UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): June 10, 2022
VERTEX ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 001-11476 | 94-3439569 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1331 Gemini Street Suite 250 Houston, Texas |
77058 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 660-8156
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share |
VTNR |
NASDAQ (Nasdaq Capital Market) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On or around June 14, 2022, Vertex Energy, Inc. (the “Company”, “we” and “us”) entered into indemnification agreements, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Indemnification Agreements”), with each director serving on the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), and each current executive officer of the Company (each, an “Indemnitee”). Each Indemnification Agreement replaces and supersedes any prior indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and such Indemnitee to the extent such Indemnitee was a party to the Company’s prior form of indemnification agreement.
Each Indemnification Agreement provides that the Company shall indemnify each Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if the Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative (formal or informal) (each a “Claim”) by reason of (or arising in part out of) any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (an “Indemnifiable Event”) against any and all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in, any such Claim, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of such Claim (collectively, “Expenses”), subject to certain requirements and determinations relating to an Indemnitee’s right to receive indemnification and advancement of Expenses as described in the Indemnification Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Pursuant to the designation of the rights and preferences of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company, each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is automatically converted into shares of common stock of the Company (on a one-for-one basis), automatically and without further action by the Company or any holder, upon the first to occur of certain events, including if the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market averages at least $15.00 per share over a period of 20 consecutive trading days and the daily trading volume over the same 20-day period averages at least 7,500 shares (the “Automatic Conversion Provision”).
Effective on June 10, 2022, the Automatic Conversion Provision of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was triggered, and the 374,337 outstanding shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted into 374,337 shares of common stock of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the designation of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company is required to give notice to the holders of the automatic conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, whereupon each holder is required to surrender to the Company the certificate(s) evidencing its shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, properly endorsed or assigned for transfer. However, on June 10, 2022, all rights of any holder with respect to the shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock so converted, including the rights, if any, to receive distributions of the Company’s assets terminated, except only for the rights of such holders to receive certificates for the number of whole shares of common stock into which such shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted.
We claim an exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for such automatic conversion, as the securities were exchanged by us with our existing security holders in a transaction where no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange.
After the automatic conversions described above are completed by the Company’s transfer agent, there will be no outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company and all rights of such preferred stock will be extinguished.
Item 3.03. Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth in Item 3.02 above regarding the conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(b) On, and effective on, June 10, 2022, Mr. John Strickland resigned as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the Company. Mr. Strickland’s resignation was not the result of any dispute related to accounting policies or internal controls or any other disagreement with the Company. Mr. Strickland will continue to serve as Vice President, Black Oil Operations for the Company, in a non-executive position, pursuant to the terms of his current employment agreement with the Company. Mr. Strickland had served as Chief Operating Officer since October 1, 2015.
(c) Effective on June 10, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Mr. James Rhame, as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Company, to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Strickland’s resignation.
Mr. Rhame’s biographical information is included below:
Mr. James Rhame, age 63
Since March 2022, Mr. Rhame has served as a consultant to the Company. From December 2020 to March 2022, Mr. Rhame served as an independent consultant with JGR Consulting, a refining and petrochemicals consulting firm which he owned. Prior to that, from November 2019 to November 2020, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Motiva Enterprises. Before that, Mr. Rhame spent ten years with Flint Hills Resources, where he served as Vice President (Olefins and Polymers), from December 2017 to November 2019, Site Manager (July 2014 to December 2017), Production Manager (Petrochemical) (August 2010 to July 2014), and Production Manager (Refining), from July 2006 to May 2010. During his time at Flint Hills Resources, he provided various services including leading operational responsibility for the Port Arthur Chemical Plant (ethylene cracker), Houston Chemical Plant (Propane Dehydrogenation), Longview (Polypropylene) and Peru, Illinois (Enhanced Polystyrene) plants. Prior to joining Flint Hills Resources, he served as Business Development Manager with Shell Chemicals and Shell Downstream from 2000 to 2006, and served in various other roles with Shell from 1987 to 2000, including Analyzer Engineer, Control Systems Team Leader, Control System Tech Manager and Operations Manager. Prior to that, Mr. Rhame held various roles with Celanese Chemical and Marathon Oil.
Mr. Rhame graduated with a BS degree in Chemistry from Sam Houston State University. He also attended the Wharton School of Business Executive Leadership Program.
* * * * *
Mr. Rhame does not have any familial relationships with any executive officer or director of the Company. Mr. Rhame is not a party to any material plan, contract or arrangement (whether or not written) with the Company, other than as described below, and there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Rhame and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to serve as an officer of the Company, nor is he a participant in any related party transaction required to be reported pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Mr. Rhame entered into a form of the Indemnification Agreement, discussed above, with the Company in connection with his appointment as COO.
We have not entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rhame. Accordingly, he is employed as our COO on an at-will basis. Mr. Rhame’s annual salary is $316,000, which is paid in accordance with our standard payroll practice. Mr. Rhame is eligible for equity compensation (including, but not limited to, as bonuses) under our equity compensation plans, as determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board.
The Company plans to enter into a formal employment agreement with Mr. Rhame in the future and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K at such time as it enters into an employment agreement with Mr. Rhame.
(e) The information and disclosures included in Item 1.01 are incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 14, 2022, the Company issued (1) a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Rhame, as COO; and (2) a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Alvaro Ruiz, as Chief Strategy Officer of the Company (as discussed in Item 8.01, below). A copy of the press releases are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, and are incorporated in this Item 7.01 by reference.
The information responsive to Item 7.01 of this Form 8-K and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
Also effective on June 10, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Mr. Alvaro Ruiz as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Company. Since 2013, Mr. Ruiz has served as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. During his tenure with the Company, he has been responsible for identifying, developing, and executing both strategic commercial and market opportunities, including the April 2022 Mobile Refinery acquisition. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ruiz held numerous senior management positions across the equipment manufacturing, telecom, energy, automotive and environmental services sectors. Mr. Ruiz will continue to report directly to Benjamin P. Cowart, President and CEO.
Mr. Ruiz’s biographical information is discussed below:
Mr. Alvaro Ruiz, age 53
Mr. Ruiz joined the Company as Vice President of Business Development in September 2013. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for FCC Environment AL, from March 2008 to July 2013, previously serving as a Regional/Area Manager for FCC Environment, from 2005 to 2008. Prior to that, he held various sales and marketing and corporate development roles with companies in the telecom industry. Mr. Ruiz has a solid international background in Europe and Latin America and his leadership positions have included marketing, finance, business development, operations, sales and project management. Mr. Ruiz received a degree in Telecomm Engineering from the University of Valladolid, in Spain, and holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School, in Madrid, Spain, and a Masters in Marketing and Sales from ESIC Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
* * * * *
Mr. Ruiz does not have any familial relationships with any executive officer or director of the Company and there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Ruiz and any other person pursuant to which he was selected to serve as an officer of the Company, nor is he a participant in any related party transaction required to be reported pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Ruiz is party to an employment agreement with the Company, which currently provides for him to be paid $302,000 per year in compensation, which will continue in effect following his appointment. Mr. Ruiz is eligible for equity compensation (including, but not limited to, as bonuses) under our equity compensation plans, as determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board.
Mr. Ruiz entered into a form of the Indemnification Agreement, discussed above, with the Company in connection with his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
10.1* | Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each director and executive officer of the Registrant | |
99.1** | Press Release dated June 14, 2022 | |
99.2** | Press Release dated June 14, 2022 | |
104 | Inline XBRL for the cover page of this Current Report on Form 8-K |
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VERTEX ENERGY, INC. | ||
Date: June 14, 2022 | By: | /s/ Chris Carlson |
Chris Carlson | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
VERTEX ENERGY, INC. 8-K
Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of ____________ between VERTEX ENERGY, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and ____________ (“Indemnitee”).
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”) and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the “Articles”) authorize indemnification of the directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries and agents of the Company. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) provide that the Company will indemnify the directors and officers of the Company. The NRS expressly provides that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and persons acting on behalf of the Company with respect to indemnification;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of any indemnification provisions in the Articles and/or the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the NRS, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as an officer and/or a director from and after the date of this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Indemnification Agreement
Page 1 of 14
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), Indemnitee was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses (as hereinafter defined), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee either (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matters therein, if Indemnitee either (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses or other amounts shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Company or for amounts paid in settlement to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that in view of all the circumstances in the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
(c) Termination of Proceeding. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create an inference or presumption either that Indemnitee is liable pursuant to NRS 78.138, that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. The Company acknowledges that such a resolution, short of final judgment, may be successful on the merits if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such Proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such Proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
(d) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her on his or her behalf in connection with the defense of the Proceeding. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Indemnification Agreement
Page 2 of 14
2. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this Agreement, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, he or she was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the simple or gross negligence, recklessness, or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Section 6 and Section 7 hereof) to be unlawful.
3. Contribution.
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Section 1 and Section 2 hereof is available, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall pay the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which applicable law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors, or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
Indemnification Agreement
Page 3 of 14
(e) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have rights to indemnification for payment of the judgment or settlement amount provided by another entity (“Other Indemnitor(s)”). The Company agrees with Indemnitee that the Company is the indemnitor of first resort of Indemnitee with respect to matters for which indemnification is provided under this Agreement and that the Company will be obligated to make all payments due to or for the benefit of Indemnitee under this agreement without regard to any rights that Indemnitee may have against the Other Indemnitor(s). The Company hereby waives any equitable rights to contribution or indemnification from the Other Indemnitor in respect of any amounts paid to Indemnitee hereunder until such time as the Indemnitee has been fully and finally indemnified. The Company further agrees that no payment of Expenses or losses by the Other Indemnitor(s) to or for the benefit of Indemnitee shall affect the obligations of the Company hereunder.
4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, is a witness, or is made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, in connection therewith.
5. Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with defending any Proceeding within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and Indemnitee shall also submit a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free. In furtherance of the foregoing, Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such amounts advanced if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the NRS and public policy of the State of Nevada. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure of Indemnitee to provide such a request to the Company, or to provide such a request in a timely fashion, shall not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee unless, and to the extent that, the Company is actually and materially prejudiced as a result of such failure.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three methods, which shall be at the election of the Board (i) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as defined below), (ii) if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors so orders, or if a quorum of Disinterested Directors cannot be obtained, by Independent Counsel (as defined below) in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iii) by the stockholders of the Company.
Indemnification Agreement
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if a request for indemnification is made after a Change in Control, at the election of Indemnitee made in writing to the Company, and if the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors orders the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification to be made by an Independent Counsel, or if a quorum of Disinterested Directors cannot be obtained, any determination required to be made pursuant to Section 6(b) above as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall be made by Independent Counsel selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board. The party making the selection shall give written notice to the other party advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. The party receiving such notice may, within seven (7) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the other party a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 13 hereof, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected (or, if selected, such selection shall have been objected to) in accordance with this paragraph, then either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the courts of the State of Nevada or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is favorably resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(c) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable and necessary fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
(d) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(d). If the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected (or, if selected, such selection shall have been objected to) in accordance with this paragraph, then either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the appropriate courts of the State of Nevada or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is favorably resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(d), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
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(e) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(f) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise (as hereinafter defined), including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. The Company will promptly advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have been appointed or shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, unless the Company establishes by written opinion of Independent Counsel that (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such sixty (60) day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination, the Disinterested Directors resolve as required by Section 6(b)(iii) of this Agreement to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.
(h) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel or member of the Board or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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7. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) or Section 6(c) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, or such longer period, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, to which the period may be extended pursuant to Section 6(g), (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses either, at Indemnitee’s sole option, in (1) an appropriate court of the State of Nevada, or any other court of competent jurisdiction or (2) an arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator, selected by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) or Section 6(c) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, (i) any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects de novo on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of any adverse determination under Section 6(b) or Section 6(c); and (ii) in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration, the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) or Section 6(c), or shall have been deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6(g), of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be obligated to pay the amounts constituting such indemnification within five (5) days after such determination has been made or has been deemed to have been made and shall be conclusively bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7, unless the Company establishes by written opinion of Independent Counsel that (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the request for indemnification exists, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification exists under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial adjudication of, or an award in arbitration to enforce, his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay to him or her, or on his or her behalf, in advance, and shall indemnify him or her against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 13 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
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8. | Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation. |
(a) The rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Articles or the Bylaws of the Company, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors of the Company, or otherwise, and nothing in this Agreement shall diminish or otherwise restrict Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses under any of the foregoing. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the NRS, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Articles, the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change and Indemnitee shall be deemed to have such greater benefits hereunder. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. The Company shall not adopt any amendments to its Articles or Bylaws, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement, any other agreement or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights (with all of Indemnitee’s reasonable expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and charges, related thereto to be reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
9. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or
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(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); or
(d) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or
(e) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company (other than to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement) or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or such part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, or (ii) the Company indemnifies Indemnitee, in its sole discretion, independently of this Agreement pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
10. Retroactive Effect; Duration of Agreement; Successors and Binding Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall be deemed to have become effective upon the date Indemnitee first had Corporate Status; shall continue during the period Indemnitee has Corporate Status; and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any Proceeding (or any action commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require any such successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 10, this Agreement shall not be assignable or delegable by the Company.
11. Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
12. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve, or continue to serve, as an officer or a director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as an officer or a director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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13. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
(ii) any “Person” as such term is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act becomes, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial owner” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act of securities of the Company that represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 13(a)(ii), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition directly from the Company, (II) any acquisition by the Company, (III) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company and/or to the extent provided by the Board, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest, (IV) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 13(a)(iv)(A) and 13(a)(iv)(B), (V) any acquisition involving beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (and any stock or other securities into which such ordinary shares may be converted or into which they may be exchanged) (the “Outstanding Company Common Shares”) or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that is determined by the Board, based on review of public disclosure by the acquiring Person with respect to its passive investment intent, not to have a purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (V), any such acquisition in connection with (x) an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents or (y) any “Business Combination” (as defined below) shall be presumed to be for the purpose or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company;
(iii) during any period of not more than two (2) consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) will be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board will be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(iv) consummation of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation (a “Business Combination”) of the Company with any other corporation, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or
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(v) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.
(b) “Corporate Status” means the fact that a person is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
(c) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company, and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) is a party, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(e) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred or actually incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Should any payments by the Company to or for the account of Indemnitee under this Agreement be determined to be subject to any federal, state or local income or excise tax, Expenses shall also include such amounts as are necessary to place Indemnitee in the same after-tax position (after giving effect to all applicable taxes) Indemnitee would have been in had no such tax been determined to apply to those payments. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(f) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
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(g) “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative (formal or informal); in each case whether or not Indemnitee’s Corporate Status existed at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement to enforce his or her rights under this Agreement.
14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.
15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
16. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.
17. Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent:
(a) To Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee’s signature hereto. |
(b) To the Company at: |
Vertex Energy, Inc.
1331 Gemini Street
Suite 250
Houston, Texas 77058
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Email: chrisc@vertexenergy.com
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
19. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
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20. Successors and Assigns. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company) and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.
21. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (other than an arbitration pursuant to Section 7 hereof) shall be brought only in the appropriate court of the State of Texas (the “Texas Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Texas Court for purposes of such action or proceeding, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Texas Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Texas Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
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Indemnification Agreement
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY | ||
VERTEX ENERGY, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
INDEMNITEE |
Name: | ||
Address: |
[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]
Indemnification Agreement
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Exhibit 99.1
VERTEX ENERGY ANNOUNCES COO SUCCESSION PLAN
HOUSTON, TX., June 14, 2022 – Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR) (“Vertex” or the “Company”), a leading specialty refiner and marketer of high-quality refined products, today announced that it has named energy industry veteran James Rhame as Chief Operating Officer of Vertex, effective June 10, 2022. Mr. Rhame will succeed John Strickland, who will transition into the newly created role of Vice President, Black Oil Operations, reporting to Mr. Rhame, while continuing to provide both support and advisory to the Company.
Mr. Rhame brings more than 40 years of refining and petrochemical management experience, most recently having served as Vice President and General Manager for Motiva Chemical, where he led the integration of the chemicals business into Motiva Enterprises. Mr. Rhame spent nearly ten years with Flint Hills Resources, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, where he served in various senior leadership positions, including Vice President of Olefins and Polymers. Prior to Flint Hills, Mr. Rhame worked with Shell for more than 23 years, where he was involved in several roles supporting its downstream operations, including Production Manager of the Port Arthur Motiva Refinery, the largest producer of fuels and base oils in the United States. Mr. Rhame also provided managerial support to Shell during their ownership of the Mobile refinery, which was acquired by Vertex in April 2022.
As COO, Mr. Rhame will oversee all operations of the Company while working to build Vertex into a leading energy transition business, equipped to generate sustained, profitable growth. He will report directly to President and CEO, Benjamin P. Cowart.
“James is a high-caliber addition to our senior leadership team. His decades of industry experience, commitment to operational excellence, and proven track record of driving strategic development initiatives make him the right person to help lead our business during this next important chapter of growth,” stated Mr. Cowart, “As a former Shell executive familiar with our asset base, he will provide a wealth of knowledge and a steady hand as we further integrate the Mobile refinery into our portfolio.”
“I am honored to join Vertex as its next COO,” stated Mr. Rhame, “It is a pivotal moment for the organization, a period of transformation during which we believe we are poised to become a leading independent refiner and producer of conventional and renewable products. Our cultural commitment to safety, accountability and operational excellence, together with our growing portfolio of high-performance energy transition assets, are anticipated to position us to win market share across the markets we serve in the years ahead.”
ABOUT VERTEX ENERGY
Houston-based Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR) is an energy transition company focused on the production and distribution of conventional and alternative fuels. Vertex owns a refinery in Mobile (AL) with an operable refining capacity of 75,000 barrels per day and more than 3.2 million barrels of product storage, positioning it as a leading supplier of fuels in the region. Vertex is also one of the largest processors of used motor oil in the U.S., with operations located in Houston and Port Arthur (TX), Marrero (LA) and Columbus (OH). Vertex also owns a facility, Myrtle Grove, located on a 41-acre industrial complex along the Gulf Coast in Belle Chasse, LA, with existing hydroprocessing and plant infrastructure assets, including nine million gallons of storage. The Company has built a reputation as a key supplier of Group II+ and Group III Base Oils to the lubricant manufacturing industry throughout North America.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the matters discussed in this communication which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words
such as “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “would,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets” and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. The important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to raise sufficient capital to complete planned capital projects at the Mobile Refinery and the terms of such funding; the timing of planned capital projects at the Mobile Refinery and the outcome thereof; the future production of the Mobile Refinery; difficulties and delays in integrating the Mobile Refinery; the estimated timeline of the renewable diesel capital project, estimated and actual production associated therewith, estimated revenues over the course of the agreement with Idemitsu, anticipated and unforeseen events which could reduce future production at the refinery or delay planned capital projects, changes in commodity and credits values, and certain early termination rights associated with the Idemitsu agreement and conditions precedent to such agreement; certain mandatory redemption provisions of Vertex’s outstanding senior convertible notes, the conversion rights associated therewith, dilution caused by such conversions, and the Company’s ability to comply with required covenants thereunder and pay amounts due under such senior notes, including interest and other amounts due thereunder; the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; risks associated with the ability of Vertex to complete current plans for expansion and growth, and planned capital projects; the level of competition in our industry and our ability to compete; our ability to respond to changes in our industry; the loss of key personnel or failure to attract, integrate and retain additional personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property and not infringe on others’ intellectual property; our ability to scale our business; our ability to maintain supplier relationships and obtain adequate supplies of feedstocks; our ability to obtain and retain customers; our ability to produce our products at competitive rates; our ability to execute our business strategy in a very competitive environment; trends in, and the market for, the price of oil and gas and alternative energy sources; our ability to maintain our relationships with our partners; the impact of competitive services and products; our ability to integrate acquisitions; our ability to complete future acquisitions; our ability to maintain insurance; the outcome of pending and potential future litigation, judgments and settlements; rules and regulations making our operations more costly or restrictive; changes in environmental and other laws and regulations and risks associated with such laws and regulations; economic downturns both in the United States and globally, increases in inflation; risk of increased regulation of our operations and products; negative publicity and public opposition to our operations; disruptions in the infrastructure that we and our partners rely on; an inability to identify attractive acquisition opportunities and successfully negotiate acquisition terms; our ability to effectively integrate acquired assets, companies, employees or businesses; liabilities associated with acquired companies, assets or businesses; interruptions at our facilities; unexpected changes in our anticipated capital expenditures resulting from unforeseen required maintenance, repairs, or upgrades; our ability to acquire and construct new facilities; our ability to effectively manage our growth; decreases in global demand for, and the price of, oil, due to COVID-19, state, federal and foreign responses thereto, inflation, recessions or other reasons, including declines in economic activity or global conflicts; our ability to acquire sufficient amounts of used oil feedstock through our collection routes, to produce finished products, and in the absence of such internally collected feedstocks, and our ability to acquire third-party feedstocks on commercially reasonable terms; unexpected downtime at our facilities; risks associated with COVID-19, the global efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, potential downturns in the U.S. and global economies due to COVID-19 and the efforts to stop the spread of the virus, and COVID-19 in general; the lack of capital available on acceptable terms to finance the Company’s continued growth; anti-dilutive rights associated with our outstanding securities; the expected benefits, output, financial metrics and production of proposed transactions; unforeseen technical or operating difficulties and unplanned maintenance; the development and competitiveness of alternative energy and emission reduction technologies; our ability to pay our debt when due and comply with our debt covenants; our level of indebtedness, which could affect our ability to fulfill our obligations, impede the implementation of our strategy, and expose us to interest rate risk; risks related to obtaining required crude oil supplies, and the costs of such supplies; counterparty credit and performance risk; unanticipated problems at, or downtime effecting, our facilities and those operated by third parties; risks relating to our hedging activities; risks relating to planned divestitures and acquisitions; and the expected benefits, output, financial metrics and production of proposed transactions. Other important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements included in this communication are described in the Company’s publicly filed reports, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and future Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Vertex’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Vertex cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Vertex undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Vertex. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
CONTACT
Investor Relations
720.778.2415
IR@vertexenergy.com
Exhibit 99.2
VERTEX ENERGY APPOINTS ALVARO RUIZ CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
HOUSTON, TX., June 14, 2022 – Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR) (“Vertex” or the “Company”), a leading specialty refiner and marketer of high-quality refined products, today announced that it has appointed Alvaro Ruiz, as chief strategy officer (CSO), a newly created role, effective June 10, 2022. As CSO, Mr. Ruiz will lead the development and execution of the Company’s strategy, investor relations and corporate development, including both organic and inorganic growth initiatives.
Since 2013, Mr. Ruiz has served as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. During his tenure with the Company, he has been responsible for identifying, developing, and executing both strategic commercial and market opportunities, including the execution of the Mobile refinery acquisition in early 2022. Prior to joining Vertex, Mr. Ruiz held numerous senior management positions across the equipment manufacturing, telecom, energy, automotive and environmental services sectors. Mr. Ruiz will continue to report directly to Benjamin P. Cowart, President and CEO.
“Alvaro is a valued member of our leadership team, one whose breadth of commercial, operational and capital markets experience has been integral to the success of Vertex over the last decade,” stated Benjamin P. Cowart, President and CEO of Vertex, who continued, “This promotion is a recognition of his many contributions to our organization, including the pivotal role he played in both originating and working to obtain the financing for our recent acquisition of the Mobile refinery. His appointment also demonstrates our commitment to retaining key talent with a proven track record of long-term value creation.” “During the past decade, our team has positioned Vertex to become an energy transition company of scale, one well-equipped to drive long-term profitable growth,” stated Mr. Ruiz, who continued, “From here, our focus will turn toward a combination of strategic investments in high-return organic and inorganic growth opportunities, together with a continued focus on disciplined balance sheet management. Given continued strength in refined product margins, we believe we have ample liquidity to support these strategic priorities, while ensuring continued balance sheet optionality.”
ABOUT VERTEX ENERGY
Houston-based Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR) is an energy transition company focused on the production and distribution of conventional and alternative fuels. Vertex owns a refinery in Mobile (AL) with an operable refining capacity of 75,000 barrels per day and more than 3.2 million barrels of product storage, positioning it as a leading supplier of fuels in the region. Vertex is also one of the largest processors of used motor oil in the U.S., with operations located in Houston and Port Arthur (TX), Marrero (LA) and Columbus (OH). Vertex also owns a facility, Myrtle Grove, located on a 41-acre industrial complex along the Gulf Coast in Belle Chasse, LA, with existing hydroprocessing and plant infrastructure assets, including nine million gallons of storage. The Company has built a reputation as a key supplier of Group II+ and Group III Base Oils to the lubricant manufacturing industry throughout North America.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the matters discussed in this communication which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “would,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets” and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. The important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to raise sufficient capital to complete planned capital projects at the Mobile Refinery and the terms of such funding; the timing of planned capital projects at the Mobile
Refinery and the outcome thereof; the future production of the Mobile Refinery; difficulties and delays in integrating the Mobile Refinery; the estimated timeline of the renewable diesel capital project, estimated and actual production associated therewith, estimated revenues over the course of the agreement with Idemitsu, anticipated and unforeseen events which could reduce future production at the refinery or delay planned capital projects, changes in commodity and credits values, and certain early termination rights associated with the Idemitsu agreement and conditions precedent to such agreement; certain mandatory redemption provisions of Vertex’s outstanding senior convertible notes, the conversion rights associated therewith, dilution caused by such conversions, and the Company’s ability to comply with required covenants thereunder and pay amounts due under such senior notes, including interest and other amounts due thereunder; the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; risks associated with the ability of Vertex to complete current plans for expansion and growth, and planned capital projects; the level of competition in our industry and our ability to compete; our ability to respond to changes in our industry; the loss of key personnel or failure to attract, integrate and retain additional personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property and not infringe on others’ intellectual property; our ability to scale our business; our ability to maintain supplier relationships and obtain adequate supplies of feedstocks; our ability to obtain and retain customers; our ability to produce our products at competitive rates; our ability to execute our business strategy in a very competitive environment; trends in, and the market for, the price of oil and gas and alternative energy sources; our ability to maintain our relationships with our partners; the impact of competitive services and products; our ability to integrate acquisitions; our ability to complete future acquisitions; our ability to maintain insurance; the outcome of pending and potential future litigation, judgments and settlements; rules and regulations making our operations more costly or restrictive; changes in environmental and other laws and regulations and risks associated with such laws and regulations; economic downturns both in the United States and globally, increases in inflation; risk of increased regulation of our operations and products; negative publicity and public opposition to our operations; disruptions in the infrastructure that we and our partners rely on; an inability to identify attractive acquisition opportunities and successfully negotiate acquisition terms; our ability to effectively integrate acquired assets, companies, employees or businesses; liabilities associated with acquired companies, assets or businesses; interruptions at our facilities; unexpected changes in our anticipated capital expenditures resulting from unforeseen required maintenance, repairs, or upgrades; our ability to acquire and construct new facilities; our ability to effectively manage our growth; decreases in global demand for, and the price of, oil, due to COVID-19, state, federal and foreign responses thereto, inflation, recessions or other reasons, including declines in economic activity or global conflicts; our ability to acquire sufficient amounts of used oil feedstock through our collection routes, to produce finished products, and in the absence of such internally collected feedstocks, and our ability to acquire third-party feedstocks on commercially reasonable terms; unexpected downtime at our facilities; risks associated with COVID-19, the global efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, potential downturns in the U.S. and global economies due to COVID-19 and the efforts to stop the spread of the virus, and COVID-19 in general; the lack of capital available on acceptable terms to finance the Company’s continued growth; anti-dilutive rights associated with our outstanding securities; the expected benefits, output, financial metrics and production of proposed transactions; unforeseen technical or operating difficulties and unplanned maintenance; the development and competitiveness of alternative energy and emission reduction technologies; our ability to pay our debts when due and comply with our debt covenants; our level of indebtedness, which could affect our ability to fulfill our obligations, impede the implementation of our strategy, and expose us to interest rate risk; risks related to obtaining required crude oil supplies, and the costs of such supplies; counterparty credit and performance risk; unanticipated problems at, or downtime effecting, our facilities and those operated by third parties; risks relating to our hedging activities; risks relating to planned divestitures and acquisitions; and the expected benefits, output, financial metrics and production of proposed transactions. Other important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements included in this communication are described in the Company’s publicly filed reports, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and future Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Vertex’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Vertex cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should
not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Vertex undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Vertex. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
CONTACT
Investor Relations
720.778.2415
IR@vertexenergy.com