growth in our target markets; loss of key personnel; failure to satisfy performance guaranties; risks related to Carbon Solutions, including the changes in the costs and timing of commencement of full production at the AC Facility; the willingness and ability of ECP to continue to fund costs of operating Carbon Solutions pending receipt of additional financing; ECPs conversion of outstanding loans to Red River or preferred equity to ordinary capital contributions in Carbon Solutions; demand by ECP of payment on its loans to Red River or our indemnity obligations to it or Carbon Solutions; ECPs control of Carbon Solutions and potential further dilution of our interest; failure to satisfy conditions in our existing agreements; inability of Carbon Solutions to close acceptable debt financing or off-take agreements with respect to the AC Facility in a timely manner; inability of Carbon Solutions to obtain necessary permits for its mining operations or for new AC production facilities; inability of Carbon Solutions to respond to the expected increase in demand for AC through the construction of additional AC facilities or our inability to participate in such projects due to lack of funds or otherwise; the failure of the facilities leased by Clean Coal to continue to produce coal that qualifies for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Section 45 tax credits; termination of the leases of such facilities; decreases in the production of Refined Coal (RC) by the lessees of Clean Coals RC facilities; failure of Congress to extend the Section 45 tax credit deadline; availability of raw materials and equipment for our businesses; our inability to realize our deferred tax assets; failure of Calgon Carbon Corporation (Calgon) to pay the judgment recently awarded to us or its appeal of such judgment; as well as other factors relating to our business, as described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with particular emphasis on the risk factor disclosures contained in those filings and in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements made in this report, and to consult filings we have made and will make with the SEC for additional discussion concerning risks and uncertainties that may apply to our business and the ownership of our securities. The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are presented as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements unless required by law to do so.
Overview
We develop and implement proprietary environmental technology and provide specialty chemicals to the coal-burning electric utility industry. Beginning this year, we have changed our segment reporting structure to better reflect the way we manage and measure the performance of our business. We have three operating segments: EC (emissions control); CC (CO 2 capture) and RC (refined coal). The EC segment includes the supply of emissions control systems including powdered activated carbon injection (ACI) systems, acid gas mitigation systems and the sale of specialty chemicals, equipment and services for flue gas conditioning projects, the licensing of certain technology and other applications. The CC segment includes projects relating to the CO 2 capture and control market, including projects co-funded by government agencies, such as the DOE. The RC segment includes the development and sale of technology, services and equipment for the RC market.
We conduct research and development efforts in CO 2 capture and control from coal-fired boilers, and in 2008, we commenced work on our first significant contract related to CO 2 capture, which is scheduled to continue through the end of 2010 and could be extended into 2011. We are marketing our RC technology, services and equipment through our
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50% interest in a joint venture with NexGen Refined Coal, LLC (NexGen), an affiliate of NexGen Resources Corporation, called Clean Coal Solutions, LLC (Clean Coal). We currently own two RC facilities which are leased through subsidiaries of Clean Coal and operated by Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC (CCSS), a Colorado limited liability company owned 50% by us and 50% by NexGen. In addition, the Carbon Solutions joint venture, of which we owned 30.2% as of June 30, 2010, is in the final stages of start up of the AC Facility primarily for emissions control applications related to mercury emissions from coal burning utilities. Carbon Solutions, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has been processing and supplying AC to utility customers from interim sources until such time as the AC Facility is fully operational. References to Carbon Solutions include its wholly-owned subsidiaries including Red River and Crowfoot Supply Company, LLC (Crowfoot Supply).
Emissions Control
Environmental Legislation and Regulations
Mercury has been identified as a toxic substance and, pursuant to a court order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations for its control in March 2005, which were known as the Clean Air Mercury Rule or CAMR. CAMR has been subject to significant challenges since it was issued and was ultimately declared invalid. Most recently, in April 2010, the U.S. District Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia approved the consent agreement reached last year between EPA and a coalition of public health and environmental groups that sued in 2008 to force the agency to set tight emission limits. That settlement requires EPA to issue a draft rule requiring strict plant-specific controls for power plants toxic air pollutants by March 16, 2011, and a final rule no later than November 16, 2011. These rules are expected to establish a Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)-based hazardous pollutant regulation, which will include control of mercury from power plants, organics and volatile metals such as arsenic, selenium and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride (HCI). The MACT standard is expected to be based upon the best-performing 12% of the power plants and will allow minimal averaging or trading. We estimate that based on the performance of ACI systems recently installed, and the co-benefits achieved from controls for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the MACT standard for mercury will require between 90 and 95% mercury capture from utility boilers.
Pending the EPAs issuance of final rules, a lack of clear mercury emission regulations has led to uncertainty among independent power producers and utilities as to what will be required of them as far as mercury controls, and is adversely impacting their ability to include mercury control costs in their rate bases. It is of course possible that Congress could also enact new legislation requiring stricter mercury emission control within the next year or two, with implementation deadlines over the subsequent two to three years.
In addition to our two key growth areas, emissions control and RC, we continue to demonstrate our position as a premier developer of innovative clean energy technologies. Control of CO 2 from coal-fired power plants is currently a topic of discussion in Washington and a significant issue for the coal industry as a result of the impact of CO 2 emissions on climate change. A number of permits for new coal-fired plants were rejected by various state officials in 2009 in response to protests by environmental groups. We see this as an opportunity and have begun developing technologies to address the needs of our customers through reduction of CO 2 generation, CO 2 capture and beneficial use of CO 2 .
In addition to the independent power producers and utilities, EPA has been developing a MACT-based mercury emissions regulation for the Portland cement industry through proposed amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry issued in May 2009, for which the EPA accepted public comments through September 4, 2009. The cement MACT regulation was finalized on August 9, 2010. This regulation will require cement plants to reduce hazardous air pollutants by 2013 including 92% of mercury and 83% of hydrocarbons. This regulation could require ACI systems on up to 90 cement kilns in the U.S. We are in contract negotiations with three cement companies and are discussing several testing programs to define their emissions and evaluate how our ACI equipment and sorbents will work in that industry. The tests are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of collecting mercury and organics from cement kiln exhaust gas streams. We believe this cement MACT regulation is likely to increase the market for both ACI systems and AC.
The EPA is also developing a new MACT regulation for coal-fired boilers that provide mostly steam and/or electricity for small industrial and institutional power needs with no more than 25 MW of electricity sold to the grid. A draft regulation was released on April 30, 2010, with a final regulation anticipated to be issued by the court-mandated deadline of December 16, 2010, with compliance deadlines in late 2013 or early 2014. This regulation, which is currently open for public comment, could impact over 600 existing coal-fired industrial boilers. The proposed emission limit of three pounds of mercury per Trillion BTU for existing and two pounds per Trillion BTU for new coal-fired industrial boilers would require 60-70% capture of mercury from boilers burning bituminous coals and 40-50% capture of mercury from boilers burning sub bituminous coals. We believe a new industrial boiler regulation could increase the market for ACI systems by several hundred and the associated AC by 50 to 100 million pounds per year with the
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possibility of significantly higher quantities of as many as 400+ units when considering biomass and wood fired boilers which will also be covered under this regulation and, as with coal-fired units, require both mercury and other hazardous air pollutant reductions such as dioxins and furans, both controlled by activated carbon injection. We are in discussions with several companies that own and operate a number of industrial boilers regarding how our technology can help such companies comply with the new regulations.
The Clean Air Act requires that all regulations be met within 36 months. We believe that substantial long-term growth of the EC market for the independent power producer and utilities industry will most likely depend on how industry chooses to respond to the pending federal and state regulations. We anticipate federal regulations will create an even larger market for our mercury control products beyond 2010. As many as 1,200 existing coal-fired boilers may be affected by such regulations, if and when they are fully implemented. DOEs latest report, issued in 2010, includes 77 existing and planned new coal-fired power plant projects totaling 44 GW of capacity. Permitting of new coal-fired plants generally requires them to meet more stringent requirements that likely include EC. Many power companies recognize the urgency of these pending regulations, and as a result we have contracts in place or are in negotiations with seven different power companies to evaluate ACI at a number of their plants. This could result in approximately $2.5 million in near-term ACI demonstration revenue, puts us in close contact with companies that could purchase ACI equipment and could result in long-term contracts for AC.
ACI Systems and Services
Thus far in 2010, we have installed or are in the process of installing 46 ACI systems. Some market demand continues in 19 states and 6 Canadian provinces that either have passed their own mercury control regulations or have entered agreements with power plants to reduce mercury emission for new power plants. We remain active in the bid and proposal process and expect fewer new systems to be awarded for the remainder of the year compared to last year until the final MACT rule is finalized. Because many of our current and potential customers would be affected by new federal regulations replacing CAMR, after the invalidation of CAMR, many independent power producers and utilities postponed the award of projects and existing projects as they revised their long-term plans for compliance. Revenue from ACI system contracts totaled $1.1 million and $ 3.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. We had contracts in progress at June 30, 2010 for supply of ACI systems totaling approximately $2.3 million, $400,000 of which we except to complete and realize in 2010 with the balance in 2011. Although we expect this market to continue to decline in the near-term, we believe we have the opportunity for significant revenue growth for our EC products and services when final federal regulations or legislation impacts a significant portion of previously uncontrolled and existing boilers. Given the current expected timing for a MACT-based regulation, we see the need for 600 to 800 ACI systems to be supplied between 2011 and 2014, which would require rapid scale-up of our production capabilities to maintain our approximate 30% market share.
We are investigating, developing and providing services or systems to measure and mitigate acid gasses from coal fired boilers. These acid gas emissions are often the unintended result of the retrofit and operation of NOx control technology on medium to high sulfur coal-fired boilers.
Flue Gas Chemicals and Services
The market for our flue gas chemicals (FGC) and services has declined in recent years, but we are seeing increased interest in our product due to demonstrated interferences with mercury capture caused by competing products such as SO 3 injection. We are performing tests for interested customers to demonstrate the ability of our technology to meet their needs with stringent mercury control regulations. With a defined mercury rule or legislation, there will be opportunities to combine FGC with AC, as FGC can enhance the performance of AC in specific applications without detriment to the existing electrostatic precipitator operation. Margins on these products are typically higher than what we recognize for our other EC sales and may represent an important contribution to our future overall revenue and profit potential. Revenues from FGC chemicals and services were not material in 2009 or thus far in 2010.
Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Since 2004, we have been working with Arch Coal, Inc. (Arch Coal) to explore certain unique characteristics of some types of coals produced by Arch Coal that allow them to be burned with lower emissions. We believe a recent technical breakthrough provides a potential means to obtain similar performance improvements from all of Arch Coals Powder River Basin (PRB) coals. As a result on June 25, 2010, we entered into a Development and License Agreement (the License Agreement) with Arch Coal. Pursuant to the License Agreement, we provided Arch Coal with an exclusive, non-transferable license to use certain technology to enhance coal by the application of additives for coal mined by Arch Coal at mines and sites located in the PRB. We expect that the technology will reduce certain emissions from the burning of the PRB coal, which should help to meet standards that are in the process of being promulgated by the EPA.
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Pursuant to the License Agreement, we will be providing development services to Arch Coal aimed at applying the technology to the PRB coal. In addition, if we develop improvements to the technology that are related to the reduction of certain emissions from the burning of PRB coal, that technology will either be included in the license at no additional cost, or, under certain circumstances, we will negotiate with Arch Coal to determine if Arch Coal wants to use the additional improvements. We retain all right, title and interest, including all intellectual property rights, in and to any technology we license to Arch Coal. In consideration for the development work and the license to Arch Coal, Arch Coal paid us an initial, non-refundable license fee in cash of $2 million. Arch Coal may be obligated to make royalty payments to us that could amount to as much as $1 per ton of coal sold by Arch Coal, depending upon the successful implementation of the technology and Arch Coals future sales of the resulting enhanced coal product. Arch Coal currently produces more than 100 million tons of PRB coal per year. Any royalty ultimately payable under the License Agreement will first be subject to credit to Arch Coal of an amount equal to the initial license fee, other development and operational costs paid by Arch Coal plus a rate of return on such payments.
As a part of entering into the License Agreement we agreed to negotiate and enter into a Supply Agreement under which Arch Coal will purchase the additives described in the License Agreement exclusively from us, and we will supply Arch Coal with the additives it needs. We are still negotiating the final terms of the Supply Agreement.
CO 2 Capture
DOE is funding CO 2 control projects related to our business and we expect this to continue. Revenue from DOE and industry contracts totaled $337,000 and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. We had DOE contracts in progress totaling approximately $500,000 as of June 30, 2010. We expect to recognize approximately $500,000 from these contracts during the last six months of 2010 and any additional funded amounts in 2011. This year we began the first field tests of its CO 2 control technology on a $3.2 million program co-funded by DOE, as well as several major forward-thinking utility companies, and the initial results confirmed the promising performance we had demonstrated in our laboratory. Once captured, the carbon dioxide could be either stored underground (sequestration) or beneficially used in processes such as enhanced oil recovery. This technology appears to offer potential cost and energy advantages over competing liquid-solvent-based technologies.
On July 7, 2010, DOE announced that we were selected to be the prime contractor for a follow on new 39 month project for approximately $11.1 million. We are currently in the process of negotiating and finalizing the contract. The project will provide funding to advance our commercialization plan for regenerable solid-sorbent technology and will allow pilot-testing of our concept at the one megawatt scale. We expect the final contract to be in place around October 2010 and total at least $14.1 million with co-funding and support to be provided by several major power generation companies including American Electric Power, Luminant, DTE Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute. We expect to start recognizing revenues for this project in the fourth quarter of this year The anticipated work to be performed under this contract is expected to be evenly recognized throughout the contract life with greater costs anticipated in late 2011 to early 2012. We anticipate that overall gross margins for this contract will be approximately 30%.
We anticipate that DOE programs will continue to represent an important segment in supporting the revenue stream of the company over the next few years as we position ourselves for the market growth for ACI systems for emissions control.
Refined Coal
Clean Coal develops and sells or leases facilities that produce RC that qualifies for Section 45 tax credits. The tax credits amount to an escalating $6.20 per ton of RC for a period of ten years. In December 2009, the IRS issued the anticipated guidance as to the specifics concerning how the emissions reductions achieved when RC is burned are to be measured and certified to demonstrate the compliance necessary to qualify for the tax credits. Clean Coal placed two facilities in service prior to January 1, 2010 and demonstrated the required emission reductions for their RC product to qualify for the tax credits.
On June 29, 2010, Clean Coal executed contracts in which the two facilities were leased to GS RC Investments LLC, the lessee, an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The leases have base terms that run through December 31, 2012 (the Initial Term), and automatically renew for annual terms through the end of 2019. The RC produced at the facilities is expected to be eligible for federal credits that are available for the production of RC pursuant to Section 45. The other 50% of Clean Coal is owned by NexGen and the two RC facilities are owned, respectively, by two special purpose entities (the Lessors). Clean Coal owns 95%, and we and NexGen each own 2.5% of the Lessors. The lessee has entered into supply agreements for each RC facility pursuant to which it will supply RC to the applicable power plant owner.
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CCSS will (subject to oversight by the lessee) operate and maintain the RC facilities under two Operating and Maintenance Agreements entered into with the lessee as part of the transaction. In addition to reimbursement for costs incurred, CCSS will receive a fee of $.08 per ton of coal processed through the RC facilities for its services. The lessee will pay the costs for operating and maintaining the RC facilities, subject to certain limitations. CCSS will also arrange for the purchase and delivery of certain chemical additives necessary for lessees production of RC under two supply agreements entered into with the lessee as part of the transaction. CCSS will receive a fee for its services in the amount of five percent of the cost of chemical additives and transportation costs. The term of each supply agreement runs coincident with the leases.
We control and consolidate the results of CCS in our financial statements, but do not expect to consolidate the results of CCSS because NexGen controls the entity pursuant to the operating agreement of the entity.
The leases included an upfront payment of approximately $4.5 million in prepaid rent for each facility and provide for fixed rent and contingent rent based upon future production of RC, each of which is payable on a quarterly basis. The prepaid rent is expected to be recognized over the Initial Terms of the leases. Such revenues are recorded as they are earned. Based on the amount of RC that we expect will be produced from the RC facilities, we expect to recognize operating income, before the deduction of NexGens 50% equity interest in that income, of approximately $2.00 per ton of RC produced, or approximately $12.0 million per year, average annual consolidated revenues from all lease payments of approximately $20.0 million per year, and after tax cash flows of approximately $9.0 million per year, over the almost 10-year period for which Section 45 tax credits are available. Historically, the utilities at which the facilities operate have used approximately 6.5 million tons of coal per year, which amount can vary based on several factors. The total annual contribution to our operating income will ultimately depend on the utilities use of coal in the generation of electricity, which use will likely fluctuate over the term of the tax credits. A portion of the lease payments made by lessee during the Initial Term will be held in an escrow account, which was established to provide a fund from which the lessee can reclaim a portion of the lease payments if certain circumstances arise that affect the availability of Section 45 Credits for RC from the RC facilities.
Each lease may be terminated by the lessee for various reasons, the most significant of which are:
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For any reason as of the end of the Initial Term by giving notice by no later than July 1, 2012. |
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If the Total Operating Expenses (as defined in each lease) paid by the lessee for two consecutive quarters exceed 140% of the projected operating costs for the RC facility. |
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If any of Lessors representations or warranties were breached as of the date made and such breach is not cured within 30 days after notice. |
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If a change of law, or certain other specified events affecting the availability of the Section 45 credits, occurs. |
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Upon the occurrence of a governmental regulatory event that would make the Transaction impermissible. |
In order to maintain our 50% interest in Clean Coal, we are obligated to fund half of its operating costs and capital expenditures. In order to satisfy a portion of the 2009 capital needs of Clean Coal, Clean Coal entered into a Loan Commitment Agreement with NexGen in October 2009, by which NexGen loaned Clean Coal $1.0 million. The note was paid in full prior to April 30, 2010. In the future, we expect the operations of the facilities to generate sufficient working capital to meet their operating needs. Our consolidated net operating loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 included net costs of $888,000 and $1.5 million, respectively, related to our RC efforts.
We, Clean Coal and the lessee entered into a Technology Sublicense pursuant to which we licensed and Clean Coal sublicensed to the lessee certain technology required to operate each RC facility and to produce RC. The Technology Sublicense parallels the license previously granted by us to Clean Coal and requires that we stand behind Clean Coal if it fails to perform its obligations under the sublicense, other than as a result of a default by lessee. The agreement contains representations and warranties customary for such agreements regarding intellectual property, and, subject to certain liability limits, requires us to indemnify the lessee in the event of certain infringement claims by a third party. We are also obligated to actively prosecute infringement of the technology by third parties, or to cooperate with the lessee if it does so, in which case any award would go to the lessee and any other sublicensee who prosecutes the infringement. The annual license fee payable to Clean Coal for the sublicense is $10,000 per year, but this amount is deductible from the amount the lessee pays in rent under the leases.
We, NexGen and two entities affiliated with NexGen have provided the lessee with joint and several guaranties (the CCS Guaranties) guaranteeing all payments and performance due under the agreements described above. We also entered into a Contribution Agreement with NexGen under which any party called upon to pay on a CCS Guaranty is entitled to receive contribution from the other party equal to 50% of the amount paid. The parent of lessee provided Clean Coal with a guaranty as to the payment only of all fixed rent payments under the leases, which, although terminable at any time, cannot be terminated without the substitution of such guaranty with another guaranty on similar terms from a creditworthy guarantor.
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Under a First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement entered into in October 2009, NexGen may elect to retain its interest in Clean Coal by paying us up to $4.0 million (plus any accrued interest under the note described below) as follows: (a) an amount based on the projected annual tons of RC to be sold by the utility at which the facility operates payable after a related monetization, which NexGen elected to pay by its issuance of two-year promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1.8 million on June 29, 2010, plus (b) 25% of cash distributions (other than for income taxes) due to NexGen from Clean Coal. NexGens promissory notes are shown as notes receivable, bear interest at 5% per annum, are payable out of 35% of cash distributions to NexGen and are secured by NexGens interest in Clean Coal. We expect to receive approximately $1.5 million under these notes within one year of issuance and the remaining balance in the following six months. We expect to receive approximately $3.0 million of the $4.0 million by June 30, 2011and the remaining $1.0 million over the following year, respectively. We expect to report these amounts upon receipt as other income. NexGen is not obligated to make those payments, but if it does not do so, it will forfeit a part of its interest in Clean Coal in direct proportion to the amount that it elects not to pay (including any election not to pay under any notes issued). Once it fails to make any one payment, it cannot reclaim its interest by making later payments. We are not required to refund any of the cash paid by NexGen.
Clean Coal is working with Congress to obtain a one-year extension for the placed-in-service deadline for Section 45 facilities. An extension, if put into law, would provide Clean Coal with the opportunity to expand this business further through additional potential customers that have been identified as viable candidates for this technology. However to date, Congress has not been able to package a tax extenders bill into a form to receive sufficient bipartisan support for passage. At this point in time, an extension well into 2011 would be necessary to provide enough time for Clean Coal to build and install additional RC facilities. Clean Coal has been discussing additional RC facilities with other potential customers so that it is positioned to move forward if the deadline is extended.
Carbon Solutions
Carbon Solutions, our joint venture company with ECP, has constructed the AC Facility through its wholly owned subsidiary Red River. The AC Facility achieved partial commercial operation starting in May 2010 and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. Many of the state mercury regulations already in place require compliance in 2010 and as such there are several utilities and independent power producers engaged in an AC procurement process this year. Red River expects to be able to sell the majority of its AC output under long-term contracts to owners of coal-fired power plants for the purpose of mercury mitigation but anticipates that such level of sales may not be achieved until 2012.
Crowfoot Supply has developed an offsite processing and logistics facility that commenced operations in the second quarter of 2009 and operates in conjunction with the AC Facility. Red River has been selling and processing AC on a continuous basis from this facility to meet delivery obligations under existing supply contracts to customers in the U.S. and Canada. Those contracts, which to date total over 200 million pounds, represent approximately 32% of the plants planned capacity. Shipment of product to some customers from the AC Facility began in July. As inventories at Crowfoot Supply are depleted, all deliveries will be shifted to AC Facility production. Five Forks is developing a lignite and feedstock mine that will supply Red River.
Under the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement (the LLC Agreement) of Carbon Solutions among ECP and ADA, we have contributed $25.6 million in cash and other property and ECP has contributed cash of $157.6 million, including preferred equity contributions of $98.5 million, through June 30, 2010. Effective June 30, 2009, ECP converted some of its preferred equity contributions to ordinary capital contributions resulting in a dilution of our ownership percentage to under 50%. Since that time, ECP has converted additional preferred equity contributions to ordinary capital contributions resulting in a dilution of our ownership percentage to 30.2% as of June 30, 2010. We do not have any further capital commitments to Carbon Solutions, and expect that all future funding for the AC Facility will come from ECP and third-party debt financing. Through June 30, 2010, ECP had loaned $182.4 million to Red River pursuant to secured convertible demand notes. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional information.
We predict a significant gap between AC production and demand starting in 2012, with the gap growing close to a billion pounds per year by 2015. We believe that the growth we anticipate will require as many as five additional AC production lines of the same size and capacity as Red River. Carbon Solutions is working on obtaining permits for these facilities in anticipation of federal regulations, and ADA has certain rights to participate by up to 50% in capacity additions.
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Results of Operations 2 nd Quarter and YTD 2010 versus 2 nd Quarter and YTD 2009
Revenues totaled $1.9 million and $5.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, versus $4.8 million and $9.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, representing a decrease of 59% and 40% for the quarter and year to date. We expect overall revenues in the remaining half of 2010 to be lower than those reported for the 2009 period.
Cost of revenues decreased by $1.0 million and $1.3 million or 35% and 23% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, from the same periods in 2009 primarily as a result of decreased volume in our EC and CC segments. Gross margins were less than 1% and 23% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 respectively, as compared to 38% and 41% for the same periods in 2009. The decrease in the gross margin was the result of increased RC costs for future development in the technology, decreased consulting margins and lower ACI systems margins.
Emissions Control
Revenues in our EC segment for 2010 decreased for the second quarter and first six months by $2.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively (64% and 49%). The amounts reported for 2010 exclude the work ADA has conducted for Clean Coal, as further described below, that is eliminated in our consolidation. Revenues from the EC segment for the six months ended June 30, 2010 were comprised of sales of ACI systems (77%), flue gas chemical sales (3%) and consulting services (20%), compared to 64%, 2%, and 34%, respectively, in 2009. For the near term, in our EC segment, we expect the sales of ACI systems will continue to represent the most significant source of revenues, for which the anticipated gross margins are lower than for our specialty chemical sales and DOE demonstration work that typically involves industry cost-sharing. We expect revenues in the EC segment to decline from 2009 levels through the remainder of 2010 until revised emissions control regulations are implemented. We expect overall gross margins for the EC segment for fiscal year 2010 to be consistent with the levels achieved in fiscal year 2009.
We had contracts in progress at quarter-end for supply of ACI systems with remaining revenue of approximately $2.3 million, of which $400,000 is expected to be recognized during the remaining six months of 2010 with the balance expected to be realized in 2011. Our ACI systems revenues were $1.1 million and $3.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, representing a decrease of 61% and 39% compared to those same periods in 2009. Over the last quarter, our ACI systems group devoted substantial effort to the RC facilities in order to complete modifications and restarted the units by the end of the quarter. Accordingly, efforts on other projects were impacted. We expect our EC segment revenues to decline until such time as utilities, cement plants, and industrial boilers start to react to the anticipated new federal emission control regulations. In the EC segment, we performed work related to RC systems provided to Clean Coal valued at $2.7 million and $3.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, that would otherwise be recognized as revenue but were eliminated in the consolidation of Clean Coal.
Our consulting revenues have decreased approximately $1.1 million and $2.2 million during the three and six month ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009 as we have completed nearly all of our mercury control demonstrations and analysis. We expect a continued reduction in consulting revenue although we are focusing more efforts on SO 3 control demonstrations and analyses, which have growth potential.
Cost of revenues for the EC segment decreased by $1.4 million and $2.3 million or 54% and 43% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, from the same periods in 2009, primarily as a result of the decreased revenue-generating activities from our ACI system sales and other consulting services. Gross margins for the EC segment were 25% and 35% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to 41% and 42% for the 2009 periods. The decrease in gross margins from the prior year resulted from a decrease in our other consulting margins which generally has higher margins than our ACI systems. Further we eliminated $2.3 million and $2.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, related to our efforts on Clean Coals RC facilities. Looking ahead, we expect EC margins to decline from prior levels as competition is expected to increase.
EC segment profits decreased by $1.6 million and $2.3 million or 96% and 70% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively from the same periods in 2009. The decrease was primarily a result of lower margins on other consulting work, chemical sales and ACI systems sales for the period.
CO 2 Capture
Revenues in our CC segment for 2010 increased by $55,000 and $597,000 for the second quarter and first six months, respectively (20% and 110%). Our DOE and industry consulting contract revenues related to our CC segment totaled $337,000 and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. The remaining unearned amount on these contracts totaled approximately $500,000 as of June 30, 2010 which we expect to recognize during the last six months of 2010 (including cash contributions by other industry partners) and any additional funding in 2011. As discussed above, we have been selected to be the prime contractor on a DOE project in July 2010 totaling $14.1 million (including contributions by other industry partners). The anticipated work to be performed under this contract is expected to be evenly recognized throughout the contract life with greater costs anticipated in late 2011 to early 2012.
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Cost of revenues for the CC segment decreased by $6,000 and increased by $149,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, from the same periods in 2009. Gross margins for this segment were 57% and 64% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 respectively, as compared to 47% and 52% for the comparable 2009 periods. The increase in gross margins from 2010 to 2009 is due primarily to the amount of direct product costs and higher labor involved in these projects. We expect overall gross margins for the CC segment for fiscal year 2010 to be consistent with the levels achieved in fiscal year 2009.
CC segment profits increased by $80,000 and $466,000 or 89% and 231% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, from the same periods in 2009. The increase was primarily the result of increased activities related to our development of CO 2 capture technology, which ramped up significantly in 2010.
Our contracts with the government are subject to audit by the federal government, which could result in adjustment(s) to previously recognized revenue. We believe, however, that we have complied with all requirements of the contracts and future adjustments, if any, will likely not be material. In addition, the federal government must appropriate funds on an annual basis to support DOE contracts, and funding is always subject to unknown and uncontrollable contingencies.
Refined Coal
We had no material revenues for our RC segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. As discussed above, on June 29, 2010 we leased the two RC facilities to the lessee and expect to earn related rent revenues beginning in July 2010. The revenues are expected to be uneven during the first few months as the new operators deal with start-up issues with the new equipment. However, once issues are resolved and the plants begin supplying Refined Coal for four generating units, the first two systems are expected to produce approximately 6.5 million tons of Refined Coal annually, qualifying for the approximately $6.20 per ton federal tax credit over the next 10 years.
Cost of revenues for the RC segment increased to $586,000 and $1.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 up from $169,000 and $181,000 for the same periods in 2009 as we increased our efforts in further developing the technology and modifying the equipment. Costs of revenues are expected to level off as these projects are complete and the RC facilities are now leased to a monetizer.
RC segment losses increased by $737,000 and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 over the same periods in 2009 as our efforts to realize value from production of coal that qualifies for the Section 45 credits and make modifications to the RC facilities substantially increased in 2010.
Other Items
General and administrative expenses increased by $2.7 million and $5.2 million or 77% and 93% to approximately $6.2 million and $10.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, from the same periods in 2009. The dollar increase for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 resulted primarily from legal costs related to our legal proceedings with Norit and Calgon described in Part II, Item 1 of this report which comprises approximately 70% of the overall general and administrative expense for the quarter. We expect legal fees to continue at the same level or increase in the third and fourth quarters as we prepare for the Norit arbitration later this year. With regard to the recent damage award in the Calgon lawsuit we do not expect to recognize income until payment is received from Calgon.
We incur R&D expenses not only on direct activities we conduct but also by sharing a portion of the costs in the government and industry programs in which we participate. Direct research and development expenses increased by $146,000 and $149,000 or 79% and 38% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to 2009 as a result of increases in CC and RC activities. We anticipate that our future R&D expenses will grow in direct proportion to DOE-funded CO 2 work and future RC activities we perform for the next several years.
We had net interest and other income of $1.8 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $10,000 and $20,000, respectively from the same periods in 2009. During the 2010 periods, we recognized approximately $1.8 million related to the notes payable executed by NexGen, as discussed above, by which NexGen has paid us as a portion of the amounts required to maintain its 50% interest in Clean Coal. Such payments have been recorded as other income.
Our net operating loss includes our equity in the losses incurred by Carbon Solutions totaling $1.5 million and $2.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. We expect to continue to report equity in loss to Carbon Solutions for the remainder of 2010 as commercial operations are initiated and other development activities continue this year.
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The deferred income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2010 represents our expected effective tax rate of approximately 33% for 2010, which is lower than the rate of 36% we recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The change in effective rates is primarily the result of smaller impact of R&D tax credits for the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the amount estimated for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Our income tax rate does not include any material amount of Section 45 tax credits from Clean Coal as those tax benefits will primarily be realized by the lessee under the RC facilities leases.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
Our principal source of liquidity is our existing working capital, our cash generated from the transactions described below and expected cash flow from our RC activities and other operations. We had cash and cash equivalents of $7.0 million and working capital excluding deferred revenue of approximately $5.7 million at June 30, 2010, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $1.5 million and working capital excluding deferred revenue of $3.6 million at December 31, 2009. The increase in cash and cash equivalents and adjusted working capital resulted primarily from the $2.0 million payment received for the exclusive licensing of technology to Arch Coal, $1.0 million for the sale of our Common Stock to Arch Coal in March 2010 which was approved by our Board of Directors, $9.0 million in prepaid rents related to the leases of Clean Coals RC facilities in June 2010 and $1.5 million in capital contributions by NexGen in Clean Coal less the $2.8 million in cash distributed by Clean Coal to NexGen.
Deferred revenues have increased from the deferral of a significant portion of the license fee paid by Arch Coal and the deferral of the advanced rents on the RC facility leases. We have long-term liabilities recorded for our deferred revenue, accrued warranty and other obligations of $6.9 million due to the inclusion of our deferred rent related to the lease of our RC facilities and indemnity costs related to the Norit legal proceedings of $11.4 million as of June 30, 2010. Our shareholders equity attributable to ADA is approximately $19.7 million as of June 30, 2010 compared to $24.3 million as of December 31, 2009. We believe our current working capital is sufficient to meet our operating needs and obligations in the coming year. As we look at future growth opportunities, our board has approved a shelf registration of up to 3.5 million shares as needed to fund such growth opportunities.
Since July 2009, Carbon Solutions has funded, through loans or equity contributions from ECP to Carbon Solutions, a majority of the legal expenses related to the Norit litigation. We do not currently have any accrued indemnity obligations to ECP, and we are unable to estimate the total amount of any future indemnity obligations to Carbon Solutions or ECP at this time. ECP has notified us that it believes such obligations include any losses it suffers due to its loss of potential customers and diminution in the value of its businesses, the costs and fees it will incur, and any damages it may suffer as a result of a new lawsuit Norit N.V. has filed against ECP in state court in New Jersey. Satisfaction of any indemnity obligations to ECP may be made via a decrease in our capital contributions (and corresponding increase in ECPs capital contributions) in Carbon Solutions and adjustment of each partys percentage ownership, however, we ultimately may be found to owe or agree to pay these amounts in cash or other consideration.
We may also require additional working capital to meet our 50% share of capital expenditures and working capital requirements of Clean Coal, although no material amounts are anticipated at this time and to pursue our other businesses. We expect, however, the continuing operations of the RC facilities to generate sufficient working capital to meet their operating needs.
We have made guaranties and undertaken other commitments of approximately $24.7 million related to Carbon Solutions. No liabilities associated with such guaranties and obligations were recorded on our financial statements as we do not expect the guaranties and commitments to be called upon.
Clean Coal Related Items
Clean Coal, our 50% joint venture with NexGen, has placed two facilities to produce RC into service which have been leased to a third party as discussed above. Based on the amount of RC that we expect will be produced from the RC facilities, we expect to recognize after tax cash flows of approximately $9.0 million per year over the approximate 10-year period for which Section 45 tax credits are available. Historically, the utilities at which the facilities operate have used approximately 6.4 million tons of coal per year, which amount can vary based on several factors.
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In order to satisfy a portion of the 2009 capital needs of Clean Coal, Clean Coal entered into a Loan Commitment Agreement with NexGen in October 2009, by which NexGen loaned Clean Coal $1.0 million. The note was paid in full prior to April 30, 2010.
Also in October 2009, we, NexGen and Clean Coal entered into a First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement to amend the terms pursuant to which NexGen may retain its 50% interest in Clean Coal once Clean Coal qualifies its RC product for Section 45 tax credits. Under this First Amendment, NexGen may elect to retain its interest in Clean Coal by paying us up to $4.0 million (plus any accrued interest under the notes described below) as follows: (a) $1.8 million under NexGens two-year promissory notes issued to us in June 2010, plus (b) 25% of cash distributions (other than for income taxes) due to NexGen from Clean Coal. NexGens promissory notes are shown as notes receivable, bear interest at 5% per annum, are payable out of 35% of cash distributions to NexGen and secured by NexGens interest in Clean Coal. We expect to receive approximately $1.5 million under these notes within one year of issuance and the remaining balance in the following six months. We expect to receive approximately $3.0 million of the $4.0 million by June 30, 2011 and the remaining $1.0 million in the following year. We expect to report these amounts upon receipt as other income. NexGen is not obligated to make those payments, but if it does not do so, it will forfeit a part of its interest in Clean Coal in direct proportion to the amount that it elects not to pay (including any election not to pay under any notes issued). Once it fails to make any one payment, it cannot reclaim its interest by making later payments. We are not required to refund any of the cash paid by NexGen.
Sale of Common Stock to Arch Coal
On March 23, 2010, under a subscription agreement with Arch Coal, we issued and sold to Arch Coal in a private placement an aggregate of 143,885 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $6.95 per share for aggregate proceeds of $1.0 million. The per-share price was the closing sales price of our common stock as listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market on the day before we entered into the subscription agreement.
AC Facility Related Items
As noted above, Carbon Solutions is in the process of starting up an AC Facility, which has an estimated all-in, total cost for one production line capable of producing approximately 150 million pounds of AC per year, including related activities, of approximately $400 million. Red River has received a conditional commitment for up to $245 million from the DOE to guarantee a loan related to the construction of the AC Facility.
Our initial contribution to Carbon Solutions was valued by the parties at $18.4 million and we contributed an additional $7.1 million in cash in December 2008. As of June 30, 2010, ECP has contributed $157.6 million in cash to Carbon Solutions in the form of ordinary and preferred equity and made loans of $182.4 million in the form of secured demand notes.
In order to address the anticipated capital needs of Carbon Solutions, ECP may fund additional ordinary capital contributions or preferred equity contributions to Carbon Solutions or make loans to Red River, in each case at such times and in such amounts as ECP determines are necessary to satisfy their capital requirements. Neither ADA nor ECP is required to fund additional capital contributions to Carbon Solutions at this time. ECPs preferred equity bears a preferred return of 12% per annum. ECP is entitled to receive priority distributions on its preferred equity until it is redeemed or converted and has the option to convert any such unredeemed preferred equity into ordinary capital contributions.
Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Credit and Reimbursement Agreement among Red River, ECP and us dated as of September 2, 2009 and related documents (the Carbon Solutions Credit Support Documents), ECP may make loans to Red River from time to time. As of June 30, 2010, the principal balance of ECPs loans to Red River totaled approximately $182.4 million. Such loans are evidenced by convertible demand promissory notes bearing interest at 12% per annum compounded quarterly. ECP may convert any outstanding amounts due under such notes to ordinary capital or preferred equity contributions in Carbon Solutions at any time at its option. The outstanding loans are secured by Red Rivers assets and guaranteed by Carbon Solutions, and Carbon Solutions guaranty is secured by a pledge of Carbon Solutions equity in Red River.
As of June 30, 2010, ECP had outstanding preferred equity in Carbon Solutions totaling approximately $98.5 million. In the second and third quarter of 2009 and during the first fix six months of 2010, ECP converted some of its then outstanding preferred equity to ordinary capital contributions, resulting in dilution of our ownership interest in Carbon Solutions to 30.2% as of June 30, 2010. Because of such dilution, ECP elects three out of the four managers of the Board of Carbon Solutions and controls decisions of the Board. Our ownership interest in Carbon Solutions may be further diluted. We continue to have the right to participate in significant decisions subject to member approval so long as we continue to hold at least a 15% ownership interest. Member approval requires approval of members holding at least 75% of the ownership interests.
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In addition to our indemnity obligations described above, we have given guaranties and undertaken other commitments of approximately $24.7 million related to Carbon Solutions. No liabilities associated with such guaranties and obligations were recorded on our financial statements as we do not expect the guaranties and commitments to be called upon. Pursuant to the Carbon Solutions Credit Support Documents, Red River has agreed to reimburse us and ECP in the event we or they are required to make payments related to these guaranties and guaranties provided by ECP. Red Rivers reimbursement obligations are secured by Red Rivers assets and guaranteed by Carbon Solutions, and Carbon Solutions guaranty is secured by a pledge of Carbon Solutions equity in Red River. We assigned our rights under these agreements to ECP, and any amounts payable to us would be paid directly to ECP until ECPs preferred equity in Carbon Solutions is fully redeemed or converted and all loans to Red River have been paid in full.
Other Liquidity and Capital Resource Items
Our trade receivables balance is comprised of both amounts billed to customers as well as unbilled revenues that have been recognized. As of June 30, 2010 our trade receivables balance was $2.9 million which was offset by billings in excess of recognized income of $659,000 or a net of $2.2 million. Our trade receivables balance was lower at June 30, 2010 as compared to December 31, 2009 due to decreased sales of ACI systems and the nature and timing of our billing milestones for our ACI systems contracts.
Under our defined contribution and 401(k) pension plan, we match up to 7% of salary amounts deferred by employees in the plan and may contribute certain other amounts as determined annually by our Board of Directors. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we recognized $132,000 and $131,000, net of forfeitures, respectively, of matching expense. This expense is expected to amount to approximately $271,000 in 2010. Our matching contributions for 2010 have been and are expected to continue to be made in the form of shares of the Companys common stock.
We have recorded net current deferred tax assets of $271,000 and long-term deferred tax assets of $10.5 million as of June 30, 2010 as compared to net deferred current tax liabilities of $271,000 and net long-term deferred tax assets of $6.8 million as of December 31, 2009. We believe that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized in the future. The change is a result of our loss for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Such amounts exclude any material amounts of Section 45 tax credits related to Clean Coal.
Cash flow provided by operations totaled $9.1 million for the first six months of 2010 compared to cash used of $1.0 million for the same period in 2009. The change in cash flow from operations in 2010 primarily resulted from an increase in deferred revenue of $9.3 million, increase in accrued liabilities of $4.6 million, which is primarily related to our indemnity costs, collection in trade receivables of $2.9 million and reduction of prepaid expenses totaling $619,000, which was offset by reduction of accounts payable of $592,000. These changes in our operating assets and liabilities primarily correspond to the recent activities in our RC segment and Arch Coal activities noted above. In addition, adjustments to reconcile our net loss of $6.5 million for non-cash operating activities, which included our equity loss from our unconsolidated entities of $2.8 million and an increase in non-cash gain of $1.8 million, which were partially offset by an increase in recorded deferred tax benefit of $3.7 million and change in non-controlling interests of $1.0 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $3.2 million for the first six months of 2010 compared to $25.8 million for the same period in 2009. The cash used in 2010 was primarily due to capital expenditures related to our Clean Coal joint venture. The remaining cash used was made up of investments in short term paper and activities related to the development and formation of our investments in other entities. The cash used in 2009 was due to our deconsolidation of Carbon Solutions in the financial statements as a result of our joint venture partner converting a portion of its preferred equity contributions to ordinary capital contributions which represents $25.2 million of cash held in the deconsolidated subsidiary.
Net cash used in financing activities was $273,000 for the first six months of 2010 compared to $3,000 for the same period in 2009. Sources of funding include $1.5 million in equity contributions in our consolidated equity entity, Clean Coal, from NexGen, which is the non-controlling interest and the issuance of our stock for cash totaling $1.0 million through the sale of common stock to Arch Coal, offset by the distribution of $2.8 million by our consolidated entity, Clean Coal, to the non-controlling interest.
We have not paid dividends since inception. We currently have no plans for paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Revenue Recognition We follow the percentage of completion method of accounting for all significant contracts excluding government contracts, chemical sales, technology license and related royalties, and RC leases. The percentage of completion method of reporting income takes into account the estimated costs to complete and estimated gross margin for contracts in progress. We recognize revenue on government contracts generally based on the time and expenses incurred to date. We are recognizing revenue from the Arch Coal license over the estimated time for which Arch expects to recoup its investment in the technology and related royalties will be recognized when earned. RC base rents, which are fixed, are recognized over the life of the lease. Contingent rents are recognized as they are earned.
Significant estimates are used in preparation of our financial statements and include (1) our allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based on historical experience; (2) our warranty costs; (3) our expectation that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized in the future; (4) our percentage of completion method of accounting for significant long-term contracts, which is based on estimates of gross margins and of the costs to complete such contracts; and (5) the period over which we estimate we will earn up front license and facilities rent payments. In addition, amounts invoiced for government contracts are subject to change based on the results of future audits by the federal government. We have not experienced significant adjustments in the past, and we do not expect significant adjustments will be required in the future. We also use our judgment to support the current fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets of $676,000 on our consolidated balance sheets. Management believes the fair value of other recorded intangibles is not impaired, although market demand for our products and services could change in the future, which would require a write-down in recorded values. As with all estimates, the amounts described above are subject to change as additional information becomes available, although we are not aware of anything that would cause us to believe that any material changes will be required in the near term.
Under certain contracts we may grant performance guaranties or equipment warranties for a specified period and the achievement of certain plant operating conditions. In the event the equipment fails to perform as specified, we are obligated to correct or replace the equipment. Estimated warranty costs are recorded at the time of sale based on current industry factors. The amount of the warranty liability accrued reflects our best estimate of expected future costs of honoring our obligations under the warranty section of each contract. We believe the accounting estimate related to warranty costs is a critical accounting estimate because changes in it can materially affect net income, it requires us to forecast the amount of equipment that might fail to perform in the future, and it requires a large degree of judgment.
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. Deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance if and when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The change in laws can have a material effect on the amount of income tax we are subject to. We are not aware of anything that would cause us to believe that any material changes will be required in the near term.
We recognize all share-based payments, including grants of stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase rights in our financial statements based upon their respective grant date fair values. Under this standard, the fair value of each employee stock option and employee stock purchase right is estimated on the date of grant using an option pricing model that meets certain requirements. We currently use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of our stock options and stock purchase rights. The Black-Scholes model meets the requirements of FASB Topic 718 but the fair values generated by the model may not be indicative of the actual fair values of our equity awards as it does not consider certain factors important to those awards to employees, such as continued employment and periodic vesting requirements. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards utilizing the Black-Scholes model is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life and risk-free interest rate. We use a historical volatility rate on our stock options. The fair value of our restricted stock is based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. If there are any modifications or cancellations of the underlying securities, we may be required to accelerate, increase or cancel any remaining unearned stock-based compensation expense. To the extent that we grant additional equity securities to employees or we assume unvested securities in connection with any acquisitions, our stock-based compensation expense will be increased by the additional unearned compensation resulting from those additional grants or acquisitions.
Consolidation of Subsidiaries Our equity partner in Carbon Solutions, ECP, contributed equity capital significantly in excess of our contributions during the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. We expect that our ownership percentage may be further diluted below the 30.2% at June 30, 2010 and that we will continue the recording of our interest under the equity method.
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Our equity partner in Clean Coal, NexGen, must pay us up to $4 million to maintain its 50% interest in Clean Coal for which it has issued notes payable to us evidencing a portion of that amount as described above. Although we expect performance on these notes and remaining amounts due us, we believe our 50% interest constitutes control of Clean Coal and, therefore, have consolidated its accounts with ours.
We hold a 50% interest in CCSS. However, we control only two of the five seats on the board of managers and our equity partner controls the other three seats. Therefore, we believe our 50% interest does not constitute control of CCSS and we have recorded our interest under the equity method.
Recently Issued Accounting Policies
There were none issued which were material to our financial statements.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures. |
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding managements control objectives.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation and under supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on their review and evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to ensure that material information related to our financial statements are made known to them by others in a timely manner, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report on Form 10-Q was being prepared, and that no changes are required at this time.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2009, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
Litigation with Norit Americas, Inc. and Norit N.V. As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed in 2009 and 2010 and Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 8, 2009, Norit, which is an AC manufacturer with whom we have previously done business, filed a lawsuit against us, ADA Environmental Solutions LLC, Carbon Solutions (formerly known as Crowfoot Development, LLC), Red River, Underwood Environmental Products, LLC, Morton Environmental Products, LLC and two employees of Carbon Solutions (who were former employees of Norit and who are now employees of Carbon Solutions ) (collectively the ADA Defendants) on August 4, 2008, asserting that the ADA Defendants have misappropriated Norits trade secrets related to AC manufacturing, and other claims. The original case, captioned Norit Americas, Inc. v. ADA-ES, Inc., ADA Environmental Solutions, LLC, John Rectenwald, Stephen D. Young, Crowfoot Development, LLC, Red River Environmental Products, LLC, Underwood Environmental Products, LLC, Morton Environmental Products, LLC f/k/a Bowman Environmental Products, LLC, Cause No. 08-0673, was filed in the 71st Judicial District Court for Harrison County, Texas. Norit is seeking monetary damages under various legal theories, attorney fees, and injunctive relief to prevent us or any related entity or third party from using Norits alleged trade secrets or other Norit intellectual property related to AC manufacturing. We are vigorously defending against Norits claims, which management believes are without merit. Also as previously reported, after more than a year of litigation in Texas and the filing of cross motions to compel arbitration of all or some of the claims pending between the parties, the parties agreed to resolve all claims between them in an arbitration currently pending in Atlanta Georgia before a panel of three arbitrators under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The ADA Defendants and Norit filed statements of claims in the arbitration which added additional claims against each other arising out of their former relationship and the matter is now scheduled to be heard by the arbitration panel in October of 2010.
As also previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, in December, 2009, Norit N.V., the Dutch parent of Norit, filed a petition with the Almelo District Court in Holland requesting that the court conduct preliminary witness examinations into possible breaches of a confidentiality agreement we signed with Norit N.V. in 2005 as part of due diligence for a potential acquisition of Norits carbon business. These alleged breaches of the 2005 confidentiality agreement are also the subject of the arbitration in Atlanta and so it is our position that the petition in Holland is a duplicative matter, in addition to being groundless. The petition, which is a pre-litigation procedure in Holland designed to determine if there is a basis to bring a claim, does not require any direct response by us and is currently pending before the Dutch court, which has indicated it will take witness statements in Holland in September. We are currently attempting to determine if the Dutch court has been properly advised by Norit N.V. of the pending arbitration in Atlanta and is otherwise requesting further information regarding this matter from Norit N.V. and the Dutch court.
Litigation with Calgon Carbon Corporation. As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed in 2009 and 2010, on September 29, 2008, Calgon filed a declaratory judgment action against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The case, captioned Calgon Carbon Corporation v. ADA-ES, Inc., concerns a March 20, 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Calgon and us providing that the parties would jointly market AC to the power industry, with Calgon supplying the AC and the Company leading the sales effort. The MOU provided that Calgon would pay us a commission on all sales of Calgon-produced AC resulting from the joint marketing effort. During the period the MOU was in place, our efforts resulted in Calgons AC undergoing testing, qualification and acceptance by various customers including Midwest Generation, an Illinois power company, to whom an AC supply bid was submitted during the term of the MOU. We believe this bid resulted in an award of a minimum $55 million AC contract for Calgon and pursuant to the MOU we counterclaimed for a commission due under the MOU. After a seven day jury trial in July 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the jury awarded us $12.0 million on its breach of contract claim for commissions, comprised of $3.0 million for sales to date by Calgon and $9.0 million as the net present value of commission due to us for future sales by Calgon to Midwest Generation. Calgon has publicly stated that it will appeal the verdict, but we believe strongly that our jury award of commissions will be affirmed.
Item 6. | Exhibits |
* | These certifications are furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
** | Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ADA-ES, Inc. | ||||||
Registrant | ||||||
Date: August 16, 2010 |
/ S / M ICHAEL D. D URHAM |
|||||
Michael D. Durham | ||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
Date: August 16, 2010 |
/ S / M ARK H. M C K INNIES |
|||||
Mark H. McKinnies | ||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
* | These certifications are furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
** | Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. |
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Exhibit 10.71
DEVELOPMENT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT
This DEVELOPMENT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT ( Agreement ) is made the 25 day of June, 2010 ( Effective Date ) by and between ADA-ES, Inc., a Colorado corporation ( ADA ) and Arch Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( Arch Coal , and together with ADA, the parties ).
WHEREAS, ADA develops and implements technologies for emission control for coal-fired boilers;
WHEREAS, Arch Coal is in the business of mining and selling coal from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming ( PRB ) and other areas and controlling coal handling facilities;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of promulgating final rules setting emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants ( HAPs ), including those toxic metals specified on Schedule 2 hereto ( Toxic Metals ) based on Maximum Achievable Control Technology (the Regulations );
WHEREAS, ADA owns and is developing technologies for additives that may be applied to coal mined from the PRB for the reduction of Toxic Metals emissions from burning that coal in coal-fired boilers and for the enhancement of the marketability of such coal (the Purpose ); and
WHEREAS, ADA and Arch desire for ADA to evaluate, test, demonstrate and further develop such technologies for the Purpose, and Arch desires to license such technologies for the Purpose on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in furtherance of the foregoing, and in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth below, ADA and Arch Coal hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1. Additional IP has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.
1.2. Additives means all additives that may be applied to coal using the Licensed Technology for the Purpose.
1.3. Affiliate , with respect to a party, means a corporation, partnership or other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such party. For purposes of this Section 1.2, control means ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting or other equivalent rights in such entity. As of the date of this Agreement, the Affiliates of each party are as set forth on Exhibit B-1 (for ADA) and Exhibit B-2 (for Arch Coal), and, in the event a party desires to include a newly acquired or formed affiliate of such party as an Affiliate hereunder after the Effective Date, such party shall promptly amend the respective schedule for that party to add such Person as an Affiliate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Person shall be an Affiliate of Arch Coal for purposes of this Agreement if such Person is a direct or indirect competitor of ADA in the clean coal technology business, and no licenses granted hereunder shall license any Person that is not an Affiliate as defined herein.
1.4. Confidential Information means all information and material disclosed by one party or its representatives ( Disclosing Party ) to the other party or its representatives ( Receiving Party ) that is designated in writing, at or before the time of disclosure, as proprietary or confidential, or provided under circumstances reasonably indicating that the information or material is proprietary or confidential. Confidential Information is deemed to include any process, technique, algorithm, formula or method; any computer program (source and object code), design, drawing, data, research results, work in process and documentation; any engineering, manufacturing, marketing, servicing, financing or personnel material; and any other information or material relating to the Disclosing Partys present or future products, sales, suppliers, clients, customers, employees, investors or business, in each case, whether in oral, written, graphic, electronic or other form.
* | indicates portions of the exhibit that have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential information. The non-public information has been filed with the Commission |
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ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
1.5. Control , with respect to Technology or other rights, means the possession by a party of the right to grant licenses or sublicenses to, or otherwise distribute, such Technology or other rights to the other party without (a) violating the terms of any agreement or other legally binding arrangement of such party with a third party or any binding laws or regulations, or (b) giving rise to a legal obligation of such party to pay royalties, fees or other monetary consideration to a third party (except for payments by such party to an Affiliate or to an employee of such party or an Affiliate), unless the other party agrees to pay (or have paid) such consideration to the third party or agrees to reimburse (or have reimbursed) such party for the payment.
1.6. Coordinator means a qualified representative of a party designated by such party in a Statement of Work as project coordinator to be responsible for supervising and coordinating the implementation of a Statement of Work.
1.7. Developed Technology means any Technology that is developed by or for ADA specifically for the Purpose and applicable within the Field of Use, whether or not patentable or registrable. Developed Technology includes the Technology that is set forth in a Statement of Work under this Agreement, and also includes subsequent Improvements to Developed Technology, but excludes (i) any Existing Technology and any Technology developed by ADA pursuant to a grant from a governmental agency or other Person where the purpose of ADAs work for such other Person is not substantially similar to the Purpose, the terms of which prohibit such Technology from being licensed to Arch Coal and its Affiliates under this Agreement and (ii) any Technology that ADA excludes from Developed Technology in accordance with Section 9.1 of this Agreement.
1.8. Development Costs has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
1.9. Documentation means all documentation and other supporting technical information and materials, in whatever medium recorded, necessary or useful for Use of the Licensed Technology.
1.10. Enhanced Coal means any coal mined from the PRB on which the Additives have been applied in the Field of Use.
1.11. Existing Technology means the Technology owned by ADA as of the Effective Date, as further described on Schedule 1 hereto.
1.12. Field of Use means the application of the Additives to coal mined from the PRB where such Additives are applied (i) at mines and sites (including coal processing sites) in the PRB owned or controlled by Arch Coal or its Affiliates (whether such coal is mined by Arch Coal or its Affiliates or is mined by third parties and purchased by Arch Coal or its Affiliates), or (ii) during transportation from such mines or sites to the first delivery point (i.e. during the originating mode of transportation by train, railcar or other methods).
1.13. Force Majeure means an act of God, war, hostilities, riot, fire, explosion, accident, flood or sabotage; lack of adequate fuel, power, raw materials, containers or transportation for some reason beyond such partys reasonable control; labor trouble, strike, lockout or injunction; compliance with governmental laws, regulations, or orders; breakage or failure of machinery or apparatus; or any other cause whether or not of the class or kind enumerated above, including, but not limited to, a severe economic decline or recession, which prevents or materially delays the performance of this Agreement in any material respect arising from or attributable to acts, events, non-happenings, omissions, or accidents beyond the reasonable control of such party.
1.14. Improvements means all improvements or enhancements to the Licensed Technology, which will automatically and without any further action on the part of ADA or Arch Coal, become part of the Developed Technology, except for those improvements or enhancements that are excluded therefrom by ADA pursuant to Section 9.1 of this Agreement.
1.15. Indemnitees shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
1.16. Index Price means the fob mine price determined from time to time by Arch Coal in good faith by reference to third-party sales of coal (other than Enhanced Coal) mined from the PRB for similar delivery schedules or, in the event of no such sales, industry accepted market price indices for such coal.
1.17. Initial License Fee has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
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ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
1.18. IP Rights means any rights with respect to intellectual property and includes, as required by the context, patents, patent applications and other patent rights (including any continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, reexaminations, renewals, extensions or modifications for any of the foregoing) in any jurisdiction; copyrights, moral rights and all other rights in works of authorship corresponding to the foregoing in any jurisdiction, whether registered or not, and registrations or applications for registration of copyrights in any jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions thereof; trade secrets and other rights with respect to Confidential Information, including the right to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person, in any jurisdiction; other rights with respect to inventions, discoveries, improvements, know-how, formulas, algorithms, processes, technical information and other technology; and other intellectual and industrial property rights, whether or not subject to statutory registration or protection; and any similar, corresponding or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing; and all rights under any license or other arrangement with respect to the foregoing; but, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or necessary to otherwise effect the transfer or license of IP Rights contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement, excluding any Trademark, trade name or similar rights with respect to identification of source or origin.
1.19. Licensed Technology means the Existing Technology and the Developed Technology.
1.20. Limited Territory means, collectively, (i) mine sites located in the PRB and (ii) during transportation from mines or sites located in the PRB to the first delivery point (i.e. during the originating mode of transportation by train, railcar or other methods).
1.21. Losses shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
1.22. Net Sales Price means the gross sales price billed or invoiced by Arch Coal or its Affiliates for sales of Enhanced Coal to non-Affiliates less the following items (but only to the extent such items have been deducted from the corresponding Index Price): (i) discounts from the Index Price or quality adjustments actually granted; (ii) credits or refunds by reason of rejections, defects, recalls or returns or because of retroactive price reductions (not to exceed the original billing or invoice amount); (iii) rebates required by government regulations; (iv) royalties (but not including any royalties due to ADA hereunder); (v) excise, sales, use or value added taxes, severance, black lung and reclamation fees and taxes or other similar federal, state or local taxes or royalties (but excluding taxes based on the net income of Arch Coal or its Affiliates); and (vi) transportation and handling charges, including insurance; to the extent that any of the items in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) are included in the gross sales price.
1.23. Nonexclusivity Date has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
1.24. Ongoing Royalty shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1
1.25. Outside the Field of Use means the application of Additives (i) to coal mined from the PRB where such Additives are applied at locations other than at coal mines or during transportation from mines to the first delivery point (i.e. during the originating mode of transportation by train, railcar or other methods) or (ii) to coal mined from any location other than the PRB.
1.26. Patents means: (i) any patents and patent applications in the United States or Canada disclosing or claiming all or part of the Licensed Technology for the Purpose (excluding those patents listed in Section 1.32 as excluded from the Technology), and (ii) any reissues or continuations, continuations-in-part, divisional, reissues, reexaminations, renewals, extensions or modifications relating to any of the preceding patents and patent applications. ADA agrees to use its reasonable efforts to identify the Patents in writing by to Arch Coal from time to time.
1.27. Person means any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity.
1.28. PRB means the Powder River Basin.
1.29. Premium has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
1.30. Statement of Work means the plan for the evaluation of the Existing Technology and research and development of the Developed Technology conducted under the terms and conditions of this Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Initial Statement of Work ), as may be amended from time to time by written agreement of the parties, and any future such plans in the format attached hereto as Exhibit A , including, as applicable, the
3
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
specification of schedules, milestones, deliverables, budgets, cost estimates, hourly rates, acceptance criteria and acceptance testing procedures executed by the parties hereto or by their respective Affiliates and specifically stating that such plans are Statements of Work subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.31. Supply Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
1.32. Technology means technical information, designs, drawings, specifications, schematics, software programs, manuals and other documentation, data, databases, processes, methods of production and other related information and materials, whether tangible or intangible, together with any IP Rights relating thereto, for additives to coal for the Purpose; provided, however that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Technology shall in no event or circumstance include:
(a) any products or methods for the purpose of reducing NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers, whether owned by ADA or licensed by ADA now or hereafter, that are (i) covered by any valid claim(s) contained in (1) U.S. Patent No. 6,773,471 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on August 10, 2004; (2) U.S. Patent No. 6,729,248 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on May 4, 2004; (3) Patent Application No. 10/209,083 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation filed July 30, 2002; (4) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/730,971 entitled Additives for Catalysis of Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Fired Power Plants filed October 27, 2005; and (5) any and all continuations, continuations-in-part, and divisionals, and all patents issuing which are based on such applications, and all reissues, reexaminations, or extensions of such patents, as well as any foreign counterparts, continuations, continuations-in-part or divisions thereof and patents and patent applications on any improvements, advancements, modifications, revisions or developments that are developed by or for ADA, together with any other patents (U.S. or foreign and even if not listed herein) that share a common claim of priority with said patents or that, as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the parties, cover inventions substantially similar to said patents (collectively the Prior Patents), (ii) products, processes or methods developed using the Prior Patents or the technical information, ideas, concepts, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how, discoveries, inventions, processes, methods, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, improvements, developments, designs and techniques related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers other than as embodied in the Prior Patents that are owned or controlled by ADA and that are necessary or desirable to use the Prior Patents (the Prior Patents Related Know-How), as well as any Prior Patents Related Know-How developed or acquired by ADA based on the knowledge contained in the Prior Patents, whether or not such Prior Patents Related Know-How becomes the subject of a patent application, (iii) those modifications, revisions, derivations, updates, enhancements and improvements of the Prior Patents and the Prior Patents Related Know-How that are related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone boilers that are conceived, discovered, created or developed by or on behalf of ADA; or (iv) Technology that would be included in the foregoing definition as applicable to a business in respect of which ADA or any Affiliate or licensee of ADA or an ADA Affiliate shall have placed in service a refined coal production facility for the production of refined coal in accordance with Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to be used to reduce NOx and mercury emissions in cyclone coal-fired boilers; or
(b) all intellectual property and proprietary rights currently used in the activated carbon manufacturing business as presently conducted by ADA through its affiliated entity ADA Carbon Solutions, LLC (the Activated Carbon Business), including (i) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent applications, and patent and invention disclosures, together with all provisionals, reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, revisions, extensions, and reexaminations thereof, (ii) all trade secrets and confidential business information (including research and development, know-how, formulae, compositions, processes, techniques, methodologies, technical information, designs, industrial models, manufacturing, engineering and technical drawings, specifications, research records, records of inventions, test information, customer and supplier lists, customer data, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals), and (iii) all rights to use all of the foregoing and all other rights in, to, and under the foregoing that are necessary to the operation of the Activate Carbon Business.
1.33. Territory means the United States and Canada and any other countries approved in writing by ADA except where prohibited by applicable law.
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ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
1.34. Third Party Technology means Technology that is not owned or Controlled by ADA or Arch Coal or any of their Affiliates.
1.35. Total Investment has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
1.36. Trademarks means: (a) the trademarks, trade names and service marks used by a party, whether registered or unregistered; (b) the respective stylistic marks and distinctive logotypes for such trademarks, trade names and service marks; and (c) such other marks and logotypes as either party may designate from time to time to the other party by written notice.
1.37. Use , with respect to the Licensed Technology, means make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import, practice or otherwise dispose of Enhanced Coal.
2. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
2.1. Coordinators . Each party may change the Coordinator designated in a Statement of Work upon ten (10) calendar days prior written notice to the other party.
2.2. Statements of Work . The parties have executed the Initial Statement of Work and may at any time and from time to time enter into additional Statements of Work or waive, modify or amend a Statement of Work by written agreement signed by each party.
2.3. Activities . ADA shall conduct each evaluation, research, experimentation, development, implementation or other work specified in a Statement of Work to be performed by ADA substantially in accordance with such Statement of Work and in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards.
2.4. Meetings . From time to time upon reasonable prior notice from a party, the other party shall make its Coordinator available to meet at mutually acceptable times and locations, or make contact via telephone, to discuss the progress and results of Statement of Work activities.
2.5. Records; Audits . ADA shall maintain accurate records, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for the calculation of each element of the amounts to be paid by Arch Coal under the applicable Statement of Work, including time records, if applicable, and shall maintain such records for at least two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement. ADA shall electronically transmit such records to Arch Coal within thirty calendar (30) days of any request therefor, and Arch Coal or its representatives may designate an independent certified public accounting firm to review and audit such records at ADAs offices during normal business hours, for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of payments made by Arch Coal to ADA under the applicable Statement of Work, provided, however, that such review and audit with respect to any calendar year may be conducted only on or before the June 30th immediately following the end of such calendar year. Any such audit shall occur upon at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior written notice to ADA. The disclosure of records by ADA and any such audit shall be subject to ADAs security and confidentiality requirements, including the confidentiality provisions of ADAs contracts. The report of the accounting firm shall include detailed calculations as to how it determined whether or not there was an overpayment or underpayment by Arch Coal to ADA under the applicable Statement of Work and the amount of such overpayment or underpayment. If such audit reveals an overpayment by Arch Coal, ADA shall promptly refund the amount of such overpayment. If such audit reveals an underpayment by Arch Coal, Arch Coal agrees to promptly pay ADA the amount of such underpayment. Arch Coal shall bear the expense of each such audit, unless an audit reveals an overpayment by Arch Coal equal to 5% or more of the amount found to be due, in which event ADA shall, in addition to refunding such overpayment, reimburse Arch Coal for the reasonable costs of the audit up to the amount of the overpayment.
3. TECHNOLOGY OWNERSHIP AND LICENSES
3.1. Existing Technology License . ADA hereby grants to Arch Coal and its Affiliates an exclusive, nontransferable (except as set forth in Section 11.3) license to Use the Existing Technology in the Field of Use in the Territory. Such license may be terminated only as set forth in Sections 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3.
3.2. Ownership and License of Developed Technology . As between ADA and Arch Coal, ADA shall own all right, title and interest in the Developed Technology and all IP Rights embodied therein, and title to all applicable statutory IP Rights issued thereon shall, as between ADA and Arch Coal, be held solely and exclusively by ADA. ADA hereby grants to Arch Coal and its Affiliates an exclusive, nontransferable (except as set forth in Section 11.3) license to Use the Developed Technology in the Field of Use in the Territory during the term of this Agreement. Such license may be terminated only as set forth in Sections 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3, but such license shall become nonexclusive as set forth in Section 4.1.
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ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
3.3. Documentation License . ADA hereby grants to Arch Coal and its Affiliates a non-exclusive, nontransferable (except as set forth in Section 11.3), license to reproduce and distribute copies of the Documentation (provided that all of ADAs or its Affiliates Trademarks and IP Rights notices are reproduced in or on such copies) for use by Arch Coal in the marketing, offer and sale of the Enhanced Coal in the Field of Use in the Territory during the term of this Agreement. Such license shall continue in effect for so long as the licenses under Section 3.1 and 3.2 are in effect, but such license shall become nonexclusive as set forth in Section 4.1.
3.4. Trademarks . If and to the extent that a Statement of Work expressly provides for the use by one party of the other partys name, logo or Trademarks now or hereafter associated with the Licensed Technology, the party owning such name, logo or Trademarks hereby grants to the other party a nonexclusive, nontransferable (except as set forth in Section 11.3), license to Use for the Field of Use in the Territory its name and logo and the Trademarks associated therewith in the form provided to the other party or as otherwise approved in writing in advance by the other party solely for the purposes and to the extent expressly specified by such Statement of Work. The use of each partys name and logo and the Trademarks associated therewith (including any goodwill generated by such use) by the other party shall inure to the benefit of the party owning such name, logo and Trademarks.
3.5. No Sublicenses . Neither Arch Coal nor any of its Affiliates may grant to any third party a sublicense to the Licensed Technology. Arch Coal and each of its Affiliates may manufacture, produce, market, distribute, sell, offer for sale, import or otherwise dispose of the Enhanced Coal solely for Arch Coal and its Affiliates and shall not Use the Licensed Technology (other than on behalf of Arch Coal and its Affiliates) or otherwise make use of the Licensed Technology for the benefit of a third party. Arch Coal shall be responsible for the compliance of its Affiliates with the obligations and restrictions set forth in this Agreement as if such Affiliate had signed this Agreement, and Arch Coal shall fully indemnify and hold ADA harmless from and against any Losses resulting from the breach of this Agreement by any Arch Coal Affiliate, notwithstanding that such Affiliate has not signed this Agreement and is not a party hereto.
3.6. Third Party Technology . ADA shall not incorporate any Third Party Technology into the Developed Technology unless Arch Coal has previously agreed in writing on the incorporation of such Third Party Technology into the Developed Technology and the allocation of responsibility for any associated royalties or license fees.
3.7 Right to License Additional IP . If during the term of this Agreement ADA acquires or develops any Technology other than the Developed Technology for the Purpose (the Additional IP ), ADA shall promptly advise Arch Coal in writing thereof and shall provide such technical information related thereto, including consultation at reasonable times and on reasonable notice with ADAs personnel having expertise in the Technology, on a confidential basis to Arch Coal, that is sufficient for Arch Coal to evaluate such Additional IP, provided, however, that, in the event ADA is restricted from providing any technical information related to such Additional IP, ADA shall notify Arch Coal of such restriction and ADA and Arch Coal shall negotiate in good faith to determine the information that ADA shall disclose to Arch Coal related to such Additional IP. With respect to each item of the Additional IP as to which ADA had advised Arch Coal in accordance with the preceding sentence, ADA shall offer to Arch Coal and its Affiliates a exclusive, nontransferable (except as set forth in Section 11.3) license to Use such Additional IP in the Limited Territory on such additional terms as the parties may mutually agree, including, if agreed to, in a different the field of use (provided that ADA shall not be obligated to offer to Arch Coal any Additional IP Outside the Field of Use). If ADAs rights in such Additional IP are less than those described in the immediately preceding sentence, then ADA shall only be obligated to offer the maximum rights that ADA has with respect to such Additional IP. Arch Coal shall advise ADA within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an offer to license such Additional IP (including the material terms of such license and technical information related thereto as is reasonably necessary for Arch Coal to evaluate such Additional IP in accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph, as determined by ADA in its reasonable judgment or as reasonably requested by Arch Coal), whether Arch Coal wishes to license such Additional IP from ADA on the offered terms. If Arch Coal does not accept ADAs offer to license such Additional IP within such thirty (30) calendar day period, and the parties have not otherwise reached an agreement within such period through good-faith negotiations, then ADA may grant a license to any other person or entity to Use such Additional IP for the Purpose, including in the Field of Use, so long as the terms of such license are collectively no more favorable to such third party than the
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terms offered to, or the best terms offered by, Arch Coal during the course of such negotiations, which means that price, while it will be the most significant factor in determining whether terms are more favorable, alone shall not be the sole determinant as to whether the terms offered to a third party are more favorable than the terms offered to, or the best terms offered by, Arch Coal during such negotiations.
3.8. Proprietary Rights . Except as otherwise set forth herein, ADA and its licensors own and shall retain all right, title and interest, including all IP Rights, in and to the Licensed Technology, Additional IP, Documentation and ADAs Trademarks. Unless and until the licenses granted to Arch Coal and its Affiliates under Section 3 become nonexclusive as set forth in Section 4.1, ADA shall not have the right to Use, or to license any third party to Use, the Licensed Technology for the application of the Additives to coal mined from the PRB where such Additives are to be applied in the Limited Territory. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, ADA shall have the unrestricted right to Use the Licensed Technology and the Additional IP and to license any third party to Use the Licensed Technology and the Additional IP Outside the Field of Use without notice to Arch Coal and without Arch Coals prior consent, except that ADA agrees to charge third parties royalties at a rate at least * above the Ongoing Royalty (as defined in Section 4.1) to the extent the Licensed Technology is licensed to third parties for the Purpose. Arch Coal and its Affiliates shall have only those rights to Use ADAs Trademarks, the Documentation and the Licensed Technology as are expressly granted to it under this Agreement. Arch Coal shall not, and Arch Coal shall cause its Affiliates not to at any time file any application to register, patent or otherwise claim ownership of the Licensed Technology anywhere in the world or engage in any activity or provide any assistance, directly or indirectly including through an Affiliate, representative or agent, challenging ADAs ownership, or the validity of ADAs IP Rights in the Licensed Technology, Additional IP, Documentation or Trademarks or restricting the scope thereof.
3.9. Proprietary Rights Notices . Arch Coal shall not, and Arch Coal shall cause its Affiliates not to, remove from, cover over or prevent from being displayed ADAs IP Rights notices printed on, embedded in or displayed by the Licensed Technology. Arch Coal and ADA acknowledge that the existence of such notices does not mean that the Licensed Technology or the trade secrets and Confidential Information therein have been published or otherwise made public. Arch Coal or its Affiliates, as applicable, shall affix any applicable Patent numbers to the literature, packaging and the like that accompany the Enhanced Coal in a manner that (i) is sufficient to give proper legal notice under the applicable patent laws that the Licensed Technology is covered by one or more Patents as may be applicable, and (ii) does not amount to false marking under or is otherwise inconsistent with such applicable patent laws. ADA shall have sole responsibility with respect to the Patent markings or notices, or absence thereof, in literature, packaging and the like prepared by ADA and provided to Arch Coal or its Affiliates in writing.
3.10. Filings . ADA shall have the sole right to submit any documentation, application, filing, registration or the like required to perfect or, with respect to copyright registrations, to enforce, ADAs interest in the Licensed Technology under statutory IP Rights protection mechanisms in its name as owner of the Licensed Technology and all IP Rights embodied in the Licensed Technology and shall pay all expenses with respect thereto. So long as the licenses granted to Arch Coal and its Affiliates hereunder are in effect, ADA agrees (a) to notify Arch Coal in writing reasonably in advance if ADA proposes to seek a re-examination or reissue of any Patent that would narrow the claims of such Patent applicable to the Use of the Licensed Technology, or if ADA proposes to abandon, or discontinue the prosecution or maintenance of, any IP Rights protection for the Licensed Technology, in order for Arch Coal to determine whether Arch Coal believes that such re-examination, reissue, abandonment, or discontinuation would adversely affect Arch Coals rights under this Agreement and (b) to negotiate with Arch Coal in good faith with respect to any proposals that Arch Coal may submit to ADA with respect thereto.
3.11. Restrictions . Except as permitted by this Agreement, Arch Coal shall not, and Arch Coal shall cause its Affiliates not to, without ADAs prior consent, reproduce all or any portion of the Licensed Technology or make, have made or prepare derivative works based on any Licensed Technology.
3.12. Materials . ADA shall provide to Arch Coal, within thirty (30) calendar days of any request from Arch Coal, copies of the documentation, evaluation and testing materials relating to the Licensed Technology (in written and, where available, machine-readable form) and any other information and materials reasonably necessary for Arch Coal and its Affiliates to Use the Licensed Technology in the Field of Use in the Territory and to enable Arch Coal and its Affiliates to comply with any environmental or other laws and regulations.
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3.13. No Other Obligations. Arch Coal hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as expressly set forth herein, ADA shall have no obligation whatsoever to provide support, training, revisions, updates, upgrades, improvements, enhancements or any other assistance of any kind to Arch Coal or its Affiliates in connection with the Licensed Technology.
3.14. ADA Obligations to Arch Coal Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the parties understand and agree that all actions required of ADA hereunder shall be sufficient and in compliance with this Agreement if such actions are taken with Arch Coal only, and that separate and/or duplicative actions shall not be required of ADA with respect to any Arch Coal Affiliate.
4. PAYMENTS
4.1. License Fees . In consideration for the licenses granted in Section 3, Arch Coal shall pay ADA an initial, non-refundable license fee in cash in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) the ( Initial License Fee ) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, plus the Ongoing Royalty (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, the Premium means *. As used in this Agreement, Total Investment means the sum of (A) the Initial License Fee, plus (B) all amounts paid by Arch Coal to ADA for evaluation, research and development activities of ADA under the Initial Statement of Work and all subsequent Statements of Work under this Agreement (collectively, the Development Costs ), plus (C) the amount needed to yield a * annual return on the Total Investment. From and after such time as the aggregate of the Premiums received by Arch Coal equals the Total Investment, Arch Coal shall pay to ADA a royalty (the Ongoing Royalty ) equal to *% of the Premium received by Arch Coal or its Affiliates; provided, however, that the Ongoing Royalty shall not exceed $1.00 per ton of Enhanced Coal sold by or on behalf of Arch Coal and its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Arch Coal does not purchase Additives from ADA under the Supply Agreement during either (X) the three-year period commencing on the earlier of (i) January 1, 2015 or (ii) the date which the Regulations become effective and require reduction of Toxic Metals included in HAPs (such three-year period being the Initial Period) or (Y) any continuous three year period beginning on the day following the last day on which Arch Coal purchase Additives from ADA during the Initial Period, then the licenses granted in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 shall automatically become non-exclusive as of end of the first such three-year period during which Arch Coal failed to purchase Additives (the Nonexclusivity Date), and such licenses shall remain non-exclusive from that point forward.
4.2. Purchase of Additives . During the term of this Agreement, Arch Coal will purchase all Additives from ADA pursuant to the terms of a Supply Agreement to be entered into between the parties in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the Supply Agreement ), with Exhibit C to be substituted with the Supply Agreement in the form .
4.3. Reports; Payment . Arch Coal will account for all Premiums, the Initial License Fee, the Development Costs and the *% return referred to in Section 4.1 and provide such accounting to ADA for each month by the tenth (10th) calendar day of the second month following the end of such month commencing in the month when Arch Coal first makes any sale of Enhanced Coal. (By way of illustration, the accounting for the month of June will be due by August 10th.) Ongoing Royalties shall be paid on a quarterly basis, no later than thirty-four (34) calendar days following the end of a calendar quarter, and shall be accompanied by a royalty report, which shall describe quantity and gross sales price of Enhanced Coal, evidence of (i) the then-current Index Price for non-Enhanced Coal, (ii) any deduction from and/or adjustments to the gross sales price as provided in the definition of Net Sales Price, and (iii) the calculation of Ongoing Royalties remitted. If Arch Coal fails to make any payment pursuant to this Agreement within the time specified herein, Arch Coal shall pay interest at a rate of one and one half percent (1.5%) per month on the unpaid balance finally determined to be due, payable from the due date until fully paid, and shall pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys fees. The foregoing payment of interest shall not affect ADAs right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.
4.4. Records; Audits . Arch Coal shall maintain accurate records, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for the calculation of each element of the Total Investment, including copies of sales contracts that reflect the pricing for non-Enhanced Coal from time to time during the term of this Agreement, and shall maintain such records for at least two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement. Arch Coal shall electronically transmit such records to ADA within thirty calendar (30) days of any request therefor, and ADA or its representatives may designate an independent certified public accounting firm to review and audit such records at
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Arch Coals offices during normal business hours, for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of payments of Ongoing Royalties made by Arch Coal to ADA, provided, however, that such review and audit with respect to any calendar year may be conducted only on or before the June 30th immediately following the end of such calendar year. Any such audit shall occur upon at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior written notice to Arch Coal. The disclosure of records by Arch Coal and any such audit shall be subject to Arch Coals security and confidentiality requirements, including the confidentiality provisions of the coal sale contracts with the customers of Arch Coal or its Affiliates. The report of the accounting firm shall include detailed calculations as to how it determined whether or not there was an overpayment or underpayment by Arch Coal to ADA of Ongoing Royalties and the amount of such overpayment or underpayment. If such audit reveals an overpayment by Arch Coal, ADA shall promptly refund the amount of such overpayment. If such audit reveals an underpayment by Arch Coal, Arch Coal agrees to promptly pay ADA the amount of such underpayment, together with interest as provided in Section 4.3. ADA shall bear the expense of each such audit, unless an audit reveals an underpayment by Arch Coal equal to 5% or more of the amount found to be due, in which event Arch Coal shall, in addition to reimbursing ADA for such underpayment, reimburse ADA for the costs of the audit up to the amount of such underpayment.
4.5. Taxes . Each party agrees to pay or reimburse the other party for all excise, sales, use or value added, withholding or other taxes on any property or services provided by such other party (excluding only taxes based on net income), or shall supply appropriate tax exemption certificates in form satisfactory to the taxing authority.
5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
5.1. Restrictions . Each party acknowledges and agrees that the Confidential Information constitutes and contains valuable proprietary information and trade secrets of the other party, and embodies substantial creative efforts and confidential information, ideas and expressions of the other party. Each party agrees: (a) to protect the Confidential Information from unauthorized dissemination and use; (b) to use the Confidential Information only for the performance of its obligations and in connection with the exercise of its rights hereunder; (c) not to disclose any Confidential Information to any of its financing sources, employees, agents or contractors other than those persons who are aware of the confidentiality obligations imposed by this Section 5.1, and have entered into written confidentiality agreements with such party or are otherwise subject to obligations that require such persons to comply with confidentiality obligations no less restrictive than the requirements set forth in this Section 5.1 and provide that the other party shall be a third party beneficiary of such agreements; (d) not to disclose or otherwise provide to any third party, without the prior consent of the other, any Confidential Information; (e) to undertake whatever action is necessary to prevent or remedy (or authorize the other to do so in its name) any breach of its confidentiality obligations set forth herein or any other unauthorized disclosure of any Confidential Information by its current or former employees, agents or contractors; and (f) not to remove or destroy any proprietary or confidential legends or markings placed upon or contained within any Confidential Information. Without limiting the foregoing, each party shall treat the Confidential Information of the other with at least the same degree of care as it would its own highly confidential information, but in any event with not less than a reasonable degree of care.
5.2. Exclusions . Neither party shall have any obligation as to Confidential Information that it proves (a) is required to be disclosed by an order or judgment of any court or governmental body provided that the Disclosing Party gives reasonable notice of such order or judgment to the other party prior to making such disclosure; (b) is required to be disclosed pursuant to any law or regulation, provided that the Disclosing Party has received advice of its counsel that such disclosure is required, has given reasonable notice to the other party in advance of such disclosure and seeks confidential treatment of such information from the entity to which the disclosure is made; (c) is or becomes generally available to the public through any means other than a breach by the Receiving Party of its obligations under this Agreement; (d) is developed independently by the Receiving Party without the use of the Confidential Information or was in possession of the Receiving Party without obligations of confidentiality prior to receipt under this Agreement; or (e) is required to be disclosed by a party to enforce its rights under this Agreement.
6. DISCLAIMER
EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES IN SECTION 9, NO PARTY MAKES, AND NO PARTY RECEIVES, ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS. Unless expressly set forth in this Agreement, nothing herein shall be construed as: (a) a representation, warranty, or admission by ADA as to the
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validity, scope or enforceability of any Patents; (b) a representation or warranty by ADA that the Use of the Licensed Technology or Enhanced Coal will be free from infringement of patents other than any Patents; or (c) a representation or warranty as to the accuracy or suitability of any information disclosed or claimed in any Patents to produce a successful product. Determination of the commercial efficacy and suitability of the subject matter of any Patents intended uses, as disclosed in such Patents, is to be made solely by Arch Coal.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANY WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY A PARTY OR A BREACH OF SECTION 5 HEREOF, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ARISING FROM FRAUD, GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, THE CUMULATIVE LIABILITY OF ADA WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF LICENSE FEES AND ROYALTIES THAT ADA RECEIVED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE THE CAUSE OF ACTION ARISES OR SHOULD REASONABLY HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED.
8. INDEMNIFICATION; INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS
8.1. Indemnification . Each party, as to clauses (a) and (b) below, and ADA, as to clause (c) below, shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other party and its Affiliates and their respective officers, employees, directors, shareholders, representatives, customers, contractors, licensees, agents, successors and assigns (the Indemnitees ) from and against any liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fines, penalties, interest, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys and other professionals fees) on account of any third party claim, suit, action, demand, or proceeding made or brought against any Indemnitee (collectively, Losses ), arising out of or resulting from (a) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such party or its Affiliates, including the officers, employees, directors, shareholders, representatives, agents, successors or assigns of such party or its Affiliates, (b) the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of such party in this Agreement (including the breach of a partys representation, warranty or covenant by such partys Affiliate and irrespective of whether the Affiliate of such party is party to this Agreement)) and (c) any third party claim alleging that the Licensed Technology or the Use thereof infringes any U.S. or Canadian patent or misappropriates any trade secrets of such third party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ADA shall not have any liability whatsoever under clause (c) for, and Arch Coal shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless ADA and its Indemnitees from and against, Losses arising out of or resulting from any third party claim alleging that the Licensed Technology or the Use thereof infringes any U.S. or Canadian patent to the extent that such third-party claim is based on (i) Use of the Licensed Technology by or Arch Coal or its Affiliates other than in strict accordance with (A) the reasonable written specifications provided by or on behalf of ADA in furtherance of the Purpose and the Field of Use and (B) the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the combination of the Licensed Technology or the Use thereof by Arch Coal or its Affiliates with other third party items, provided that (A) such combination was not approved or recommended by ADA and (B) such infringement would not have occurred but for such combination, (iii) any modification or other alteration of any kind whatsoever of the Licensed Technology or any part thereof by or for Arch Coal or its Affiliates that was not approved or recommended by ADA.
8.2. Procedures . The party requesting to be indemnified shall give the indemnifying party notice of the claim, suit or proceeding promptly after commencement thereof, provided that the failure to provide such notice shall only affect a party's obligations to indemnify the other if and to the extent the indemnifying party is adversely impacted by such failure. The indemnified party shall give the indemnifying party sole authority to defend and/or resolve any such claim, suit or proceeding and shall provide the indemnifying party with all reasonable assistance requested by the indemnifying party in connection with the defense and/or resolution of any such claim, suit or proceeding, at the indemnifying partys expense. The indemnifying party may not settle any claim, suit or proceeding described in Section 8.1 without the written consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The indemnified party shall have the right, at its own expense, to appoint its own counsel to participate in any claim, suit or proceeding, and the indemnifying party shall cooperate with the indemnified party and such counsel.
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ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
8.3. Patent Infringement by Others . If Arch Coal comes to know of any suspected infringement of any Patent of ADA relating to the Licensed Technology, Arch Coal shall promptly notify ADA to that effect, identifying the infringer and nature of the infringement, and whether Arch Coal desires for ADA to sue the infringer. ADA shall respond to Arch Coals notice in writing within sixty (60) calendar days after receipt thereof, stating whether ADA will pursue the infringer. If ADA pursues the infringer, it shall have sole control of such proceedings and of the terms of any settlement thereof, provided that such settlement is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the exclusivity of the licenses granted to Arch Coal and its Affiliates under Section 3. If the infringement involves use of the Licensed Technology for the Purpose in the Field of Use and (a) ADA states that it intends to pursue the infringer but the infringement continues to exist three (3) months after ADAs notice to Arch Coal and the infringer is not then negotiating a settlement with ADA, and ADA has not filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the infringer or (b) if ADA initiates settlement negotiations or a patent infringement lawsuit against the infringer but fails to diligently pursue such negotiations or claim, Arch Coal may do so in the name and on behalf of ADA. Alternatively, if the infringement involves use of the Licensed Technology for the Purpose in the Field of Use and ADA states in its notice to Arch Coal that it does not intend to pursue the infringer, then ADA shall either (i) authorize Arch Coal in such notice, to the extent permitted by law, at Arch Coals sole expense, to protect the Patents from infringement by prosecuting such infringer in the name and on behalf of ADA, or (ii) state the reasons for ADAs good faith determination that prosecuting the infringer is not reasonably necessary, proper or justified. If the infringement continues to exist three (3) months after ADAs notice to Arch Coal authorizing Arch Coal to prosecute the infringer and the infringer is not then negotiating a settlement with Arch Coal, or if Arch Coal initiates settlement negotiations or a patent infringement lawsuit against the infringer but fails to diligently pursue such negotiations or claim, ADA may do so. If Arch Coal is prohibited by law from initiating or carrying on such a suit, action or other proceeding in ADAs name against any third party for infringement of a Patent, then ADA shall initiate such suit, action or other proceeding upon Arch Coals written request at Arch Coals expense and with counsel of Arch Coals choice, and ADA shall conduct such suit, action or other proceeding as directed by Arch Coal for so long as Arch Coal pays for all of ADAs fees and expenses in connection therewith on a timely basis.
8.4. Cooperation by ADA . For the purpose of any proceedings by Arch Coal referred to in Section 8.3, ADA shall permit the use of its name by Arch Coal and shall execute such documents and carry out such other acts as Arch Coal may reasonably request, at Arch Coals expense. If any legal proceedings are initiated and carried on by Arch Coal under Section 8.3 to enforce any Patent against any alleged infringer, ADA shall fully cooperate with and supply all assistance reasonably requested by Arch Coal. Arch Coal shall reimburse ADA for all expenses (including reasonable legal and professional services fees) incurred by ADA in providing such assistance and cooperation as are requested by Arch Coal. Arch Coal shall promptly provide ADA with copies of all pleadings, filings, written discovery materials, court orders and any other material written documentation relevant to such proceedings and otherwise keep ADA informed as to all material developments in such proceedings. Arch Coal shall have sole control of such proceedings but must obtain ADAs prior written consent to the terms of any settlement thereof, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. ADA shall be entitled to counsel in such proceedings but at its own expense, subject to reimbursement pursuant to Section 8.5 below.
8.5. Distribution of Recovery . Any recovery obtained from third parties as the result of proceedings initiated or carried on by Arch Coal under Section 8.3, or by ADA under the last sentence of Section 8.3, whether by way of settlement or otherwise, shall be distributed as follows: (i) first, for reimbursement of any and all fees and expenses incurred by the parties in such proceedings and, with respect to ADA, not previously reimbursed by Arch Coal pursuant to Section 8.4, (ii) then, to the extent that damages are awarded for lost profits and/or a reasonable royalty based on hypothetical lost sales, the parties shall divide the remaining balance of any such damages in proportion to the amounts each party would have received under the terms of this Agreement if such hypothetical lost sales had actually occurred, and (iii) last, to the extent that damages are awarded other than for lost profits and/or a reasonable royalty (e.g., punitive damages), the parties shall share equally the remaining amount of any such damages. Any recovery obtained from third parties as the result of proceedings initiated or carried on by ADA under Section 8.3 (other than under the last sentence of Section 8.3) will be retained by ADA.
8.6. Remedial Action . If ADA receives a third party claim of infringement or misappropriation of its IP Rights by the Licensed Technology, ADA shall promptly notify Arch Coal of such claim, and Arch Coal and ADA shall promptly confer and diligently cooperate in determining the actions to be taken as with respect to the Licensed Technology with respect to such third party claim. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the Licensed Technology or the Use thereof infringes the IP Rights of a third party or enjoins the Use thereof by Arch Coal, then
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ADA, at its sole expense, shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) procure for Arch Coal the right to continue Using the Licensed Technology pursuant to this Agreement, (b) modify the Licensed Technology to render it non-infringing without impairing in any material respect its functionality or performance, or (c) replace the Licensed Technology with a replacement that is non-infringing and the functionality and performance of which is substantially similar to the Licensed Technology. The provisions of Section 8 state each partys entire liability, and the other partys exclusive remedy, for any claim of infringement or misappropriation as to the Licensed Technology.
9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
9.1. Technology . Subject to the last sentence hereof with respect to Developed Technology included in the Licensed Technology, ADA represents, warrants and covenants to Arch Coal that: (a) the Existing Technology is, and to its actual knowledge the Developed Technology will be, either the original work of ADA or that of a third party or parties from which ADA has received rights to make such uses of the Developed Technology as may be necessary for the purposes to be made of it by Arch Coal hereunder, and, neither such Existing Technology nor the Use thereof infringes or misappropriates any IP Rights of any third party, and neither the Developed Technology nor the Use thereof will infringe or misappropriate any IP Rights of any third party ; (b) to the extent that any Existing Technology has been, or any Developed Technology will be, developed or created by any person, and by law the rights of those persons are not owned by ADA, ADA has or will have a written agreement with such person with respect thereto providing that ADA thereby has or will have ownership of, or the right to use, all such Existing Technology and Developed Technology and the IP Rights with respect thereto for any purpose for which rights are to be granted to Arch Coal hereunder; and (c) ADA has not previously granted and shall not grant any rights with respect to the Licensed Technology that conflict with the rights and licenses granted to Arch Coal and its Affiliates under this Agreement. ADA may exclude one or more specific elements of what would otherwise be Developed Technology from this paragraph by giving written notice to Arch Coal from time to time, describing in reasonable detail the Developed Technology to be so excluded; and any such excluded element(s) shall not be or become a part of the Developed Technology for any purpose under this Agreement, provided, however, that such exclusion shall not apply if ADA practices such Developed Technology in the regular conduct of its own business or grants any license to a third party to practice such Developed Technology
9.2. Other . Each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party that (a) it has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement; (b) this Agreement constitutes such partys valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not and shall not contravene or constitute a default under, and is not and shall not be inconsistent with, any judgment, decree or order, or any contract, agreement or other undertaking, applicable to such party.
10. TERM; TERMINATION
10.1. Term . This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until terminated pursuant to Section 10.2 or 10.3.
10.2. Termination for Default . ADA may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Arch Coal if Arch Coal materially breaches Sections 3.5 (No Sublicenses) or 3.8 (Proprietary Rights), or willfully materially breaches Section 5 (Confidential Information) or 11.3 (Assignment), of this Agreement, or fails to make a payment by the date on which such payment is due in accordance with this Agreement and, in either case, fails to correct such breach or failure within five (5) business days following its receipt of written notice from ADA specifying such breach or failure, or if such breach (if other than a failure to pay) is susceptible of correction but Arch Coal cannot correct such breach within five (5) business days using commercially reasonable efforts, such termination shall be effective upon the earlier of (a) Arch Coal failing to diligently pursue such correction or (b) thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of such written notice from ADA. In the event that ADA materially breaches Sections 3.1 (Existing Technology License), 3.2 (Ownership and License of Developed Technology) or 3.3 (Documentation License), or willfully materially breaches Sections 5 (Confidential Information) or 11.3 (Assignment), of this Agreement, and fails to correct such breach within five (5) business days following its receipt of written notice from Arch Coal specifying such breach, or if such breach is susceptible of correction but ADA cannot correct such breach within five (5) business days using commercially reasonable efforts, upon the earlier of (x) ADA failing to diligently pursue such correction or (y) thirty (30) calendar days following receipt of such notice from Arch Coal, the licenses
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granted to Arch Coal and its Affiliates under Section 3 shall become fully paid-up, perpetual and irrevocable, without any further obligation of Arch Coal to pay Ongoing Royalty hereunder. Either party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other party if the other party materially breaches any other material term of this Agreement and, if such breach is capable of being corrected within such time period, fails to correct such breach within thirty (30) calendar days following written notice specifying such breach. Each party shall notify the other party within ten (10) calendar days of its becoming aware of any breach of the terms of this Agreement by the other party, provided that the failure to provide such notice within such period shall only affect a partys right to exercise its rights under this Section 10 if and to the extent the indemnifying party is adversely impacted by such failure.
10.3. Other Termination . Either party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the other party if the other party: (a) is declared insolvent or admits in writing its insolvency or inability to pay its debts or perform its obligations as they mature; or (b) becomes the subject of any voluntary or involuntary proceeding in bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, receivership, attachment or composition, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, provided that, in the case of an involuntary proceeding, the proceeding is not dismissed with prejudice within ninety (90) calendar days after the institution thereof
10.4. Effect . The provisions of Sections 2.5, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10.4 and 11 shall survive and continue after any termination or expiration of this Agreement. In the event of any termination of this Agreement under Section 10.2 or 10.3, all Statements of Work and all licenses shall automatically terminate except that Arch Coal may continue to sell any Enhanced Coal in its inventory as of the date of termination following such termination, until all such inventory has been sold, and Arch Coal shall provide an accounting to ADA pursuant to Section 4.3 for all periods preceding termination and another accounting for each quarterly post-termination period, within thirty (30) calendar days following the end of such periods, and shall pay all amounts due to ADA at the time of providing such accounting(s) to ADA, in the same amount as would have been due to ADA had this Agreement not been so terminated. In addition, upon termination, each party shall return or destroy the Confidential Information of the other party as directed by the Disclosing Party, and neither party shall use any reproduction, counterfeit, copy or colorable imitation of the other partys Trademarks or undertake any other conduct which is reasonably likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception or which is likely to dilute the other partys rights in and to its Trademarks.
10.5. No Waiver or Exclusive Remedy . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 3.1 and 3.2, termination of this Agreement by either party shall not act as a waiver of any breach of this Agreement and shall not act as a release of either party from any liability for breach of such partys obligations under this Agreement. Neither party shall be liable to the other for damages of any kind solely as a result of terminating this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A partys right to terminate this Agreement, and any remedy sought by either party in connection with this Agreement, shall be without prejudice to any other right or remedy that such party may have at law or in equity.
10.6. Statements of Work . Either party may terminate a Statement of Work upon written notice to the other party if the other party fails to make a payment by the date on which such payment is due in accordance with such Statement of Work and fails to correct such failure within five (5) business days following written notice specifying such failure. Either party may terminate a Statement of Work upon written notice to the other party if the other party materially breaches any other material term of such Statement of Work and, if such breach is capable of being corrected within such time period, fails to correct such breach within thirty (30) calendar days following written notice specifying such breach. Each party shall notify the other party within ten (10) calendar days of its becoming aware of any breach of the terms of a Statement of Work by the other party. Termination of a Statement of Work shall not affect this Agreement, and breach of a Statement of Work shall not constitute a material breach of this Agreement.
11. GENERAL
11.1. Governing Law; Disputes . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to its conflicts of law provisions. Any dispute regarding this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and the parties hereby irrevocably agree to submit to personal jurisdiction and venue of such court. The parties hereby expressly waive the right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding brought by or against either of them relating to this Agreement.
13
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
11.2. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is declared or found to be illegal, unenforceable or void, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to agree upon a substitute provision that is legal and enforceable and is as nearly as possible consistent with the intentions underlying the original provision. If the remainder of this Agreement is not materially affected by such declaration or finding and is capable of substantial performance, then the remainder shall be enforced to the extent permitted by law.
11.3. Assignment . Neither party may assign, transfer, delegate or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any right or obligation hereunder (by operation of law or otherwise) without the other partys prior consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that either may assign or transfer this Agreement and any of its rights or obligations hereunder to any entity that purchases all or substantially all of the assets or business of such party to which this Agreement relates and to any successor of such party. Any attempted assignment or transfer prohibited by the foregoing shall be null and void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and bind the parties successors and permitted assigns.
11.4. Modification; Waiver . No amendment or modification to this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of each party. No delay or omission by either party to exercise any right or power shall impair any such right or power or be construed to be a waiver thereof. A waiver by any party of any of the covenants, conditions or agreements to be performed by the other or any breach thereof shall not be construed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach thereof or of any other covenant, condition or agreement herein contained. No consent or waiver or discharge hereof shall be valid unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the party giving the consent or against which such waiver or discharge is sought to be enforced.
11.5. Relationship . Arch Coal and ADA intend by this Agreement to establish the relationship of independent contractors and do not intend to undertake the relationship of principal and agent or to create a joint venture or partnership between them.
11.6. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given on the same business day if delivered personally or sent by facsimile with confirmation of receipt, on the next business day if sent by overnight courier, or on the earlier of actual receipt as shown on the registered receipt or five business days after mailing if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the parties at the addresses set forth below (or at such other address for a party as is specified by like notice):
If to Arch Coal, to: |
Arch Coal, Inc. |
|
One City Place, Suite 300 |
||
St. Louis, MO 63141 |
||
Attn: Dave Peugh |
||
Telephone: (314) 994-2700 |
||
Facsimile No.: (314) 994-2734 |
||
with a copy to: | General Counsel (at address above) | |
If to ADA, to: |
ADA-ES, Inc. |
|
8100 SouthPark Way, Unit B |
||
Littleton, CO 80120 |
||
Attn: Senior Vice President and CFO |
||
Telephone: (303) 734-1727 |
||
Facsimile No: (303) 734-0330 |
||
with a copy to: | Julie Herzog, Esq. | |
Schuchat, Herzog & Brenman, LLC |
||
1900 Wazee Street, Suite 300 |
||
Denver, CO 80202 |
||
Telephone: (303) 295-9707 |
||
Facsimile No: (303) 295-9701 |
11.7. Headings . The section and paragraph headings and captions used in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement.
14
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
11.8. Counterparts; Transmission . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one single agreement. Signatures to this Agreement may be transmitted by facsimile or email, and such transmission shall be deemed a valid original.
11.9. Force Majeure . If either party is prevented or delayed in the performance of any of its obligations (other than a payment obligation) by Force Majeure and gives written notice thereof to the other party within twenty (20) days of the first day of such events specifying the matters constituting Force Majeure, then such party will be excused from the performance or punctual performance, as the case may be, so long as such cause of prevention or delay continues. A partys notice of a Force Majeure shall include full particulars thereof (including its best estimate of the likely extent and duration of the interference with its activities). The party experiencing a Force Majeure shall use its reasonable efforts to mitigate the effect created thereby and to resume performance of its obligations as soon as practicable. If the performance of any obligation (other than a payment obligation) under this Agreement is delayed owing to a Force Majeure for more than ninety (90) calendar days in any one hundred and twenty (120) consecutive calendar day period, the parties hereto shall consult with respect to an equitable solution, including the possible termination of this Agreement or a Statement of Work.
11.10. No Third Party Beneficiaries . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
11.11. Press Releases . The parties shall cooperate with each other on press releases and similar communications regarding the non-confidential subject matter of this Agreement. The parties shall jointly prepare a press release announcing the general terms of this Agreement for issuance within one business day after the Effective Date.
11.12. Non-Solicitation . Each party covenants and agrees that, during the term of this Agreement and for one year thereafter, it will not, and it will cause its officers, employees, agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit for hire or engagement (other than via general or industry advertising) any employee of the other party or any person who was an employee of the other party during the six months prior to such solicitation or induce or attempt to induce any such person to violate the terms of his or her employment contract with the other party.
11.13. Specific Performance . Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the other party will be irreparably damaged in the event of a breach of the provisions of Sections 5, 11.3 or 11.12 hereof, and damages at law would be an inadequate remedy. Therefore upon such a breach or threatened breach by either party of such provisions, the other party shall be entitled, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, to equitable remedies for such actual or threatened breach, without being required to show any monetary damages or to post any bond or other security (to the extent so permitted by applicable law), including injunctive relief or a decree for specific performance of such provisions.
11.14. Export . Notwithstanding any rights, license or privileges specified in this Agreement, Arch Coal shall not export any Technology provided by ADA hereunder, without first obtaining any required licenses to so export from the United States Government, and shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the export or reexport of such Technology.
11.15. Entire Agreement . This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the parties relating to its subject matter and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings, representations, warranties, promises and other communications, whether oral or written, relating to such subject matter.
11.16. Further Assurances . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each of the parties agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all documents and to take, or cause to be taken, all actions that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement, provided that all such actions are in accordance with applicable law. From time to time, each party or its Affiliates (as appropriate) will execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may reasonably be required to more effectively carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
15
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
11.17. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The words hereof, herein, hereto and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neutral genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein shall mean such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. References to a person or entity are also to its permitted successors and assigns and, in the case of an individual, to his heirs and estate, as applicable
11.18. Bankruptcy Code Stipulation . With respect to the licenses granted by ADA to Arch Coal under this Agreement, the parties agree that, for purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 365(n), this Agreement shall be deemed to be an executory contract under which ADA is the licensor and Arch Coal is the licensee. With respect to all other provisions of this Agreement, the parties agree that, for purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 365(n), this Agreement shall be deemed to be an agreement supplementary to such executory contract.
(Remainder of page intentionally left blank, signature page to follow)
16
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the Effective Date.
ARCH COAL, INC. | ADA-ES, INC. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David B. Peugh |
By: |
/s/ Mark H. Mckinnies |
|||||
Name: | David B. Peugh | Name: | Mark H. McKinnies | |||||
Title: | Vice President Business Development | Title: |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
17
ADA-ES Arch Coal Development and License Agreement
Confidential and Proprietary
EXHIBIT A
STATEMENT OF WORK
This Statement of Work ( SOW ) is entered into between ADA-ES, Inc., a Colorado corporation ( ADA ) and Arch Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( Arch Coal ), on , 201 , under the terms of the Development and License Agreement between ADA and Arch Coal dated June 25, 2010 ( Agreement ). Any capitalized term not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Agreement.
A. Services to be provided and scheduled start and completion dates :
The project will have three phases.
a. | Phase 1 ADA will execute a plan to evaluate and perform limited testing of the Existing Technology, determine adequacy of supply of Additives and prepare a scope, budget and schedule for Phase 2. Phase 1 is described in more detail below and will be paid for and primarily performed by ADA. |
b. | Phase 2 As requested and approved by Arch Coal, to include (a) full scale demonstrations of the Licensed Technology at one or more Arch Coal-supplied utilities,(b) steps to secure sources of Additives as determined necessary, (c) design of commercial installations and (d) preparation of a budget and schedule for Phase 3. ADA would provide its services for this phase to Arch on a preferred rate basis. |
c. | Phase 3 As requested and approved by Arch Coal, to include commercialization and permanent installation of systems for Arch Coal to apply the Licensed Technology in the Territory as determined by Arch Coal. ADA would provide its services for this phase to Arch Coal on a preferred rate basis. |
To the extent that ADA proceeds with any plans to license Existing Technology to third parties Outside the Field of Use, ADA will pay for all related costs, or if ADA proceeds with any plans to license Developed Technology to third parties Outside the Field of Use, each of ADA and Arch Coal shall pay for their proportional share of such costs based on the relative benefits to ADA and Arch Coal of such Developed Technology.
At Arch Coals written request, ADA shall provide training to personnel of Arch Coal at standard hourly rates for the ADA employees providing such training. Arch Coal shall reimburse ADA for reasonable travel expenses incurred by ADA personnel in providing such training.
B. Coordinators :
The Coordinator for Arch Coal shall be , and the Coordinator for ADA shall be Richard J. Schlager.
C. Use of Name, Logo and Trademarks :
[specify]
D. Comments and Special Instructions :
E. Phase 1 Scope, Budget and Schedule
Phase 1 activities will include the following tasks:
1. Develop Customers for Enhanced Coal. Prepare an assessment of Arch Coals existing and anticipated customers and the emission control regulations they are believed to be subject to. Determine the most likely near-term and longer-term candidates for Enhanced Coal. Market Enhanced Coal to near-term prospects with a goal of selling Enhanced Coal in the *.
2. Assess Additives Performance. As utilities become concerned about complying with new regulations, ADA continually is requested to conduct testing for these utilities on a contract basis. As such test projects develop, ADA will look for opportunities to include testing of the Existing Technology.
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
In addition, ADA has several on-going test projects that will be assessed for including testing of the Existing Technology. Data that is generated from these projects that are relevant to this Agreement will be made available to Arch Coal.
Arch Coal may also be aware of customers that are desirous of evaluating emission control technologies. In such situations, ADA and Arch Coal will work together to promote testing at these plants.
3. Theoretical Modeling of the * Effect. ADA will perform theoretical modeling of the * Effect (see Schedule 1 for a description of the * Effect). This task will include computational fluid dynamic models of boiler configurations as needed and chemical reaction/kinetics models of the chemical processes that are theorized to be working between *. This task will aid in identifying the * under which the technology is theorized to be most effective.
4. Evaluate Arch Coals for Key Additive Components. This task involves an evaluation of various Powder River Basin coals within Arch Coals organization for constituents that may play a role in emission reduction mechanisms. It may also be of interest to evaluate exploration coals that Arch Coal has an interest in developing. A database will be established that will document the characteristics of the coals. Coal samples will be archived and retained in the event additional analysis is deemed worthwhile in the future.
5. Prepare a Scope of Work, Schedule and Budget for Phase 2. Phase 2 is envisioned to include full scale demonstrations of the Licensed Technology at one or more Arch Coal-supplied utilities, terminals and mines, design of commercial installations and preparation of a budget and schedule for Phase 3. ADA and Arch Coal will coordinate closely in this task to assure that Arch Coal interests and needs are addressed during the Phase 2 demonstration work.
6. Coordination and Review Meetings. ADA and Arch Coal will hold regular quarterly meetings during Phase 1 to coordinate the work flow and review progress of the Phase 1 work.
The Phase 1 work is expected to take *.
*
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
AGREED TO: | AGREED TO: | |||||||
ARCH COAL, INC. | ADA-ES, INC. | |||||||
By: |
/s/ David B. Peugh |
By: |
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
|||||
Name: | David B. Peugh | Name: | Mark H. McKinnies | |||||
Title: | Vice President Business Development | Title: |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
EXHIBIT B-1
ADA-ES, INC. AFFILIATES
ADA Environmental Solutions, LLC |
100 | % | |
Clean Coal Solutions LLC (50%) and its majority owned subsidiaries: |
|||
AEC-NM, LLC |
|||
AEC-TH, LLC |
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
EXHIBIT B-2
ARCH COAL, INC. AFFILIATES
Arch Reclamation Services, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Arch Western Acquisition Corporation |
100 | % | |
Arch Western Resources, LLC |
99 | % | |
Arch of Wyoming, LLC |
100 | % | |
Arch Western Finance LLC |
100 | % | |
Arch Western Bituminous Group LLC |
100 | % | |
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC |
65 | %* | |
Mountain Coal Company, LLC |
100 | % | |
Thunder Basin Coal Company, L.L.C. |
100 | % | |
Triton Coal Company, L.L.C. |
100 | % | |
Ark Land Company |
100 | % | |
Western Energy Resources, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Ark Land KH, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Ark Land LT, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Ark Land WR, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Allegheny Land Company |
100 | % | |
Apogee Holdco, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Arch Coal Sales Company, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Arch Energy Resources, LLC |
100 | % | |
Arch Coal Terminal, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Arch Development, LLC |
100 | % | |
Arch Receivable Company, LLC |
100 | % | |
Ashland Terminal, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC |
35 | %* | |
Catenary Coal Holdings, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Cumberland River Coal Company |
100 | % | |
Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Catenary Holdco, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Coal-Mac, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Energy Development Co. |
100 | % | |
Hobet Holdco, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Jacobs Ranch Holdings I LLC |
100 | % | |
Jacobs Ranch Holdings II LLC |
100 | % | |
Jacobs Ranch Coal LLC |
100 | % |
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
Mingo Logan Coal Company |
100 | % | |
Mountain Gem Land, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Mountain Mining, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Mountaineer Land Company |
100 | % | |
Otter Creek Coal, LLC |
100 | % | |
P.C. Holding, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Prairie Holdings, Inc. |
100 | % | |
Prairie Coal Company, LLC |
100 | % | |
Saddleback Hills Coal Company |
100 | % |
* | NOTE: Canyon Fuel is listed in two places |
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
EXHIBIT C
SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
SCHEDULE 1
Existing Technology means the Technology that extends the * Effect to PRB coals, which results in significant reductions of mercury emissions when PRB coals are burned.
The * Effect was observed in 2004 during a test where coal from Archs * mine (*). Measurements showed a reduction in mercury emissions when the blended coal was burned (Figure 1). Additional testing confirmed the effect at other power plants and also showed that the effect could not be reproduced by other * coals. Upon investigation it was discovered that the * coal contained * when compared to other coals (Figure 2).
The * Effect forms the basis for the Existing Technology where iodine is added to coals to promote reductions in mercury emissions. As part of development of another technology, ADA has obtained additional data on the * Effect. The limited testing of the Existing Technology has been tested at three other power plants with repeatable and excellent results (Figure 3).
*
Figure 1. * Effect
*
Figure 2. Comparison of Coal Characteristics
*
Figure 3. *
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
SCHEDULE 2
TOXIC METALS INCLUDED IN HAPs
List of HAPs Metals as reported by the EPA
*
Development and License Agreement
ADA-ES, Inc. and Arch Coal, Inc.
Exhibit 10.72
EQUIPMENT LEASE
(New Madrid)
This EQUIPMENT LEASE (this Lease ), dated as of June 29, 2010 (the Effective Date ), is entered into by and between AEC-NM, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( Lessor ) and GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Lessee ). Lessor and Lessee may be referred to herein individually as a Party , and collectively as the Parties .
R E C I T A L S
A. Lessor and Lessee have entered into that certain Agreement to Lease dated as of June 29, 2010 (the Agreement to Lease ), wherein Lessor agreed to lease to Lessee, and Lessee agreed to lease from Lessor, among other items the refined coal production facility as described on Exhibit A hereto (the Facility ).
A G R E E M E N T S
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings associated with such terms in the Agreement to Lease. The following terms shall have the following meanings as used herein:
Agreement to Lease has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Applicable Section 45 Credits means with respect to any Quarter, the Section 45 Credits to which Lessee is entitled as a result of the sale during such Quarter to an Unrelated Person of Refined Coal produced in the Facility based on the Monthly Operating Reports for each Month during such Quarter.
Assignment has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
Business Day means any Day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a Day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to be closed.
Casualty has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
* | indicates portions of the exhibit that have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential information. The non-public information has been filed with the Commission. |
Contingent Rent Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Contingent Rent Payment Date shall mean the 20th Day of the Month immediately following the end of the applicable Quarter (or if such Day is not a Business Day, by the first Business Day following such Day).
Contingent Rent Tax Event shall mean the events described in clauses (a) (but only to the extent of an actual reduction of Section 45 Credits), and (d) of the definition of the term Tax Event.
Day means a calendar day.
Effective Date has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Facility has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Fixed Rent Payments means the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments and the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments.
Force Majeure has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
GS means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a Delaware corporation.
Initial Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Interest Rate means the lesser of (i) the Prime Rate plus two percent, and (ii) the highest rate permitted by applicable Law.
Investment Grade has the meaning set forth in the Operating and Maintenance Agreement.
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
Lease has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Lessee has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Lessor has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
2
Monthly Operating Reports mean the reports provided by Operator to Lessee pursuant to Section 2.14 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or similar reports provided by any successor operator.
Party and Parties have the meanings set forth in the preamble.
Prepaid Rent has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by Citibank, N.A., New York branch, as its prime or base lending rate.
Quarter means each calendar quarter ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year.
Refined Coal Guidance means IRS Notice 2009-90 and such other guidance issued by the IRS supplementing, amending or superseding IRS Notice 2009-90.
Refined Coal Sale Agreement means that certain Refined Coal Sale Agreement (New Madrid) between Lessee and Utility.
Regulatory Event means the adoption, promulgation, change, repeal, or change in the interpretation, administration or application of any Law, or any other action of any Governmental Authority, in each case after the Effective Date (other than Force Majeure or a Tax Event) that results directly or indirectly in (a) it being unlawful for the Lessee to lease, operate or have operated the Facility, (b) Lessee being obligated or compelled to divest or materially limit any of its or its Affiliates businesses or the activities thereof wherein such divestiture or limitation affects or would affect Lessees ability to perform its obligations under this Lease, (c) the imposition of a material penalty, fee or other cost, in each case in light of the overall economics of the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents, to be paid by Lessee or any of its Affiliates with respect to the Facility or arising out of this Lease that was not otherwise payable before the Effective Date or (d) a Material Adverse Effect.
Renewal Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Rent means Prepaid Rent, Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments, Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments, and Contingent Rent Payments.
3
Tax Event means (a) the issuance to Lessee, or any Affiliate of Lessee, by the IRS of a (i) Notice of Proposed Adjustment (Form 5701); (ii) technical advice memorandum; (iii) private letter ruling, (iv) determination letter, (v) 60-day letter containing an examination report; (vi) 30-day letter containing an examination report; or (vii) any other written document that reduces or proposes the reduction of the Section 45 Credits for the taxable period(s) under examination, or examined, by the IRS, by 20 percent or more; (b) the issuance, publication, announcement or other public dissemination of any statement or writing by the chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate (including through a colloquy reported in the Congressional Record), if such statement or writing proposes, advocates or supports the enactment of federal legislation, or the adoption of a Federal Tax Rule, that would disallow some or all of the Section 45 Credits; (c) the passage by any of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate of a bill or resolution that, if enacted or adopted, would disallow some or all of the Section 45 Credits or (d) any adoption of a Federal Tax Rule the effect of which is the disallowance of 20 percent or more of the Section 45 Credits.
Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Total Fixed Payments means, with respect to any Quarter in the Initial Term, the sum of the Initial Fixed Rent Payment for such Quarter plus the allocated portion of the Prepaid Rent Payment indicated on Schedule 1, and with respect to any Quarter in the Renewal Term, the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payment for such Quarter.
Total Operating Expenses means, with respect to any Quarter, the total of all actual cost and expenses, including budget overruns, incurred and paid by Lessee in connection with the operation of the Facility during such Quarter for the production of Refined Coal, including without limitation (a) the costs of electrical power, water and other utilities and services consumed in the operation of the Facility paid by Lessee; (b) fees and expenses paid to the Operator under the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or any subsequent operator of the Facility (though Total Operating Expenses shall not include any subsequent operator fees and expenses that are unreasonable), (c) costs of routine preventive maintenance of the Facility; (d) the cost of all materials and supplies necessary for the operation of the Facility, other than coal, (e) the cost of all overhauls, major and minor repairs and replacements of the Facility, (f) the cost of all mobile equipment, lubricants, chemicals (including Chemical Additives as defined in the Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreement), fluids, oils, supplies, filters, fittings, connectors, seals, gaskets, hardware, wires and other similar consumable materials and supplies used in connection with the operation, overhaul, repair or replacement of the Facility; (g) all fines, penalties, and costs of complying with injunctive relief relating to operation and maintenance of the Facility with applicable Laws except to the extent caused by Lessee; (h) the costs of procuring, maintaining and
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complying with all Permits, including all related engineering costs; (i) the insurance coverages described in Section 3.13 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement; (j) taxes, administrative costs and all other assessments related to the operation of the Facility; (k) site rent paid by the Lessor to Utility or under any lease or license of a site on which the Facility is located during the Term; (l) the costs of treating, managing, transporting and disposing of solid waste, sludges, trash, wastewater, leachate, and Hazardous Substances generated or used in the operation of the Facility, including all such materials arising from the operation of the Facility; and (m) the costs of coal sampling and emissions testing, provided that the Total Operating Expenses shall not include (i) the cost of coal, (ii) the costs of coal yard and coal handling services, (iii) any costs or expenses incurred by Operator and reimbursed by Lessee under Section 2.10(c) of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or otherwise in connection with complying with any Extended Production Suspension Plan (as such term is defined in the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement) or any recommencement of operations of the Refined Coal Plant following an Extended Production Suspension Plan, (iv) the costs and expenses of any Decommissioning and Relocation Services (as such term is defined in the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement) incurred by Operator and reimbursed by Lessee under Section 3.10 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or (v) the costs or expenses of any substantially similar services to those services described in (iii) and (iv) above provided by a Person other than Operator.
Unrelated Person means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is not related to such Person within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4) of the Code.
ARTICLE II
LEASE
2.1 Lease of Facility . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Lessor hereby leases to Lessee and Lessee hereby leases from Lessor the Facility for the uses set forth in Section 2.11 below.
2.2 Rent .
(a) At the Closing provided for under the Agreement to Lease, Lessee shall pay Lessor as provided in the Agreement to Lease * as prepaid rent (the Prepaid Rent ).
(b) During the Initial Term, and subject to Section 2.5 of the Agreement to Lease, Lessee will pay to Lessor on the last Business Day of each Quarter the fixed payment set forth on Schedule 1 for such Quarter (the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments ). The Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be payable through the end of
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the Initial Term notwithstanding any termination of this Lease (and the obligation to make all such Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments will be treated as having been incurred at the inception of the Initial Term), except for a termination pursuant to Section 3.1(e). In the event that this Lease is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(e) prior to the end of the Initial Term, no further Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be due, though the Lessee will pay to the Lessor a pro-rated amount of the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payment due with respect to the Quarter in which this Lease is terminated.
(c) During each Renewal Term, Lessee will pay to Lessor on the last Business Day of each Quarter the fixed payment set forth on Schedule 1 for such Quarter (the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments ). The Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be payable through the end of the applicable Renewal Term notwithstanding any termination of this Lease (and the obligation to make all such Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments will be treated as having been incurred at the inception of the Renewal Term), except for a termination pursuant to Section 3.1(e). In the event that this Lease is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(e) prior to the end of the applicable Renewal Term, no further Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be due, though the Lessee will pay to the Lessor a pro-rated amount of the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payment dues with respect to the Quarter in which this Lease is terminated.
During the Term and subject to receipt of satisfactory redeterminations of qualified emissions reductions in accordance with Refined Coal Guidance in effect at the time of such redetermination (it being understood that redeterminations are currently required to be performed on a semi-annual basis and thus may not be required for each Quarter) and subject to Section 2.5 of the Agreement to Lease, Lessee will pay to Lessor quarterly on the Contingent Rent Payment Date for each Quarter the Contingent Rent Payment for such Quarter and provide Lessor the calculation of such Contingent Rent Payment. The Contingent Rent Payment with respect to each Quarter shall equal *. If a Contingent Rent Payment for any Quarter is reduced on account of the limitation in Section 2.2(e), the reduced amount will be carried forward to succeeding Quarters in the same Term, beginning with the next Quarter, and added to the Contingent Rent Payment (subject to the limitation in Section 2.2(e)) until the reduction has been offset by payments of additional Contingent Rent.
(d) The Contingent Rent Payments shall be determined after taking into account any phase out of such credits under Section 45(b)(1) of the Code and any applicable inflation adjustment under Section 45(b)(2) of the Code as provided herein, but shall be determined without regard to limitations on the Lessees use of the Section 45 Credits imposed by Section 38(c) of the Code and without regard to whether Lessee actually utilizes such Section 45 Credits. In the event that any Contingent Rent Payment is due prior to the date that the IRS publishes the U.S. dollar amount of the Applicable Section 45 Credits with respect to such calendar year, the U.S. dollar amount
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of the Applicable Section 45 Credits for the prior year shall be used until the IRS publishes the U.S. dollar amount of the Applicable Section 45 Credits for the current year. Once the IRS publishes this figure, the Lessee will adjust the next due Contingent Rent Payment to reflect any change that should be made to prior Contingent Rent Payments made during the current calendar year to take the new published figure into account. Within 90 Days after the end of each calendar year during the Term, Lessee shall recalculate all Contingent Rent Payments that have been made with respect to such calendar year based upon (a) the Section 45 Credit applicable to such calendar year, (b) the actual amount of Refined Coal sales from the Facility in each Quarter of such calendar year and (c) the actual Total Operating Expenses for each Quarter paid by Lessee in such calendar year. Upon completion of such recalculation, Lessee shall promptly notify Lessor of such recalculation and provide Lessor a statement of such recalculation. Within 30 Days following such notice, Lessor or Lessee, as appropriate, shall make an adjustment payment to the other Party to reflect such recalculation, though such other Party may raise a good faith dispute to the adjustment payment.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the aggregate Contingent Rent Payments during the Initial Term shall not exceed the present value, as of the Effective Date, calculated using a * discount rate, of the aggregate projected Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments and the Prepaid Rent for the Initial Term and (ii) the aggregate Contingent Rent Payments during any Renewal Term shall not exceed the present value, as of the Effective Date, calculated using a * discount rate, of the aggregate projected Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments for such Renewal Term. To the extent Lessee pays Lessor any Contingent Rent Payments in excess of the amounts set forth in this subsection in the Initial Term or any Renewal Term on a cumulative basis since the Effective Date, Lessor shall reimburse Lessee within five Days after notice by Lessee of such excess payment.
(f) Lessee shall make the Fixed Rent Payments and the Contingent Rent Payments in immediately available funds to an account in the United States of America designated from time to time to Lessee in writing by Lessor. The initial nominated account of Lessor is:
Colorado Business Bank |
ABA #: 102003206 |
Account Name: AEC-NM LLC |
Account #: 3286363 |
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(g) Any Rent required to be paid under this Section 2.2 that is not so paid (unless subject to a good faith dispute) will bear interest from the date on which Rent was required to be paid to the date such Rent is actually received by Lessor at an effective annual rate equal to the Interest Rate. In the event of a dispute with respect to any Rent pursuant to this Section 2.2, the Parties shall continue to perform their obligations as required hereunder. Upon resolution of such dispute, the Rent, if any, determined to be owing by Lessee to Lessor (by agreement of the Parties or final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be paid within five Business Days following such resolution, together with interest (using the interest rate described above) from the date Lessee was required to pay the disputed amount.
(h) Attached hereto as Exhibit C is an illustration of how any payments to be made under this Section 2 would be made under certain circumstances.
2.3 Tax Ownership . The Parties agree that for Federal income tax purposes, (i) the transactions described in this Lease shall be considered as a taxable installment sale of the Facility, and (ii) the tax treatment of Contingent Rent Payments made by Lessee to the Lessor under the terms of this Lease will be governed by the principles of Treasury Regulation section 1.1275-4(c). The Parties to this Lease agree to report the transaction consistently with such characterization. Lessee will provide Lessor with (i) an allocation of the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments under this Lease between interest and principal components and Lessee shall complete Form 8594 and furnish Lessor with a copy within 90 Days after the Effective Date, (ii) an allocation of the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments under any Renewal Term within 90 Days after the commencement of such Renewal Term, and (iii) an allocation of each Contingent Rent Payment between interest and principal components within 45 Days after such payment is made (each such allocation, a Draft Allocation ). Lessor shall review the Draft Allocation and provide any objections to Lessee within 30 Days after the receipt thereof. In the event Lessor does not object to Lessees Draft Allocation, such Draft Allocation shall be final (the Final Allocation ) and the Parties shall report such Final Allocation for tax purposes and file tax returns in a manner consistent with such mutually agreed Final Allocation. If Lessor raises objections to the Draft Allocation, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to resolve such objection(s). If the Parties are unable to agree on the Draft Allocation within 14 Days after Lessor raises such objections, the Parties shall refer such dispute to an independent nationally recognized accounting firm (the Independent Accountant ), which Independent Accountant shall make a final and binding determination as to all matters in dispute with respect to the Draft Allocation (and only such matters) within 30 Days and promptly shall notify the Parties in writing of its resolution. Each Party shall bear and pay one-half of the fees and other costs charged by the Independent Accountant.
2.4 Title to Facility . Title to the Facility leased herein shall be and at all times during the Term remain in Lessor. During the Term, Lessee shall neither remove nor permit removal of any serial number, model, number, name, or any other identification of ownership from the Facility.
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2.5 Maintenance . During the Term, Lessee agrees, at its own cost and expense, to keep the Facility in good repair, condition, and working order, will furnish all parts, mechanisms, devices and labor required to keep the Facility in such condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and will pay all costs of the Facilitys operation.
2.6 Insurance . Lessor has obtained and shall maintain during the Term such insurance (including the coverages, limits, deductibles and retentions) as set forth in Exhibit B hereto and shall provide certificates evidencing the existence of such policies of insurance to Lessee within 10 Days after the Effective Date.
2.7 Loss and Damage; Casualty . Lessee hereby assumes and will bear the entire risk of loss of, theft of, requisition of, damage to or destruction of an item (collectively, a Casualty ) comprising the Facility from any cause whatsoever. In the event of a Casualty, Lessee shall at its option either (i) repair or replace the damaged or destroyed portion of the Facility at its own expense in which event Lessor shall assign to Lessee all property damage insurance proceeds received by Lessor or to which Lessor is entitled arising out of such Casualty, or (ii) terminate the Lease.
2.8 Taxes . Lessee shall at all times during the Term pay all property taxes that are imposed upon the Facility or Lessees use thereof.
2.9 Personal Property . The Facility herein leased is, and shall at all times during the term hereof remain, personal property, notwithstanding that the Facility, or any part of it, may now be or hereafter become in any manner attached to, embedded in, or permanently resting on real property or any building or improvement thereon, or attached in any manner to what is permanent, as by means of cement, plaster, nails, bolts, screws, or the like.
2.10 Lessees Right to Possession . During the Term, Lessee shall have the right to retain possession of the Facility herein leased at the power plant known as the New Madrid Power Plant located near Marston, Missouri or at any other location Lessee may choose to place the Facility.
2.11 Permitted Uses . Lessee shall only use the Facility for the production of the Refined Coal.
2.12 Location . Lessee shall have the right from time to time during the Term to relocate the Facility at Lessees expense to such other site as may be selected by Lessee.
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2.13 Assignment of Warranties . Lessor hereby assigns to Lessee all warranties to which Lessor may have rights applicable to the Facility or any portion thereof provided by any manufacturers, designers and constructors of the Facility or any portion thereof. Lessor agrees to take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the assignment granted to Lessee pursuant to this Section 2.13.
ARTICLE III
TERM
3.1 Term .
(a) The Term of this Lease (the Term ) will consist of: (i) the Initial Term and (ii) the Renewal Terms, if any. The Initial Term shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated pursuant to any of the terms hereof, end on December 31, 2012.
(b) Unless sooner terminated in accordance with any of the terms hereof, the Term shall automatically renew for successive one year terms after the expiration of the Initial Term (each, a Renewal Term ) until December 31, 2019. Thereafter, if the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility is extended, Lessee shall be entitled in its sole discretion to terminate the Lease. If Lessee does not elect to exercise its termination right, a Renewal Term shall automatically commence and this Lease shall continue to renew for successive Renewal Terms thereafter until the termination of the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility.
(c) Lessee may terminate this Lease by written notice effective immediately to Lessor if the Total Operating Expenses paid by Lessee with respect to any two consecutive Quarters exceed 140% of the projected operating costs of the Facility for such two consecutive Quarters as set forth on Schedule 2.
(d) Lessee may terminate this Lease by written notice to Lessor if a Tax Event occurs, though not during the Initial Term in the case of a Tax Event described in clauses (a)(iii) and (a)(iv) of the definition of Tax Event.
(e) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Lessor contained in the Agreement to Lease are not true in all material respects as of the date made, and such representations and warranties are not made true by Lessor within 30 Days after notice from Lessee, or (ii) Lessor fails to perform in any material respect any its obligations hereunder or under the Agreement to Lease and such failure is not cured within 30 Days after notice from Lessee.
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(f) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if the Refined Coal Sale Agreementand/or the Technology Sub-License terminates or is terminated or if any Lessor Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect or any Lessor Guarantor shall so assert in writing.
(g) Lessor may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessee if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Lessee contained in the Agreement to Lease are not true in all material respects as of the date made, and such representations and warranties are not made true by Lessee within 30 Days after notice from Lessor, (ii) Lessee fails to pay any undisputed installment of Rent due hereunder and such failure is not cured within 15 Business Days after notice from Lessor, (iii) the Lessee Guaranty is terminated without being replaced by a new guaranty on substantially similar terms as the Lessee Guaranty from a Person having an Investment Grade rating or (iv) Lessee otherwise fails to perform in any material respect any its obligations hereunder or under the Agreement to Lease and such failure is not cured within 30 Days after notice from Lessor.
(h) Lessee may terminate this Lease if, in the good faith judgment of Lessee, (i) equipment at the Facility requires replacement, modification or if the Facility needs to be relocated and (ii) the anticipated cost of such replacement, modification or relocation would result in the Facility having a new placed-in-service date.
(i) Lessee may terminate this Lease as of the end of the Initial Term by providing notice of such termination to Lessor on or before July 1, 2012.
(j) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if the sale to Unrelated Persons of Refined Coal produced in the Facility for any two consecutive Months (excluding any period of Force Majeure) fails to generate Section 45 Credits or if the amount of allowable Section 45 Credits is reduced under Section 45(e)(8)(B) of the Code below * of the amount of Section 45 Credits that would have been available if there had been no such reduction.
(k) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if a Regulatory Event occurs.
(l) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if, for reasons other than Force Majeure, Refined Coal produced in the Facility fails to satisfy the emissions reduction requirements set forth in Code Section 45(c)(7)(B) or the Refined Coal Guidance, resulting in, or likely to result in, a material loss of Section 45 Credits by Lessee and, despite the use by Lessee of reasonable efforts, the problem causing such production of Refined Coal to fail to satisfy the emissions reduction requirements set forth in Code Section 45(c)(7)(B) or the Refined Coal Guidance is not cured within 14 Days after Lessee becomes aware of such problem (or in the event such problem is not
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curable within 14 Days, within such additional period (not to exceed 14 Days) as is reasonably necessary to cure such problem if such violation is curable but cannot be reasonably cured within such 14 Day period, and if Lessee uses reasonable efforts to pursue such cure during such 14 Day period).
3.2 Effect of Expiration or Termination . Upon expiration or termination of this Lease pursuant to Section 3.1 above, there will be no liability or obligation on the part of Lessee or Lessor (or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives), except that (a) each Party shall continue to be liable for any breach of this Lease by it occurring prior to such termination, (b) each Party shall pay any amounts outstanding and payable by it hereunder as of the date of termination, (c) Lessee shall continue to pay the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 2.2(b) and any Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 2.2(c), (d) the Parties will be subject to the indemnity obligations set forth in Article 5, and (e) the provisions of Sections 2.2(b), (c) and (d) shall continue to apply. Upon the expiration or the termination of this Lease for any reason, Lessee will discontinue all use of the Facilities.
3.3 Lessees Duty to Surrender . At the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, Lessee shall surrender to Lessor the possession of the Facilities leased hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
FORCE MAJEURE
4.1 Force Majeure .
(a) If Lessee is rendered unable by Force Majeure to carry out, in whole or part, its obligations (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the event) under this Lease, Lessee shall give notice orally to Lessor as soon as reasonably practicable, followed within five Business Days thereafter by a written notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the cause or causes constituting such Force Majeure. The obligations of Lessee (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the event) shall be suspended to the extent made necessary, and for no longer than is required, by the cause or causes constituting such Force Majeure.
(b) The term Force Majeure means any event that is beyond the reasonable control and occurs without the fault or negligence of Lessee, that by the exercise of reasonable diligence or the incurrence of reasonable expense Lessee is unable to prevent or overcome, and that wholly or partly prevents the performance of any of the obligations of Lessee (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming
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due with respect to performance prior to the event). Force Majeure includes the following events to the extent they present the characteristics described in the preceding sentence: acts of God or of the public enemy; interruptions in or failure of transportation of coal or Refined Coal or other materials by third parties; fire, flood, explosion or other serious casualty; severe weather; war (whether declared or not); mobilization, revolution, riot, or civil commotion; legal intervention; regulation or order of Governmental Authority; changes in Permit requirements that prevent the Parties from operating the Facility; inability to obtain any Permit notwithstanding commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such Permit; strike; and lock-out or other labor disputes. A lack or unavailability of money shall not constitute Force Majeure.
(c) Lessee shall initiate and continue commercially reasonable good faith efforts to remedy the Force Majeure with all reasonable dispatch; provided, however, that the settlement of strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes shall be totally within the discretion of Lessee.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND REMEDIES
5.1 Lessees Right to Indemnification . Lessor shall indemnify the Lessee Indemnified Parties in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to Lease from and against any and all Losses incurred by the Lessee Indemnified Parties to the extent arising out of or caused by any breach of this Lease by Lessor.
5.2 Lessors Right to Indemnification . Lessee shall indemnify the CCS Indemnified Parties in accordance with terms of the Agreement to Lease from and against any and all Losses incurred by the CCS Indemnified Parties to the extent arising out of or caused by any breach of this Lease by Lessee.
5.3 Claims Procedures and Limitations . All claims for indemnification shall be subject to the procedures and limitations set forth in the Agreement for Lease.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Confidentiality .
(a) Each Party shall maintain the terms of this Lease in confidence and shall not disclose any information concerning the terms, performance or administration of this Lease to any other Person; provided that a Party may disclose such information: (i) to any of such Partys Affiliates, (ii) to any prospective member of such Partys Affiliates,
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(iii) to any actual or prospective purchaser of all or a portion of such Partys interest in the Facility and (iv) to any Person providing or evaluating a proposal to provide financing to the recipient Party or any direct or indirect owner of such Party; provided in each case that the recipient Party shall provide to each Person to which disclosure is made a copy of this Section 6.1 and direct such Person to treat such information confidentially, and the recipient Party shall be liable for any breach of the terms of this Section 6.1 by such Persons to which it makes any such disclosure. The foregoing restrictions will not apply (A) to information that is or becomes generally available to the public otherwise than as a result of disclosure by the recipient Party, (B) to information that is already in, or subsequently comes into, the recipient Partys possession, provided that the source of such information was not, to the recipient Partys knowledge, obligated to keep such information confidential, (C) to information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Law or stock exchange rules and regulations or is otherwise subject to legal, judicial, regulatory or self-regulatory requests for information or documents or (D) subject to Section 6.1(b) below, to the tax structure or tax treatment of the transaction.
(b) Each Party may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction, provided, however, that any such information is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable securities laws. The tax structure and tax treatment of the transaction includes only those facts that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal and state income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction and, to eliminate any doubt, therefore specifically does not include information that either reveals or standing alone or in the aggregate with other information so disclosed tends of itself to reveal or allow the recipient of the information to ascertain the identity of any parties involved in any of the transactions contemplated by this Lease or the documents to be delivered in connection herewith.
(c) If any Party is required to disclose any information required by this Section 6.1 to be maintained as confidential in a judicial, administrative or governmental proceeding, such Party shall give the other Party at least 10 Days prior written notice (unless less time is permitted by the applicable proceeding) before disclosing any such information in any said proceeding and, in making such disclosure, the Party required to disclose the information shall disclose only that portion thereof required to be disclosed and shall cooperate with the other Party in the other Partys attempts to seek to preserve the confidentiality thereof, including if such Party seeks to obtain protective orders and/or any intervention.
6.2 Tax Return Information and Tax Proceedings . The provisions of Section 5.9 of the Agreement to Lease shall apply to this Lease.
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6.3 Amendment, Modification and Waiver . This Lease may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties. Any failure of a Party to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement, or condition contained herein may be waived only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure.
6.4 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Lease is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Lease shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Lease so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
6.5 Expenses and Obligations . Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, all costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in connection with this Lease and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne solely and entirely by the Party which has incurred such expenses.
6.6 Parties in Interest . This Lease shall be binding upon and, except as provided below, inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Lease, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person (other than the Lessee Indemnified Parties and CCS Indemnified Parties as provided in Article 5) any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Lease).
6.7 Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by a nationally recognized overnight courier, by facsimile, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) | If to Lessee, to: |
GS RC Investments LLC |
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. |
200 West Street |
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New York, New York 10282 |
Attention: Michael Feldman |
Fax: (212) 428-3868 |
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, Texas 77002-6760 Attention: F. B Cochran III Fax: (713) 615-5368 |
If to Lessor, to: |
AEC-NM, LLC 3300 South Parker Road, Suite 310 |
Aurora, CO 80014 |
Attention: Charles S. McNeil |
Fax: (303) 751-9210 |
Email: cmcneil@nexgen-group.com |
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Chadbourne & Parke LLP |
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, NW |
Washington, DC 20036 |
Attention: Keith Martin |
Fax: (202) 974-6774 |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC 8100 South Park Way, Unit B Littleton, Colorado 80120 |
Attention: Nina French |
Email: ninafrench@sbcglobal.net |
All notices and other communications given in accordance herewith shall be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, (ii) on the date of receipt, if faxed (provided a hard copy of such transmission is dispatched by first class mail within 48 hours), (iii) three Business Days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and (iv) one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier; provided, however, that a notice given in accordance with this Section 6.7 but received on any Day other than a Business Day or after business hours in the place of receipt, will be deemed given on the next Business Day in that place.
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6.8 Counterparts . This Lease may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
6.9 Entire Agreement . This Lease (which term shall be deemed to include the Exhibits and Schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior agreements, letters of intent and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no representations or warranties, agreements, or covenants other than those expressly set forth in this Lease.
6.10 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial . THIS LEASE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LEASE AND CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO A DISPUTE AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT THERETO.
6.11 Publicity . Lessor agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Lessee, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or any partner or employee of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by Lessor has been approved or endorsed by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee). No public announcement of any kind regarding the existence or terms of this Lease shall be made without the prior written consent of the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.11 shall limit Lessors obligation to disclose information pursuant to Section 6.1.
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6.12 Assignment . Neither Party shall assign, sublease or otherwise transfer (collectively, an Assignment ) this Lease or any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any purported Assignment made without such prior written consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) either Party may, without the need for consent from the other Party, make an Assignment of this Lease to an Affiliate of such Party provided that such Affiliate assumes all of the obligations of the Party making the Assignment and the Lessor Guarantees or the Lessee Guaranty remain in effect, as applicable, with respect to the obligations of such Affiliate, and in such event the assigning Party shall be released from its obligations under this Lease, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment;
(b) Lessee may, without the need for consent from Lessor, make an Assignment of this Lease to any Person (i) succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets, provided such Person has, or its obligations under this Lease are guaranteed by a Person who has, an Investment Grade rating, or (ii) after December 31, 2019 if the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility has been extended beyond such date; and
(c) Lessor may, with the prior written consent of Lessee, make an Assignment of this Lease to any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets provided that (i) the acquiring Person assumes all obligations of Lessor hereunder, and (ii) either (A) the Lessor Guarantees remain in full force and effect with respect to the Person succeeding to all or substantially all of Lessors assets, or (B) the Lessor Guarantees are replaced by a new guaranty or guarantees on the same terms as the Lessor Guarantees covering such assumed obligations from a Person having an Investment Grade rating, and in such event Lessor shall be released from its obligations under this Lease, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party has caused this Lease to be executed on its behalf on the day and year first above written.
AEC-NM, LLC | ||||||
By: |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, its managing member |
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By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
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Name: | Brian Humphrey | |||||
Title: | Manager | |||||
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC | ||||||
By : |
GSFS INVESTMENTS I CORP., its sole member |
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By: |
/s/ Albert Dombrowski |
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Name: | Albert Dombrowski | |||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Equipment Lease (New Madrid)
SCHEDULE 1
*
Schedule 1
SCHEDULE 2
*
Schedule 2
EXHIBIT A
FACILITY
All fixtures, equipment, machinery, parts and software and other property constituting the refined coal production facility, consisting specifically of the following components: a CyClean A hopper feeder system; a CyClean B liquid tote, chemical pumps and heated transfer hoses; transfer belt conveyors; weigh belt conveyors; motor control center; programmable logic control system; and all associated valves, fittings, control systems and related components and any associated replacement parts or equipment, and located at the New Madrid Power Plant owned by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. and located at 41 St. Jude Road, New Madrid, Missouri 63869 including, without limitation, the equipment, parts, and other materials set forth below.
*
Exhibit A
EXHIBIT B
LESSOR INSURANCE
A. | Lessor shall carry and maintain (or cause to be carried and maintained) the following insurance coverages, or their equivalent in scope and amount. Each policy shall list the following as additional insureds (collectively, the Additional Insureds ): Lessee, all direct owners of Lessee and any Person owning a direct or indirect interest in any direct owner of Lessee, the site and the Utility, as their interests may appear. Lessor shall pay (or cause to be paid) the premiums required to maintain these policies in effect, unless otherwise stated. |
All Risks Property Damage Insurance . All Risks Property Damage Insurance in an amount sufficient to cover 100% of the replacement cost of the Facility.
Umbrella Liability Coverage . Insurance with limits of not less than $50,000,000 if available on a commercially reasonable basis, but in any event limits of not less than $25,000,000. At a minimum to provide umbrella limits over commercial liability, employers liability, and auto liability. Such coverage may be on a claims-made basis. Lessor shall immediately notify Lessee of any material dilution in the limit on such policy or policies, whether under this Lease or in connection with any other facility or underlying property.
Contractors Pollution Liability or Pollution Legal Liability . Insurance with limits of $10,000,000. Such insurance shall be obtained by Lessor at Lessees expense. Lessor shall immediately notify Lessee of any material dilution in the limit on such policy or policies, whether under this Lease or in connection with any other facility or underlying property.
B. | The insurance policies maintained pursuant hereto may be subject to such retentions and deductibles as are usual and customary for the risks involved under policies with limits described above. |
C. | Each insurance policy covering Lessors obligations under this Lease, or any other insurance in force for the personal property, fixtures or equipment of Lessor used in connection with this Lease, shall provide for a waiver of subrogation by the insurer in favor of the Additional Insureds. Such insurance provided to Additional Insureds shall apply on a primary basis not as excess of or contributing with any other insurance. |
Exhibit B-1
D. | All insurance policies shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to Lessee and shall be issued by an approved insurance company licensed and authorized to do business in the state of operation, and rated in Bests Insurance Reports (or similar publication of comparable standing) as A-VIII or better (or the then equivalent of such rating) or as approved by Lessee. As soon as practicable upon execution of this Lease and before commencing any performance hereunder, Lessor shall submit to Lessee certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of the insurance required hereunder. Certificates of renewal or replacement policies shall be delivered to Lessee within 10 Business Days after the date of expiration or termination of the expired or replaced insurance policy. If requested by Lessee, Lessor shall provide Lessee an original or certified copy of any insurance policy maintained by Lessor pursuant to the terms hereof. |
E. | All primary and umbrella liability policies shall contain the following clause: |
Thirty days written notice of cancellation, material change deemed adverse to Lessees interest or nonrenewal shall be given to Lessee before any cancellation, material change or nonrenewal of this policy will be effected, except ten days will apply for cancellation due to nonpayment of premium.
F. | Lessor and its Representatives shall cooperate with Lessee in connection with the collection of any insurance monies that may be due Lessee in the event of loss, and Lessor and its Representatives shall execute and deliver all such instruments that may be required for the purpose of obtaining the recovery of any such insurance monies. |
G. | Lessor shall maintain the insurance described herein until expiration of the Term or termination of this Lease and the issuance of a final certificate of insurance. |
H. | The following provisions shall apply with respect to the insurance coverages required in this Lease: |
1. | Lessor will not intentionally do, allow or permit anything to be done during the performance of Lessors obligations under this Lease that will affect, impair or contravene any policies of insurance that may be carried on the Facilities, or any part thereof, or the use thereof, against loss, damage or destruction by fire, casualty, public liability, or otherwise. |
2. | Compliance with any of the insurance requirements stipulated in this Lease will not in itself be construed to be limitation of liability of Lessor or its representatives. |
Exhibit B-2
I. | In the event Lessor fails to effect, maintain or renew any of the insurance required hereunder in the required amounts, or to pay the premiums therefor, or to deliver to Lessee any evidence of such insurance or payment therefor as required hereunder, then in any such events Lessee at its option, but without obligation so to do, may procure such insurance. Any sums expended by Lessee to procure any such insurance shall be payable by Lessor on demand, together with interest at the interest rate thereon from the date such sums were expended; provided, however, it is expressly understood that procurement by Lessee of any such insurance shall not be deemed to waive or release the default of Lessor, or the right of Lessee at its option, to exercise the remedies set forth in this Lease upon the occurrence of a default. Unless otherwise specified, Lessee shall not be responsible for obtaining or maintaining any insurance required to be obtained or maintained by Lessor, and shall not, by reason of accepting, rejecting, approving or obtaining any such insurance, incur any liability for the existence, nonexistence, form or legal sufficiency thereof, the solvency of any insurer or the payment of any losses, and Lessor hereby expressly assumes full responsibility therefor and liability, if any, thereunder. |
J. | In addition to the above, Lessor shall maintain all insurance and surety bonds for any other risks or hazard that now or hereafter are customarily insured against by Lessor of like size and type in the locality of the site as Lessor deems appropriate. |
K. | All claims-made liability coverages shall remain in full force and effect for three years after the end of the Term. All other liability coverages shall remain in full force and effect until the end of the Term. |
Exhibit B-3
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 2 PAYMENTS
*
Exhibit C
Exhibit 10.73
EQUIPMENT LEASE
(Thomas Hill)
This EQUIPMENT LEASE (this Lease ), dated as of June 29, 2010 (the Effective Date ), is entered into by and between AEC-TH, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( Lessor ) and GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Lessee ). Lessor and Lessee may be referred to herein individually as a Party , and collectively as the Parties .
R E C I T A L S
A. Lessor and Lessee have entered into that certain Agreement to Lease dated as of June 29, 2010 (the Agreement to Lease ), wherein Lessor agreed to lease to Lessee, and Lessee agreed to lease from Lessor, among other items the refined coal production facility as described on Exhibit A hereto (the Facility ).
A G R E E M E N T S
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings associated with such terms in the Agreement to Lease. The following terms shall have the following meanings as used herein:
Agreement to Lease has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Applicable Section 45 Credits means with respect to any Quarter, the Section 45 Credits to which Lessee is entitled as a result of the sale during such Quarter to an Unrelated Person of Refined Coal produced in the Facility based on the Monthly Operating Reports for each Month during such Quarter.
Assignment has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
Business Day means any Day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a Day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to be closed.
Casualty has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
* | indicates portions of the exhibit that have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential information. The non-public information has been filed with the Commission. |
Contingent Rent Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Contingent Rent Payment Date shall mean the 20th Day of the Month immediately following the end of the applicable Quarter (or if such Day is not a Business Day, by the first Business Day following such Day).
Contingent Rent Tax Event shall mean the events described in clauses (a) (but only to the extent of an actual reduction of Section 45 Credits), and (d) of the definition of the term Tax Event.
Day means a calendar day.
Effective Date has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Facility has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Fixed Rent Payments means the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments and the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments.
Force Majeure has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
GS means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a Delaware corporation.
Initial Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Interest Rate means the lesser of (i) the Prime Rate plus two percent, and (ii) the highest rate permitted by applicable Law.
Investment Grade has the meaning set forth in the Operating and Maintenance Agreement.
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
Lease has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Lessee has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Lessor has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
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Monthly Operating Reports mean the reports provided by Operator to Lessee pursuant to Section 2.14 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or similar reports provided by any successor operator.
Party and Parties have the meanings set forth in the preamble.
Prepaid Rent has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by Citibank, N.A., New York branch, as its prime or base lending rate.
Quarter means each calendar quarter ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year.
Refined Coal Guidance means IRS Notice 2009-90 and such other guidance issued by the IRS supplementing, amending or superseding IRS Notice 2009-90.
Refined Coal Sale Agreement means that certain Refined Coal Sale Agreement (Thomas Hill) between Lessee and Utility.
Regulatory Event means the adoption, promulgation, change, repeal, or change in the interpretation, administration or application of any Law, or any other action of any Governmental Authority, in each case after the Effective Date (other than Force Majeure or a Tax Event) that results directly or indirectly in (a) it being unlawful for the Lessee to lease, operate or have operated the Facility, (b) Lessee being obligated or compelled to divest or materially limit any of its or its Affiliates businesses or the activities thereof wherein such divestiture or limitation affects or would affect Lessees ability to perform its obligations under this Lease, (c) the imposition of a material penalty, fee or other cost, in each case in light of the overall economics of the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents, to be paid by Lessee or any of its Affiliates with respect to the Facility or arising out of this Lease that was not otherwise payable before the Effective Date or (d) a Material Adverse Effect.
Renewal Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Rent means Prepaid Rent, Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments, Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments, and Contingent Rent Payments.
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Tax Event means (a) the issuance to Lessee, or any Affiliate of Lessee, by the IRS of a (i) Notice of Proposed Adjustment (Form 5701); (ii) technical advice memorandum; (iii) private letter ruling, (iv) determination letter, (v) 60-day letter containing an examination report; (vi) 30-day letter containing an examination report; or (vii) any other written document that reduces or proposes the reduction of the Section 45 Credits for the taxable period(s) under examination, or examined, by the IRS, by 20 percent or more; (b) the issuance, publication, announcement or other public dissemination of any statement or writing by the chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate (including through a colloquy reported in the Congressional Record), if such statement or writing proposes, advocates or supports the enactment of federal legislation, or the adoption of a Federal Tax Rule, that would disallow some or all of the Section 45 Credits; (c) the passage by any of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate of a bill or resolution that, if enacted or adopted, would disallow some or all of the Section 45 Credits or (d) any adoption of a Federal Tax Rule the effect of which is the disallowance of 20 percent or more of the Section 45 Credits.
Term has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Total Fixed Payments means, with respect to any Quarter in the Initial Term, the sum of the Initial Fixed Rent Payment for such Quarter plus the allocated portion of the Prepaid Rent Payment indicated on Schedule 1, and with respect to any Quarter in the Renewal Term, the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payment for such Quarter.
Total Operating Expenses means, with respect to any Quarter, the total of all actual cost and expenses, including budget overruns, incurred and paid by Lessee in connection with the operation of the Facility during such Quarter for the production of Refined Coal, including without limitation (a) the costs of electrical power, water and other utilities and services consumed in the operation of the Facility paid by Lessee; (b) fees and expenses paid to the Operator under the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or any subsequent operator of the Facility (though Total Operating Expenses shall not include any subsequent operator fees and expenses that are unreasonable), (c) costs of routine preventive maintenance of the Facility; (d) the cost of all materials and supplies necessary for the operation of the Facility, other than coal, (e) the cost of all overhauls, major and minor repairs and replacements of the Facility, (f) the cost of all mobile equipment, lubricants, chemicals (including Chemical Additives as defined in the Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreement), fluids, oils, supplies, filters, fittings, connectors, seals, gaskets, hardware, wires and other similar consumable materials and supplies used in connection with the operation, overhaul, repair or replacement of the Facility; (g) all fines, penalties, and costs of complying with injunctive relief relating to operation and maintenance of the Facility with applicable Laws except to the extent caused by Lessee; (h) the costs of procuring, maintaining and
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complying with all Permits, including all related engineering costs; (i) the insurance coverages described in Section 3.13 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement; (j) taxes, administrative costs and all other assessments related to the operation of the Facility; (k) site rent paid by the Lessor to Utility or under any lease or license of a site on which the Facility is located during the Term; (l) the costs of treating, managing, transporting and disposing of solid waste, sludges, trash, wastewater, leachate, and Hazardous Substances generated or used in the operation of the Facility, including all such materials arising from the operation of the Facility; and (m) the costs of coal sampling and emissions testing, provided that the Total Operating Expenses shall not include (i) the cost of coal, (ii) the costs of coal yard and coal handling services, (iii) any costs or expenses incurred by Operator and reimbursed by Lessee under Section 2.10(c) of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or otherwise in connection with complying with any Extended Production Suspension Plan (as such term is defined in the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement) or any recommencement of operations of the Refined Coal Plant following an Extended Production Suspension Plan, (iv) the costs and expenses of any Decommissioning and Relocation Services (as such term is defined in the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement) incurred by Operator and reimbursed by Lessee under Section 3.10 of the applicable Operating and Maintenance Agreement or (v) the costs or expenses of any substantially similar services to those services described in (iii) and (iv) above provided by a Person other than Operator.
Unrelated Person means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is not related to such Person within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4) of the Code.
ARTICLE II
LEASE
2.1 Lease of Facility . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Lessor hereby leases to Lessee and Lessee hereby leases from Lessor the Facility for the uses set forth in Section 2.11 below.
2.2 Rent .
(a) At the Closing provided for under the Agreement to Lease, Lessee shall pay Lessor as provided in the Agreement to Lease * as prepaid rent (the Prepaid Rent ).
(b) During the Initial Term, and subject to Section 2.5 of the Agreement to Lease, Lessee will pay to Lessor on the last Business Day of each Quarter the fixed payment set forth on Schedule 1 for such Quarter (the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments ). The Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be payable through the end of
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the Initial Term notwithstanding any termination of this Lease (and the obligation to make all such Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments will be treated as having been incurred at the inception of the Initial Term), except for a termination pursuant to Section 3.1(e). In the event that this Lease is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(e) prior to the end of the Initial Term, no further Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be due, though the Lessee will pay to the Lessor a pro-rated amount of the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payment due with respect to the Quarter in which this Lease is terminated.
(c) During each Renewal Term, Lessee will pay to Lessor on the last Business Day of each Quarter the fixed payment set forth on Schedule 1 for such Quarter (the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments ). The Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be payable through the end of the applicable Renewal Term notwithstanding any termination of this Lease (and the obligation to make all such Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments will be treated as having been incurred at the inception of the Renewal Term), except for a termination pursuant to Section 3.1(e). In the event that this Lease is terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(e) prior to the end of the applicable Renewal Term, no further Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments shall be due, though the Lessee will pay to the Lessor a pro-rated amount of the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payment dues with respect to the Quarter in which this Lease is terminated.
During the Term and subject to receipt of satisfactory redeterminations of qualified emissions reductions in accordance with Refined Coal Guidance in effect at the time of such redetermination (it being understood that redeterminations are currently required to be performed on a semi-annual basis and thus may not be required for each Quarter) and subject to Section 2.5 of the Agreement to Lease, Lessee will pay to Lessor quarterly on the Contingent Rent Payment Date for each Quarter the Contingent Rent Payment for such Quarter and provide Lessor the calculation of such Contingent Rent Payment. The Contingent Rent Payment with respect to each Quarter shall equal*. If a Contingent Rent Payment for any Quarter is reduced on account of the limitation in Section 2.2(e), the reduced amount will be carried forward to succeeding Quarters in the same Term, beginning with the next Quarter, and added to the Contingent Rent Payment (subject to the limitation in Section 2.2(e)) until the reduction has been offset by payments of additional Contingent Rent.
(d) The Contingent Rent Payments shall be determined after taking into account any phase out of such credits under Section 45(b)(1) of the Code and any applicable inflation adjustment under Section 45(b)(2) of the Code as provided herein, but shall be determined without regard to limitations on the Lessees use of the Section 45 Credits imposed by Section 38(c) of the Code and without regard to whether Lessee actually utilizes such Section 45 Credits. In the event that any Contingent Rent Payment is due prior to the date that the IRS publishes the U.S. dollar amount of the Applicable Section 45 Credits with respect to such calendar year, the U.S. dollar amount
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of the Applicable Section 45 Credits for the prior year shall be used until the IRS publishes the U.S. dollar amount of the Applicable Section 45 Credits for the current year. Once the IRS publishes this figure, the Lessee will adjust the next due Contingent Rent Payment to reflect any change that should be made to prior Contingent Rent Payments made during the current calendar year to take the new published figure into account. Within 90 Days after the end of each calendar year during the Term, Lessee shall recalculate all Contingent Rent Payments that have been made with respect to such calendar year based upon (a) the Section 45 Credit applicable to such calendar year, (b) the actual amount of Refined Coal sales from the Facility in each Quarter of such calendar year and (c) the actual Total Operating Expenses for each Quarter paid by Lessee in such calendar year. Upon completion of such recalculation, Lessee shall promptly notify Lessor of such recalculation and provide Lessor a statement of such recalculation. Within 30 Days following such notice, Lessor or Lessee, as appropriate, shall make an adjustment payment to the other Party to reflect such recalculation, though such other Party may raise a good faith dispute to the adjustment payment.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the aggregate Contingent Rent Payments during the Initial Term shall not exceed the present value, as of the Effective Date, calculated using a * discount rate, of the aggregate projected Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments and the Prepaid Rent for the Initial Term and (ii) the aggregate Contingent Rent Payments during any Renewal Term shall not exceed the present value, as of the Effective Date, calculated using a * discount rate, of the aggregate projected Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments for such Renewal Term. To the extent Lessee pays Lessor any Contingent Rent Payments in excess of the amounts set forth in this subsection in the Initial Term or any Renewal Term on a cumulative basis since the Effective Date, Lessor shall reimburse Lessee within five Days after notice by Lessee of such excess payment.
(f) Lessee shall make the Fixed Rent Payments and the Contingent Rent Payments in immediately available funds to an account in the United States of America designated from time to time to Lessee in writing by Lessor. The initial nominated account of Lessor is:
Colorado Business Bank |
ABA #: 102003206 |
Account Name: AEC-TH LLC |
Account #: 3286236 |
(g) Any Rent required to be paid under this Section 2.2 that is not so paid (unless subject to a good faith dispute) will bear interest from the date on which Rent was required to be paid to the date such Rent is actually received by Lessor at an
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effective annual rate equal to the Interest Rate. In the event of a dispute with respect to any Rent pursuant to this Section 2.2, the Parties shall continue to perform their obligations as required hereunder. Upon resolution of such dispute, the Rent, if any, determined to be owing by Lessee to Lessor (by agreement of the Parties or final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be paid within five Business Days following such resolution, together with interest (using the interest rate described above) from the date Lessee was required to pay the disputed amount.
(h) Attached hereto as Exhibit C is an illustration of how any payments to be made under this Section 2 would be made under certain circumstances.
2.3 Tax Ownership . The Parties agree that for Federal income tax purposes, (i) the transactions described in this Lease shall be considered as a taxable installment sale of the Facility, and (ii) the tax treatment of Contingent Rent Payments made by Lessee to the Lessor under the terms of this Lease will be governed by the principles of Treasury Regulation section 1.1275-4(c). The Parties to this Lease agree to report the transaction consistently with such characterization. Lessee will provide Lessor with (i) an allocation of the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments under this Lease between interest and principal components and Lessee shall complete Form 8594 and furnish Lessor with a copy within 90 Days after the Effective Date, (ii) an allocation of the Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments under any Renewal Term within 90 Days after the commencement of such Renewal Term, and (iii) an allocation of each Contingent Rent Payment between interest and principal components within 45 Days after such payment is made (each such allocation, a Draft Allocation ). Lessor shall review the Draft Allocation and provide any objections to Lessee within 30 Days after the receipt thereof. In the event Lessor does not object to Lessees Draft Allocation, such Draft Allocation shall be final (the Final Allocation ) and the Parties shall report such Final Allocation for tax purposes and file tax returns in a manner consistent with such mutually agreed Final Allocation. If Lessor raises objections to the Draft Allocation, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to resolve such objection(s). If the Parties are unable to agree on the Draft Allocation within 14 Days after Lessor raises such objections, the Parties shall refer such dispute to an independent nationally recognized accounting firm (the Independent Accountant ), which Independent Accountant shall make a final and binding determination as to all matters in dispute with respect to the Draft Allocation (and only such matters) within 30 Days and promptly shall notify the Parties in writing of its resolution. Each Party shall bear and pay one-half of the fees and other costs charged by the Independent Accountant.
2.4 Title to Facility . Title to the Facility leased herein shall be and at all times during the Term remain in Lessor. During the Term, Lessee shall neither remove nor permit removal of any serial number, model, number, name, or any other identification of ownership from the Facility.
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2.5 Maintenance . During the Term, Lessee agrees, at its own cost and expense, to keep the Facility in good repair, condition, and working order, will furnish all parts, mechanisms, devices and labor required to keep the Facility in such condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and will pay all costs of the Facilitys operation.
2.6 Insurance . Lessor has obtained and shall maintain during the Term such insurance (including the coverages, limits, deductibles and retentions) as set forth in Exhibit B hereto and shall provide certificates evidencing the existence of such policies of insurance to Lessee within 10 Days after the Effective Date.
2.7 Loss and Damage; Casualty . Lessee hereby assumes and will bear the entire risk of loss of, theft of, requisition of, damage to or destruction of an item (collectively, a Casualty ) comprising the Facility from any cause whatsoever. In the event of a Casualty, Lessee shall at its option either (i) repair or replace the damaged or destroyed portion of the Facility at its own expense in which event Lessor shall assign to Lessee all property damage insurance proceeds received by Lessor or to which Lessor is entitled arising out of such Casualty, or (ii) terminate the Lease.
2.8 Taxes . Lessee shall at all times during the Term pay all property taxes that are imposed upon the Facility or Lessees use thereof.
2.9 Personal Property . The Facility herein leased is, and shall at all times during the term hereof remain, personal property, notwithstanding that the Facility, or any part of it, may now be or hereafter become in any manner attached to, embedded in, or permanently resting on real property or any building or improvement thereon, or attached in any manner to what is permanent, as by means of cement, plaster, nails, bolts, screws, or the like.
2.10 Lessees Right to Possession . During the Term, Lessee shall have the right to retain possession of the Facility herein leased at the power plant known as the Thomas Hill Energy Center located near Clifton Hill, Missouri or at any other location Lessee may choose to place the Facility.
2.11 Permitted Uses . Lessee shall only use the Facility for the production of the Refined Coal.
2.12 Location . Lessee shall have the right from time to time during the Term to relocate the Facility at Lessees expense to such other site as may be selected by Lessee.
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2.13 Assignment of Warranties . Lessor hereby assigns to Lessee all warranties to which Lessor may have rights applicable to the Facility or any portion thereof provided by any manufacturers, designers and constructors of the Facility or any portion thereof. Lessor agrees to take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the assignment granted to Lessee pursuant to this Section 2.13.
ARTICLE III
TERM
3.1 Term .
(a) The Term of this Lease (the Term ) will consist of: (i) the Initial Term and (ii) the Renewal Terms, if any. The Initial Term shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated pursuant to any of the terms hereof, end on December 31, 2012.
(b) Unless sooner terminated in accordance with any of the terms hereof, the Term shall automatically renew for successive one year terms after the expiration of the Initial Term (each, a Renewal Term ) until December 31, 2019. Thereafter, if the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility is extended, Lessee shall be entitled in its sole discretion to terminate the Lease. If Lessee does not elect to exercise its termination right, a Renewal Term shall automatically commence and this Lease shall continue to renew for successive Renewal Terms thereafter until the termination of the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility.
(c) Lessee may terminate this Lease by written notice effective immediately to Lessor if the Total Operating Expenses paid by Lessee with respect to any two consecutive Quarters exceed 140% of the projected operating costs of the Facility for such two consecutive Quarters as set forth on Schedule 2.
(d) Lessee may terminate this Lease by written notice to Lessor if a Tax Event occurs, though not during the Initial Term in the case of a Tax Event described in clauses (a)(iii) and (a)(iv) of the definition of Tax Event.
(e) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Lessor contained in the Agreement to Lease are not true in all material respects as of the date made, and such representations and warranties are not made true by Lessor within 30 Days after notice from Lessee, or (ii) Lessor fails to perform in any material respect any its obligations hereunder or under the Agreement to Lease and such failure is not cured within 30 Days after notice from Lessee.
(f) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if the Refined Coal Sale Agreementand/or the Technology Sub-License terminates or is terminated or if any Lessor Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect or any Lessor Guarantor shall so assert in writing.
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(g) Lessor may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessee if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Lessee contained in the Agreement to Lease are not true in all material respects as of the date made, and such representations and warranties are not made true by Lessee within 30 Days after notice from Lessor, (ii) Lessee fails to pay any undisputed installment of Rent due hereunder and such failure is not cured within 15 Business Days after notice from Lessor, (iii) the Lessee Guaranty is terminated without being replaced by a new guaranty on substantially similar terms as the Lessee Guaranty from a Person having an Investment Grade rating or (iv) Lessee otherwise fails to perform in any material respect any its obligations hereunder or under the Agreement to Lease and such failure is not cured within 30 Days after notice from Lessor.
(h) Lessee may terminate this Lease if, in the good faith judgment of Lessee, (i) equipment at the Facility requires replacement, modification or if the Facility needs to be relocated and (ii) the anticipated cost of such replacement, modification or relocation would result in the Facility having a new placed-in-service date.
(i) Lessee may terminate this Lease as of the end of the Initial Term by providing notice of such termination to Lessor on or before July 1, 2012.
(j) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if the sale to Unrelated Persons of Refined Coal produced in the Facility for any two consecutive Months (excluding any period of Force Majeure) fails to generate Section 45 Credits or if the amount of allowable Section 45 Credits is reduced under Section 45(e)(8)(B) of the Code below * of the amount of Section 45 Credits that would have been available if there had been no such reduction.
(k) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if a Regulatory Event occurs.
(l) Lessee may terminate this Lease by notice to Lessor if, for reasons other than Force Majeure, Refined Coal produced in the Facility fails to satisfy the emissions reduction requirements set forth in Code Section 45(c)(7)(B) or the Refined Coal Guidance, resulting in, or likely to result in, a material loss of Section 45 Credits by Lessee and, despite the use by Lessee of reasonable efforts, the problem causing such production of Refined Coal to fail to satisfy the emissions reduction requirements set forth in Code Section 45(c)(7)(B) or the Refined Coal Guidance is not cured within 14 Days after Lessee becomes aware of such problem (or in the event such problem is not curable within 14 Days, within such additional period (not to exceed 14 Days) as is reasonably necessary to cure such problem if such violation is curable but cannot be reasonably cured within such 14 Day period, and if Lessee uses reasonable efforts to pursue such cure during such 14 Day period).
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3.2 Effect of Expiration or Termination . Upon expiration or termination of this Lease pursuant to Section 3.1 above, there will be no liability or obligation on the part of Lessee or Lessor (or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives), except that (a) each Party shall continue to be liable for any breach of this Lease by it occurring prior to such termination, (b) each Party shall pay any amounts outstanding and payable by it hereunder as of the date of termination, (c) Lessee shall continue to pay the Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 2.2(b) and any Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments pursuant to the terms of Section 2.2(c), (d) the Parties will be subject to the indemnity obligations set forth in Article 5, and (e) the provisions of Sections 2.2(b), (c) and (d) shall continue to apply. Upon the expiration or the termination of this Lease for any reason, Lessee will discontinue all use of the Facilities.
3.3 Lessees Duty to Surrender . At the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, Lessee shall surrender to Lessor the possession of the Facilities leased hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
FORCE MAJEURE
4.1 Force Majeure .
(a) If Lessee is rendered unable by Force Majeure to carry out, in whole or part, its obligations (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the event) under this Lease, Lessee shall give notice orally to Lessor as soon as reasonably practicable, followed within five Business Days thereafter by a written notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the cause or causes constituting such Force Majeure. The obligations of Lessee (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the event) shall be suspended to the extent made necessary, and for no longer than is required, by the cause or causes constituting such Force Majeure.
(b) The term Force Majeure means any event that is beyond the reasonable control and occurs without the fault or negligence of Lessee, that by the exercise of reasonable diligence or the incurrence of reasonable expense Lessee is unable to prevent or overcome, and that wholly or partly prevents the performance of any of the obligations of Lessee (other than the obligation to make payments then due or becoming due with respect to performance prior to the event). Force Majeure includes the following events to the extent they present the characteristics described in the preceding
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sentence: acts of God or of the public enemy; interruptions in or failure of transportation of coal or Refined Coal or other materials by third parties; fire, flood, explosion or other serious casualty; severe weather; war (whether declared or not); mobilization, revolution, riot, or civil commotion; legal intervention; regulation or order of Governmental Authority; changes in Permit requirements that prevent the Parties from operating the Facility; inability to obtain any Permit notwithstanding commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such Permit; strike; and lock-out or other labor disputes. A lack or unavailability of money shall not constitute Force Majeure.
(c) Lessee shall initiate and continue commercially reasonable good faith efforts to remedy the Force Majeure with all reasonable dispatch; provided, however, that the settlement of strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes shall be totally within the discretion of Lessee.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND REMEDIES
5.1 Lessees Right to Indemnification . Lessor shall indemnify the Lessee Indemnified Parties in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to Lease from and against any and all Losses incurred by the Lessee Indemnified Parties to the extent arising out of or caused by any breach of this Lease by Lessor.
5.2 Lessors Right to Indemnification . Lessee shall indemnify the CCS Indemnified Parties in accordance with terms of the Agreement to Lease from and against any and all Losses incurred by the CCS Indemnified Parties to the extent arising out of or caused by any breach of this Lease by Lessee.
5.3 Claims Procedures and Limitations . All claims for indemnification shall be subject to the procedures and limitations set forth in the Agreement for Lease.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Confidentiality .
(a) Each Party shall maintain the terms of this Lease in confidence and shall not disclose any information concerning the terms, performance or administration of this Lease to any other Person; provided that a Party may disclose such information: (i) to any of such Partys Affiliates, (ii) to any prospective member of such Partys Affiliates, (iii) to any actual or prospective purchaser of all or a portion of such Partys interest in the Facility and (iv) to any Person providing or evaluating a proposal to provide financing
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to the recipient Party or any direct or indirect owner of such Party; provided in each case that the recipient Party shall provide to each Person to which disclosure is made a copy of this Section 6.1 and direct such Person to treat such information confidentially, and the recipient Party shall be liable for any breach of the terms of this Section 6.1 by such Persons to which it makes any such disclosure. The foregoing restrictions will not apply (A) to information that is or becomes generally available to the public otherwise than as a result of disclosure by the recipient Party, (B) to information that is already in, or subsequently comes into, the recipient Partys possession, provided that the source of such information was not, to the recipient Partys knowledge, obligated to keep such information confidential, (C) to information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Law or stock exchange rules and regulations or is otherwise subject to legal, judicial, regulatory or self-regulatory requests for information or documents or (D) subject to Section 6.1(b) below, to the tax structure or tax treatment of the transaction.
(b) Each Party may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction, provided, however, that any such information is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable securities laws. The tax structure and tax treatment of the transaction includes only those facts that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal and state income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction and, to eliminate any doubt, therefore specifically does not include information that either reveals or standing alone or in the aggregate with other information so disclosed tends of itself to reveal or allow the recipient of the information to ascertain the identity of any parties involved in any of the transactions contemplated by this Lease or the documents to be delivered in connection herewith.
(c) If any Party is required to disclose any information required by this Section 6.1 to be maintained as confidential in a judicial, administrative or governmental proceeding, such Party shall give the other Party at least 10 Days prior written notice (unless less time is permitted by the applicable proceeding) before disclosing any such information in any said proceeding and, in making such disclosure, the Party required to disclose the information shall disclose only that portion thereof required to be disclosed and shall cooperate with the other Party in the other Partys attempts to seek to preserve the confidentiality thereof, including if such Party seeks to obtain protective orders and/or any intervention.
6.2 Tax Return Information and Tax Proceedings . The provisions of Section 5.9 of the Agreement to Lease shall apply to this Lease.
6.3 Amendment, Modification and Waiver . This Lease may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties. Any failure of a Party to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement, or condition
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contained herein may be waived only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure.
6.4 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Lease is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Lease shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Lease so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
6.5 Expenses and Obligations . Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, all costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in connection with this Lease and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne solely and entirely by the Party which has incurred such expenses.
6.6 Parties in Interest . This Lease shall be binding upon and, except as provided below, inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Lease, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person (other than the Lessee Indemnified Parties and CCS Indemnified Parties as provided in Article 5) any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Lease).
6.7 Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by a nationally recognized overnight courier, by facsimile, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) | If to Lessee, to: |
GS RC Investments LLC c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. 200 West Street New York, New York 10282 Attention: Michael Feldman Fax: (212) 428-3868 |
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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. |
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 |
Houston, Texas 77002-6760 |
Attention: F. B Cochran III |
Fax: (713) 615-5368 |
If to Lessor, to: |
AEC-TH, LLC |
3300 South Parker Road, Suite 310 |
Aurora, CO 80014 |
Attention: Charles S. McNeil |
Fax: (303) 751-9210 |
Email: cmcneil@nexgen-group.com |
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Chadbourne & Parke LLP |
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, NW |
Washington, DC 20036 |
Attention: Keith Martin |
Fax: (202) 974-6774 |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC |
8100 South Park Way, Unit B |
Littleton, Colorado 80120 |
Attention: Nina French |
Email: ninafrench@sbcglobal.net |
All notices and other communications given in accordance herewith shall be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, (ii) on the date of receipt, if faxed (provided a hard copy of such transmission is dispatched by first class mail within 48 hours), (iii) three Business Days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and (iv) one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier; provided, however, that a notice given in accordance with this Section 6.7 but received on any Day other than a Business Day or after business hours in the place of receipt, will be deemed given on the next Business Day in that place.
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6.8 Counterparts . This Lease may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
6.9 Entire Agreement . This Lease (which term shall be deemed to include the Exhibits and Schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior agreements, letters of intent and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no representations or warranties, agreements, or covenants other than those expressly set forth in this Lease.
6.10 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial . THIS LEASE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LEASE AND CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO A DISPUTE AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT THERETO.
6.11 Publicity . Lessor agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Lessee, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or any partner or employee of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by Lessor has been approved or endorsed by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee). No public announcement of any kind regarding the existence or terms of this Lease shall be made without the prior written consent of the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.11 shall limit Lessors obligation to disclose information pursuant to Section 6.1.
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6.12 Assignment . Neither Party shall assign, sublease or otherwise transfer (collectively, an Assignment ) this Lease or any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any purported Assignment made without such prior written consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) either Party may, without the need for consent from the other Party, make an Assignment of this Lease to an Affiliate of such Party provided that such Affiliate assumes all of the obligations of the Party making the Assignment and the Lessor Guarantees or the Lessee Guaranty remain in effect, as applicable, with respect to the obligations of such Affiliate, and in such event the assigning Party shall be released from its obligations under this Lease, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment;
(b) Lessee may, without the need for consent from Lessor, make an Assignment of this Lease to any Person (i) succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets, provided such Person has, or its obligations under this Lease are guaranteed by a Person who has, an Investment Grade rating, or (ii) after December 31, 2019 if the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facility has been extended beyond such date; and
(c) Lessor may, with the prior written consent of Lessee, make an Assignment of this Lease to any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets provided that (i) the acquiring Person assumes all obligations of Lessor hereunder, and (ii) either (A) the Lessor Guarantees remain in full force and effect with respect to the Person succeeding to all or substantially all of Lessors assets, or (B) the Lessor Guarantees are replaced by a new guaranty or guarantees on the same terms as the Lessor Guarantees covering such assumed obligations from a Person having an Investment Grade rating, and in such event Lessor shall be released from its obligations under this Lease, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party has caused this Lease to be executed on its behalf on the day and year first above written.
AEC-TH, LLC | ||||||
By: |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, its managing member |
|||||
By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
|||||
Name: | Brian Humphrey | |||||
Title: | Manager | |||||
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC | ||||||
By : |
GSFS INVESTMENTS I CORP., its sole member |
|||||
By: |
/s/ Albert Dombrowski |
|||||
Name: | Albert Dombrowski | |||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Equipment Lease (Thomas Hill)
SCHEDULE 1
*
Schedule 1
SCHEDULE 2
*
Schedule 2
EXHIBIT A
FACILITY
All fixtures, equipment, machinery, parts and software and other property constituting the refined coal production facility, consisting specifically of the following components: a CyClean A hopper feeder system; a CyClean B liquid tote, chemical pumps and heated transfer hoses; bucket elevators; weigh belt conveyors; motor control center; programmable logic control system; and all associated valves, fittings, control systems and related components, and located at the Thomas Hill Energy Center owned by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. and located at 5693 Highway F, Clifton Hill, Missouri 65244 including, without limitation, the equipment, parts, and other materials set forth below.
*
Exhibit A
EXHIBIT B
LESSOR INSURANCE
A. | Lessor shall carry and maintain (or cause to be carried and maintained) the following insurance coverages, or their equivalent in scope and amount. Each policy shall list the following as additional insureds (collectively, the Additional Insureds ): Lessee, all direct owners of Lessee and any Person owning a direct or indirect interest in any direct owner of Lessee, the site and the Utility, as their interests may appear. Lessor shall pay (or cause to be paid) the premiums required to maintain these policies in effect, unless otherwise stated. |
All Risks Property Damage Insurance . All Risks Property Damage Insurance in an amount sufficient to cover 100% of the replacement cost of the Facility.
Umbrella Liability Coverage . Insurance with limits of not less than $50,000,000 if available on a commercially reasonable basis, but in any event limits of not less than $25,000,000. At a minimum to provide umbrella limits over commercial liability, employers liability, and auto liability. Such coverage may be on a claims-made basis. Lessor shall immediately notify Lessee of any material dilution in the limit on such policy or policies, whether under this Lease or in connection with any other facility or underlying property.
Contractors Pollution Liability or Pollution Legal Liability . Insurance with limits of $10,000,000. Such insurance shall be obtained by Lessor at Lessees expense. Lessor shall immediately notify Lessee of any material dilution in the limit on such policy or policies, whether under this Lease or in connection with any other facility or underlying property.
B. | The insurance policies maintained pursuant hereto may be subject to such retentions and deductibles as are usual and customary for the risks involved under policies with limits described above. |
C. | Each insurance policy covering Lessors obligations under this Lease, or any other insurance in force for the personal property, fixtures or equipment of Lessor used in connection with this Lease, shall provide for a waiver of subrogation by the insurer in favor of the Additional Insureds. Such insurance provided to Additional Insureds shall apply on a primary basis not as excess of or contributing with any other insurance. |
Exhibit B-1
D. | All insurance policies shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to Lessee and shall be issued by an approved insurance company licensed and authorized to do business in the state of operation, and rated in Bests Insurance Reports (or similar publication of comparable standing) as A-VIII or better (or the then equivalent of such rating) or as approved by Lessee. As soon as practicable upon execution of this Lease and before commencing any performance hereunder, Lessor shall submit to Lessee certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of the insurance required hereunder. Certificates of renewal or replacement policies shall be delivered to Lessee within 10 Business Days after the date of expiration or termination of the expired or replaced insurance policy. If requested by Lessee, Lessor shall provide Lessee an original or certified copy of any insurance policy maintained by Lessor pursuant to the terms hereof. |
E. | All primary and umbrella liability policies shall contain the following clause: |
Thirty days written notice of cancellation, material change deemed adverse to Lessees interest or nonrenewal shall be given to Lessee before any cancellation, material change or nonrenewal of this policy will be effected, except ten days will apply for cancellation due to nonpayment of premium.
F. | Lessor and its Representatives shall cooperate with Lessee in connection with the collection of any insurance monies that may be due Lessee in the event of loss, and Lessor and its Representatives shall execute and deliver all such instruments that may be required for the purpose of obtaining the recovery of any such insurance monies. |
G. | Lessor shall maintain the insurance described herein until expiration of the Term or termination of this Lease and the issuance of a final certificate of insurance. |
H. | The following provisions shall apply with respect to the insurance coverages required in this Lease: |
1. | Lessor will not intentionally do, allow or permit anything to be done during the performance of Lessors obligations under this Lease that will affect, impair or contravene any policies of insurance that may be carried on the Facilities, or any part thereof, or the use thereof, against loss, damage or destruction by fire, casualty, public liability, or otherwise. |
2. | Compliance with any of the insurance requirements stipulated in this Lease will not in itself be construed to be limitation of liability of Lessor or its representatives. |
Exhibit B-2
I. | In the event Lessor fails to effect, maintain or renew any of the insurance required hereunder in the required amounts, or to pay the premiums therefor, or to deliver to Lessee any evidence of such insurance or payment therefor as required hereunder, then in any such events Lessee at its option, but without obligation so to do, may procure such insurance. Any sums expended by Lessee to procure any such insurance shall be payable by Lessor on demand, together with interest at the interest rate thereon from the date such sums were expended; provided, however, it is expressly understood that procurement by Lessee of any such insurance shall not be deemed to waive or release the default of Lessor, or the right of Lessee at its option, to exercise the remedies set forth in this Lease upon the occurrence of a default. Unless otherwise specified, Lessee shall not be responsible for obtaining or maintaining any insurance required to be obtained or maintained by Lessor, and shall not, by reason of accepting, rejecting, approving or obtaining any such insurance, incur any liability for the existence, nonexistence, form or legal sufficiency thereof, the solvency of any insurer or the payment of any losses, and Lessor hereby expressly assumes full responsibility therefor and liability, if any, thereunder. |
J. | In addition to the above, Lessor shall maintain all insurance and surety bonds for any other risks or hazard that now or hereafter are customarily insured against by Lessor of like size and type in the locality of the site as Lessor deems appropriate. |
K. | All claims-made liability coverages shall remain in full force and effect for three years after the end of the Term. All other liability coverages shall remain in full force and effect until the end of the Term. |
Exhibit B-3
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 2 PAYMENTS
*
Exhibit C
Exhibit 10.74
TECHNOLOGY SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT
among
ADA-ES, INC.,
as Licensor,
CLEAN COAL SOLUTIONS, LLC,
as Sublicensor,
and
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC,
as Sublicensee
dated as of June 29, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II. GRANT. |
5 | |||
ARTICLE III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS |
5 | |||
ARTICLE IV. TERM AND TERMINATION. |
6 | |||
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
7 | |||
ARTICLE VI. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. |
10 | |||
ARTICLE VII. MAINTENANCE OF PATENT RIGHTS. |
11 | |||
ARTICLE VIII. PROTECTION OF LICENSED PROPERTY. |
11 | |||
ARTICLE IX. CONFIDENTIALITY. |
13 | |||
ARTICLE X. GENERAL. |
14 | |||
EXHIBIT A |
LICENSE AGREEMENT | |||
EXHIBIT B |
FACILITIES |
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TECHNOLOGY SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT
This TECHNOLOGY SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ), dated as of June 29, 2010 (the Effective Date ), is by and among GS RC Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Sublicensee ), Clean Coal Solutions, LLC (f/k/a ADA-NexCoal, LLC), a Colorado limited liability company ( Sublicensor ), ADA-ES INC., a Colorado corporation ( Licensor ). Sublicensee, Sublicensor, and Licensor are sometimes hereinafter individually referred to as a Party and collectively as the Parties .
RECITALS
Sublicensor and Licensor are Parties to that certain Amended and Restated License Agreement, effective as of October 30, 2009 (the License Agreement ), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant to which Licensor licensed to Sublicensor, on a fully paid-up, royalty-free basis, all of the Technology (as defined in the License Agreement) to make or have made the Licensed Property (as defined in the License Agreement) and to use, sell, lease, offer to sell, import or otherwise dispose of the Licensed Property in the Territory (as defined in the License Agreement), and subject to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement (the Technology License )
Licensor is the sole owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Licensed Property and the Technology (which includes the inventions and subject matter disclosed in the Patents);
The License Agreement grants Sublicensor the right, from time to time, to sublicense to any third party or parties, on a non-exclusive basis, any or all rights under the Technology License.
Pursuant to the Agreement to Lease dated June 29, 2010 and the Equipment Leases, Sublicensee has agreed to lease from subsidiaries of Sublicensor the refined coal production facilities described on Exhibit B (the Facilities ) that are designed to produce Refined Coal using the Licensed Property; and
Sublicensor wishes to sublicense the Licensed Property to Sublicensee, and Sublicensee wishes to receive a license of the Patents and Know-How from Sublicensor for the purpose of making the Licensed Property and producing Refined Coal from the Facilities, all on the terms and conditions contained herein.
AGREEMENTS
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms below:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person. For purposes of this definition and the Agreement, the term control (and correlative terms) means (a) the ownership of 50% or more of the equity interest in a Person, or (b) the power, whether by contract, equity ownership or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies or management of a Person.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Applicable Law shall mean all applicable provisions of all (i) constitutions, treaties, statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes or orders of any Governmental Authority, (ii) any consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, notification, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any Governmental Authority, and (iii) decisions, injunctions, judgments, awards and decrees of, or agreements with, any Governmental Authority
Assignment has the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.
Bankruptcy means the filing by a Person of a petition commencing a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code; a general assignment by a Person for the benefit of creditors; an admission in writing by a Person of its inability to pay debts as they become due; the seeking or acquiescence by a Person in the appointment of any trustee, receiver, or liquidator for the Person or for any part of the Persons property; or the commencement against a Person of an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code, or a proceeding under any receivership, composition, readjustment, liquidation, insolvency, dissolution or similar law or statute, if not dismissed or vacated within 60 days.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and guidance issued in conjunction therewith.
Effective Date has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Equipment Leases means those certain Equipment Leases of the Facilities between AEC-NM, LLC and AEC-TH, LLC respectively and Sublicensee, of even date.
Facilities has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Governmental Authority means a federal, state, or local governmental authority; a state, province, commonwealth, territory or district thereof; a county or parish; a city, town, township, village or other municipality; a district, ward or other subdivision of any of the foregoing; any executive, legislative or other governing body of any of the foregoing; any agency, authority, board, department, system, service, office, commission, committee, council or other administrative body of any of the foregoing; any court or other judicial body; and any officer, official or other representative of any of the foregoing.
GS means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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Improvements means those modifications, revisions, derivations, updates, enhancements and improvements of the Technology that are related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone boilers and that are conceived, discovered, created, developed or acquired by or on behalf of Licensor, which Improvements will automatically and without any further action on the part of Licensor or Sublicensee, become part of the Technology (and part of the Technology Sublicense).
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service, and any successor thereto.
IRS Guidance has the meaning set forth in Section 10.14.
Know-How means technical information, ideas, concepts, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how, discoveries, inventions, processes, methods, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, improvements, developments, designs and techniques related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers other than as embodied in the Patents, that are owned or controlled by Licensor during the Term and that are necessary or desirable to use the Patents for the purpose of the license granted in Section 2 hereof.
Licensed Property means any products or methods related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers, whether owned by Licensor or Sublicensor or licensed by Licensor or Sublicensor now or hereafter, that are (i) covered by any Valid Claim(s) contained in any of the Patents, and/or (ii) based on the products, processes or methods developed using the Technology.
License Fee has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
Licensor has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Loss means losses (but expressly excluding any lost or disallowed tax credits), liabilities, demands, assessments, cleanup, removal, remediation and restoration obligations, judgments, awards, damages, natural resource damages, contribution, cost-recovery and compensation obligations, fines, fees, penalties, costs and expenses (including litigation and arbitration costs and attorneys and experts fees and expenses).
No-Fault Termination Event has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
O&M Agreement means those Operating and Maintenance Agreements (New Madrid) and Operating and Maintenance Agreement (Thomas Hill) entered into between GS RC Investments LLC and Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC.
Operator means Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company.
Party or Parties has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Patents means: (i) U.S. Patent No. 6,773,471 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on August 10, 2004; (ii) U.S. Patent No. 6,729,248 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on May 4, 2004; (iii) U.S. Patent No. 7,332,002 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace
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Operation issued February 19, 2008; (iv) U.S. Patent Application No. 10/622,677, entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation, filed July 18, 2003; (v) U.S. Patent Application No. 12/785,184, entitled Additives for Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Fired Power Plants, filed May 21, 2010; (vi) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/144,349, entitled Low Cost Technology to Improve Operation of Cyclone Furnaces Firing Low Sulfur Western Coals, filed July 16, 1999; (vii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/213,915, entitled Low Cost Technology to Improve Operation of Cyclone Furnaces Firing Low Sulfur Western Coals, filed June 26, 2000; (viii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/730,971 entitled Additives for Catalysis of Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Fired Power Plants filed October 27, 2005; (ix) U.S. Patent Application No. 11/553,849, filed October 27, 2006, entitled Additives for Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Fired Power Plants; (x) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/301,459, filed February 4, 2010, entitled Method and Equipment for Iodine-Controlled Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Boilers; (xi) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/312,443, filed March 10, 2010, entitled Method and Equipment for Iodine-Controlled Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Boilers; (xii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/353,555, filed June 10, 2010, entitled Method and Equipment for Controlling Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Processes; and (xiii) any and all continuations, continuations-in-part, and divisionals, and all patents issuing which are based on such applications, and all reissues, reexaminations, or extensions thereof, as well as any foreign counterparts, continuations, continuations-in-part or divisions thereof and patents and patent applications on any improvements, advancements, modifications, revisions or developments to the subject matter claimed in the aforesaid patents that are developed by or for Licensor, together with any other patents (U.S. or foreign and even if not listed herein) that share a common claim of priority with said patents or that, as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Parties, cover inventions substantially similar to said patents.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
PLR means a private letter ruling from the IRS.
Refined Coal means a liquid, gaseous or solid fuel produced from coal by the Facilities using the Technology.
Sublicensee has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Sublicensor has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph.
Technology means the Patents and the Know-How pertaining to NOx and mercury emissions control for cyclone coal-fired boilers, as well as any Know-How developed or acquired after the Effective Date which is related to the subject matter in the Patents, whether or not such Know-How becomes the subject of a patent application during the Term.
Technology Sublicense has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
Term means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date provided in Section 4.1 herein.
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Trade Secrets has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
Valid Claim(s) means any claim contained in an issued and unexpired patent included within the Patents that has not been held unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, or unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal, and that has not been admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue or disclaimer.
ARTICLE II.
GRANT.
2.1 Sublicensor hereby grants to Sublicensee a worldwide, fully paid-up, transferable (but only to the extent provided in Section 2.3 below), non-exclusive right and license under the Patents and Know-How (including the Technology) to make or have made the Licensed Property and to use the Patents, Know-How, and Licensed Property in connection with the production of Refined Coal from the Facilities (as the same may hereafter be repaired, modified, and refurbished), including the distribution, sale, and marketing thereof (the Technology Sublicense ). For the avoidance of doubt, the movement of any of the Facilities to locations other than the current sites of the Facilities would not be, by itself, a breach of this Agreement and the licenses set forth herein shall not be affected thereby.
2.2 The Technology Sublicense granted hereby is for the purpose of engaging in the business of producing and selling Refined Coal, and to do any and all things necessary or incidental thereto subject to the terms and conditions of the Technology Sublicense.
2.3 Sublicensee may, from time to time, sublicense to any operator of the Facilities or other third party any or all rights under the Technology Sublicense. In particular, the Parties acknowledge that Sublicensee intends to engage Operator to operate the Facilities and that Sublicensee intends to sublicense to any third party involved in the operation and maintenance of the Facilities certain rights under the Technology Sublicense in connection with Operators engagement.
2.4 During the term of this Agreement, Sublicensee agrees to pay Sublicensor $10,000 per year (the License Fee ) as a fee for all of the licenses and rights granted herein. The License Fee is due and payable within thirty (30) days of the date of Sublicensees receipt of the invoice for such fee from Sublicensor.
ARTICLE III.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS
3.1 Sublicensor shall promptly and fully advise Sublicensee in writing of any Improvements, it being understood that any Improvements conceived, discovered, created, developed or acquired by Sublicensor or Licensor during the Term will be the property of Sublicensor or Licensor, as applicable, and will be included within the Licensed Property and the Technology and thereby made a part of the Technology Sublicense granted to Sublicensee for the remaining duration of this Agreement. The expenses of filing and prosecuting any patent application relating to such Improvements will be borne by Licensor.
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3.2 All inventions, improvements, or Know-How (based on the Technology) that are conceived, discovered, created, developed or acquired by or on behalf of Sublicensee or by any of the Parties jointly are to be owned by Licensor, and all right, title and interest in and to such inventions, improvements, or Know-How are hereby assigned by Sublicensee and Sublicensor, as appropriate, to Licensor. Sublicensee and Sublicensor shall promptly and fully advise Licensor in writing of such inventions, improvements, or Know-How that are material and of which it becomes aware. For the avoidance of doubt, all inventions, improvements, or Know-How that are related to the Technology and are conceived, discovered, created, developed or acquired by Operator pursuant to the O&M Agreement are to be owned by Licensor, and all right, title and interest in and to such inventions, improvements, or Know-How are hereby assigned by Sublicensee to Licensor. All right, title, and interest in any inventions, improvements, or Know-How (with respect to the subject matter of the Technology) that are conceived, discovered, created, developed or acquired (a) by or on behalf of Sublicensee or (b) by any of the Parties jointly will be sublicensed and are hereby sublicensed to Sublicensee as part of the Technology Sublicense. The expenses of filing and prosecuting any patent application relating to any such inventions, improvements, or Know How will be borne by Licensor; provided, however that Sublicensee and Sublicensor, as appropriate, shall reasonably assist Licensor, at Licensors sole expense, in obtaining Licensors full ownership rights, including patent rights, in and to the subject inventions, improvements, or Know-How.
ARTICLE IV.
TERM AND TERMINATION.
4.1 Term . The Term shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the last date upon which all U.S. Patents terminate in fact without renewal, whether by expiration or invalidation, (ii) any valid termination of both (but not one) of the Equipment Leases, and (iii) such other date as provided herein.
4.2 Other Termination . Any Party may terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the Term upon providing written notice to the other Party if the other Party commits a material default or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein and fails to remedy any such default or breach within 30 days after receiving written notice describing in reasonable detail the material default or breach from the non-defaulting or non-breaching Party. If Sublicensee so terminates this Agreement due to a breach by Sublicensor or Licensor, Sublicensor and Licensor, as applicable, shall reimburse Sublicensee within 10 days of such termination the pro rata portion of the License Fee for the remainder of the year in which such termination occurs. Sublicensor and Licensor agree that monetary damages are an adequate remedy for any default or breach of this Agreement by Sublicensee.
4.3 Effect of Termination of this Agreement or the License Agreement under Certain Circumstances . The rights of Sublicensee set forth in Article II will survive any termination of this Agreement or the License Agreement or the dissolution of the Sublicensor; provided any such termination of this Agreement does not occur as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Sublicensee (each of the foregoing, a No-Fault Termination Event ). Licensor hereby grants to Sublicensee all of the rights and licenses granted to Sublicensee by Sublicensor hereunder (including the Technology Sublicense). Sublicensee shall not exercise such rights and licenses unless and until a No-Fault Termination Event has occurred and the Technology Sublicense
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granted hereunder has been terminated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the License Agreement (including Section 5 thereof), upon the occurrence of a No-Fault Termination Event resulting in the termination of the License Agreement, the termination of this Agreement or the dissolution of the Sublicensor (as applicable), Sublicensee may exercise the rights and licenses set forth in this Section 4.3 and Licensor will assume all obligations of Sublicensor in this Agreement, both without any further action by any of the Parties.
4.4 Effect of Bankruptcy of Sublicensor or Licensor . Sublicensor and Licensor acknowledge and agree that the Intellectual Property rights licensed to Sublicensee hereunder constitute intellectual property as such term is defined in the Bankruptcy Code and that Sublicensee is entitled to all of the rights of a licensee of intellectual property under Section 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to all of such licensed rights, which rights under the Bankruptcy Code include, without limitation, the right, upon the rejection of this Agreement or the License Agreement in any case filed under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to Sublicensor and/or Licensor, to treat this Agreement or the License Agreement as terminated or to retain Sublicensees rights under this Agreement or the License Agreement, and under any agreements supplemental to this Agreement or the License Agreement, with respect to such rights (including any embodiment of the rights to the extent protected by applicable non-bankruptcy law), as such rights existed immediately before the Sublicensors and/or Licensors bankruptcy case commenced. If Sublicensee elects to retain such licensed rights under this Agreement or the License Agreement, then Sublicensee may exercise such licensed rights in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the License Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall limit any other rights provided to Sublicensee under the Bankruptcy Code, including Section 365(n) thereof.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
Each Party hereby represents and warrants to the other Party as of the Effective Date (except where a representation and warranty speaks as of another date) as follows:
5.1 By Sublicensee . Sublicensee represents and warrants to Licensor and Sublicensor that:
(a) it has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and is qualified to conduct its business in those jurisdictions necessary to perform this Agreement;
(c) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Licensee enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
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(d) all necessary limited liability company or corporate action has been taken to authorize, and all necessary authorizations, notices and consents of any third party which are required to authorize, Licensee to execute and deliver, and to perform the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement have been obtained and remain in full force and effect; and
(e) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not violate any of the terms or conditions in its limited liability company agreement or other governing documents or any contract to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound or any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, decree or other legal or regulatory determination of any governmental entity applicable to it.
5.2 By Licensor . Licensor represents and warrants to Sublicensee and Sublicensor that:
(a) it has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and is qualified to conduct its business in those jurisdictions necessary to perform this Agreement;
(c) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Licensor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(d) the License Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Licensor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(e) all necessary limited liability company or corporate action has been taken to authorize, and all necessary authorizations, notices and consents of any third party which are required to authorize, Licensor to execute and deliver, and to perform the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement have been obtained and remain in full force and effect;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not violate any of the terms or conditions in its limited liability company agreement or other governing documents or any contract to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound or any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, decree or other legal or regulatory determination of any governmental entity applicable to it;
(g) it owns all right, title and interest in and to the Patents and Know-How;
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(h) it has the full right and authority to grant the Technology Sublicense to Sublicensee;
(i) there are no outstanding agreements, assignments or encumbrances inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement;
(j) none of the Patents have been invalidated either wholly or partly by a tribunal or court of law within the United States or abroad or by the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any of its foreign equivalents and to the knowledge of Licensor there are no proceedings attempting to do so;
(k) the Patents are valid and enforceable;
(l) neither the Patents nor the Know-How infringe or misappropriate any patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party;
(m) Licensor has not received any notice alleging its noncompliance with any Applicable Law with respect to the Patents, Know-How, Technology, or Licensed Property
(n) Licensor has not threatened or initiated any claim, suit or proceeding against any third party alleging that such third party has infringed or misappropriated any rights under the Patents and/or Know-How and, to the knowledge of Licensor, no third party is infringing or misappropriating any such rights; and
(o) the Patents and Know-How, along with know-how generally available in the refining industry, are all the intellectual property rights necessary for the manufacture of the Licensed Property and the production of Refined Coal with the Facilities.
5.3 By Sublicensor . Sublicensor represents and warrants to Sublicensee and Licensor that:
(a) it has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and is qualified to conduct its business in those jurisdictions necessary to perform this Agreement;
(c) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Sublicensor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(d) the License Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Sublicensor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
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(e) all necessary limited liability company or corporate action has been taken to authorize, and all necessary authorizations, notices and consents of any third party which are required to authorize, Sublicensor to execute and deliver, and to perform the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement have been obtained and remain in full force and effect;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within its powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not violate any of the terms or conditions in its limited liability company agreement or other governing documents or any contract to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound or any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, decree or other legal or regulatory determination of any governmental entity applicable to it;
(g) it has the full right and authority to grant the Technology Sublicense to Sublicensee;
(h) there are no outstanding agreements, assignments or encumbrances inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement;
(i) Sublicensor has not received any notice alleging its noncompliance with any Applicable Law with respect to its license of the Patents, Know-How, Technology, or Licensed Property;
(j) Sublicensor has not threatened or initiated any claim, suit or proceeding against any third party alleging that such third party has infringed or misappropriated any rights under the Patents and/or Know-How and, to the knowledge of Sublicensor, no third party is infringing or misappropriating any such rights.
ARTICLE VI.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PARTIES OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 8 OR ANY WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY A PARTY, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.
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ARTICLE VII.
MAINTENANCE OF PATENT RIGHTS.
At all times hereunder, Licensor shall be solely responsible for and shall pay all fees, costs or expenses of any nature required to prosecute, defend or maintain the Patents as follows:
7.1 Prosecution and Maintenance . Except as provided in Section 7.2 herein, Licensor will, at its sole expense, continue to diligently prosecute any and all patent applications in the Patents and, with respect to all issued patents within the Patents, maintain the Patents during the term of this Agreement. In connection with the prosecution of said patent applications and maintenance of the Patents, Licensor will provide to Sublicensee copies of all filings and material correspondence sent and received by Licensor related thereto. In addition, Licensor will, throughout the term of this Agreement, use reasonable commercial efforts to maintain and enhance the scope of the Valid Claim(s) and, if any claim contained in an issued and unexpired patent included within the Patents is held unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a decision of a tribunal, court, or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, then Licensor will, at its sole expense, use reasonable commercial efforts to create, develop and/or secure functionally equivalent workarounds and, where commercially appropriate, prosecute patent applications and or patents for the same, which patent applications and/or patents will automatically be included within the Patents.
7.2 Failure to Prosecute or Maintain . If Licensor determines, for any reason, not to diligently prosecute or maintain the Patents, then Licensor shall promptly give Sublicensee written notification of such determination at least 90 days before any due date related to such prosecution or maintenance. If Sublicensee believes that Licensor, for any reason, is not diligently prosecuting or maintaining any Patent(s) as required hereunder, then, at Sublicensees written request, Licensor shall immediately assign such Patent(s) to Licensor and the rights of Sublicensee hereunder shall continue unabated and without interruption.
ARTICLE VIII.
PROTECTION OF LICENSED PROPERTY.
8.1 Enforcement of Patents .
(a) It shall be the obligation of Licensor, at its sole cost and expense, in Licensors name, to protect and enforce the Patents and to prosecute or settle any third party infringement of the Patents during the term of this Agreement. At no cost to Sublicensor or Sublicensee, Sublicensor shall join any proceeding as necessary for Licensor to protect and enforce the Patents as described above. Any recovery obtained in an action brought by Licensor shall be distributed as follows: (i) Licensor shall first be reimbursed for any and all expenses and attorneys fees incurred in the action; and (ii) Licensor shall be entitled to any award, whether it be for ordinary, special or punitive damages. Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, in the event that Sublicensee is a party to the proceeding described above Sublicensee shall be entitled to any portion of the award attributable to losses or damages suffered by Sublicensee as a result of the third party infringement.
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(b) If Licensor determines not to diligently enforce the Patents (in which case Licensor shall promptly notify Sublicensor and Sublicensee in writing of the same) or if it comes to the attention of Sublicensee that Licensor is not diligently enforcing the Patents then, subject to the rights of Licensor and other licensees of the Patents (i) Sublicensee will have the right to enforce the Patents at Sublicensees sole expense, (ii) if requested by Sublicensee, Licensor and Sublicensor will cooperate in Sublicensees prosecution or defense of any dispute resolution, litigation or settlement activities hereunder, provided that Sublicensee will reimburse Licensor for all reasonable costs incurred by Licensor as a result of such cooperation, and (iii) any recoveries will be awarded to Sublicensor and Sublicensee (and any other participating licensees or sublicensees) in an amount that is proportional to their costs in so enforcing the Patents.
8.2 Indemnity by Licensor . Licensor shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Sublicensor, Sublicensee and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective members, managers, stockholders, officers, employees, agents, representatives and attorneys against any Loss arising from or in connection with (i) any claim that the Licensed Property, the Know-How, or the manufacture, sale, or use of Refined Coal produced using the Technology, infringes or misappropriates a third party patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right; (ii) any challenge to the validity of any of the Patents or the rights granted to Sublicensee; and (iii) any breach by Licensor of the representations and warranties in Section 5.2 or any covenant or agreement by Licensor in this Agreement.
8.3 Indemnity by Sublicensee . Sublicensee shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Licensor, Sublicensor and their respective Affiliates and their respective members, managers, stockholders, officers, employees, agents, representatives and attorneys against any Loss arising from or in connection with any breach by Sublicensee of the representations and warranties in Section 5.1.
8.4 Indemnity by Sublicensor . Sublicensor shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Licensor and Sublicensee and their respective Affiliates and their respective members, managers, stockholders, officers, employees, agents, representatives and attorneys against any Loss arising from or in connection with any breach by Sublicensor of the representations and warranties in Section 5.3.
8.5 Protection and Enforcement of Know-How and Trade Secrets . Licensor, Sublicensor and Sublicensee will at all times during the Term use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all portions of the Know-How and any other information provided it such Persons that constitute trade secrets as that term is defined in the Uniform Trade Secret Act (the Trade Secrets ). Furthermore, if it comes to the attention of Licensor that any Trade Secret has been misappropriated by any third party, then Licensor will use all reasonable efforts, including legal actions, to preserve and protect the confidentiality of the Trade Secret and to prevent such third party from any and all uses of the Trade Secret, so long as doing so is commercially reasonable to benefit either Licensor or Sublicensee.
8.6 Sublicensees Obligation to Notify Licensor of Possible Infringements or Misappropriation . Sublicensee shall notify Licensor, in writing, if it comes to the attention of Sublicensee that any of the Patents is being infringed or any Trade Secret has been or is in danger of being misappropriated by any third party, including in such notice a summary of relevant facts underlying Sublicensees belief as to such infringement or misappropriation.
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ARTICLE IX.
CONFIDENTIALITY.
9.1 Each Party shall maintain the terms of this Agreement in confidence and shall not disclose any information concerning the terms, performance or administration of this Agreement to any other Person; provided that a Party may disclose such information: (a) to any of such Partys Affiliates, (b) to any prospective member of such Partys Affiliates, (c) to any actual or prospective purchaser of all or a portion of such Partys interest in the Facilities and (d) to any Person providing or evaluating a proposal to provide financing to the recipient Party or any direct or indirect owner of such Party; provided in each case that the recipient Party shall provide to each Person to which disclosure is made a copy of this Section 9 and direct such Person to treat such information confidentially, and the recipient Party shall be liable for any breach of the terms of this Section 9 by such Persons to which it makes any such disclosure. The foregoing restrictions will not apply (i) to information that is or becomes generally available to the public otherwise than as a result of disclosure by the recipient Party, (ii) to information that is already in, or subsequently comes into, the recipient Partys possession, provided that the source of such information was not, to the recipient Partys knowledge, obligated to keep such information confidential and the information was not received solely pursuant to a previous agreement between the Parties , (iii) to information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Law or stock exchange rules and regulations or is otherwise subject to legal, judicial, regulatory or self-regulatory requests for information or documents, or (iv) subject to Section 9.2 below, to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction.
9.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Party may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction, provided, however , that any such information is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable securities laws. The tax structure and tax treatment of the transaction includes only those facts that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal and state income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction and, to eliminate any doubt, therefore specifically does not include information that either reveals or standing alone or in the aggregate with other information so disclosed tends of itself to reveal or allow the recipient of the information to ascertain the identity of any parties involved in any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the documents to be delivered in connection herewith.
9.3 If any Party is required to disclose any information required by this Article IX to be maintained as confidential in a judicial, administrative or governmental proceeding, such Party shall give the other Party at least 10 days prior written notice (unless less time is permitted by the applicable proceeding) before disclosing any such information in any said proceeding and, in making such disclosure, the Party required to disclose the information shall disclose only that portion thereof required to be disclosed and shall cooperate with the other Party in the other Partys attempts to seek to preserve the confidentiality thereof, including if such Party seeks to obtain protective orders and/or any intervention.
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ARTICLE X.
GENERAL.
10.1 Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by a nationally recognized overnight courier, by facsimile, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to Licensor: |
ADA-ES, Inc. |
8100 SouthPark Drive, Unit B |
Littleton, CO 80120 |
Attn: Mike Durham |
Fax: (303) 734-0330 |
Email: miked@adaes.com |
If to Sublicensor: |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC |
Attn: Charles S. McNeil c/o NexGen Refined Coal, LLC |
3300 South Parker Road, Suite 310 |
Aurora, CO 80014 |
Fax: (303) 751-9210ADA-ES, Inc. |
Email: cmcneil@nexgen-group.com |
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Chadbourne & Parke LLP |
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, NW |
Washington, D.C. 20036 |
Attention: Keith Martin |
Fax: (202) 974-6774 |
If to Sublicensee: |
GS RC Investments LLC c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. |
200 West Street |
New York, New York 10282 |
Attention: Michael Feldman |
Fax: (212) 428-3868 |
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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. |
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 |
Houston, Texas 77002-6760 |
Attention: F. B Cochran III |
Fax: (713) 615-5368 |
All notices and other communications given in accordance herewith shall be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, (ii) on the date of receipt, if faxed (provided a hard copy of such transmission is dispatched by first class mail within 48 hours), (iii) three business days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and (iv) one business day after the date of sending, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier; provided, however , that a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.1 but received on any day other than a business day or after business hours in the place of receipt, will be deemed given on the next business day in that place.
10.2 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LEASE AND CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO A DISPUTE AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT THERETO.
10.3 Integration . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior representations, assurances, courses of dealing, agreements, and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the Parties concerning such subject matter.
10.4 Titles and Headings . Titles and headings as used in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only, and the words contained therein shall in no way be held to explain, modify, amplify or aid in the interpretation, construction or meaning of any provision.
10.5 Assignment . No Party shall assign, sublease or otherwise transfer (collectively, an Assignment) this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any purported Assignment made without such prior written consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) any Party may, without the need for consent from the other Parties, make an Assignment of this Agreement to an Affiliate of such Party provided that such Affiliate assumes all of the obligations of the Party making the Assignment, and in such event the Assigning Party shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment;
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(b) Sublicensee may, without the need for consent from Sublicensor or Licensor, make an Assignment of this Agreement to any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets.
10.6 Amendment; Modification, and Waiver . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties. Any failure of Sublicensee, Sublicensor, or Licensor to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement, or condition contained herein may be waived only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party to be bound thereby, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure.
10.7 Severability of Provisions . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Applicable Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
10.8 Binding Effect; Third Parties . The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to grant any third party beneficiary or similar rights to any Person not a signatory to this Agreement.
10.9 Entire Agreement . This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement expressly supersedes all prior agreements between the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
10.10 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
10.11 Survivability on Termination . The provisions of Article VIII, IX, and X, and any other provision hereof which, by its terms, expressly provides that it survive termination of the Term, shall survive the termination of the Term for any reason. All other rights and obligations of the Parties shall cease upon termination of the Term or other termination of this Agreement.
10.12 Further Assurances . Each Party shall execute and deliver to any other Party such further documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably requested by such other Party to fulfill the intent of the Parties hereto.
-16-
10.13 Construction . The words this Agreement, herein, hereby, hereunder, and hereof, and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules) and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words this Section, this subsection, and words of similar import, refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which such words occur. The word or is not exclusive, and the word including (in its various forms) means including without limitation. Pronouns in masculine, feminine, or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender and words, terms, and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise expressly requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, all defined terms contained herein shall include the singular and plural and the conjunctive and disjunctive forms of such defined terms, and the term Annex, Exhibit or Schedule shall refer to an Annex, Exhibit or Schedule attached to this Agreement.
10.14 Private Letter Ruling . If Sublicensee seeks a PLR, determination letter or other written guidance from the IRS (the IRS Guidance ) with respect to any aspect of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or in relation to the Facilities, then the Parties shall consider in good faith and make such amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary to permit Sublicensee to obtain the IRS Guidance or determination letter. Neither Sublicensor nor Licensor shall be required to agree to any such amendment that it reasonably determines, in good faith, is adverse to it in any material respect; provided that neither Sublicensor nor Licensor shall withhold its agreement to any such amendment if Sublicensee has agreed to fully compensate Sublicensor or Licensor for any adverse economic effect on Sublicensor or Licensor resulting from such amendment and such amendment would not cause any material adverse effect on Sublicensor or Licensor for which it cannot adequately be compensated by Sublicensee.
10.15 Publicity . Sublicensor and Licensor agree that they will not, without the prior written consent of Sublicensee, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Sublicensee), or any partner or employee of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Sublicensee), nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by GS, or any affiliate thereof (including Sublicensee), or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by Licensor have been approved or endorsed by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Sublicensee). No public announcement of any kind regarding the existence or terms of this Agreement shall be made without the prior written consent of the other Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 10.15 shall limit Licensors or Sublicensors obligation to disclose information pursuant to Article IX.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
ADA-ES, INC. | Clean Coal Solutions, LLC | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
|||||
Name: |
Mark H. McKinnies |
Name: |
Brian Humphrey |
|||||
Title: |
SVP & CFO |
Title: |
Manager |
|||||
GS RC Investments LLC | ||||||||
By: |
GSFS INVESTMENTS I CORP., its sole member |
|||||||
By: |
/s/ Albert Dombrowski |
|||||||
Name: | Albert Dombrowski | |||||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Technology Sublicense Agreement
EXHIBIT A
LICENSE AGREEMENT
Exhibit A- 1
EXHIBIT B
FACILITIES
Exhibit B-1
Exhibit 10.75
LIMITED GUARANTY
LIMITED GUARANTY (this Guaranty ) dated as of June 29, 2010 by ADA-ES, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the Guarantor ), in favor of GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guaranteed Party ). The Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party may hereinafter be referred to individually as a Party or collectively as the Parties .
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
A. Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( CCS ), desires to have the Guaranteed Party enter into certain Transaction Documents (as defined below) with AEC-NM, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( AEC-NM ), AEC-TH, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( AEC-TH ), Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( CCSS ) and CCS (CCS, together with AEC-NM, AEC-TH and CCSS, the Companies and each, individually, a Company ).
B. The Guaranteed Party is willing to enter into the Transaction Documents with the Companies only on the condition, among others, that certain of the Companies obligations under such Transaction Documents are guaranteed by the Guarantor, on the terms set forth in this Guaranty.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce the Guaranteed Party to enter into the Transaction Documents, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:
1. Definitions .
1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Guaranty, the capitalized terms defined in the preamble, preliminary statements and other sections of this Guaranty shall have the respective meanings specified therein; capitalized terms not defined in this Guaranty shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement to Lease, dated as of June 29, 2010, among CCS, AEC-NM, AEC-TH and the Guaranteed Party (the Agreement to Lease ), and the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Obligations shall mean, without duplication, (i) the performance by the Companies of their respective obligations as set forth in the Transaction Documents and (ii) the payment of all payment obligations of the Companies to the Guaranteed Party, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, which may arise under or in connection with the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, interest or other charges as would have accrued on any portion of the payment obligations but for the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.
Transaction Documents shall mean (i) the Equipment Lease, dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between AEC-NM and the Guaranteed Party, (ii) the Equipment Lease, dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between AEC-TH and the Guaranteed Party, (iii) the Operating and Maintenance Agreement (New Madrid), dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between the Guaranteed Party and CCSS, (iv) the Operating and Maintenance Agreement (Thomas Hill), dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between the Guaranteed Party and CCSS, (v) the Agreement to Lease, (vi) the Chemical Additives Supply Agency Agreement (New Madrid), dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between CCSS and the Guaranteed Party, (vii) the Chemical Additives Supply Agency Agreement (Thomas Hill), dated as of June 29, 2010, by and between CCSS and the Guaranteed Party and (viii) the Technology Sublicense Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2010, among the Guarantor, the Guaranteed Party, and CCS.
1.2 Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be modified by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument of other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof; (b) any reference herein to any person shall be construed to include such persons successors and permitted assigns; (c) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Guaranty in its entirety and not to any particular provision of this Guaranty; and (d) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties. Article and section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Guaranty and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Guaranty.
2. Guaranty .
2.1 Irrevocable Guaranty .
(a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to the Guaranteed Party and its successors, permitted indorsees, permitted transferees and permitted assigns that, upon written demand of payment made by the Guaranteed Party to the Guarantor, (i) all
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payment Obligations will be promptly paid in full, in United States dollars, when due in accordance with the provisions of the Transaction Documents and (ii) all performance Obligations will be promptly and fully performed when due or required in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents.
(b) If legal action is instituted, the Guarantor agrees to reimburse the Guaranteed Party on written demand for all reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Guaranteed Party in successfully enforcing its rights under this Guaranty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor shall have no obligation to pay any such costs or expenses if, in any action or proceeding brought by the Guaranteed Party giving rise to a demand for payment of such costs or expenses, it is finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Guarantor is not liable to make payment or obligated to perform any further obligations under Section 2.1(a) of this Guaranty to the Guaranteed Party hereunder.
(c) Each payment under this Guaranty shall be made in United States dollars.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.1 , the Guarantors liability to guarantee a Companys Obligations shall not exceed the liability of such Company with respect to its Obligations under the terms of the Transaction Documents; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, or any other provisions hereof to the contrary, (a) the Guarantors liability for the Obligations shall not be reduced by the amount of any costs and expenses recovered or recoverable by the Guaranteed Party under Section 2.1(b) , and (b) if a Companys liability in respect of its Obligations is reduced due to any defense described in clauses (1) through (3) of the final paragraph of Section 2.3 hereof, the amount of such reduction shall not reduce the Guarantors liability for such Companys Obligations hereunder.
2.2 No Subrogation . The Guarantor will not exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or a right of contribution from the Company under this Guaranty, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, until all of the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor on account of such subrogation or contribution rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Party to whom such Obligations are payable and shall forthwith be paid to the Guaranteed Party to be credited and applied to such Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Transaction Document. If (i) the Guarantor shall make payment to the Guaranteed Party of all or any part of the Obligations and (ii) all of the Obligations shall be indefeasibly paid in full, the Guaranteed Party will, at the Guarantors request and expense, execute and deliver to the Guarantor appropriate documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Guaranteed Party, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Guarantor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by the Guarantor.
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2.3 No Effect on Guaranty . The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall not be altered, limited, impaired or otherwise affected by:
(a) any rescission of any demand for payment or performance of any of the Obligations or any failure by the Guaranteed Party to make any such demand on a Company or any other guarantor or to collect any payments from a Company or any other guarantor or any release of a Company or any other guarantor;
(b) any renewal, extension, modification, amendment, acceleration, compromise, waiver, indulgence, rescission, discharge, surrender or release, in whole or in part, or any assignment or transfer, of any of the Transaction Documents or the Obligations or any other instrument or agreement evidencing, relating to, securing or guaranteeing any of the Obligations, or the liability of any party to any of the foregoing or for any part thereof;
(c) any act or omission of the Guaranteed Party relating in any way to the Obligations or to a Company, including any failure to bring an action against any party liable on the Obligations, or any party liable on any other guaranty of the Obligations;
(d) any proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of a Company or any other guarantor or any defense which a Company or any other guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding; and
(e) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that may or might otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity, other than (1) the indefeasible payment in full in United States dollars of all the Obligations, and (2) as set forth in the next sentence.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor shall be entitled to assert any defense which a Company may have under the Transaction Documents to performance of any of its respective Obligations, other than defenses based upon (1) lack of authority, capacity, legal right or power of such Company to enter into and/or perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents, (2) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, composition, liquidation, dissolution or similar proceeding with respect to such Company or (3) the nonexistence, invalid formation, dissolution, merger or termination of such Company.
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2.4 Continuing Guaranty; Termination . This Guaranty shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guaranty of payment and performance when due, and not of collection only, and the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Guaranteed Party at any time of any right or remedy against a Company or against any other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Obligations.
2.5 Reinstatement of Guaranty . This Guaranty shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is avoided, rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Guaranteed Party to a Company or its representative or to any other guarantor for any reason including as a result of any insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding with respect to a Company or the Guarantor, all as though such payment had not been made.
2.6 No Consequential Damages . In no event shall Guarantor be subject to any consequential, exemplary, equitable, loss of profits, punitive, tort or other similar damages.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Guarantor . The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the Guaranteed Party, as follows:
(a) The Guarantor is a corporation, validly existing and in good standing under laws of the State of Colorado.
(b) The Guarantor has full power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Guaranty and to perform its obligations hereunder.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Guarantor.
(d) This Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity.
(e) All consents, authorizations, approvals and clearances (including, without limitation, any necessary exchange control approval) and notifications, reports and registrations requisite for its due execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty have been obtained from or, as the case may be, filed with the relevant Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction and remain in full force and effect and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction is required for such execution, delivery or performance.
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(f) The execution and delivery by the Guarantor of this Guaranty do not and the performance by Guarantor of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) violate or require any filing or notice under any Law applicable to Guarantor (other than the filing of this Guaranty with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws applicable to U.S. public companies), (ii) conflict with or cause a breach of any provision in the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational document of Guarantor, or (iii) cause a breach of, constitute a default under, cause the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any authorization, consent, waiver or approval under any contract, license, instrument, decree, judgment or other arrangement to which Guarantor is a party or under which it is bound or to which any of its assets are subject (or result in the imposition of a Lien, other than Permitted Liens, upon any such assets) except (in the case of this clause (iii)) for any that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4. Election of Remedies . Each and every right, power and remedy herein given to the Guaranteed Party, or otherwise existing, shall be cumulative and not exclusive, and be in addition to all other rights, powers and remedies now or hereafter granted or otherwise existing. Each and every right, power and remedy whether specifically herein given or otherwise existing may be exercised, from time to time and as often and in such order as may be deemed expedient by the Guaranteed Party.
5. Effect of Delay or Omission to Pursue Remedy . No waiver by the Guaranteed Party of any right, power or remedy, or delay or omission by the Guaranteed Party in the exercise of any right, power or remedy which they may have shall impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver as to any other right, power or remedy then or thereafter existing. Any waiver given by the Guaranteed Party of any right, power or remedy in any one instance shall only be effective in that specific instance and only for the purpose for which given, and will not be construed as a waiver of any right, power or remedy on any future occasion.
6. Guarantors Waivers . The Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Guaranteed Party upon this Guaranty or acceptance of this Guaranty; the Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted, incurred, renewed, extended, amended or waived in reliance upon this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this
6
Guaranty. The Guarantor waives presentment, demand (other than demand delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof), notice, and protest of all instruments included in or evidencing any of the Obligations and all other demands (other than any demand delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof) and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of any such instrument or this Guaranty.
7. Amendment . This Guaranty may not be modified, amended, terminated or revoked, in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by the Guaranteed Party and the Guarantor. No waiver of any term, covenant or provision of this Guaranty, or consent given hereunder, shall be effective unless given in writing by the Guaranteed Party.
8. Notices . All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered (a) personally; (b) by registered or certified mail with postage prepaid, and return receipt requested; (c) by recognized overnight courier service with charges prepaid; or (d) by confirmed facsimile transmission, directed to the intended recipient as follows:
(a) If to the Guarantor: |
ADA-ES, Inc. |
8100 SouthPark Way, Unit B |
Littleton, CO 80120 |
Attention: Mark H. McKinnies, Chief Financial Officer |
Fax: (303) 734-0330 |
Email: MarkM@ADAES.com |
(b) If to the Guaranteed Party: |
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. |
200 West Street |
New York, New York 10282 |
Attention: Michael Feldman |
Fax: (212) 428-3868 |
Either Guarantor or Guaranteed Party may change the information to which notices and other communications hereunder can be delivered by giving the other Party notice in the manner herein set forth. A notice or other communication shall be deemed delivered on the earlier to occur of (i) its actual receipt; (ii) the date of signature acknowledging
7
receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, with postage prepaid, and return receipt requested; (iii) the first Business Day following its deposit with a recognized overnight courier service; or (iv) the Business Day it is sent by confirmed facsimile transmission (if sent before 5:00 p.m. local time of the receiving Party) or the next Business Day (if sent after 5:00 p.m. of such local time).
9. Successors and Assigns . This Guaranty shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party and their respective successors and permitted assigns. The Guaranteed Party may assign this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Guarantor to the extent the Guaranteed Party has assigned its interest in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations due under a Transaction Document pursuant to the terms of such Transaction Document. Any other assignment of this Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party without the prior written consent of the Guarantor, shall be void ab initio. The Guarantor may not assign this Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party. Any assignment by the Guarantor without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party shall be void ab initio and shall have no effect on the Guaranteed Partys rights against the Guarantor hereunder.
10. Governing Law; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO A DISPUTE AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT THERETO.
11. Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement or of any of the instruments evidencing part or all of the Obligations is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Guarantor and Guaranteed Party shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Guarantor and Guaranteed Party as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be executed and delivered on its behalf as of the date first written above.
ADA-ES, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
|
Name: |
Mark H. McKinnies |
|
Title: |
Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer |
[ADA-ES, Inc. Guaranty]
Exhibit 10.76
AGREEMENT TO LEASE
among
CLEAN COAL SOLUTIONS, LLC,
as Developer,
AEC-NM, LLC and AEC-TH, LLC,
as Lessors,
and
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC,
as Lessee
dated as of June 29, 2010
* indicates portions of the exhibit that have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential information. The non-public information has been filed with the Commission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE 1 DEFINED TERMS |
||||
1.1 | Defined Terms | 1 | ||
1.2 | Construction of Certain Terms and Phrases | 2 | ||
ARTICLE 2 LEASE OF FACILITIES; CLOSING; RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL |
||||
2.1 | Agreement to Lease | 2 | ||
2.2 | Closing | 2 | ||
2.3 | Actions to Occur at Closing | 3 | ||
2.4 | Right of First Refusal | 5 | ||
2.5 | Partial Escrow of Rent Payments | 6 | ||
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
||||
3.1 | Representations and Warranties of CCS Parties | 7 | ||
3.2 | Representations and Warranties of Lessee | 14 | ||
3.3 | Survival of Representations and Warranties | 16 | ||
ARTICLE 4 | ||||
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS | ||||
4.1 | Covenants of CCS Parties | 16 | ||
4.2 | Covenants of Lessee | 17 | ||
4.3 | Certain Filings | 17 | ||
4.4 | Satisfaction of Closing Conditions | 18 | ||
4.5 | Expiration of Covenants to be Performed Before Closing | 18 | ||
ARTICLE 5 | ||||
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | ||||
5.1 | No Solicitation of Transactions | 18 | ||
5.2 | Access to Books and Records; Other Information | 19 | ||
5.3 | Assistance | 19 | ||
5.4 | Third Party Consents | 19 |
i
5.5 |
Supplying Operational and Regulatory Information |
20 | ||
5.6 |
Tax Matters. |
20 | ||
5.7 |
Transaction Taxes |
21 | ||
5.8 |
Property Taxes |
21 | ||
5.9 |
Tax Return Information and Tax Proceedings |
21 | ||
ARTICLE 6 | ||||
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | ||||
6.1 |
Conditions to Each Partys Obligation |
23 | ||
6.2 |
Conditions to Obligation of Lessee |
23 | ||
6.3 |
Conditions to Obligations of CCS Parties |
25 | ||
ARTICLE 7 | ||||
TERMINATION | ||||
7.1 |
Termination |
26 | ||
7.2 |
Effect of Termination |
26 | ||
ARTICLE 8 | ||||
INDEMNIFICATION | ||||
8.1 |
Indemnification of Lessee |
27 | ||
8.2 |
Indemnification of the CCS Parties |
29 | ||
8.3 |
Notification of Claims |
30 | ||
8.4 |
Defense of Third-Party Claims |
30 | ||
8.5 |
Other Claims |
31 | ||
8.6 |
Payment |
31 | ||
8.7 |
No Duplication |
31 | ||
8.8 |
Sole Remedy |
31 | ||
8.9 |
General Limitation of Damages |
32 | ||
8.10 |
After-Tax Basis |
32 | ||
ARTICLE 9 | ||||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||||
9.1 |
Confidentiality |
32 | ||
9.2 |
Schedules |
33 | ||
9.3 |
Further Actions |
34 | ||
9.4 |
Amendment, Modification and Waiver |
34 | ||
9.5 |
Severability |
34 | ||
9.6 |
Expenses and Obligations |
34 |
ii
9.7 |
Binding Effect; Third Parties |
34 | ||
9.8 |
Notices |
34 | ||
9.9 |
Knowledge |
36 | ||
9.10 |
Counterparts |
36 | ||
9.11 |
Entire Agreement |
36 | ||
9.12 |
Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial |
36 | ||
9.13 |
Private Letter Ruling |
37 | ||
9.14 |
Publicity |
37 | ||
9.15 |
Assignment |
37 |
Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules
Annex I | Definitions | |
Exhibit A-1 | ADA-ES Guaranty | |
Exhibit A-2 | NexGen LLC Guaranty | |
Exhibit A-3 | NexGen Guaranty | |
Exhibit A-4 | Republic Guaranty | |
Exhibit A-5 | Lessee Guaranty | |
Exhibit B | Background Materials | |
Exhibit C-1 | Chemical Additive Agency Supply Agreement (New Madrid) | |
Exhibit C-2 | Chemical Additive Agency Supply Agreement (Thomas Hill) | |
Exhibit D-1 | New Madrid Lease | |
Exhibit D-2 | Thomas Hill Lease | |
Exhibit E-1 | Description of the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility | |
Exhibit E-2 | Description of the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility | |
Exhibit F-1 | Operating and Maintenance Agreement for the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility | |
Exhibit F-2 | Operating and Maintenance Agreement for the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility | |
Exhibit G | Technology Sub-License | |
Exhibit H | Escrow Agreement | |
Schedule 2.4 | Term Sheet dated April 23, 2010 between CCS and Goldman Sachs & Co. | |
Schedule 3.1(a) | Certificates of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreements | |
Schedule 3.1(c) | Consents | |
Schedule 3.1(d) | Litigation | |
Schedule 3.1(g) | Permits |
iii
Schedule 3.1(h) | Insurance | |
Schedule 3.1(i) | Title | |
Schedule 3.1(k) | Environmental Matters | |
Schedule 3.1(l) | Taxes | |
Schedule 3.1(m) | Historical Refined Coal Production | |
Schedule 3.1(m)(viii) | All Capitalized Expenses After 12/31/09 | |
Schedule 3.1(m)(ix) | Pre-2010 Capital Expenditures | |
Schedule 3.1(n) | Intellectual Property | |
Schedule 3.1(o) | Contracts | |
Schedule 3.1(p) | Labor Information | |
Schedule 6.2(k) | Ownership of CCS Parties | |
Schedule 9.9 | Knowledge |
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AGREEMENT TO LEASE
This Agreement to Lease (this Agreement ) is made and entered into as of June 29, 2010, among Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( Developer ), AEC-NM, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ( AEC-NM ), AEC-TH, a Colorado limited liability company ( AEC-TH ) (AEC-NM and AEC-TH each a Lessor and collectively the Lessors ) and GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Lessee ). Developer and Lessors are referred to individually as a CCS Party and collectively as the CCS Parties . The CCS Parties and Lessee may be referred to herein individually as a Party , and collectively as the Parties .
R E C I T A L S
A. AEC-NM owns the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility that is used to produce Refined Coal and is currently located at the New Madrid Power Plant near Marston, Missouri owned and operated by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc, a Missouri cooperative, non-profit, membership corporation ( Utility ). AEC-TH owns the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility that is used to produce Refined Coal and is currently located at the Thomas Hill Energy Center near Moberly, Missouri owned and operated by Utility.
B. AEC-NM desires to lease to Lessee, and Lessee desires to lease from AEC-NM, the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility, and AEC-TH desires to lease to Lessee, and Lessee desires to lease from AEC-TH, the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility, each for use in the production of Refined Coal.
C. Developer intends directly or through one or more Affiliates, to develop additional facilities for the production of Refined Coal and desires to grant Lessee a right of first refusal to lease such additional facilities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
A G R E E M E N T S
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINED TERMS
1.1 Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in Annex I .
1.2 Construction of Certain Terms and Phrases . Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections, or other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained therein. The words this Agreement, herein, hereby, hereunder, and hereof, and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words this Section, this subsection, and words of similar import, refer only to the Sections or subsections hereof in which such words occur. The word or is not exclusive, and the word including (in its various forms) means including without limitation. Pronouns in masculine, feminine, or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender and words, terms, and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise expressly requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, all defined terms contained herein shall include the singular and plural and the conjunctive and disjunctive forms of such defined terms, and the term Annex, Exhibit or Schedule shall refer to an Annex, Exhibit or Schedule attached to this Agreement. All references to the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations or other governmental pronouncements shall be deemed to include references to any applicable successor statute, regulations or amending pronouncement.
ARTICLE 2
LEASE OF FACILITIES; CLOSING; RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
2.1 Agreement to Lease . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) AEC-NM agrees to lease to Lessee, and Lessee agrees to lease from AEC-NM, the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, and (b) AEC-TH agrees to lease to Lessee, and Lessee agrees to lease from AEC-TH, the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens.
2.2 Closing . Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent set forth in Article 6, the Closing will take place (a) at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m., local New York time, on the date that is three Business Days after the Day on which each of the conditions precedent set forth in Article 6 is satisfied or waived by the applicable Party, or (b) at such other place and time as the CCS Parties and Lessee may agree in writing (the Closing Date ).
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2.3 Actions to Occur at Closing .
(a) At the Closing, Lessee shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the CCS Parties the following:
(i) Certificates . The certificates referred to in Sections 6.3(a) and 6.3(b).
(ii) Leases . Counterparts of each Lease executed by Lessee.
(iii) NM Prepaid Rent . The NM Prepaid Rent in immediately available funds by wire to an account to be designated by AEC-NM no less than three Business Days before Closing.
(iv) TH Prepaid Rent . The TH Prepaid Rent in immediately available funds by wire to an account to be designated by AEC-TH no less than three Business Days before Closing.
(v) Operating and Maintenance Agreements . Counterparts of the Operating and Maintenance Agreements executed by Lessee.
(vi) Technology Sub-License . Counterparts of the Technology Sub-License executed by Lessee.
(vii) Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements . Counterparts of the Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements executed by Lessee.
(viii) Lessee Guaranty . Counterparts of the Lessee Guaranty executed by GS.
(ix) Escrow Agreement . Counterparts of the Escrow Agreement executed by Lessee.
(x) Authorization, Good Standing and Incumbency . A copy of the Lessees resolutions regarding approval of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Transaction Documents, certified by a manager of Lessee, a certificate of good standing for the Lessee, as of the most recent practical date, from the Secretary of State of its state of incorporation or formation, and a certificate of incumbency from a manager of Lessee as to the managers of Lessee who sign the Transaction Documents on behalf of Lessee.
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(b) At the Closing, the CCS Parties shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Lessee the following:
(i) Certificates . The certificates referred to in Sections 6.2(a) and 6.2(b).
(ii) Leases . Counterparts of each Lease executed by the applicable Lessor.
(iii) Operating and Maintenance Agreements . Counterparts of the Operating and Maintenance Agreements executed by Operator.
(iv) Technology Sub-License . Counterparts of the Technology Sub-License executed by Developer and ADA-ES.
(v) Lessor Guarantees . Counterparts of the Lessor Guarantees executed by ADA-ES, NexGen LLC, NexGen and Republic, as applicable.
(vi) Escrow Agreement . Counterparts of the Escrow Agreement executed by Lessors and Escrow Agent.
(vii) Legal Opinions . The legal opinions referred to in Section 6.2(f).
(viii) Authorization, Good Standing and Incumbency . A copy of each CCS Partys and any applicable Affiliates resolutions regarding approval of the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Transaction Documents, certified by their respective secretaries or assistant secretaries, a certificate of good standing for each CCS Party or applicable Affiliate, as of the most recent practical date, from the Secretary of State of their respective states of incorporation or formation, and a certificate of incumbency from the secretary or an assistant secretary of each CCS Party or applicable Affiliate as to the officers of each CCS Party or applicable Affiliate who sign the Transaction Documents on behalf of each CCS Party or applicable Affiliate.
(ix) Third Party Consents . Copies of all Consents referred to in Section 6.2(g).
(x) Release of Security Interest . Releases of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) covering any of the Facilities.
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(xi) Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements . Counterparts of the Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements executed by Operator.
2.4 Right of First Refusal . (a) In the event that Developer, or any of its Affiliates, receives an offer from any Refined Coal Investor to purchase, lease or otherwise participate, directly or indirectly, in any Future Project that Developer or its Affiliate desires to accept, or to enter into a letter of intent, commitment letter, detailed term sheet or similar agreement regarding the purchase, lease or other participation, directly or indirectly, in any Future Project that Developer desires to accept, Developer prior to accepting such offer shall provide Lessee a notice (the Offer Notice ) and that shall contain the following: (i) the name of the Refined Coal Investor, a description of the Future Project and the terms of the offer from the Refined Coal Investor, (ii) in the case of an offer to purchase, lease or otherwise participate in any Future Project, a copy of any purchase agreements, lease agreements, operating and maintenance agreements, license agreements, coal supply agreements, site leases, refined coal sales agreements, limited liability company agreements and other agreements to be entered into between Developer or its Affiliates and Refined Coal Investor and its Affiliates in connection therewith, (iii) *, (iv) in the case of any offer to purchase or lease or otherwise participate in the Future Project, an offer to sell or lease such Future Project to Lessee or any Affiliate of Lessee or otherwise provide Lessee or any Affiliate of Lessee the right to participate in such Future Project on the same terms as the offer from such Refined Coal Investor, and (v) in the case of an executed letter of intent, commitment letter, detailed term sheet or other similar agreement, an offer to enter into a letter of intent, commitment letter, detailed term sheet or other similar agreement on the same terms as such agreement from the Refined Coal Investor. The Offer Date shall be the date that Lessee receives the Offer Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, any materially revised or subsequent offer from any Refined Coal Investor pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be treated as a new offer and subject to the provision of a new Offer Notice to the Lessee hereunder.
(b) Lessee shall have the option for * (the Acceptance Period ) following the Offer Date to accept on behalf of itself or any of its Affiliates by notice in writing to Developer (the Purchase Notice ) the offer contained in the Offer Notice.
(c) If Lessee does not deliver a Purchase Notice to Developer within the Acceptance Period, then Developer or its Affiliates may sell or lease such Future Project to the Refined Coal Investor or provide the Refined Coal Investor participation in such Future Project on substantially the same terms set forth in the Offer Notice.
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(d) During the Acceptance Period, Developer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, grant to Lessee and its Representatives access at all reasonable times to all of the Books and Records, information and other data relating to such Future Project and the owner thereof within the possession or control of Developer or its Affiliates, any member of Developer or any Affiliate of Developer (including workpapers and correspondence with regulatory authorities) that is not otherwise protected by legal privilege or subject to legal constraints or obligations of confidence to any third party (and shall be advised of the general content of such protected, constrained or confidential materials), and shall afford Lessee (or its designees) the right (at Lessees expense) to take abstracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary or appropriate to permit Lessee (or its designees) to conduct due diligence with respect to the Future Project, the owner of the Future Project and all agreements related thereto. In addition, during the Acceptance Period Developer shall afford to Lessee and its Representatives reasonable access to the Future Project and the right to discuss the Future Project, the owner of the Future Project and the business of such owner with such officers, directors, managerial personnel, accountants, consultants, and counsel for Developer and such owner as Lessee deems reasonably necessary or appropriate for the purposes of familiarizing itself with such owner and the Future Project, and to customers and vendors of the owner of the Future Project in order to discuss such customers and vendors relationships with such owner. In either case above, access to Books and Records and the Future Project is subject to an executed confidentiality agreement between Developer, Lessor and Lessee in substantially the same form as the Confidentiality Agreement.
(e) Lessees rights under this Section 2.4 shall continue to apply until Lessors, Operators or Developers actual Refined Coal production (excluding the Facilities) exceeds *, in the aggregate.
(f) Lessee will not be entitled to any of the above rights in this Section 2.4 so long as (i) Lessee has failed to pay any undisputed installment of Rent (as defined in each of the Leases) due under any Lease and such failure has not been cured within 15 Business Days after notice from Lessor, or (ii) the Term (as defined in each of the Leases) of both of the Leases has expired.
2.5 Partial Escrow of Rent Payments .
(a) During the Initial Term (as such term is defined in each Lease) of each Lease, Lessee shall withhold the Escrow Amount from the Contingent Rent Payments (as such term is defined in each Lease) due with respect to each Lease for each Quarter, provided that to the extent that the Escrow Amount with respect to any Lease for any Quarter exceeds the Contingent Rent Payment due with respect to any Lease for such Quarter, Lessee shall withhold the excess from the Fixed Rent Payment (as such term is
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defined in each Lease) due for such Quarter under such Lease. Lessee shall pay such Escrow Amounts to the Escrow Agent to be held pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement. All amounts paid to the Escrow Agent with respect to any Quarter shall be associated with the Taxable Year of which such Quarter is a part. Lessee shall provide Lessor with a record of the amounts paid to the Escrow Agent with respect to each Lease and each Taxable Year within 45 Days of the last day of the applicable Taxable Year.
(b) *
(c) *
(i) *
(ii) *
(d) End of Initial Term Disbursement . In the event that Lessee does not elect to terminate a Lease as of the end of the Initial Term, all rights of Lessee to disbursements under Section 2.5(b) with respect to such Lease shall terminate, and Lessor and Lessee shall instruct the Escrow Agent within 20 Business Days following the expiration of the Initial Term of such Lease to disburse to Lessor the amounts deposited with the Escrow Agent related to such Lease. In the event that Lessee elects to terminate a Lease prior to or as of the end of the Initial Term, the amounts deposited with the Escrow Agent related to such Lease shall continue to be held by the Escrow Agent following termination of that Lease until such time as such amounts are disbursed in accordance with Sections 2.5(b) and (c).
(e) *
(f) Amounts paid by Lessee to the Escrow Agent shall be treated for all purposes as property of Lessor. Any amounts disbursed to Lessee pursuant to Section 2.5(b) with respect to any Taxable Year shall be treated as an adjustment to the payments due under Section 2.2 of the Leases.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of CCS Parties . Each CCS Party jointly and severally represents and warrants to Lessee, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as follows (with the understanding that Lessee is relying on such representations and warranties in entering into and performing this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) with respect to each CCS Party:
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(a) Organization, Good Standing, Etc . Each CCS Party is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation, and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each CCS Party is qualified to do business and is in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdictions in which the character of the properties owned or leased by such CCS Party or the nature of the activities conducted by such CCS Party in operating its business make such qualification necessary under applicable Laws. Attached hereto as Schedule 3.1(a) are complete and correct certified copies of the certificate of formation and the limited liability company agreement of each CCS Party, and all amendments thereto.
(b) Authority . Each CCS Party has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into each Transaction Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The execution and delivery by each CCS Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the performance by it of its obligations thereunder, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of each CCS Party. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each CCS Party, and upon the execution and delivery by each CCS Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, such Transaction Documents will be duly executed and delivered by such CCS Party. This Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery by each CCS Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, such Transaction Documents will constitute, the valid and binding obligations of each CCS Party, enforceable against each CCS Party in accordance with their terms, subject as to enforceability to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(c) No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents . Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(c) , the execution and delivery by each CCS Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not, and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby, will not (i) violate, conflict with, or result in any breach of any provision of its limited liability company operating agreement or other organizational documents, (ii) violate, conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) under, or permit the termination of, or result in the acceleration of, or entitle any Person to accelerate any obligation, or result in the loss of any benefit, or give any Person the right to require any security to be repurchased, or give rise to the creation of any Lien upon the Facilities, or affect its rights under any of the
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terms, conditions, or provisions of any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or deed of trust, or any license, lease, agreement, or other instrument or obligation to which such entity is a party or by which or to which such entity or any of its assets or the Facilities may be bound or subject, or (iii) violate any applicable Law. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.1(c) , no Consent of any Governmental Authority or other Person is necessary or required or has not been obtained as of the Closing Date with respect to any CCS Party in connection with the execution and delivery by each CCS Party of any of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the performance by it of its obligations thereunder, or the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby.
(d) Absence of Litigation . Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(d) , there are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of each CCS Party, threatened against any CCS Party or relating to the Facilities or any CCS Partys execution, delivery or performance of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. No CCS Party has received any Claim that may give rise to any such Proceedings which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No CCS Party has knowledge that there is a valid basis for any such Claims or Proceedings. No CCS Party is to its knowledge the subject of any order, judgment, decree, injunction or stipulation of any Governmental Authority that would affect its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(e) Background Materials . The Background Materials, taken as a whole, are accurate and correct with respect to all facts concerning the Facilities and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents except (i) where the failure to be accurate and correct would not result in a Material Adverse Effect when the Background Materials were prepared, and (ii) the Background Materials identified on Exhibit B as Third Party Background Materials, are accurate and correct to the knowledge of the CCS Parties. No CCS Party has failed to include, and no CCS Party has actual knowledge that any other Person has failed to include, in the Background Materials any information, the omission of which from the Background Materials would make the Background Materials inaccurate or misleading where such failure or omission could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No CCS Party nor, to the knowledge of any CCS Party, any Person acting on behalf of any CCS Party has altered any Background Material after its preparation, except for any Background Materials that are identified on Exhibit B as Revised from Original.
(f) Brokers Fees . No agent, broker, investment banker, or other Person engaged by any CCS Party is or will be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other commission or similar fee payable by Lessee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
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(g) Compliance with Applicable Laws; Permits . Each CCS Party is in compliance with, and the Facilities are in compliance with, all applicable Laws, in each case other than as listed or described on Schedule 3.1(g) , or in each case where the failure to be in compliance with such Laws could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Permits required to be obtained or filed by any CCS Party under any applicable Law either to conduct the business of any CCS Party or otherwise to own or operate the Facilities, other than those listed or described on Schedule 3.1(g) , or where the failure to obtain or file such Permits could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Insurance . Schedule 3.1(h) sets forth a list of all fire, general liability, theft, and other forms of insurance and all fidelity and surety bonds held by or applicable to any CCS Party or the Facilities, and except as disclosed on such Schedule 3.1(h) , there is no claim by any CCS Party pending under any such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied, or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds.
(i) Title . Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(i) , each Lessor has, and at the Closing will convey to Lessee, good and marketable leasehold title to and possession of the applicable Facility to be leased by it, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens.
(j) Condition of the Facilities; Adequacy . As of the Closing Date, all of the equipment, machinery and facilities that are included in the Facilities are in good and merchantable condition and have been maintained in accordance with good operating practices, including the manufacturers recommendations. The equipment, machinery and facilities that are in the Facilities are fully functional and constitute all equipment, machinery and facilities currently needed to produce Refined Coal. The Facilities are capable of producing in the aggregate 6,800,000 Tons of Refined Coal per year that are eligible for the Section 45 Credit, when the Facilities are used in connection with the Utilitys power plant and associated equipment, although actual production levels will be determined by a variety of factors including decisions of Lessee, Utility demand and proper operation and functioning of the Utilitys power plant. No warranty claim has been made by Lessor or Developer on the equipment, machinery and facilities that are included in the Facilities.
(k) Environmental Matters . The Facilities have been owned and operated in compliance with all Environmental Laws and, to the knowledge of the CCS Parties, the Facilities are capable of operating in compliance with all Environmental Laws during the term of this Agreement, as such Environmental Laws exist or are in effect as of the Closing Date, without material modification or capital investment. There are no existing, or to the knowledge of any CCS Party, threatened Proceedings, and no
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CCS Party has received any Claim, relating to violations of, or Losses under, Environmental Laws or to the presence, release or discharge of any Hazardous Substances, in each case with respect to the Facilities or to the ownership, operation or maintenance thereof. No Hazardous Substances exist in or on the Facilities, except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(k) . No CCS Party has received any notice from any Governmental Authority or any other Person alleging any violation of any Environmental Laws with respect to the ownership, operation or maintenance of the Facilities, except as is set forth on Schedule 3.1(k) . The CCS Parties have obtained, maintained and complied in all material respects with the terms of Permits required in connection with the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Facilities. No Hazardous Substances have been generated by, or released or discharged from, the Facilities at the Existing Sites where such release or discharge could reasonably be expected to result in a Claim or Proceeding pursuant to Environmental Laws. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(k) , there are no Hazardous Substances at the Existing Sites whose presence or existence is attributable to the Facilities or to the ownership, operation or maintenance thereof, or that would adversely affect the continued operation of the Facilities at the Existing Sites. Any chemical additives in the Facilities as of the date hereof and any chemical additives currently proposed to be supplied under the Chemical Additive Supply Agreement do not contain Hazardous Substances in quantities that require special permits, handling or reporting.
(l) Taxes . Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(l) , all Tax Returns required to be filed by each CCS Party with respect to the Facilities have been duly and timely filed and all information required to be included in each such Tax Return has been so included and all other information provided in each such Tax Return is True. All Taxes owed by each CCS Party shown on such Tax Returns and all Taxes owed by each CCS Party with respect to the Facilities have been paid in full and each CCS Party covenants that it will continue to pay all Taxes imposed in respect of the Facilities for all periods ending on or prior to the Closing (and for those periods that include the Closing but do not end on the Closing, each CCS Party will pay its pro rata share of such Taxes except for any such Taxes that are subject to Section 5.7). No CCS Party has received any written notice of deficiency or assessment from any taxing authority with respect to liabilities for Taxes relating to the Facilities, which have not been fully paid or finally settled. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the applicable statutory periods of limitation for or relating to the Facilities for any period. There are no liens for Taxes on the Facilities, except for Taxes not yet due. To the extent required by local law, the Facilities have been properly listed and described on the property tax rolls for the taxing units in which the Facilities are located and no portion of the Facilities constitutes omitted property for property tax purposes.
(m) Section 45 Credit .
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(i) No grants described in Section 45(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Code have been provided by the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state for use in connection with all or part of the Facilities within the meaning of Section 45 of the Code.
(ii) No proceeds of any issue of a state or local government obligation described in Section 45(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Code have or will be used to provide financing for all or part of the Facilities within the meaning of Section 45 of the Code.
(iii) No subsidized energy financing (within the meaning of Section 45(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Code) has been or will be provided in connection with all or part of the Facilities within the meaning of Section 45 of the Code.
(iv) No other federal tax credit has been or is allowed or allowable with respect to all or part of the Facilities within the meaning of Section 45 of the Code.
(v) Prior to December 31, 2009:
(A) the CCS Parties had completed all testing of the Facilities necessary, in the reasonable judgment of Developer, to establish that each Facility was operational;
(B) the CCS Parties had obtained, or third parties had obtained for the benefit of the CCS Parties, all Permits necessary to operate the Facilities;
(C) the operation and control of the Facilities had been turned over to the CCS Parties by ADA-ES;
(D) legal ownership of each Facility had been turned over to each Lessor by Developer; and
(E) each Facility was operational and producing Refined Coal in the quantities described on Schedule 3.1(m) .
(vi) Each Lessor has claimed (or intends to claim) the Section 45 Credit on its federal income Tax Return for the 2009 taxable year with respect to all Refined Coal produced from the Facilities that such Lessor has sold to Unrelated Persons. The members of each Lessor have claimed (or intend to claim) on their federal income Tax Returns for the 2009 taxable year their allocable shares of all Section 45 Credits claimed by each Lessor to the extent permitted by Section 45 of the Code.
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(vii) No Lessor, any member of any Lessor nor any Affiliate of any member of any Lessor intends to or has (A) taken any position in any federal, state or local income Tax Return or filing that is inconsistent with any of the statements in this Section 3.1(m); (B) filed Form 8275, Form 8275-R or any similar form described in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.6662-3(c) or 1.6662-4(f) in connection with the Section 45 Credit claimed by any Lessor, any member of any Lessor or any Affiliate of any Lessor or any member of any Lessor with respect to Refined Coal produced from the Facilities that any Lessor sold to Unrelated Persons; or (C) filed Form 8886 or similar form described in Treasury Regulation § 1.6011-4(c)(6) or participated in a reportable transaction as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.6011-4 involving the Facilities.
(viii) Schedule 3.1(m)(viii) sets forth all capital expenditures with respect to the Facilities since December 31, 2009.
(ix) Schedule 3.1(m)(ix) sets forth all capital expenditures made on or before December 31, 2009 with respect to the Facilities.
(n) Intellectual Property . Except as is set forth on Schedule 3.1(n) , neither the ownership or operation of the Facilities, nor the manufacture, use, or sale (including offering for sale and other marketing activities) of the Refined Coal produced from the Facilities, infringes, misappropriates, or violates any U.S. patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, or copyright, trade secret, obligation of confidence, or other proprietary, contract or intellectual property right of any Person.
(o) Contracts . Schedule 3.1(o) sets forth all of the material contracts or material agreements to which any CCS Party is a party or to which the Facilities are bound at the time of the execution of this Agreement. Except as is set forth on Schedule 3.1(o) (including as to those confidentiality agreements referenced therein and that cannot be disclosed based on their terms) , the CCS Parties have provided Lessee, including by way of access to an electronic dataroom, a True copy of each contract or agreement set forth in Schedule 3.1(o) . No CCS Party is in default, or has been notified that it is in default, under any such contract or agreement, and to each Lessors knowledge, no other party is in default under any such contract or agreement where either such default would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Employee Matters . Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(p) :
(i) No Lessor has any employees.
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(ii) No Lessor is a party to any collective bargaining agreement.
(iii) No Lessor has agreed to recognize or bargain with any labor organization, union or other collective bargaining representative.
(iv) No labor organization, union or other collective bargaining representative has been certified as the exclusive bargaining representative of any employees in connection with the Facilities.
(v) No labor organization, union or representative thereof claims to or is seeking to represent employees in connection with the Facilities.
(vi) There is no labor strike or labor dispute, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout pending or threatened against or affecting any Lessor.
(vii) No Lessor has experienced any labor strike or labor dispute, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout in connection with the Facilities.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of Lessee . Lessee represents and warrants to the CCS Parties as follows (with the understanding that the CCS Parties are relying on such representations and warranties in entering into and performing this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents):
(a) Organization; Good Standing; Etc . Lessee is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
(b) Authority . Lessee has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by Lessee of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of Lessee. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Lessee, and upon execution and delivery by it of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the Transaction Documents will be duly executed and delivered by Lessee. This Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery by Lessee of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, such other Transaction Documents will constitute, the valid and binding
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obligations of Lessee, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, subject as to enforceability to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(c) No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents . The execution and delivery by Lessee of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party do not, and the performance by it of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Lessee of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will not (i) violate, conflict with, or result in any breach of any provisions of its limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents, (ii) violate, conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) under, or permit the termination of, or result in the acceleration of, or entitle any Person to accelerate any obligation, or result in the loss of any benefit, or give any Person the right to require any security to be repurchased, or give rise to the creation of any Lien upon any of its assets or affect any of its rights under, any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, or deed of trust, or any license, lease, agreement, or other instrument or obligation to which Lessee is a party or by which or to which it or any of its assets may be bound or subject, or (iii) violate any applicable Law. No Consent of any Governmental Authority or other Person is necessary or required by or with respect to Lessee in connection with the execution and delivery by Lessee of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to which Lessee is a party, the performance by Lessee of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, or the consummation by Lessee of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(d) Absence of Litigation . There are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Lessee, threatened against Lessee or any of its Affiliates that seeks to restrain, prohibit, or otherwise enjoin this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Lessee is not the subject of any order, judgment, decree, injunction or stipulation of any Governmental Authority that would affect its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(e) Brokers Fee . No agent, broker, investment banker, or other Person engaged by Lessee is or will be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other commission or similar fee payable by the CCS Parties in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
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3.3 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
(a) All representations and warranties made by a Party in this Agreement or in any Transaction Document, have been relied upon by the other Parties and shall survive the Closing hereunder as set forth in this Section 3.3, and shall not merge in the performance of any obligation by any Party hereto.
(b) All claims by a Lessee Indemnified Party for indemnification pursuant to Article 8 resulting from breaches of representations or warranties shall be forever barred unless the CCS Parties are notified: (i) in the case of a claim based upon fraud or a breach of a representation or warranty set forth in Sections 3.1(k), within 30 Days after the expiration of the statutory period of limitations applicable to such claim, (ii) in the case of a claim based upon a breach of a representation or warranty in Sections 3.1(e), (i), (l) and (m), within 30 Days after the expiration of the relevant statutory period of limitations, including extensions, applicable to the federal income tax obligations of Lessee; (iii) in the case of a claim based upon a breach of a representation or warranty in Sections 3.1(a), (b) and (c) within 3 Years; or (iv) in all other cases, within the Initial Term of the Leases; provided, that, if written notice for a claim of indemnification has been given by such Lessee Indemnified Party on or prior to the last Day of the applicable period, then the obligation of the CCS Parties to indemnify such Lessee Indemnified Party pursuant to Article 8 shall survive with respect to such claim until such claim is finally resolved.
(c) All claims by a CCS Indemnified Party for indemnification pursuant to Article 8 resulting from breaches of representations or warranties shall be forever barred unless Lessee is notified: (i) in the case of claim based upon fraud, within 30 Days of the expiration of the statutory period of limitations applicable to such claim; (ii) in the case of a claim based upon a breach of a representation or warranty in Sections 3.2(a), (b), and (c), within 3 Years or (iii) in all other cases within the Initial Term of the Leases; provided, that, if written notice for a claim of indemnification has been given by such CCS Indemnified Party on or prior to the last Day of the applicable period, then the obligation of Lessee to indemnify such CCS Indemnified Party pursuant to Article 8 shall survive with respect to such claim until such claim is finally resolved.
ARTICLE 4
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
4.1 Covenants of CCS Parties . Each CCS Party shall use all Reasonable Efforts to prevent any material change to any of the facts or conditions represented by it as of the date of this Agreement, and each CCS Party shall promptly notify Lessee in writing of any such material change. Except as may be required to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise authorized herein, each CCS Party covenants and agrees that from the date of this Agreement until the Closing, such CCS Party shall not (except with the prior written consent of Lessee):
(a) conduct its business or operations in any manner except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
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(b) fail to (i) use all Reasonable Efforts to maintain the Facilities in their current condition, (ii) use all Reasonable Efforts to maintain any Permits held by or for the benefit of any CCS Party, or (iii) provide repairs and maintenance of the Facilities in accordance with the normal standards of maintenance in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(c) merge or consolidate with or into any other legal entity, dissolve, or liquidate;
(d) sell (whether by merger, consolidation, or the sale of an equity interest or assets), lease, or dispose of the Facilities, or enter into a joint venture, partnership or any other equity alliance with any Person concerning the Facilities;
(e) mortgage, pledge, or subject to any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) the Facilities;
(f) make any modification or addition to the Facilities (other than repairs and maintenance in the Ordinary Course of Business or as otherwise disclosed to Lessee in Schedule 3.1(m)(viii) or (ix) ); or
(g) agree to or make any commitment to take any actions prohibited by this Agreement or that would require disclosure on any of the Schedules provided for herein if such commitment or action had been made or taken as of the date hereof.
4.2 Covenants of Lessee . Lessee shall use all Reasonable Efforts to prevent any material change to any of the facts or conditions represented by it as of the date of this Agreement, and Lessee shall promptly notify the CCS Parties of any such material change after becoming aware of the same.
4.3 Certain Filings . Lessee and CCS Parties shall cooperate with one another (i) in determining whether any action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required, or whether any actions, consents, approvals, or waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any contract to which any CCS Party is a party or the Facilities are bound in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) in taking such actions or making such filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith and seeking timely to obtain such actions, consents, approvals, or waivers no later than at the Closing; provided, however, that the CCS Parties shall not make any agreements or understandings affecting the Facilities as a condition to obtaining any such filings, actions, consents, approvals or waivers, except with the prior written consent of Lessee.
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4.4 Satisfaction of Closing Conditions . Each Party shall use all Reasonable Efforts to satisfy all conditions precedent to Closing applicable to it set forth in Article 6 by June 29, 2010.
4.5 Expiration of Covenants to be Performed Before Closing . All claims by a Lessee Indemnified Party or a CCS Indemnified Party pursuant to Article 8 resulting from any breach of the respective covenants of Lessee and the CCS Parties contained in this Article 4 shall survive the Closing, but shall be forever barred unless the CCS Parties are notified in the case of such a claim by a Lessee Indemnified Party, or Lessee is notified in the case of such a claim by a CCS Indemnified Party, within 30 Days of the expiration of the relevant statutory period of limitations, including extensions, applicable to the federal income tax obligations of the applicable Indemnified Party in the case of claims based on breaches of covenants dealing with Tax matters and prior to the end of the Initial Term of the Leases in the case of a claim based upon a breach of any other covenant; provided, that, if written notice for a claim of indemnification has been given by an Indemnified Party on or prior to the last Day of said period, then the obligation of the CCS Indemnified Parties to indemnify such Lessee Indemnified Party or Lessee to indemnify such CCS Indemnified Party, as applicable, pursuant to Article 8 shall survive with respect to such claim until such claim is finally resolved.
ARTICLE 5
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 No Solicitation of Transactions . Until the earlier of the Closing Date or the early termination of this Agreement, no CCS Party, any member of any CCS Party or any Affiliate of any CCS Party shall, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, stockholder, employee, agent, financial advisor, banker or other representative, or otherwise, solicit, initiate, or encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to any acquisition, purchase or lease of the Facilities or any equity interest in any CCS Party or any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, or other similar transaction with any CCS Party, or participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any other Person any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, facilitate, or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other Person to do or seek any of the foregoing. The CCS Parties will inform Lessee by telephone, within two Business Days, of receipt by any CCS Party or any Representative of any CCS Party of any proposal or bid (including the terms thereof and the person or entity making such proposal or bid) in respect of any such transaction. Except with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the CCS Parties will, immediately upon execution of this Agreement, instruct their
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Representatives to cease all activities with respect to the sale or lease of any of the Facilities, including, without limitation, the dissemination of any information with respect to any CCS Party or the Facilities in connection with such a transaction. Each CCS Party agrees not to release any third party from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which any CCS Party is a party. This Section shall be applicable until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 7.
5.2 Access to Books and Records; Other Information . Each CCS Party shall, and shall cause its members and its Affiliates to, grant to Lessee and its Representatives access at all reasonable times to all of the Books and Records, information and other data relating to each CCS Party that relate to the Facilities or the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents that are within the possession or control of any CCS Party, any member of any CCS Party or any Affiliate of any CCS Party (including workpapers and correspondence with regulatory authorities) and that are not otherwise protected by legal privilege or subject to legal constraints or obligations of confidence to any third party (and shall be advised of the general content of such protected, constrained or confidential materials), and shall afford Lessee (or its designees) the right (at Lessees expense) to take abstracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary or appropriate to permit Lessee (or its designees) to continue to conduct due diligence with respect to the CCS Parties, the Facilities and this Agreement. In addition, the CCS Parties shall afford to Lessee and its Representatives reasonable access to the Facilities and the right to discuss the Facilities, the CCS Parties and the business of the CCS Parties with such officers, directors, managerial personnel, accountants, consultants, and counsel for the CCS Parties as Lessee deems reasonably necessary or appropriate for the purposes of familiarizing itself with the CCS Parties and the Facilities, and to customers and vendors of the CCS Parties in order to discuss such customers and vendors relationships with the CCS Parties and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.3 Assistance . The CCS Parties and Lessee agree to execute and deliver such further and other documents and instruments and to do such other acts and things as Lessee or the CCS Parties, as the case may be, may reasonably request, in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby (including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the conditions precedent set forth in Article 6).
5.4 Third Party Consents . The CCS Parties shall use all Reasonable Efforts to obtain prior to the Closing all Consents that are necessary or required to permit the performance of each CCS Partys, ADA-ES, NexGen LLCs, NexGens and Republics obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
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5.5 Supplying Operational and Regulatory Information . Prior to the Closing, each Lessor shall deliver to Lessee, as soon as available or filed, complete copies of (a) all regularly prepared Monthly operating statements of such Lessor, (b) all regularly prepared unaudited Monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements of such Lessor prepared after the date of this Agreement, in the format historically utilized internally by such Lessor, and (c) all reports or other filings or submissions by such Lessor with any Governmental Authorities.
5.6 Tax Matters .
(a) The Parties agree that for Federal income tax purposes, (i) the transactions described in the Leases shall be considered as a taxable installment sale of the Facilities, and (ii) the tax treatment of contingent payments made by Lessee to the applicable Lessor under the terms of each Lease will be governed by the principles of Treasury Regulation section 1.1275-4(c). Each Party to each Lease agrees to report the transaction consistently with such characterization. Lessee will provide Lessors with an allocation of the fixed payments under the Initial Term of the applicable Lease between interest and principal components within 90 Days after the Closing Date. Lessee will provide Lessors with an allocation of the fixed payments due under each Renewal Term of the applicable Lease between interest and principal components within 90 Days of the start of each Renewal Term. Lessee will provide an allocation of each contingent payment under the applicable Lease between interest and principal components within 45 Days after such payment is made. Lessors shall provide any objections to Lessee within 30 Days after the receipt thereof. If a Lessor raises objections, the Parties will apply the procedures set forth in Section 5.6(b) to resolve such objections.
(b) The Prepaid Rent and all rent payments under each Lease shall be allocated among the Facilities in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code. Each Lessor shall provide Lessee with any information reasonably requested and required to complete IRS Form 8594. Lessee shall complete Form 8594 and furnish each Lessor with a copy (the Draft Allocation ) within 120 Days from the Closing Date. Each Lessor shall review the Draft Allocation and provide any objections to Lessee within 30 Days after the receipt thereof. In the event Lessors do not object to Lessees Draft Allocation, such Draft Allocation shall be final (the Final Allocation ) and the Parties shall report such Final Allocation for Tax purposes and file Tax Returns (including Form 8594 under Section 1060 of the Code) in a manner consistent with such mutually agreed Final Allocation. If Lessors raise objections to the Draft Allocation, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to resolve such objection(s). If the Parties are unable to agree on the Draft Allocation within 14 Days after Lessors raise such objections, the Parties shall refer such dispute to an independent nationally recognized accounting firm (the Independent Accountant ), which Independent Accountant shall make a final and binding determination as to all matters in dispute with respect to the Draft Allocation (and only such matters) within 30 Days and promptly shall notify the Parties in writing of its resolution. Each Party shall bear and pay one-half of the fees and other costs charged by the Independent Accountant.
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5.7 Transaction Taxes . Any real property transfer or gains tax, sales tax, use tax, stamp tax, stock transfer tax or other similar tax, including any penalties, interest and additions to tax, imposed by reason of any of the transactions (including the rescission rights) contemplated by this Agreement shall be shared equally by the relevant Lessor and the Lessee.
5.8 Property Taxes .
(a) Any property Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Facilities for the taxable period (for purposes of this section, taxable period means the period beginning on the assessment date for property Taxes through the day before the next assessment date for such Taxes) that contains the Closing Date shall be prorated based on the relative number of days prior to the Closing Date and on and after the Closing Date during the taxable period, with Lessors being responsible for ad valorem property Taxes allocable to the taxable period ending prior to the Closing Date and Lessee being responsible for ad valorem property Taxes with respect to the Facilities allocable to the taxable period beginning on the Closing Date.
(b) The amount of any refunds of property Taxes shall be equitably apportioned between Lessors and Lessee. Each Party shall forward, and shall cause its Affiliates to forward, to the Party entitled to receive a refund of property Tax, the amount of such refund within 30 Days after such refund is received, net any costs or expenses incurred by such Party in procuring such refund.
(c) Lessors shall file in a timely manner annual Missouri personal property tax returns with respect to the Facilities.
5.9 Tax Return Information and Tax Proceedings .
(a) Lessors and Lessee shall cooperate fully as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns and any audit, litigation or other proceeding (each a Tax Proceeding ) with respect to Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Facilities; provided that Lessee will control the conduct of any Tax Proceeding if Lessee will bear the liability for any additional Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Facilities as a result of such Tax Proceeding. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other Partys request) the provision of Books and Records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return or Tax Proceeding and making employees available on a
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mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder, and consent to attendance by the other Party in any third-party interview, deposition or other discovery process relating to such Taxes.
(b) Lessors shall retain all Tax Returns and related workpapers, and all Books and Records relevant to the business of, and Taxes and Tax Returns with respect to, the Facilities until a Final Disposition has occurred with respect to all Tax periods for which Lessee claims Section 45 Credits with respect to Refined Coal produced by the Facilities. If Lessor wishes to dispose of Books and Records at any time, Lessor shall provide written notice to Lessee describing the Books and Records to be disposed of 90 Days prior to taking such action. Lessee may arrange to take delivery of the Books and Records described in such notice at its own expense during such 90-day period.
(c) In the event of a Tax Proceeding *, Lessee agrees to notify Lessors of the commencement of any such Tax Proceeding and to keep Lessors informed of the status of the Tax Proceeding, including providing notice and an opportunity to review any correspondence with any Governmental Authority. Lessee agrees to provide Lessors with an opportunity to comment on written submissions. Lessee and its Affiliates shall consult in good faith with, and shall ensure that due consideration is given to suggestions made, and points raised by, Lessors concerning written submissions, conduct of the Tax Proceeding and settlement discussions with any Governmental Authority in connection with such Tax Proceeding, provided however, that Lessee shall in its sole discretion make all final decisions with respect to the drafting of any written submission, conduct of such Tax Proceeding and settlement discussions, after consultation with Lessors.
5.10 Additional Information to be Provided by Lessors . Lessors shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Lessee the following financial information, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lessee:
(a) Within twenty five (25) Days after the end of each Month, a balance sheet, profit or loss statement for such Month and cumulative Taxable Year profit and loss statement for Lessee on a standalone basis;
(b) Within ninety (90) Days after the end of each Taxable Year, audited annual financial statements of Lessee on a standalone basis prepared in accordance with GAAP and audited by an independent nationally recognized accounting firm selected by Lessee in its sole discretion.
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ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
6.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation . The respective obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver of the applicable Party) on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) Governmental Consents and Approvals . All Consents by, or declarations or filings with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Authority necessary or required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained, filed, or occurred.
(b) No Injunctions or Restraints . No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or other order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority preventing, restraining, enjoining, or prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in effect.
(c) No Action . No action shall have been taken nor any statute, rule, or regulation shall have been enacted by any Governmental Authority that makes the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal.
(d) Legality . No Law or order prohibiting, restraining or making illegal the consummation of any material aspect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect.
6.2 Conditions to Obligation of Lessee . The obligation of Lessee to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions (unless waived, in whole or in part, by Lessee):
(a) Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the CCS Parties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Closing as though made on and as of such time, except for (i) breaches of such representations and warranties resulting from transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) such representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier time, and Lessee shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of each CCS Party by an officer of such CCS Party.
(b) Performance of Obligations of CCS Parties . The CCS Parties shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed by them under this Agreement prior to the Closing, and Lessee shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of each CCS Party by an officer of such CCS Party.
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(c) Closing Deliveries . All documents, instruments, certificates or other items required to be delivered by any CCS Party pursuant to Section 2.3(b) shall have been delivered to Lessee.
(d) Utility Agreements . Lessee shall have entered into the Utility Agreements, each in form and substance satisfactory to Lessee in its sole discretion.
(e) Condition of the Facilities . The Facilities shall be in good working condition, and no material damage to, material impairment of the operating capability of, or material adverse change affecting the Facilities taken as a whole shall have occurred since the date on which the Facilities were inspected by Lessee on May 6, 2010.
(f) Legal Opinion . The CCS Parties shall have delivered to Lessee (i) a legal opinion of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, counsel to the CCS Parties, addressed to Lessee, dated as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance satisfactory to Lessees legal counsel in their sole discretion, (ii) a legal opinion of Rothgerber Johnson and Lyons LLP, counsel to the CCS Parties, addressed to Lessee, dated as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance satisfactory to Lessees legal counsel in their sole discretion and (iii) a legal opinion of Schuchat, Herzog & Brenman, LLC, counsel to ADA-ES, addressed to Lessee, dated as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance satisfactory to Lessees legal counsel in their sole discretion.
(g) Required Consents . The CCS Parties shall have received in writing all Consents listed on Schedule 3.1(c) .
(h) Due Diligence . Lessee shall have completed its due diligence investigation regarding the Facilities, including tax due diligence with respect to the availability of Section 45 Credits for the Refined Coal produced in the Facilities, and any related matters concerning the CCS Parties, the Facilities and Lessees (or its designees) contemplated operation of the Facilities, and Lessee shall be satisfied in its sole discretion.
(i) Section 45 Change . There shall not have occurred any Section 45 Change (including any Section 45 Change that is to become effective at a future date) or Proposed Section 45 Change.
(j) Verification of Expenses . Lessee shall have verified to its satisfaction in its sole discretion that the estimate of the cost of operating the Facilities
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provided by Lessor to Lessee taking into account operation and maintenance costs, chemical additive costs, Refined Coal sales price, taxes, insurance and other costs and expenses, is not materially greater than the oral representations made by the CCS Parties to Lessee.
(k) Ownership of the CCS Parties . As of the Closing, Schedule 6.2(k) shall reflect the ownership of each CCS Party; and no Person will have any right or option to acquire any membership interest in any CCS Party; and the CCS Parties shall have provided Lessee evidence satisfactory to Lessee in its sole discretion with respect to such matters.
6.3 Conditions to Obligations of CCS Parties . The obligation of each CCS Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions (unless waived, in whole or in part, by the CCS Parties):
(a) Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of Lessee set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Closing as though made on and as of such time, except for (i) breaches of such representations and warranties resulting from transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) such representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier time, and the CCS Parties shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Lessee by an authorized representative of Lessee.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Lessee . Lessee shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement prior to the Closing, and the CCS Parties shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Lessee by an authorized representative of Lessee.
(c) Closing Deliveries . All documents, instruments, certificates and other items required to be delivered by Lessee pursuant to Sections 2.3(a) shall have been delivered by Lessee.
(d) Utility Agreements . Lessee shall have entered into the Utility Agreements, each in form and substance satisfactory to Lessee in its sole discretion.
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ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION
7.1 Termination . This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing only as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of Lessee and the CCS Parties;
(b) by either the CCS Parties or Lessee by delivering written notice to the other Party:
(i) if (A) any Law shall make the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibited; or (B) a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority shall have issued an order, decree, or ruling or taken any other action (which order, decree or ruling the Parties shall use their Reasonable Efforts to lift or vacate), in each case permanently restraining, enjoining, or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, and such order, decree, ruling, or other action shall have become final and non-appealable; or
(ii) if all conditions precedent to the Closing under Article 6 shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the applicable Party) by 5:00 p.m., local New York time, on June 29, 2010; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this clause (ii) shall not be available to any Party that (A) proximately contributed to the occurrence of the failure to satisfy such conditions precedent by such date and time, or (B) failed to use all Reasonable Efforts to satisfy such conditions precedent.
The right of any Party to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Party hereto, any Person controlling any such Party or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents, or other representatives whether prior to or after the execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.1 to the contrary, no Party that is in material breach of this Agreement shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement except with the written consent of the other Party.
7.2 Effect of Termination .
(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further effect and there shall be no liability or obligation hereunder on the part of the CCS Parties or Lessee,
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except (a) any Party nevertheless shall be entitled to seek any remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity for the violation or breach by any other Party of any agreement or covenant (but not any representation or warranty) contained in this Agreement that occurs prior to the termination; (b) the provisions of Section 2.5, , this Section 7.2 and Articles 8 and 9 (and all associated defined terms) shall survive any such termination; and (c) each Party shall within five Days after such termination redeliver all documents, work papers and other materials of the other Parties relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, whether so obtained before or after the execution hereof, to the Party furnishing the same.
(b) Lessor is entitled to lease the Facilities, or otherwise convey, transfer, or dispose of the Facilities, upon the valid and undisputed termination of the Leases.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Indemnification of Lessee .
(a) The CCS Parties jointly and severally shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Lessee Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Lessee Indemnified Costs.
(b) The obligations of the CCS Parties under Section 8.1(a) shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) The CCS Parties shall not have any liability for Lessee Indemnified Costs for any breach by the CCS Parties of any representations or warranties unless and until the aggregate of all Lessee Indemnified Costs relating thereto for which the CCS Parties would, but for this clause (i), be required to indemnify Lessee exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount (the CCS Basket Amount ) equal to $500,000, in which case, subject to clause (ii) of this subsection (b), the CCS Parties shall be liable for the Lessee Indemnified Costs incurred by the Lessee Indemnified Parties but only to the extent such Lessee Indemnified Costs exceed the CCS Basket Amount;
(ii) The CCS Parties shall not have any liability for Lessee Indemnified Costs for any breach of any representation and warranty in Section 3.1 if Lessee had actual knowledge that such representation and warranty was not True in any material respect at the time of the Closing, and no Lessee Indemnified Costs related thereto shall be aggregated for the purpose of Section 8.1(b)(i);
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(iii) The CCS Parties shall not have any liability for Lessee Indemnified Costs for breach of representations and warranties in excess of the amounts specified in Section 8.1(c);
(iv) The obligations to indemnify and hold Lessee harmless pursuant to Section 8.1(a) with respect to breaches of representations and warranties shall be subject to the limitations in Section 3.3; and
(v) The liability of the CCS Parties for Lessee Indemnified Costs arising from Losses that are assessed against Lessee arising out of any failure of the CCS Parties to obtain or file any Permit that was required to be obtained or filed by the CCS Parties prior to the Closing either to conduct the business of the CCS Parties in Missouri or to own or operate the Facilities in Missouri shall not be limited to that portion of such Loss attributable to the time period prior to Closing.
(c) The obligations of the CCS Parties under Section 8.1(a) shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) The CCS Parties shall not have any liability for lost or disallowed Section 45 Credits relating to Refined Coal actually produced at the Facilities except (A) under Section 2.5 of this Agreement, and (B) for breaches of the representations and warranties in Sections 3.1 (a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (i), (l) and (m) of this Agreement;
(ii) except as otherwise provided in Section 8.1(c)(iv), the CCS Parties shall not have any liability for Lessee Indemnified Costs for breaches of the representations and warranties in Sections 3.1 (a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (i), (l) and (m) of this Agreement to the extent the aggregate amount of such Losses exceeds the sum of the Prepaid Rent, Initial Term Fixed Rent Payments, Renewal Term Fixed Rent Payments and Contingent Rent Payments (as such terms are defined in the Leases) paid under the Leases as of the relevant time of determination (the CCS First Cap Amount );
(iii) except as otherwise provided in Section 8.1(c)(iv), the CCS Parties shall not have any liability for Lessee Indemnified Costs for breaches of the representations and warranties in this Agreement (other than those in Sections 3.1 (a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (i), (l) and (m) of this Agreement) to the extent the aggregate amount of such Losses exceeds the Prepaid Rent paid to Lessors under the Leases (the CCS Second Cap Amount ); and
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(iv) the limitations of the CCS First Cap Amount and the CCS Second Cap Amount shall not apply to Lessee Indemnified Costs resulting from (A) a breach of any representation or warranty contained in Section 3.1(k) of this Agreement or (B) or any gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of the CCS Parties or (C) any Third Party Claim.
8.2 Indemnification of the CCS Parties .
(a) Lessee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the CCS Indemnified Parties from and against any and all CCS Indemnified Costs.
(b) Lessees obligations under Section 8.2(a) shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) Lessee shall not have any liability for CCS Indemnified Costs for any breach by Lessee of any representations or warranties unless and until the aggregate of all CCS Indemnified Costs relating thereto for which Lessee would, but for this clause (i), be required to indemnify the CCS Indemnified Parties exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount (the Lessee Basket Amount ) equal to $500,000, in which case, subject to clause (ii) of this subsection (b), Lessee shall be liable for the CCS Indemnified Costs incurred by the CCS Indemnified Parties, but only to the extent such CCS Indemnified Costs exceed the Lessee Basket Amount;
(ii) Lessee shall not have any liability for CCS Indemnified Costs for any breach of any representation and warranty in Section 3.2 if any CCS Party had actual knowledge that such representation and warranty was not True in any material respect at the time of the Closing and no CCS Indemnified Costs related thereto shall be aggregated for the purpose of Section 8.2(b)(i);
(iii) Lessee shall not have any liability for CCS Indemnified Costs for any breach of any representations and warranties to the extent the aggregate amount of all CCS Indemnified Costs for breaches of representations and warranties for which Lessee would otherwise be liable exceeds the Prepaid Rent (the Lessee Cap Amount ) provided, however, that the limitation of the Lessee Cap Amount shall not apply to any CCS Indemnified Costs resulting from (x) any gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of Lessee or (y) any Third Party Claim; and
(iv) the obligations to indemnify and hold the CCS Indemnified Parties harmless pursuant to Section 8.2(a) with respect to breaches of representations and warranties shall be subject to the limitations in Section 3.3.
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8.3 Notification of Claims . In the event that any Third-Party Claim is hereafter asserted against an Indemnified Party as to which such Indemnified Party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party promptly and in writing after (a) receipt of notice of commencement of any third-party litigation against such Indemnified Party, (b) receipt by such Indemnified Party of written notice of any Third-Party Claim pursuant to an invoice, notice of claim or assessment, against such Indemnified Party, or (c) such Indemnified Party becomes aware of the existence of any other event in respect of which Indemnification may be sought from the Indemnifying Party (such a notice, being a Claims Notice ). The Claims Notice shall describe the Claim and the specific facts and circumstances in reasonable detail, shall include a copy of the notice referred to in (a) and (b), above, and shall indicate the amount, if known, or an estimate, if possible, of Losses that have been or may be incurred or suffered.
8.4 Defense of Third-Party Claims . If an Indemnified Partys claim for indemnification under Section 8.1 or 8.2 is based on a Claim brought by a Third Party ( Third-Party Claim ), the Indemnifying Party shall have the right, at its sole cost and expense, to defend such Third-Party Claim in the name or on behalf of the Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnified Party shall have the right (following notice to the Indemnifying Party) to retain its own counsel and control its defense of any such Third-Party Claim, with the reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the Indemnifying Party , if (a) representation of such Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate because of actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party; (b) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to employ counsel to defend such Proceeding or otherwise failed to prosecute such defense with reasonable diligence; or (c) the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel chosen by it that there may be one or more legal defenses or counterclaims available to such Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party in such Proceeding. If the immediately-preceding sentence is inapplicable (or if the Indemnified Party waives its right hereunder to defend such Third Party Claim), the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at its own cost and expense in the Proceeding and, in such event, shall and shall have the right to, consult with the Indemnifying Party regarding the defense thereof; provided that, except as otherwise provided herein, the Indemnifying Party shall at all times control such defense of such Proceeding. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may not settle or compromise the claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless the settlement or compromise includes a full release of all of the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall pay to or for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties in cash the amount for which such Indemnified Parties
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are entitled to be indemnified within 30 Days after the settlement or compromise of such Third-Party Claim or the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. An Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement or compromise of any Third-Party Claim without its consent.
8.5 Other Claims . Any Indemnified Party that seeks indemnification under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 for Losses that are not attributable to a Third-Party Claim shall notify the Indemnifying Party, stating the nature and basis of the Losses and, to the extent known, the actual or estimated amount thereof. The Indemnifying Party shall pay the amount of such Losses, as specified in such notice, in the manner described in Section 8.6.
8.6 Payment . Upon a determination that an Indemnifying Party is liable for indemnification under Section 8.1 or 8.2 (by admission of the Indemnifying Party, agreement of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party, or final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction not subject to appeal), the Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified Party, within 30 Days after such determination, the amount of the Loss indemnified thereby. Upon the payment in full of any such Loss, the Indemnifying Party making such payment shall be subrogated to the rights of the Indemnified Party against any other Person with respect to the subject matter of such Loss and of any claim or Proceeding relating thereto.
8.7 No Duplication . Any liability for indemnification under this Article 8 shall be determined without duplication of recovery by reason of the state of facts giving rise to such liability constituting a breach of more than one representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.
8.8 Sole Remedy . Except with respect to the remedies permitted under the other Transaction Documents, the Parties agree that the sole and exclusive remedy of any Party hereto with respect to this Agreement, or any other claims relating to the Facilities or the events giving rise to this Agreement and the transactions provided for herein or contemplated hereby, shall be limited to (i) the right to seek injunctive relief, rescission (only in the case of fraud or otherwise as provided herein), or specific performance of or as to any obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article 8 and, in furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives and releases the other Party from, to the fullest extent permitted under any applicable law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action it may have against the other Party except as provided in this Section 8.8; provided that no Party shall be entitled to receive a duplicate amount for any claim submitted both under this agreement and under any other Transaction Document.
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8.9 General Limitation of Damages . IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE UNDER ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES INCURRED OR SUFFERED BY AN INDEMNIFIED PERSON; provided, however, that this Section 8.9 shall not limit an Indemnified Persons right to indemnification pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2 for any such Losses (a) that the Indemnified Person is legally required to pay to another Person as a result of a Claim or Proceeding (including Losses resulting from Third Party Claims), or (b) that constitute lost Section 45 Credits, but only to the extent provided by and subject to the limitations of this Agreement.
8.10 After-Tax Basis . All indemnification payments made pursuant to this Article 8 shall be treated as an adjustment to the price paid under the taxable installment sale, unless an independent tax counsel selected jointly by the Parties advises that such treatment is more likely than not incorrect. In such a case, all indemnification payments made pursuant to this Article 8 will be calculated and paid on an After-Tax Basis.
ARTICLE 9
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1 Confidentiality .
(a) Each Party shall maintain the terms of this Agreement in confidence and shall not disclose any information concerning the terms, performance or administration of this Agreement to any other Person; provided that a Party may disclose such information: (i) to any of such Partys Affiliates, (ii) to any prospective member of such Partys Affiliates, (iii) to any actual or prospective purchaser of all or a portion of such Partys interest in the Facilities and (iv) to any Person providing or evaluating a proposal to provide financing to the recipient Party or any direct or indirect owner of such Party; provided in each case that the recipient Party shall provide to each Person to which disclosure is made a copy of this Section 9.1 and direct such Person to treat such information confidentially, and the recipient Party shall be liable for any breach of the terms of this Section 9.1 by such Persons to which it makes any such disclosure. The foregoing restrictions will not apply (A) to information that is or becomes generally available to the public otherwise than as a result of disclosure by the recipient Party, (B) to information that is already in, or subsequently comes into, the recipient Partys possession, provided that the source of such information was not, to the recipient Partys knowledge, obligated to keep such information confidential, (C) to information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Law or stock exchange rules and regulations or is otherwise subject to legal, judicial, regulatory or self-regulatory requests for information or documents or (D) subject to Section 9.1(b) below, to the tax structure or tax treatment of the transaction.
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(b) Each Party may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction, provided, however, that any such information is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable securities laws. The tax structure and tax treatment of the transaction includes only those facts that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal and state income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction and, to eliminate any doubt, therefore specifically does not include information that either reveals or standing alone or in the aggregate with other information so disclosed tends of itself to reveal or allow the recipient of the information to ascertain the identity of any parties involved in any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the documents to be delivered in connection herewith.
(c) If any Party is required to disclose any information required by this Section 9.1 to be maintained as confidential in a judicial, administrative or governmental proceeding, such Party shall give the other Party at least 10 Days prior written notice (unless less time is permitted by the applicable proceeding) before disclosing any such information in any said proceeding and, in making such disclosure, the Party required to disclose the information shall disclose only that portion thereof required to be disclosed and shall cooperate with the other Party in the other Partys attempts to seek to preserve the confidentiality thereof, including if such Party seeks to obtain protective orders and/or any intervention.
9.2 Schedules . All Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference. The statements contained in the Schedules hereto that pertain to Article 3 shall be deemed to constitute representations and warranties under this Agreement by the relevant Party to the same extent as if set forth in this Agreement in full. No Schedule to this Agreement shall incorporate any disclosure set forth on any other Schedule to this Agreement or in any other document unless such disclosure is expressly and specifically incorporated by reference. Nothing in the Schedules shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless the Schedule identifies the exception with reasonable particularity. Prior to the Closing, the CCS Parties shall supplement, modify or update the Schedules hereto to reflect changes in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that in the event of any such supplement, modification or update could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Lessee shall have the right to elect to terminate this Agreement. If Lessee proceeds to close under the Transaction Documents notwithstanding any supplement, modification or update to the Schedules provided by the CCS Parties, Lessee shall not be entitled to claim for a breach of representation or warranty based on the changes made by such supplement, modification or update as compared to the Schedules originally provided.
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9.3 Further Actions . After the Closing Date, the CCS Parties and Lessee shall execute and deliver such other certificates, agreements, conveyances, and other documents, and take such other action, as may be reasonably requested by the other Party in order to (a) transfer and assign to, and vest in, Lessee a valid leasehold interest in the Facilities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (b) otherwise carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
9.4 Amendment, Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties. Any failure of Lessee or any CCS Party to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement, or condition contained herein may be waived only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure.
9.5 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated herein are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
9.6 Expenses and Obligations . Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne solely and entirely by the Party which has incurred such expenses.
9.7 Binding Effect; Third Parties . This Agreement shall be binding upon and, except as provided below, inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person (other than the Lessee Indemnified Parties and CCS Indemnified Parties as provided in Article 8) any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement).
9.8 Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by a nationally recognized overnight courier, by facsimile, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
34
requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) If to Lessee, to: |
GS RC Investments LLC |
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. 200 West Street New York, New York 10282 |
Attention: Michael Feldman |
Fax: (212) 428-3868 |
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, Texas 77002-6760 |
Attention: F. B Cochran III Fax: (713) 615-5368 |
If to the CCS Parties, to: |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC 3300 South Parker Road, Suite 310 Aurora, CO 80014 |
Attention: Charles S. McNeil Fax: (303) 751-9210 Email: cmcneil@nexgen-group.com |
With copies to (which shall not constitute notice): Chadbourne & Parke LLP 1200 New Hampshire Avenue, NW |
Washington, DC 20036 Attention: Keith Martin |
Fax: 202-974-6774 |
and |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC |
8100 South Park Way, Unit B Littleton, CO 80120 Attention: Nina French |
Email: ninafrench@sbcglobal.net |
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All notices and other communications given in accordance herewith shall be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, (ii) on the date of receipt, if faxed (provided a hard copy of such transmission is dispatched by first class mail within 48 hours), (iii) three Business Days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and (iv) one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier; provided, however, that a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.8 but received on any Day other than a Business Day or after business hours in the place of receipt, will be deemed given on the next Business Day in that place.
9.9 Knowledge. The term knowledge when used in the phrases to the knowledge of CCS Parties or CCS Parties have no knowledge or words of similar import shall mean, and shall be limited to, the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Schedule 9.9 after reasonable investigation and due inquiry.
9.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
9.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Leases shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and in the Leases. No modification of this Agreement or waiver of any provision hereof shall be binding unless the modification or waiver shall be in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. This Agreement expressly supersedes all prior agreements between the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
9.12 Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO A DISPUTE AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT THERETO.
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9.13 Private Letter Ruling . If Lessee or any of its Affiliates decides to pursue a request for a PLR, determination letter or other written guidance from the IRS (the IRS Guidance ) with respect to any aspect of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the documents to be delivered in connection herewith or in relation to the Facilities, Lessee will cooperate with Lessors in good faith including consulting with Lessors with respect to written submissions and attendance by Lessors or their Representatives at meetings or conferences with the IRS. Lessee shall give due consideration to Lessors comments on written submissions requesting IRS Guidance, provided that Lessee shall in its sole discretion make all final decisions with respect to the drafting of any such written submission. The Parties shall consider in good faith and make such amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary to permit Lessee to obtain the IRS Guidance. Neither Party shall be required to agree to any such amendment that it reasonably determines, in good faith, is adverse to them in any material respect; provided that Lessors shall not withhold their agreement to any such amendment if Lessee has agreed to fully compensate Lessors for any adverse economic effect on Lessors resulting from such amendment and such amendment would not cause any material adverse effect on Lessors for which it cannot adequately be compensated by Lessee.
9.14 Publicity . Lessors agree that they will not, without the prior written consent of Lessee, in each instance, (a) use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise the name of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or any partner or employee of GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), nor any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee), or (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by Lessors have been approved or endorsed by GS, or any Affiliate thereof (including Lessee). No public announcement of any kind regarding the existence or terms of this Agreement shall be made without the prior written consent of the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 9.14 shall limit Lessors obligation to disclose information pursuant to Section 9.1.
9.15 Assignment . Neither Party shall assign or otherwise transfer (collectively, an Assignment ) this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any purported Assignment made without such prior written consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) either Party may, without the need for consent from the other Party, make an Assignment of this Agreement to an Affiliate of such Party provided that such Affiliate assumes all of the obligations of the Party making the Assignment and the Lessor Guarantees or the Lessee Guaranty remain in effect, as applicable, with respect to the obligations of such Affiliate, and in such event the assigning Party shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment;
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(b) Lessee may, without the need for consent from Lessor, make an Assignment of this Agreement to any Person (i) succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets, provided such Person has, or its obligations under this Agreement are guaranteed by a Person who has, an Investment Grade rating, or (ii) after December 31, 2019 if the Section 45 Credit for Refined Coal produced by the Facilities have been extended beyond such date; provided however Lessees rights under Section 2.4 shall not be assignable pursuant to this Section 9.15(b); and
(c) Lessors may, with the prior written consent of Lessee, make an Assignment of this Agreement to any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of its assets provided that (i) the acquiring Person assumes all obligations of Lessors hereunder, and (ii) either (A) the Lessor Guarantees remain in full force and effect with respect to the Person succeeding to all or substantially all of Lessors assets, or (B) the Lessor Guarantees are replaced by a new guaranty or guarantees on the same terms as the Lessor Guarantees covering such assumed obligations from a Person having an Investment Grade rating, and in such event Lessor shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement, except for those obligations that arose prior to such Assignment.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Agreement to Lease to be signed on its behalf as of the date first written above.
CLEAN COAL SOLUTIONS, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
|||
Name: | Brian Humphrey | |||
Title: | Manager | |||
AEC-NM, LLC | ||||
By : |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, its managing member |
|||
By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
|||
Name: | Brian Humphrey | |||
Title: | Manager | |||
AEC-TH, LLC | ||||
By : |
Clean Coal Solutions, LLC, its managing member |
|||
By: |
/s/ Brian Humphrey |
|||
Name: | Brian Humphrey | |||
Title: | Manager |
Signature Page to Agreement to Lease
GS RC INVESTMENTS LLC | ||||
By: |
GSFS INVESTMENTS I CORP., its sole member |
|||
By: |
/s/ Albert Dombrowski |
|||
Name: | Albert Dombrowski | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Agreement to Lease
ANNEX I
DEFINITIONS
Acceptance Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
ADA-ES means ADA-ES, Inc., a Colorado corporation.
ADA-ES Guaranty means that ADA-ES Guaranty, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1.
AEC-NM has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
AEC-TH has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person. For purposes of this definition and the Agreement, the term control (and correlative terms) means (a) the ownership of 50% or more of the equity interest in a Person, or (b) the power, whether by contract, equity ownership or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies or management of a Person. For the purposes of this definition, each of ADA-ES, NexGen LLC, NexGen, Republic and Operator are Affiliates of Lessors. For the purposes of this definition, the parent of Lessee and any member of the federal income tax consolidated group of which such parent is a member are Affiliates of Lessee.
After-Tax Basis
means, with respect to any amount payable in respect of a Loss (the
Base Amount
),
the Base Amount supplemented by an additional amount (the
Gross-Up
) to reflect all U.S. federal, state and local Taxes (net of any deductions or credits realized by the payee arising from the receipt or accrual of the Gross-Up)
imposed on the receipt or accrual of the Base Amount and the Gross-Up so that after reduction for the payment of all such Taxes the recipient would retain an amount equal to the Base Amount, provided that the Gross-Up amount shall be calculated
based upon the assumption that the Indemnified Party is subject to corporate income tax at the maximum Federal corporate income tax rate in effect at the time of calculation plus six percent; and provided further that the amount of any Loss will
take into account the value of any tax deduction that would be allowed to the Indemnified Party with respect thereto assuming that such Indemnified Party is able to use such deduction and is subject to corporate income tax at the maximum Federal
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
Annex I - 1
Assignment has the meaning set forth in Section 9.15.
Background Materials means all written materials such as books, records, data, change orders, materials and other information regarding the Facilities that any CCS Party furnished (or caused to be furnished), and prior to the Closing will furnish (or cause to be furnished), including by way of access to an electronic dataroom, to Lessee or any of its Representatives, including those books, records, data, materials and other information described on Exhibit B.
Base Amount has the meaning set forth in the definition of After-Tax Basis .
Books and Records means all financial, engineering, operating, accounting, tax, business, environmental, legal, marketing, and other data, files, documents, instruments, notes, papers, books and records of any CCS Party or the owner of any Future Project, their respective members and Affiliates of their respective members that relate materially to any CCS Party or the owner of any Future Project, including financial statements, budgets, ledgers, journals, deeds, property records, title policies, drawings, records, maps, charts, surveys, prints, franchises, customer lists, supplier lists, sales and sales promotional data, advertising materials, cost and pricing information, corporate records, permits, certificates, governmental filings, Tax Returns and reports, whether in existence on the date of this Agreement or created after the date of this Agreement.
Business Day means any Day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a Day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to be closed.
CCS Basket Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b).
CCS Cap Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b).
CCS First Cap Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(c). CCS Indemnified Costs means any and all Losses incurred by any of the CCS Indemnified Parties resulting from or relating to any breach or default by Lessee of any representation or warranty (whether on the date hereof or on the Closing Date, as though such representation or warranty was being made as of such Closing Date), covenant, indemnity or agreement under this Agreement or any Transaction Document.
CCS Indemnified Parties means (a) Developer, (b) Lessors; (c) each Lessor Guarantor; (d) any member of any Lessor; (d) the Affiliates of each Person described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c); and (e) the respective successors, assigns and Representatives of each Person described in the foregoing clause (a), (b), (c) or (d).
Annex I - 2
CCS Party and CCS Parties have the meanings set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
CCS Second Cap Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(c).
Chemical Additive means each chemical additive listed in Schedule A to the Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements.
Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements means those certain Chemical Additive Supply Agency Agreements, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 and C-2.
Claim means a demand, claim, complaint, cross-demand, cross-claim, counterclaim, cross-complaint, summons, notice of violation, arbitration notice, or other notice, communication or action pursuant to which a Person (including a Governmental Authority) (a) notifies another Person that the first Person has suffered or incurred Losses for which the second Person may be liable or responsible; (b) alleges that such second Person has violated a Law or is otherwise liable or responsible for Losses arising under a Law; (c) asserts legal, equitable, contractual or other rights or remedies against such second Person; (d) proposes an adjustment to a Tax Return of such second Person; (e) institutes or commences a Proceeding against such second Person; (f) otherwise makes any demand or claim on such second Person; or (g) threatens to do any of the foregoing.
Claims Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3. Closing means the consummation of the transactions contemplated by Section 2.3.
Closing Date means the date of the Closing specified in Section 2.2.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Confidentiality Agreement means the Confidentiality Agreement between Developer and Goldman Sachs & Co. dated July 13, 2009.
Consent means any consents or approval of any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
Day means a calendar day.
Developer has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
Draft Allocation has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
Annex I - 3
Environmental Costs or Liabilities means any losses, liabilities, obligations, damages, fines, penalties, judgments, settlements, actions, claims, demands, costs and expenses (including costs relating to personal injury, death or property damage, reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of legal counsel, experts, engineers and consultants, and the costs of investigation or feasibility studies and performance of corrective, remedial or removal actions and cleanup or monitoring activities) arising from, under or in connection with (a) any violation of or liability under any Environmental Laws, (b) any remedial or corrective action obligation under or relating to any Environmental Laws or (c) any liability or Claim relating to the release of, presence of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance.
Environmental Laws means all applicable Laws and rules of common law pertaining to the protection of the environment, natural resources, workplace health and safety, the prevention of pollution or the remediation of contamination, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.), the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Act of 1984, the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq.) the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.), and any similar or analogous statutes, regulations and decisional law of any Governmental Authority, as each of the foregoing may have been or are in the future amended or supplemented, in each case to the extent applicable with respect to the property or operation to which application of the term Environmental Laws relates.
Escrow Agent means U.S. Bank National Association, or its successor under the Escrow Agreement.
Escrow Amount means *.
Escrow Agreement means the Escrow Agreement entered into between Lessors, Lessee and Escrow Agent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H.
Exhibits means the Exhibits attached to the Agreement.
Existing Sites means the land at the power plants known as the New Madrid Power Plant and the Thomas Hill Energy Center located near Marston, Missouri and Moberly, Missouri, respectively.
Annex I - 4
Facilities means New Madrid Refined Coal Facility and the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility.
Federal Tax Rule means any regulation, rule, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration, or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter by any Federal Tax Authority with respect to federal tax matters, including (a) regulations of the Treasury Department, (b) judgments and decisions of the United States Tax Court, the United States Board of Tax Appeals and any other court of the United States in connection with its exercise of original, trial or appellate jurisdiction over any case involving federal tax matters, and (c) IRS and Treasury Department materials such as revenue rulings, revenue procedures, Treasury decisions, technical memoranda, technical advice memoranda, PLRs, determination letters, Chief Counsels advice, field service advice, general counsel memoranda, office memoranda, technical information releases, delegation orders, Executive Orders, Treasury Department orders, notices, announcements and news releases.
Final Allocation has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
Final Determination means *
Final Disposition means the final resolution of any liability for any Tax for any taxable period by or as a result of: (i) a final and unappealable decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) a final binding written settlement with the IRS relating to the Section 45 Credits, a signed closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Code Sections 7121 or 7122, or a comparable arrangement under the laws of another jurisdiction; (iii) any allowance of a refund in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such amount may be recovered by the Governmental Authority imposing the Tax; or (iv) any other final resolution, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.
Future Project means (a) any facility for the production of Refined Coal developed by Developer or any of its Affiliates after the Effective Date * or (b) a facility for which Developer or any of its Affiliates has previously utilized the Section 45 Credits generated from the production of Refined Coal therefrom pursuant to (a) for its or their (as applicable) own account but intends to no longer so utilize or to dispose or otherwise transfer such Section 45 Credits or its or their (as applicable) economic interest therein.
GAAP means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
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Governmental Authority means any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, court or other instrumentality of any country, state, province, county, parish or municipality, jurisdiction, or other political subdivision thereof.
Gross-Up has the meaning set forth in the definition of After-Tax Basis .
GS means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a Delaware corporation.
Hazardous Substances means (a) any hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, toxic wastes, solid wastes, and toxic substances as those or similar terms are defined under any Environmental Laws; (b) any asbestos or any material which contains any hydrated mineral silicate, including chrysolite, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophylite and/or actinolite, whether friable or non-friable; (c) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or PCB-containing materials, or fluids; (d) radon; (e) any other hazardous, radioactive, toxic or noxious substance, material, pollutant, contaminant, constituent, or solid, liquid or gaseous waste; (f) any petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum products, crude oil and any fractions or derivatives thereof, and any natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof; and (g) any substance that, whether by its nature or its use, is subject to regulation under any Environmental Laws or with respect to which any Environmental Laws or Governmental Authority requires environmental investigation, monitoring or remediation.
Indemnified Party means any Person seeking indemnification from another Person pursuant to Article 8.
Indemnifying Party means any Person against whom a claim for indemnification is asserted by another Person pursuant to Article 8.
Initial Term has the meaning set forth in each of the Leases.
Intellectual Property means all trademarks, know-how, copyrights, copyright registrations and applications for registration, patents, patent rights, processes, formulae, trade secrets, inventions, methodologies and all other intellectual property rights including Internet domain names, whether registered or not, owned or licensed by any CCS Party and used in connection with the Facilities.
Independent Accountant has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b).
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto.
IRS Guidance has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.
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Law means any applicable constitutional provision, statute, act, code (including the Code), law, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration, or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter of a Governmental Authority having valid jurisdiction.
Leases means, collectively, the New Madrid Lease and the Thomas Hill Lease.
Lessee has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of the Agreement and includes its permitted successors and assigns.
Lessee Basket Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
Lessee Cap Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
Lessee Guaranty means that Lessee Guaranty, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-5.
Lessee Indemnified Costs means any and all Losses incurred by any of the Lessee Indemnified Parties resulting from or relating to (a) any Lessor and/or any Lessors ownership, operation or control of all or any part of the Facilities that in each case is based on any event, condition, fact, circumstance, action or omission that occurred or existed prior to the Closing, including any and all Environmental Costs or Liabilities and (b) any breach or default by any CCS Party of any representation or warranty (whether on the date hereof or on the Closing Date, as though such representation or warranty was being made as of such Closing Date), covenant, indemnity or agreement under this Agreement or any Transaction Document.
Lessee Indemnified Parties means (a) Lessee; (b) any member of Lessee, its successor and assigns; and (c) the shareholders and members of each Person described in the foregoing clause (b), (d) the Affiliates of each Person described in the foregoing clause (a), (b) or (c); (e) the successors, assigns and Representatives of each Person described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c), or (d); and (f) any company that joins with another Person that would be a Lessee Indemnified Party in filed consolidated or combined Tax Returns.
Lessor and Lessors have the meanings set forth in the first paragraph of the Agreement.
Lessor Guarantees means, collectively, the ADA-ES Guaranty, the NexGen LLC Guaranty, the NexGen Guaranty and the Republic Guaranty.
Lessor Guarantor means guarantor under any Lessor Guarantee.
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Lien means all burdens, encumbrances and defects affecting the ownership of an asset, including (a) liens, security interests, mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, conditional sale or trust receipt arrangement, consignment or bailment for security purposes, finance lease, or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever securing any obligation, whether such interest is based on common law, statute or contract; (b) any rights of first refusal or any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership; and (c) any other reservations, exceptions, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases, subleases, licenses, easements, servitudes, occupancy agreements, equities, charges, assessments, defects in title, liabilities, claims, agreements, obligations, encroachments and other burdens, and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting property of any nature, whether accrued or unaccrued, absolute or contingent, legal or equitable, real or personal, or otherwise.
Loss or Losses means losses, lost Section 45 Credits (but only to the extent such Section 45 Credits relate to Refined Coal actually produced by the Facilities), liabilities, causes of action, assessments, cleanup, removal, remediation and restoration obligations, judgments, awards, damages, natural resource damages, contribution, cost-recovery and compensation obligations, fines, fees, penalties, and costs and expenses (including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys and experts fees and expenses).
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations, assets, liabilities, operations, or properties of Lessee, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the Section 45 Credits available to Lessee from the ownership and operation of the Facilities, excluding effects resulting from general economic conditions or changes or conditions that effect the coal industry generally.
Month means a calendar month.
New Madrid Lease means that certain Equipment Lease (New Madrid), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1.
New Madrid Refined Coal Facility means the Refined Coal production facility currently located at the New Madrid Power Plant near Marston, Missouri or at any successor location, and used for the production of Refined Coal, including the equipment, attachments and appurtenances thereto and other personal property described on Exhibit E-1.
NexGen means NexGen Investments, LLLP, a Colorado limited liability limited partnership.
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NexGen Guaranty means that NexGen Guaranty, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-3.
NexGen LLC means NexGen Refined Coal, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company.
NexGen LLC Guaranty means that NexGen LLC Guaranty, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2.
NM Prepaid Rent means the prepaid rent of * due under Section 2.2 of the New Madrid Lease.
Offer Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
Offer Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
Operating and Maintenance Agreements means (a) the Operating and Maintenance Agreement to be entered into between Lessee, as lessee, and Operator, as operator, for the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F-1, and (b) the Operating and Maintenance Agreement to be entered into between Lessee, as lessee, and Operator, as operator, for the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F-2.
Operator means Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company.
Ordinary Course of Business means the ordinary course of business consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and frequency).
Party and Parties have the meanings set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Permit means any permit, certificate, license, franchise, authorization, variance, exemption, concession, lease, instrument, order, consent, authorization or approval of any Governmental Authority.
Permitted Liens means (a) the rights of the parties pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (b) liens for Taxes of any CCS Party not yet due, and (c) materialmens, mechanics, workers, repairmens, employees, or other like Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such proceedings do not involve any material danger of the sale, forfeiture or loss of any material part of the Refined Coal Plant (as defined in the Operating and Maintenance Agreement) or Lessees inventory of Refined Coal (or the proceeds thereof) or any title or interest in and to the foregoing.
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Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity.
PLR means a private letter ruling from the IRS.
Prepaid Rent means, collectively, the NM Prepaid Rent and the F Rent.
Proceeding means a judicial, administrative or arbitral proceeding (including a lawsuit or an investigation by a Governmental Authority), commencing with the institution of such proceeding through the issuance, service or delivery of the applicable Claim or other applicable event.
Proposed Section 45 Change means the occurrence of any of the following events after the date of the Agreement, insofar as such event relates to the Section 45 Credit, unless the Facilities and the sale of Refined Coal therefrom by Lessee would be grandfathered or otherwise exempted from the effect thereof as proposed:
(a) the introduction of a bill or chairmans mark by the chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate that, if enacted or adopted, would constitute a Section 45 Change;
(b) the passage by any of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate of a bill or resolution that, if enacted or adopted, would constitute a Section 45 Change;
(c) the issuance of any proposed Federal Tax Rule that, if adopted in temporary or final form, would constitute a Section 45 Change; or
(d) the issuance, publication, announcement or other public dissemination of any statement or writing by the U.S. President (including by executive order), the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, any Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate (including through a colloquy reported in the Congressional Record), or any representative of the national office of the IRS, if such statement or writing proposes, advocates or supports the enactment of federal legislation, or the adoption of a Federal Tax Rule, that would constitute a Section 45 Change.
Purchase Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
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Reasonable Efforts means the efforts that a prudent Person or entity desirous of achieving a result would use in similar circumstances to ensure that such result is achieved in a reasonably expeditious manner; provided, however, that an obligation to use Reasonable Efforts under the Agreement does not require the Person subject to that obligation to take actions that would incur any commercially unreasonable out-of-pocket cost or expense in connection therewith.
Records means all files, reports, data and records relating to the Facilities, including those relating to engineering, Permitting, maintenance, environmental compliance, inventory and supply, property and excise Taxes, title, corporate accounting, market studies, coal and coal fines purchases, Refined Coal sales, income Tax, the CCS Parties general files relating to the Facilities, economic analyses, documents related to general policies and procedures of the CCS Parties with respect to the ownership and operation of the Facilities.
Refined Coal means a liquid, gaseous or solid fuel produced from coal through the addition of Chemical Additives in accordance with the Refined Coal Specifications.
Refined Coal Investor means *.
Refined Coal Specifications has the meaning set forth in the Operating and Maintenance Agreement.
Renewal Term has the meaning set forth in each of the Leases.
Representative means, with respect to any Person, each manager, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant (including consulting engineers), advisor (including counsel and accountants), and other representative of such Person.
Republic means Republic Financial Corporation, a Colorado corporation.
Republic Guaranty means that Republic Guaranty, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-4.
Schedules means the Schedules attached to the Agreement.
Section 45 Change means the occurrence of any of the following events on or after the date hereof, insofar as such event relates to the Section 45 Credit, unless the Facilities and the sale of Refined Coal therefrom by Lessee are grandfathered or otherwise exempted from the effect thereof:
(a) any total repeal of Section 45 of the Code; or
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(b) any of the following events, to the extent that such event materially adversely affects, or has a material likelihood of adversely affecting, the amount, availability or value of Section 45 Credits that Lessee may claim for Refined Coal produced from the Facilities and sold to an Unrelated Person:
(i) an amendment to or partial repeal of Section 45 of the Code;
(ii) an amendment of a section of the Code that is expressly referred to in Section 45 of the Code or affects the ability of taxpayers to claim the Section 45 Credit; or
(iii) the adoption of a Federal Tax Rule that regulates, interprets, construes, limits, restricts, unwinds, modifies or otherwise affects (A) Section 45(c)(7), 45(d)(8) or 45(e)(8) of the Code or (B) a section of the Code, including in other parts of Section 45, that is expressly referred to in Section 45(c)(7), 45(d)(8) or 45(e)(8) of the Code.
Section 45 Credit means the credit allowed by Section 45 of the Code for the production and sale of refined coal produced from coal to an Unrelated Person.
Tax or Taxes means any taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add-on minimum, ad valorem, value added, turnover, sales, use, property, personal property (tangible and intangible), environmental, stamp, leasing, lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration, license, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, payroll, employment, fuel, excess profits, occupational, premium, windfall profit, severance, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
Taxable Year means the taxable year of Lessee or any affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code) electing to file a consolidated federal income tax return of which Lessee is a member.
Tax Proceeding has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(a).
Tax Return means any return, statement information return or other document (including amendments thereto and supporting information) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or administration of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws relating to any Taxes.
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Technology Sub-License means that certain technology sublicense among ADA-ES, Developer and Lessee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G.
Third Party means, with respect to a Party, any Person other than such Party, its Affiliates and its Representatives, excluding any Governmental Authority.
Third Party Claim has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.
Thomas Hill Lease means that certain Equipment Lease (Thomas Hill), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-2.
Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility means the Refined Coal production facility currently located at the Thomas Hill Energy Center near Moberly, Missouri or at any successor location, and used for the production of Refined Coal, including the equipment, attachments and appurtenances thereto and other personal property described on Exhibit E-2.
TH Prepaid Rent means the prepaid rent of * due under Section 2.2 of the Thomas Hill Lease.
Ton means 2,000 pounds.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement, the Leases, the Operating and Maintenance Agreements, the Technology Sub-License, the Chemical Additives Supply Agency Agreements, the Lessor Guarantees, the Lessee Guaranty and each other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument that is contemplated by this Agreement to be executed by the Parties or their Affiliates pursuant hereto or in connection herewith.
True means true, correct, accurate and complete.
Unrelated Person means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is not related to such Person within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4) of the Code.
Utility has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Utility Agreements means a Coal Purchase Contract (New Madrid) between Lessee and Utility, a Coal Purchase Contract (Thomas Hill) between Lessee and Utility, a Refined Coal Sale Agreement (New Madrid) between Lessee and Utility, a Refined Coal Sale Agreement (Thomas Hill) between Lessee and Utility, a Coal Yard Services Agreement (New Madrid) between Lessee and Utility, a Coal Yard Services Agreement (Thomas Hill) between Lessee and Utility, a Production Facility and Coal Yard Site License (New Madrid) between Lessee and Utility and a Production Facility and Coal Yard Site License (Thomas Hill) a between Lessee and Utility.
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EXHIBIT A-1
ADA-ES Guaranty
Exhibit A-1
EXHIBIT A-2
NexGen LLC Guaranty
Exhibit A-2
EXHIBIT A-3
NexGen Guaranty
Exhibit A-3
EXHIBIT A-4
Republic Guaranty
Exhibit A-4
EXHIBIT A-5
Lessee Guaranty
Exhibit A-5
EXHIBIT B
Background Materials
Exhibit E-2
EXHIBIT C-1
Chemical Additive Agency Supply Agreement (New Madrid)
Exhibit C-1
EXHIBIT C-2
Chemical Additive Agency Supply Agreement (Thomas Hill)
Exhibit C-2
EXHIBIT D-1
New Madrid Lease
Exhibit D-1
EXHIBIT D-2
Thomas Hill Lease
Exhibit D-2
EXHIBIT E-1
Description of the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility
Exhibit E-1
EXHIBIT E-2
Description of the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility
Exhibit E-2
EXHIBIT F-1
Operating and Maintenance Agreement for the New Madrid Refined Coal Facility
Exhibit F-1
EXHIBIT F-2
Operating and Maintenance Agreement for the Thomas Hill Refined Coal Facility
Exhibit F-2
EXHIBIT G
Technology Sub-License
Exhibit G
EXHIBIT H
Escrow Agreement
Exhibit H
Schedule 2.4
Disclosure Schedules, page 2
Schedule 3.1(a)
Disclosure Schedules, page 3
Schedule 3.1(c)
Disclosure Schedules, page 4
Schedule 3.1(d)
Litigation
Disclosure Schedules, page 5
Schedule 3.1(g)
Disclosure Schedules, page 6
Schedule 3.1(h)
Disclosure Schedules, page 7
Schedule 3.1(i)
Disclosure Schedules, page 8
Schedule 3.1(k)
Environmental matters
Disclosure Schedules, page 9
Schedule 3.1(l)
Disclosure Schedules, page 10
Schedule 3.1(m)
Disclosure Schedules, page 11
Schedule 3.1(m)(viii)
Disclosure Schedules, page 12
Schedule 3.1(m)(ix)
Disclosure Schedules, page 13
Schedule 3.1(n)
No exceptions.
Disclosure Schedules, page 14
Schedule 3.1(o)
Disclosure Schedules, page 15
Schedule 3.1(p)
Disclosure Schedules, page 16
Schedule 6.2(k)
Disclosure Schedules, page 17
Schedule 9.9
Disclosure Schedules, page 18
Exhibit 10.77
Execution Copy
AMENDED AND RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is entered into by and between, ADA-ES Inc., a Colorado corporation having its principal place of business at 8100 South Park Way, Unit B, Littleton, CO 80120-4525 ( Licensor ) and Clean Coal Solutions, LLC (f/k/a ADA-NexCoal, LLC), a Colorado limited liability company having its principal place of business at 3300 S. Parker Road, Suite 310, Aurora, Colorado 80014 ( Licensee ), and is effective as of October 30, 2009 (the Effective Date ). Licensor and Licensee are sometimes hereinafter individually referred to as a party and collectively as the parties .
RECITALS
WHEREAS , Licensor is the sole owner of all right, title and interest in and to the inventions and subject matter disclosed in the Patents (as defined below);
WHEREAS , Licensor previously licensed the Patents to Licensee in return for 100% of the ownership interest in Licensee, which consisted of 100 units of interest therein (the Units ), the rights and obligation as to which are as described in that certain Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Licensee, dated as of November 3, 2006, as the same may be further amended, restated or supplemented from time to time (the Operating Agreement );
WHEREAS , Licensor and Licensee previously entered into a License Agreement (the License Agreement ), effective as of November 3, 2006, and Licensor and Licensee desire to amend and restate the License Agreement by entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS , for clarity, it is acknowledged that ADA-NexCoal, LLC was erroneously referred to in the License Agreement as being a Delaware limited liability company when it was (and is) a Colorado limited liability company, and that ADA-NexCoal, LLC has changed its name to Clean Coal Solutions, LLC.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises made in this Agreement, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree to the terms and conditions as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
Unless otherwise elsewhere defined herein, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1. Affiliate has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.
1.2. Bankruptcy has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.
1.3. Board has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.
Amended and Restated License Agreement Execution Copy
1.4. Chemicals Business means the business of marketing and selling Chemicals and Additives and Technical Engineering Services (as defined in the Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement), specifically pertaining to NOx and mercury emissions controls from cyclone coal-fired boilers.
1.5. Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement means that certain Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2006, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2009, by and between Licensor and Licensee, as the same may be further amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
1.6. Damages has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.
1.7. Improvements means those modifications, revisions, derivations, updates, enhancements and improvements of the Technology related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone boilers that are conceived, discovered, created or developed by or on behalf of Licensor, which Improvements will automatically and without any further action on the part of Licensor or Licensee, become part of the Technology (and part of the Technology License).
1.8. Know-How means technical information, ideas, concepts, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how, discoveries, inventions, processes, methods, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, improvements, developments, designs and techniques related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers other than as embodied in the Patents, that are owned or controlled by Licensor during the Term and that are necessary or desirable to use the Patents for the purpose of the license granted in Section 2 hereof.
1.9. Law has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.
1.10. Licensed Property means any products or methods related to the reduction of NOx and mercury emissions from cyclone coal-fired boilers, whether owned by Licensor or licensed by Licensor now or hereafter, that are (i) covered by any Valid Claim(s) contained in any of the Patents, and/or (ii) based on the products, processes or methods developed using the Technology.
1.11. Patents means: (i) U.S. Patent No. 6,773,471 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on August 10, 2004; (ii) U.S. Patent No. 6,729,248 B2 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation issued on May 4, 2004; (iii) Patent Application No. 10/209,083 entitled Low Sulfur Coal Additive for Improved Furnace Operation filed July 30, 2002; (iv) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/730,971 entitled Additives for Catalysis of Mercury Oxidation in Coal-Fired Power Plants filed October 27, 2005; and (v) any and all continuations, continuations-in-part, and divisionals, and all patents issuing which are based on such applications, and all reissues, reexaminations, or extensions thereof, as well as any foreign counterparts, continuations,
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continuations-in-part or divisions thereof and patents and patent applications on any improvements, advancements, modifications, revisions or developments that are developed by or for Licensor, together with any other patents (U.S. or foreign and even if not listed herein) that share a common claim of priority with said patents or that, as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the parties, cover inventions substantially similar to said patents.
1.12. Purchase Agreement means the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2006, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2009, by and among Licensor, Licensee and NexGen Refined Coal, LLC, as the same may be further amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
1.13. Section 45 Business means each business of the Licensee or an affiliate of the Licensee in respect of which, intra alia , the Licensee shall have placed in service a refined coal production facility prior to January 1, 2010, for the production of refined coal in accordance with Section 45 ( Section 45 ) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the Code ) to be used to reduce NOx and mercury emissions in cyclone coal-fired boilers, and as to which Licensee has entered into an agreement or agreements to sell a qualified facility to a third party, and such third party would be thereafter entitled to Section 45 tax credits (as provided for under Section 45 for the operation of a refined coal production facility as set forth in such Section 45(d)(8) of the Code or any successor provision thereto) as a result of operating such facility, specifically pertaining to NOx and mercury emissions controls from cyclone coal-fired boilers. The foregoing January 1, 2010 date shall be extended from time to time to be coterminous with any extension of the January 1, 2010 date currently in Section 45(d)(8) of the Code or with any alternative extension or the elimination of the placed in service deadline for a refined coal production facility provided for in such Section 45(d)(8).
1.14. Section 45 Tax Credits means the tax credits provided for under Section 45 of the Code and/or under any amendment or re-codification of Section 45 of the Code.
1.15. Technology means the Patents and the Know-How specifically pertaining to NOx and mercury emissions control for cyclone coal-fired boilers, as well as any Know-How developed or acquired after the Effective Date which is based on the knowledge contained in the Patents, whether or not such Know-How becomes the subject of a patent application during the Term; provided, however, that such Know-How shall be a trade secret of Licensor until such time as it is the subject of a published patent application.
1.16. Term means the period that commenced on November 3, 2006, and ends on the date provided in Section 5.1 herein.
1.17. Territory means the United States and each foreign country in which the Patents exist or in which Licensor intends or has been requested by Licensee to file patent applications related to the Technology.
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1.18. Valid Claim(s) means any claim contained in an issued and unexpired patent included within the Patents that has not been held unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, or unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal, and that has not been admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue or disclaimer.
2. GRANT OF LICENSE
2.1. In consideration of the issuance by Licensee of the Units, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee a fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-transferable license under the Technology to make or have made the Licensed Property and to use, sell, lease, offer to sell, import or otherwise dispose of the Licensed Property in the Territory (the Technology License ) during the Term.
2.2. In addition, Licensor shall at all times during the Term promptly and fully disclose in writing to Licensee all Improvements, and each of such Improvements shall automatically become part of the Licensed Property and subject to the Technology License.
2.3. Licensee may, from time to time, sub-license to any third party or parties any or all rights under the Technology License (each a Sublicensee ).
2.4. The Technology License shall be exclusive even as to Licensor for purposes of engaging in (a) the Chemicals Business and/or (b) a Section 45 Business for the purpose of monetization of Section 45 Tax Credits, or similar tax credits in a jurisdiction other than the United States, and doing any and all things necessary or incidental thereto.
3. PATENT MARKING
Licensee agrees that all Licensed Property shall be marked (e.g., with U.S. Patent Nos. 6,773,471 B2, or 6,729,248 B2 or Patents Pending, as appropriate) in a manner sufficient to give proper legal notice under the applicable patent laws. In the event that it is not practicable to affix the patent marking onto the Licensed Property directly, Licensee will affix the patent numbers or the term Patents Pending to literature that accompanies the Licensed Property in a manner sufficient to give proper legal notice under the applicable patent laws. With respect to any Licensed Property for which a patent issues, as soon as reasonably practicable after the issuance of the patent, Licensee shall mark the Licensed Property or the literature relating thereto with the patent number of any patent that is licensed to Licensee pursuant to this Agreement.
4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS
4.1. Licensor shall be available to provide any technical assistance relating to the development, marketing and deployment of the Licensed Property without charge to Licensee provided, however, that Licensee shall pay all of Licensors reasonable, related travel and lodging expenses that have been pre-approved in writing by Licensee.
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4.2. Licensor shall promptly and fully advise Licensee of any Improvements, it being understood that any Improvements made by Licensor during the Term shall be the property of Licensor, and shall be included within the Licensed Property and the Technology and thereby made a part of the Technology License granted to Licensee for the remaining duration of this Agreement. The expenses of filing and prosecuting any patent application relating to such Improvements shall be borne by Licensor, if deemed reasonable by unanimous consent of the Board governing the Licensee.
4.3. Any inventions or improvements that may be developed during the Term by Licensee or by Licensee and Licensor jointly with respect to the subject matter of the Technology shall be assigned to Licensor and shall be included within the Licensed Property and the Technology and thereby made a part of the Technology License granted to Licensee hereunder for the remaining duration of this Agreement. The expenses of filing and prosecuting any patent application relating to any such improvements shall be borne by Licensor, if deemed reasonable by unanimous consent of the Board governing the Licensee; provided, however that Licensee shall reasonably assist Licensor, at Licensors sole expense, to obtain full ownership rights, including, but not limited to, patent rights in and to the subject improvements or inventions.
5. TERM AND TERMINATION UPON DEFAULT
5.1. Term . This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during the Term, and unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3 herein, the Term shall terminate upon the later to occur of (a) the date upon which there no longer any patent applications related to the Technology pending in any domestic or foreign patent office and (b) the date of the expiration of the last to expire without renewal of any patent included in the Technology.
5.2. Termination Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events . Licensor shall have the right to terminate the Term immediately in the event of the Bankruptcy of Licensee or the dissolution or liquidation of Licensee in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement.
5.3. Other Termination . Either party may terminate the Term upon providing written notice to the other party if the other party shall commit any material default or breach of any covenant or agreement contained herein and shall fail to remedy any such material default or breach within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice describing in reasonable detail the material default or breach from the non-defaulting or non-breaching party.
5.4. Effect of Termination . Upon termination of the Term under Section 5.1 or by Licensor under Section 5.2 (Termination Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events) or under Section 5.3 (Other Termination), all license rights granted to Licensee hereunder shall immediately terminate. Upon termination of the Term by Licensee under Section 5.3 (Other Termination), all license rights granted to Licensee hereunder shall extend for what would have been the balance of the Term but for such termination. Upon the termination of the Term pursuant to Section 5.1 herein, each sublicense of the Technology to a Sublicensee shall terminate. Upon the termination of the Term pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3 herein, the Licensor shall be deemed to have licensed the Licensed Property to each Sublicensee upon the same terms
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and conditions and as a continuation of the sublicense by the Licensee to such Sublicensee, without any further action on the part of any party and without interruption, and the Licensor shall execute an agreement memorializing such continuation of the sublicense upon the request of such Sublicensee.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1. By Licensee . Licensee represents and warrants to Licensor that it has the right and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Licensee enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
6.2. By Licensor . Licensor represents, warrants and covenants to Licensee that (a) it has the right and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Licensor enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws from time to time in effect, as well as to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (b) it owns all right, title and interest in and to the Patents and Know-How and has the full right and authority to grant the licenses set forth in Section 2 (Grant of License), (c) there are no outstanding agreements, assignments or encumbrances inconsistent with the provisions of said licenses and Licensor has the right to grant the licenses set forth in Section 2 without seeking the approval or consent of any third party, (d) none of the Patents have been invalidated either wholly or partly by a court of law within the United States or abroad or by the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any of its foreign equivalents and there are no proceedings to do so as of the Effective Date, (e) to Licensors best knowledge, the Patents are valid and enforceable as of the Effective Date, (f) to Licensors best knowledge, neither the Patents nor the Know-How infringe or misappropriate any patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party, and (g) Licensor has not threatened or initiated any claim, suit or proceeding against any third party alleging that such third party has infringed or misappropriated any rights under the Patents and/or Know-How and, to the knowledge of Licensor, no third party is infringing or misappropriating any such rights.
7. DISCLAIMER
Unless expressly set forth in this Agreement, nothing herein shall be construed as: (a) a representation, warranty, or admission by either party as to the validity, scope or enforceability of the Patents; (b) a representation or warranty that the manufacture, sale, lease, deployment, use or other transfer of Licensed Property will be free from infringement of patents other than the Patents; or (c) a representation or warranty as to the accuracy or suitability of any information disclosed or claimed in the Patents to produce a successful process or product. Determination of the commercial efficacy and suitability of the subject matter of the Patents intended uses, as disclosed in the Patents, is to be made solely by Licensee, subject to any obligations of Licensor specifically set forth in the Operating Agreement.
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8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LICENSORS OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION 10.2 (INFRINGEMENT INDEMNITY) OR ANY WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY A PARTY, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.
9. MAINTENANCE OF PATENT RIGHTS
Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.3 hereof, at all times hereunder, Licensor shall be solely responsible for and shall pay all fees, costs or expenses of any nature required to prosecute, defend or maintain the Patents, so long as commercially reasonable for Licensee as follows:
9.1. Prosecution and Maintenance . Licensor will, at its sole expense, continue to diligently prosecute any and all patent applications in the Patents and, with respect to all issued patents within the Patents, maintain the Patents during the Term. In connection with the prosecution of said patent applications and maintenance of the Patents, Licensor will provide to Licensee copies of all filings and correspondence sent and correspondence received by Licensor related thereto. In addition, Licensor will throughout the Term use best efforts to maintain and enhance the scope of the Valid Claim(s) and, if any claim contained in an issued and unexpired patent included within the Patents is held unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, then Licensor will, at its sole expense, use reasonable commercial efforts to create, develop and/or secure functionally equivalent workarounds and, where appropriate, prosecute patent applications and or patents for the same, which patent applications and/or patents will automatically be included within the Patents.
9.2. Failure to Prosecute or Maintain . If Licensor determines, for any reason, not to diligently prosecute or maintain the Patents, then Licensor will promptly notify Licensee in writing of the same. If it comes to the attention of Licensee that Licensor, for any reason, is not diligently prosecuting or maintaining the Licensed Patent(s), then in the event of Licensors discontinuance of prosecution or maintenance of the Patents, Licensor will assign the Licensed Patent(s) to Licensee.
9.3. Limitation on Obligations of Licensee to Prosecute, Defend or Maintain the Patents. Notwithstanding Licensors obligation as set forth in this Section 9 or under any other section of this Agreement, in no event shall Licensor be obligated to expend in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (on a cumulative basis beginning on the Effective Date)
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to prosecute, defend or maintain the Patents, which amount shall include all costs, fees and expenses incurred by Licensor to do so. Once Licensor has expended such amount, any costs, fees or expenses necessary to prosecute, maintain or defend the Patents shall, as between Licensor and Licensee, become the sole obligation of Licensee. Licensor shall maintain complete and accurate records of all costs, fees and expenses it incurs to prosecute, defend or maintain the Patents for the Term and for three years after the termination of this Agreement, and shall provide copies of such records to Licensee upon request.
10. PROTECTION OF LICENSED PROPERTY
10.1. Enforcement of Patents .
10.1.1. It shall be the obligation of Licensor, at its sole cost and expense, in Licensors name, to protect and enforce the Patents and to prosecute or settle any third party infringement of the Patents during the Term. Licensor shall not enter into any settlement, consent judgment or other voluntary final disposition of the matter without the prior written consent of Licensee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Any recovery obtained in an action brought by Licensor shall be distributed as follows: (i) Licensor shall be reimbursed for any and all expenses and attorneys fees incurred in the action; and (ii) the parties shall share equally in the remaining damages award, whether it be for ordinary, special or punitive damages.
10.1.2. If Licensor determines, for any reason, not to diligently enforce the Patents (in which case Licensor will promptly notify Licensee in writing of the same) or if it comes to the attention of Licensee that Licensor, for any reason, is not diligently enforcing the Patents then (i) Licensee will have the right to enforce the Patents at Licensees sole expense, (ii) if requested by Licensee, Licensor will cooperate in Licensees prosecution or defense of any litigation or settlement activities hereunder, provided that Licensee will reimburse Licensor for all reasonable costs incurred by Licensor as a result of such cooperation and (iii) any recoveries will be awarded solely and exclusively to Licensee.
10.2. Infringement Indemnity . Licensor will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Licensee and its Affiliates and their respective members, managers, stockholders, officers, employees, agents, representatives and attorneys against any Damages arising from or in connection with any claim that (i) any portion of the Licensed Property covered under a Patent and/or the Know-How infringes or misappropriates a third party patent, trade secret, trademark or other intellectual property right or (ii) challenges the validity of any of the Patents or the rights granted to Licensee hereunder. Licensee shall: notify Licensor in writing no later than 30 days after receiving written notice of the claim, or sooner if required by applicable law; grant Licensor sole control of the defense and all related settlement negotiations; and provide Licensor, at Licensors expense, with the reasonable assistance, information and authority necessary to perform Licensors obligations hereunder. If said portion of the Licensed Property is, or in the opinion of Licensor may reasonably become, the subject of any claim, suit or proceeding for infringement of a United States Patent, or if it is adjudicatively determined that said portion of the Licensed Property, infringes any United States Patent, or if the development, manufacture or deployment of the Licensed Property is, as a result, enjoined, then (i) Licensor shall procure for
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Licensee and Licensor the right under such United States Patent to manufacture, develop and deploy or sublicense, as appropriate, the Licensed Property or such part thereof; or (ii) Licensor shall suitably modify the Licensed Property or part thereof to be non-infringing. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, this Section 10.2 states Licensors entire liability and Licensees exclusive remedy for infringement or invalidity.
10.3. Protection and Enforcement of Know-How and Trade Secrets . Licensor will at all times during the Term use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all portions of the Know-How that constitute trade secrets as that term is defined in the Uniform Trade Secret Act (the Trade Secrets ). Furthermore, if it comes to the attention of Licensor that any Trade Secret has been misappropriated by any third party, then Licensor will use all reasonable efforts, including without limitation legal actions, to preserve and protect the confidentiality of the Trade Secret and to prevent such third party from any and all uses of the Trade Secret, so long as doing so is commercially reasonable for the benefit of Licensee.
11. INVALIDITY
Unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, this Agreement shall not terminate in the event of (i) a lawsuit involving the issue of the validity of any claims of any of the Patents in which such claims are held to be invalid by a final judgment from which no appeal is taken; or (ii) the unsuccessful prosecution of Patent Application No. 10/209,083 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/730,971.
12. CONFIDENTIALITY
Licensee and Licensor acknowledge and agree that the Technology, Licensed Property and Know How embodied therein, are Confidential Information as defined in the Operating Agreement, and that they shall be bound by Section 11.8 of the Operating Agreement, entitled Confidentiality with respect to such Confidential Information.
13. GENERAL
13.1. Notices . All notices provided for in this Agreements shall be effective when received either by (i) personal delivery or (ii) three days after deposit, postage prepaid, in the United States Mail, sent registered or certified, addressed to the parties respectively at the following addresses:
If to Licensor: | ADA-ES, Inc. | |
8100 SouthPark Drive, Unit B | ||
Littleton, CO 80120 | ||
Attn: Dr. Michael Durham | ||
Fax: (303) 734-0330 |
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If to Licensee: | Clean Coal Solutions, LLC | |
Attn: Charles S. McNeil | ||
c/o NexGen Refined Coal, LLC | ||
3300 South Parker Road, Suite 310 | ||
Aurora, CO 80014 | ||
Fax: (303) 751-9210 |
13.2. Governing Law . This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.
13.3. Integration . This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the License Agreement and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior representations, assurances, courses of dealing, agreements, and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties concerning such subject matter. This Agreement will mutually benefit and be binding upon the parties, their successors and assigns.
13.4. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by written agreement signed by authorized representatives of the parties.
13.5. Independent Contractors. The relationship between the parties hereto is that of independent contractors, and nothing herein will be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between the parties. Neither party will have any authority to enter into agreements or make any statements, representations or commitments or take any action of any kind on behalf of the other, and neither party will have any other power or authority to bind or obligate the other in any manner to any third party.
13.6. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall, create any third party beneficiaries.
13.7. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is construed to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be deemed to be limited or modified to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and, as so limited or modified, remain enforceable.
13.8. Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be waived only with the consent of the parties. The failure of a party to enforce its rights under this Agreement for any period will not be construed as a waiver of such rights.
13.9. Headings . Headings contained in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and will have no legal effect.
13.10. Counterparts and Facsimiles. This Agreement may be executed on facsimile copies in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
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13.11. Survivability on Termination. The provisions of Sections 5.4 (Effects of Termination), 7 (Disclaimer), 8 (Limitation of Liability), 10.2 (Infringement Indemnity), 12 (Confidentiality) and 13 (General), and any other provision hereof which, by its terms, expressly provides that it survive termination of the Term shall survive the termination of the Term for any reason. All other rights and un-accrued obligations of the parties shall cease upon termination of the Term or any other termination of this Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
ADA-ES, INC. (Licensor) | CLEAN COAL SOLUTIONS, LLC (Licensee) | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
By: |
/s/ Charles S. McNeil |
|||||
Name: |
Mark H. McKinnies |
Name |
Charles S. McNeil |
|||||
Title: |
SVP & CFO |
Title: |
Manager |
|||||
Date: |
June 11, 2010 |
Date: |
June 11, 2010 |
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Exhibit 10.78
Exhibit A
ADA-ES, INC.
Refined Coal Activities
Supplemental Compensation Plan
For
Employees, Contractors and Consultants of ADA-ES, Inc.
April 20, 2010
1. Establishment of the Plan . ADA-ES, Inc. (the Company ), by action of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, hereby establishes this Refined Coal Activities Supplemental Compensation Plan (the Plan ) for Company employees, consultants and/or contractors, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator (as defined herein).
2. Purpose of the Plan . The purpose of the Plan is to incent Company employees, consultants and contractors who are actively involved with the Companys Refined Coal Activities (as defined herein) to work for the success of such activities. In order to promote this purpose, the Company hereby establishes the Plan under which it will make available a pool of funds (the Incentive Pool ) from which payments shall be made to designated participants in the Plan ( Designated Participants ) from amounts received by the Company from Refined Coal Activities (as defined herein).
3. Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Exhibit A hereto.
4. Establishment of the Incentive Pool . The Incentive Pool shall consist of an amount equal to seven percent (7%), of the Net Contribution Margin received by the Company from the Companys Refined Coal Activities. The Net Contribution Margin and Incentive Pool shall be calculated annually following the close of the Companys fiscal year for such fiscal year, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
5. Allocation and Payment of Incentive Pool Amounts : The Incentive Pool shall be allocated as follows:
Michael Durham, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company 3% of the Net Contribution Margin or 42.86% of the Incentive Pool.
Other Participant(s) 4% of the Net Contribution Margin or 57.14% of the Incentive Pool.
Payments of the amounts allocated to Designated Participants under the Plan shall be made as soon as practicable following the end of each fiscal year.
ADA Refined Coal Activities Supplemental Compensation Plan
6. Eligibility Requirements . In order to be eligible as an Other Participant , a Person must have been a Company employee, consultant or contractor during the fiscal year for which the designation is made. Dr. Durham shall determine the Other Participants and the relative percentage of the Incentive Pool (out of the 57.14% allocated to Other Participants) to be allocated to each such Other Participant, annually following the close of the Companys fiscal year for that fiscal year. No Person shall be entitled to any rights to any past or future amounts payable under the Plan for any fiscal year other than the one for which they are a Designated Participant by reason of having been designated an Other Participant for a fiscal year other than the fiscal year for which they have been so designated.
7. Termination of Participant Status Following Designation as an Other Participant . If Dr. Durham or any Person designated as an Other Participant is subsequently terminated or terminates his or her employment, consulting or contracting relationship with the Company (a Terminated Participant ) after designation but prior to the time for payment of the amounts allocated to the Incentive Pool for a fiscal year for which the Terminated Participant has been so designated, any amount owing to such Terminated Participant shall be paid to such Participant at the time of the next payment made to the Other Participants.
8. Other Applicable Terms and Conditions :
a. | Payment of any amounts due hereunder will be made annually, and will not be due and payable until the Company has actually received cash comprising the Revenue includible in the Incentive Pool for that fiscal year. |
b. | If Dr. Durham shall cease to be employed by the Company for any reason, the amount reserved to him under the Plan shall thereafter not be part of the Incentive Pool. |
c. | The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to adopt additional rules and regulations as it determines in its sole discretion under the Plan and such rules and regulations shall be binding on all Plan Participants. |
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Exhibit A
To
Refined Coal Activities
Supplemental Compensation Plan
Definitions :
Capitalized terms used in the Plan that are not otherwise defined in the Plan have the definitions set forth herein:
a. | Administrator shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. |
b. | Company means ADA-ES, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries |
c. | CCS means Clean Coal Solutions, LLC (f/k/a ADA-NexCoal, LLC). |
d. | Designated Participants shall have the meaning set forth in Paragraph 2 of the Plan. |
e. | Incentive Pool shall have the meaning set forth in the Paragraph 2 of the Plan. |
f. | Net Contribution Margin means Revenues (as hereafter defined) less Expenses (as hereafter defined) related to Refined Coal Activities, on a fiscal year basis at the Company level, as determined from the inception of each Refined Coal Activity included in the Plan, as determined in accordance with the accounting policies and practices of the Company consistently applied, and subject to the other terms and conditions set forth herein. |
For purposes of
Revenues shall consist of the following:
i. | Payments received by the Company from NexGen Refined Coal, LLC pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of November 3, 2006, as amended by the First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of October 26, 2009, by and among ADA-ES, Inc., NexGen Refined Coal, LLC, and CCS, or any successor provision thereto, as may be amended from time to time hereafter. |
ADA-Refined Coal Activities Supplemental Compensation Plan
ii. | The first three years of payments received by ADA-ES, Inc. from the sale of Chemicals and Additives by ADA-ES, Inc. to CCS pursuant to that certain Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement dated as of November 3, 2006, as amended by First Amendment to Chemicals, Equipment and Technical Engineering Services Supply Agreement dated as October 26, 2009, as may be amended from time to time hereafter (collectively the Supply Agreement ), by and between ADA-ES, Inc. and CCS that are generated by each new customer added during the Plan Period. |
iii. | The payments received by ADA-ES, Inc. from the sale of Technical Engineering Services by ADA-ES, Inc. to CCS pursuant to the Supply Agreement that are generated during the Plan Period. |
iv. | Distributions received by ADA-ES, Inc. from CCS during the Plan Period pursuant to Section 1.3(a) of that certain Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of ADA-NexCoal, LLC (n/k/a CCS, dated as of November 3, 2006 by and among ADA-ES, Inc. and NexGen Refined Coal, LLC as members, and CCS, or any successor provision thereto. |
Expenses shall consist of the following:
i. | All cash and non-cash compensation paid to consultants or contractors engaged by the Company from the inception of each activity constituting a Refined Coal Activity included in the Plan. |
ii. | All cash and non-cash compensation paid to Company personnel (including executives, consultants or contractors) for services attributable to any Refined Coal Activity included in the Plan, from the inception of a Refined Coal Activity (including amounts that should be so attributed as a result of the nature of the services rendered to the Company by such Persons). |
iii. | The first three years of costs incurred by the Company for Chemicals and Additives sold to CCS under the Supply Agreement that are attributable to each new customer added during the Plan Period. |
iv. | The costs of the Technical and Engineering Services sold to CCS under the Supply Agreement that are attributable to the Plan Period. |
v. | All management and administrative costs (not otherwise included above) for Refined Coal Activities, including without limitation (i) sales and marketing expenses; (ii) legal and accounting expenses; and (iii) travel expenses. |
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4
vi. | Other expenses incurred by the Company that are similar (and consistent) with those described in paragraphs iii and iv in this Paragraph above, that are attributable to any Refined Coal Activities included in the Plan. |
The Net Contribution Margin and Incentive Pool will be determined on a fiscal year basis using the internal accounting reports of ADA-ES (as reflected on the financial statements filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission), which are generally completed during the first fiscal quarter of the following year.
The Incentive Pool amounts that relate to Dr. Durham and Other Participants will include only the first three full years of revenue generated by any Refined Coal Activities customer. No amounts received from a Refined Coal Activities customer after such customer has been a customer for more than three full years shall be included in Revenues included in the Net Contribution Margin or the Incentive Pool.
At any time when there is a mixture of Revenues coming from new customers and customers that are beyond the three year period for Revenues includible in the Net Contribution Margin, then all expenses that cannot be attributed directly to the eligible customers will be allocated pro-rata according to the revenue dollars generated by the customers for which amounts are included in the Incentive Pool as compared to total revenues generated by Refined Coal Activities.
Revenue and Expenses shall not include amounts included in the net profit of the Company generated by a consolidated subsidiary by reason of the consolidation of such subsidiarys financial results with those of the Company. The manner in which the Net Contribution Margin shall be calculated to ensure that no Revenue or Expense amounts are included more than once in calculating such Net Contribution Margin.
g. | Other Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Paragraph 6 of the Plan. |
h. | Person, as the context requires, means a natural person, corporation, partnership, trust or other entity. |
i. | Plan Period means the period beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending on December 31, 2013. |
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j. | Refined Coal Activities means activities of the Company directed to the research, development, marketing and sale of refined coal (which shall mean coal that is treated or altered in a manner necessary to reduce the levels of hazardous pollutants released on burning of such coal, which are presently being carried out through CCS , the Companys joint venture with NexGen Refined Coal, LLC pursuant to certain agreements originally entered into as of November 3, 2006. For purposes of the Plan, Refined Coal activities shall not include any activities under that certain License Agreement currently under negotiation with Arch Coal Inc. pursuant to which the Company will license certain technology relating to treatment of coal. Any activity to be included as a Refined Coal Activity under the Plan (other than activities between the Company and CCS), shall be included in the Plan only if and when designated as such by the Administrator. |
k. | Terminated Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Paragraph 7 of the Plan. |
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Exhibit 31.1
Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
I, Michael D. Durham, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ADA-ES, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 16, 2010
/s/ Michael D. Durham |
||
Name: | Michael D. Durham |
Exhibit 31.2
Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
I, Mark H. McKinnies, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ADA-ES, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 16, 2010
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
||
Name: | Mark H. McKinnies |
Exhibit 32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Michael D. Durham, as President and Chief Executive Officer of ADA-ES, Inc. (the Company), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
/s/ Michael D. Durham |
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Name: | Michael D. Durham | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: | August 16, 2010 |
Exhibit 32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Mark H. McKinnies, as Chief Financial Officer of ADA-Es, Inc. (the Company), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
/s/ Mark H. McKinnies |
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Name: | Mark H. McKinnies | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Date: | August 16, 2010 |