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): May 14,   2013

Aly Energy Services, Inc.
( Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter )
 
Delaware
 
033-92894
 
75-2440201
(State of Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
3 Riverway, Suite 920,
Houston, Texas 77056
( Address of principal executive offices )

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 713-333-4000

Preferred Voice, Inc.
3112 Purdue Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75225
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
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:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


 
 

 
 
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) contains some forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plans,” “potential,” “projects,” “continuing,” “expects,” “we believe,” “we intend,” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These statements may be found in Item 2.01 of this Report under “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, as well as in this Report generally, and include statements with respect to, among others:

 
§
projected operating or financial results, including any accretion/dilution to earnings and cash flow;
 
 
§
any plans to obtain financing to fund future acquisitions;
 
 
§
prospects for services and expected activity in potential and existing areas of operations;
 
 
§
the effects of competition in areas of operations;
 
 
§
the outlook of oil and gas prices;
 
 
§
the current economic conditions and expected trends in the industry we serve;
 
 
§
the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures, including future development costs, and availability of capital resources to fund the merger and subsequent capital expenditures;
 
 
§
future financial condition or results of operations and future revenues and expenses; and
 
 
§
business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations.
 
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following factors:
 
 
§
general economic and business conditions;
 
 
§
prices of crude oil and natural gas and industry expectations about future prices;
 
 
§
the business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to our company and may be pursued; and
 
 
§
changes in laws and regulations.
 
Should one or more of the factors, risks or uncertainties described above materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this Report.
 
 
2

 
 
Item 1.01  Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement
 
On May 14, 2013, Preferred Voice, Inc. (“Preferred Voice”), Aly Energy Services Inc. (“Aly Energy”) and the common stockholders of Aly Energy entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which the holders of common stock of Aly Energy surrendered all of their shares in exchange for approximately 68 million newly issued shares of common stock of Preferred Voice (the “Share Exchange”), representing approximately 92% of the outstanding common stock of Preferred Voice after giving effect to the Share Exchange. Shares were exchanged at the ratio of 19.91 shares of Preferred Voice common stock for each one share of Aly Energy common stock. Following the Share Exchange, Aly Energy became a subsidiary of Preferred Voice, with Preferred Voice owning all of the outstanding shares of Aly Energy common stock. Kurt Chew, the President of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. (“Austin Chalk”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aly Energy, continues to own all of the outstanding shares of preferred stock of Aly Energy, which shares may, in certain circumstances, convert into shares of Preferred Voice common stock. See “Description of Aly Energy Preferred Stock” below for a description of these shares of preferred stock of Aly Energy.
 
Prior to the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement, the Preferred Voice’s board of directors’ approved the Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. Similarly, the board of directors of Aly Energy approved the Exchange Agreement. Immediately after the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement, Preferred Voice amended its certificate of incorporation to change the name of Preferred Voice to “Aly Energy Services, Inc.” and Aly Energy changed its name to “Aly Operating, Inc.”
 
The Share Exchange closed concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Share Exchange Agreement. Reference is hereby made to Item 2.01 regarding the completion of the Share Exchange.
 
As used in this Form 8-K, (1) all references to the “Combined Company” refer to Preferred Voice (renamed as “Aly Energy Services, Inc.”) and its subsidiaries, including Aly Energy (renamed as “Aly Operating, Inc.”) and Austin Chalk, following the closing of the Share Exchange, and (2) unless the context otherwise indicates or requires, all references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Austin Chalk prior to the acquisition of Austin Chalk by Aly Energy on October 26, 2012, to the combined operations of Aly Energy and Austin Chalk from October 26, 2012, until the Share Exchange on May 14, 2013, and the Combined Company from and after May 14, 2013.
 
Item 2.01  Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
 
On May 14, 2013, Preferred Voice and Aly Energy closed the Share Exchange.
 
Background; Form 10 Information Requirements .
 
Preferred Voice was incorporated in 1992 and began operations in 1994 as a traditional 1+ long-distance reseller. Recognizing the declines in telecommunications service prices and the decreasing margins being experienced in long distance sales, Preferred Voice sold its long distance customer base and assets in early 1997. From 1997 until 2005, Preferred Voice focused on the development of voice activated telecommunications services. From 2005 to 2010, Preferred Voice focused its efforts on voice activated service applications that relate to the delivery of content to end-users. In 2010, Preferred Voice sold to a subsidiary of ClearSky Mobile Media, Inc. all of the rights and assets utilized by Preferred Voice in its ringback tone and content delivery products business. Preferred Voice continued its remaining operations through January 2012, at which time it discontinued operations. From and after that date, Preferred Voice was deemed to be a “shell company” (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of Item 2.01 of Form 8-K, this Item 2.01 sets forth the information that would be required if the Combined Company were filing a general form for registration of a class of securities on Form 10 under the Exchange Act, with such information reflecting the Combined Company and its securities upon consummation of the Share Exchange. The Combined Company intends to carry on the business of Aly Energy. As a result of closing the Share Exchange, we have relocated our executive offices to the offices of Aly Energy.
 
 
3

 
 
Accounting Treatment of the Share Exchange .
 
The Share Exchange is being accounted for as a reverse-merger and recapitalization. Aly Energy is the acquirer for financial reporting purposes and Preferred Voice is the acquired company. Consequently, the assets and liabilities and the operations that will be reflected in the historical financial statements prior to the Share Exchange will be those of Aly Energy and will be recorded at the historical cost basis of Aly Energy, and the consolidated financial statements after completion of the Share Exchange will include the assets and liabilities of Preferred Voice and Aly Energy, and the historical operations of Aly Energy and operations of the Combined Company from the closing date of the Share Exchange.
 
Tax Treatment; Smaller Reporting Company .
 
The Share Exchange is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Following the Share Exchange, the Combined Company continues to be a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
 
Description of Business and Properties
 
General
 
Munawar “Micki” Hidayatallah formed Aly Energy in July 2012 for the purpose of creating a worldwide oilfield manufacturing, distribution and services company. Previously, Mr. Hidayatallah served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. (“Allis-Chalmers”) from 2001 until its ultimate sale in 2011. During Mr. Hidayatallah’s tenure, Allis-Chalmers grew sales from approximately $5 million in 2001 to over $650 million in 2010. Allis-Chalmers was ultimately acquired for $1.1 billion in 2011.
 
In October 2012, Aly Energy completed its platform acquisition of Austin Chalk for $21.7 million, of which $17.9 million (net of cash acquired) was paid in cash and $3.8 million was in the form of preferred stock of Aly Energy. Austin Chalk was founded in 2001 as a provider of high performance, explosion-resistant rental equipment and quality assurance services for land-based horizontal drilling. Austin Chalk offers a robust inventory of surface rental equipment as well as roustabout service, which is responsible for delivery of equipment and rig-up on well sites. Delivering high quality service has been a key focus over the years, and Austin Chalk routinely sends service technicians to location to inspect and service equipment. This service advantage and preventative maintenance keeps the equipment working properly while on location.
 
Strategy
 
Our growth strategy consists of the following elements, focused on pursuing organic growth at Austin Chalk and the acquisition of new businesses:
 
§  
Increase existing inventory of Austin Chalk rental products. We are investing in additional equipment to allow Austin Chalk to better meet demand for existing and new products. Austin Chalk has routinely turned down additional business because of constraints with the size of its rental fleet. Similarly, Austin Chalk frequently receives requests for equipment it does not have in its fleet. Since completing the acquisition of Austin Chalk in October 2012, we have invested approximately $5.0 million to increase the number of mud circulating tanks and ancillary equipment in Austin Chalk’s inventory.
 
§  
Add products and services. By expanding the scope of the Austin Chalk rental fleet, we expect to further penetrate our markets and increase market share. Our customers regularly request us to provide additional equipment and services that are not currently offered by Austin Chalk, such as frac tanks, generators, crane and trucking services, flare igniters, choke manifolds, hydraulic chokes and temporary housing. In 2013, we have expanded our rental fleet to include containment systems and driveovers and we have expanded our service offerings to include clean out services in response to such requests. We believe that investment in additional types of equipment and services will enhance our capacity to grow and serve our clients more completely.
 
 
4

 
 
§  
Expand into new geographic markets . Austin Chalk operates almost exclusively for customers conducting operations in the Eagle Ford formation in Central Texas. We have recently established an anchor customer in the Permian Basin and have received requests from other customers in that geographic market for our equipment and services. We opened a new yard in San Angelo, Texas in 2013 to serve the Permian Basin in response to these requests. We have allocated equipment to meet the specific requirements of our anchor customer and we have hired local personnel in order to begin operations in the Permian Basin in the second quarter of 2013. Additional geographic expansion in the United States will be based on establishing relationships with anchor customers in markets we do not currently serve and on our ability to meet the equipment and service requirements of those customers.
 
§   
Identify and invest in complementary businesses with a proven track record. Our ideal acquisition target operates within the oil and liquid gas basins and offers products and services that can be differentiated from competitors. Potential targets should have a focus on high-quality products and services. We prefer targets with more than five years of operating history and a recognizable customer base that can be leveraged for additional growth opportunities. Our strategy is to identify and complete acquisitions that would give us the ability to expand our portfolio of products and services and to diversify our geographic presence without having a strong dependency on technology enabled services.
 
§   
Facilitate Acquisition Integration Process. We prefer to retain key employees at potential target companies in an effort to facilitate the initial integration process. As a part of our philosophy of centralized control with de-centralized management, any future acquisitions will be integrated into the holding company as operating subsidiaries until we reach a scale that would make it appropriate to re-brand under Aly Energy Services.
 
Products and Services
 
Austin Chalk provides mud circulating systems and ancillary rentals and services to its customers. Austin Chalk has more than 208 mud circulating tanks (400 and 500 barrel capacity) in its rental fleet. Tanks are typically rented for the length of time needed to drill a well. In many cases the operator will opt to keep this equipment as a rig moves between drill sites. Tanks are inspected and worn parts are replaced on customer location as needed or when returned to the yard.
 
400-Barrel Mud Circulating Systems . Austin Chalk currently has approximately 95 vertical 400-barrel mud circulating systems. Austin Chalk developed its vertical 400-barrel system as an innovative solution that minimizes on-site kill mud and active mud storage to address some operators’ need to reduce location size. This design gives Austin Chalk a significant advantage over standard horizontal tanks when a smaller footprint is required. These tanks take up only one-third the space typically needed for conventional frac tanks and 500 barrel skidded tanks. The 400-barrel mud circulating tanks have customized jet-line designs that provide improved circulation and result in a more consistent drilling mud. This specific design ensures the mud is ready when needed thus reducing the time required to condition the mud and the costs associated with material “fall-out”. The entire tank system can be rented as a package with a diesel or electric mud pump, hoses and wood mats for an additional cost.
 
500-Barrel Mud Circulating Systems . In addition to the 400-barrel systems, Austin Chalk currently owns approximately 113 500-barrel mud-circulating systems and subleases approximately 26 500-barrel mud-circulating systems. The Austin Chalk 500-barrel mud-circulating system is available in either skid or trailer mount and is typically rented as a package with diesel or electric mud pump and hoses for an additional charge. These 500-barrel systems are highly mobile and have rounded bottoms with customized jet-lines for better circulating which ensures a more consistent mud and easier cleanout at the completion of a job.
 
Mud Pumps . Austin Chalk’s rental fleet includes approximately 25 electric and 14 diesel powered mud pumps. The majority of Austin Chalk’s pumps are mounted to the circulating tanks and rented as a package. All of the electric and diesel powered pumps have a customized filter positioned in the flow line from the tank to the rig to ensure better consistency of the mud with no trash transferred. Pumps are serviced when returned to the yard or can be maintained at the drill site for longer-term rentals.
 
Mud Gas Separators . Austin Chalk has approximately 20 mud gas separators (also known as gas busters) in its rental fleet. This equipment is utilized to safely separate and flare natural gas from drilling fluids. Austin Chalk’s competitors do not typically offer delivery and rig-up services with the equipment being rented and the customers are required to hire third parties to perform these services. Austin Chalk differentiates itself by providing delivery and rig-up of mud-gas separators which results in a significant cost savings to Austin Chalk’s customers.
 
 
5

 
 
Transfer Pumps and 3” Polyurethane Pipe . Austin Chalk has approximately 10 diesel powered transfer pumps and 6 miles of quick-line pipe available for rent. The transfer pumps and pipe are typically used to transfer fluids to and around the drill site. This flexible polyurethane pipe has a 3” inner diameter and is available on coils.
 
Skimming Systems . Austin Chalk’s fleet also includes five skimming systems. Skimming systems are used to skim oil during the drilling process. After the oil is skimmed, it is transferred to on-site frac tanks while the water which has been separated is transferred back to the rig for drilling. Skimming systems are most often used when underbalanced conditions exist in a well being drilled horizontally or when coiled tubing units are being used to drill out plugs in a well with multiple fractured zones. We are currently building three additional units based on increased demand for this product.
 
Other Equipment . In addition to the equipment described above, Austin Chalk’s rental fleet also includes diesel powered mud mixing units, light towers, crossovers for flare lines, crossovers for 4" mud transfer lines, containment systems with stairs, 4"x4" electric water transfer pumps, portable fuel tanks, frac tanks, light towers and generators, welding machines, forklifts, air compressors, steam cleaners, winch trucks, trailers, and other miscellaneous related equipment.
 
Services. Austin Chalk provides services, such as trucking and rig-up/rig-down services, and roustabouts may also provide cleaning, maintenance, and decommissioning services. In 2012 and 2011, approximately 35% and 36% of our revenues came from the provision of services, and the remainder from rentals of our products.
 
Manufacturing and Service Operations
 
Austin Chalk fabricates a large portion of the equipment in its rental fleet. During 2012, Austin Chalk employed an average of approximately 12 full time fabricators. These employees spend an estimated 95% of their time on the fabrication of new fleet equipment and 5% on their time on repair & maintenance of existing equipment. Fabrication takes place in its 5,000 square foot fabrication shop at its location in Giddings, Texas. Austin Chalk manufactures and/or retrofits most of the equipment in its rental fleet. Austin Chalk’s fleet of rental equipment is typically active on 30 to 40 rigs at any given time.
 
A significant portion of Austin Chalk’s revenue is derived from services, such as trucking and rig-up/rig-down services. Roustabouts may also provide cleaning, maintenance, and decommissioning services. The Giddings facility employs a GPS fleet tracking and mapping system on its service vehicles to ensure quick response time and dependable service for its customers 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
 
Marketing and Customers
 
Austin Chalk provides equipment and services to several well-known, established operators, including Petrohawk Energy Corporation (a subsidiary of BHP Billiton Ltd.), Southern Bay (a subsidiary of Halcón Resources, LLC.), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, XTO Energy Inc., Chesapeake Energy Corporation, EnCana Corporation and Marathon Oil Corporation. In 2012, the top 10 customers accounted for approximately 92% of total revenues, Petrohawk Energy Corporation alone accounted for approximately 52% of total revenue, and Chesapeake Energy Corporation accounted for approximately 18% of total revenue. Austin Chalk has concentrated its efforts on serving customers operating in the Eagle Ford Shale formation. The Eagle Ford Shale is a hydrocarbon producing formation in Texas known for its capability of producing more gas and oil than other traditional shale plays. The shale play trends across Texas from the Mexican border up into East Texas, roughly 50 miles wide and 400 miles long with an average thickness of 250 feet. The Eagle Ford is the source rock for the Austin Chalk formation and the giant East Texas Field.
 
Austin Chalk’s reputation for quality equipment and service has led to a majority of its sales being generated through inquiry from customers. Additionally, Austin Chalk employs five sales people responsible for managing relationships with those customers, developing new relationships and further penetrating the existing customer base.
 
 
6

 
 
Employees
 
Austin Chalk currently employs approximately 115 individuals, consisting of 100 skilled laborers and 15 administrative and sales related employees. More than 90% of Austin Chalk’s employees are compensated on an hourly basis.
 
Aly Energy currently employs four individuals, including the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer and an administrative employee.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
Although we may, from time to time, be a party to certain lawsuits in the ordinary course of business, we are not currently involved in any lawsuits that would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
 
Properties
 
Our corporate headquarters are located in a facility in Houston, Texas, consisting of approximately 1,700 square feet of office space under a lease that expires in July 2018. This facility accommodates our executive offices. Austin Chalk leases a 7.5-acre facility in Giddings, Texas, owned by Austin Chalk’s former owner. We pay rent of $4,000 per month for the facility, which is considered fair market value. This facility includes a 5,000 square foot fabrication shop where fabricators manufacture and repair equipment in its rental fleet. All of Austin Chalk’s operations are currently managed from this facility. Austin Chalk entered into a lease for a new yard in San Angelo, Texas and will begin managing operations for the Permian Basin from this facility in the second quarter of 2013. We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate and that we have sufficient capacity to meet our current anticipated needs.
 
Risk Factors
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
Our business depends on domestic drilling activity and spending by the oil and natural gas industry in the United States. Our business has been and may continue to be adversely affected by industry conditions that are beyond our control.
 
We depend on our customers’ willingness to make expenditures to explore for and to develop and produce oil and natural gas in the United States. Our customers’ willingness to undertake these activities depends largely upon prevailing industry conditions that are influenced by numerous factors over which management has no control, such as:
 
§  
domestic and worldwide economic conditions;
 
§  
the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas;
 
§  
long lead times associated with acquiring equipment and shortages of qualified personnel;
 
 
7

 
 
§  
the level of prices, and expectations about future prices, of oil and natural gas;
 
§  
the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and natural gas;
 
§  
the expected rates of declining current production;
 
§  
the discovery rates of new oil and natural gas reserves;
 
§  
available pipeline, storage and other transportation capacity;
 
§  
federal, state and local regulation of exploration and drilling activities;
 
§  
weather conditions, including hurricanes that can affect oil and natural gas operations over a wide area;
 
§  
political instability in oil and natural gas producing countries;
 
§  
technical advances affecting energy consumption;
 
§  
the price and availability of alternative fuels;
 
§  
the ability of oil and natural gas producers to raise equity capital and debt financing; and
 
 §  
merger and divestiture activity among oil and natural gas producers.
 
Current and anticipated oil and natural gas prices and the related level of drilling activity and general production spending in the areas in which we have operations primarily influence the demand for our services. The level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity in the United States is volatile and this volatility could have a material adverse effect on the level of activity by our customers. A reduction by our customers of activity levels may cause a decline in the demand for our services or adversely affect the prices that we can charge or collect for our services. In addition, any prolonged substantial reduction in oil and natural gas prices would likely affect oil and natural gas production levels and, therefore, affect demand for the services we provide. Moreover, a decrease in the development rate of oil and natural gas reserves in our market areas, whether due to increased governmental regulation of or limitations on exploration and drilling activity or other factors, may also have an adverse impact on our business, even in an environment of stronger oil and natural gas prices.
 
Competition within the oilfield services industry may adversely affect our ability to market our services.
 
The oilfield services industry is competitive and fragmented and includes numerous small companies capable of competing in our markets on a local basis as well as several large companies that possess substantially greater financial and other resources than us. Our larger competitors’ greater resources could allow them to compete more effectively than us. Our competitors may offer products and services at a relatively low cost. Our operations may be adversely affected if our current competitors or new market entrants introduce new products or services with better features, performance, prices or other characteristics, or that better address environmental concerns, than our products and services. Competitive pressures, excess capacity in our industry or other factors also may result in significant price competition that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
 
8

 
 
Increased prices charged by manufacturers of our products and/or interruptions in deliveries of products could adversely affect our profitability, margins, and revenues.
 
We depend upon a limited number of suppliers for the supply of raw materials. Increased prices charged by our manufacturers could materially and adversely impact our results of operations. In addition, interruptions or a work stoppage by our manufacturers could adversely affect our operations until arrangements with alternate suppliers could be made, which new arrangements may be more costly.
 
We may not be able to grow successfully through future acquisitions, or to integrate the businesses we do acquire effectively.
 
Our business strategy includes growth through the acquisition of other businesses. However, we may not be able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets on terms favorable to us. Competition for acquisition opportunities is substantial and may escalate, increasing our cost of making future acquisitions or causing us to refrain from making acquisitions. In addition, we may not be successful in integrating future acquisitions into our existing operations, which may result in unforeseen operational difficulties, diminished financial performance or our inability to report financial results and may require a disproportionate amount of our management’s attention. If we fail to manage future acquisitions effectively, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Our growth has placed, and is expected to continue to place, significant demands on our personnel, management and other resources. We must continue to improve our operational, financial, management and legal/compliance information systems to keep pace with the growth of our business.
 
Acquisitions that we complete could present a number of risks, including but not limited to:
 
§  
incorrect assumptions regarding the future results of acquired operations or assets or expected cost reductions or other synergies expected to be realized as a result of acquiring operations or assets;
 
§  
failure to integrate the operations or management of any acquired operations or assets successfully and timely;
 
§  
possible adverse effects on our operating results during the integration process;
 
§  
potential loss of key employees and customers of the acquired companies;
 
§  
potential lack of experience operating in a geographic market of the acquired business;
 
§  
an increase in our expenses and working capital requirements;
 
§  
the possible inability to achieve the intended objectives of the business combination; and
 
§  
the diversion of management’s attention from existing operations or other priorities.
 
We are vulnerable to the potential difficulties associated with rapid growth and expansion.
 
We intend to grow at a significant pace over the next several years through organic growth and acquisitions of other businesses. We believe that our future success depends on our ability to manage such growth and the demands from increased responsibility on our management. The following factors could present difficulties to us:
 
 
9

 
 
§  
lack of sufficient executive-level personnel;
 
§  
increased administrative burden;
 
§  
increased organizational challenges common to large, expansive operations; and
 
§  
long lead times associated with acquiring equipment.
 
Our operating results could be adversely affected if we do not successfully manage these potential difficulties.
 
We may require additional capital in the future, which may not be available to us, or the terms of such financings may negatively impact our business.
 
Our acquisition strategy requires significant capital. We may need to raise additional funds through debt or equity financings. Adequate funds may not be available when needed or may not be available on favorable terms. If funding is insufficient at any time in the future, we may be unable fund acquisitions, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business. In addition, any debt service requirements or financial covenants may impose a significant burden on us, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. We may be required to meet or maintain certain financial ratios, which could limit our flexibility and adversely affect our business. Our future capital requirements will primarily depend on the frequency, timing, size and success of our acquisitions.
 
Our operating history may not be sufficient for investors to evaluate our business and prospects.
 
The historical financial information included in this Report is not necessarily indicative of future results. We have a limited operating history. In addition, we have grown significantly over the last few years. This may make it more difficult for investors to evaluate our business and prospects and to forecast our future operating results. Our future results will depend on our ability to efficiently manage our operations and execute our business strategy.
 
We depend on significant customers for a substantial portion of our revenue.
 
We derive a significant amount of our revenue from exploration and production companies and drilling contractors that are active in our markets. For the year ended December 31, 2012, Petrohawk Energy Corporation alone accounted for approximately 52% of total revenue, and Chesapeake Energy Corporation accounted for approximately 18% of total revenue. Our inability to continue to perform services for a number of our large existing customers, or price reductions required in order to retain the business of key customers, such as was required with our largest customer, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Moreover, if any of these customers fails to remain competitive in their respective markets, encounters financial or operational problems or consolidates with a third party, our revenue and profitability may decline.
 
We are subject to the credit risk of our customers.
 
We provide credit to our customers in the normal course of business and generally do not require collateral in extending such credit. This exposure, coupled with material instances of default, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we may need to undertake collection efforts that could cause our business from certain customers to decline, or the collection of certain receivables could become impossible, requiring us to write them off.
 
 
10

 
 
If we are unable to attract and retain senior management and qualified technical, research and sales personnel, our operations, financial condition and prospects will be materially adversely affected.
 
Our future success depends in part on the contributions of our management team and key technical and sales personnel and our ability to attract and retain qualified new personnel. There is significant competition in our industry for qualified managerial, technical and sales personnel and we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key senior managerial, technical and sales personnel or that we will be able to attract, integrate and retain other such personnel that we may require in the future. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel in the future, our business, operations, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
 
Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and natural gas industry.
 
The operational risks inherent in our industry could expose us to substantial liability for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, loss of oil and natural gas production, pollution and other environmental damages. The frequency and severity of such incidents will affect our operating costs, insurability and relationships with customers, employees and regulators. In particular, our customers may elect not to retain our services if they view our safety record as unacceptable, which could cause us to lose customers and substantial revenue.
 
We do not have insurance against all foreseeable risks, either because insurance is not available or because of the high premium costs. We evaluate certain of our risks and insurance coverage annually. After carefully weighing the costs, risks, and benefits of retaining versus insuring various risks, we occasionally opt to retain certain risks not covered by our insurance policies. The occurrence of an event not fully insured against, or the failure of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations, could result in substantial losses. In addition, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable, and there can be no assurance that insurance will be available to cover any or all of these risks, or, even if available, that it will be adequate or that insurance premiums or other costs will not rise significantly in the future, so as to make such insurance costs prohibitive. In addition, our insurance is subject to coverage limits and some policies exclude coverage for damages resulting from environmental contamination.
 
We are subject to federal, state and local regulation regarding issues of health, safety and protection of the environment. Under these regulations, we may become liable for penalties, damages or costs of remediation. Any changes in laws and government regulations could increase our costs of doing business.
 
Our operations and the operations of our customers are subject to extensive and frequently changing regulation. More stringent legislation or regulation or taxation of natural gas drilling activity could directly curtail such activity or increase the cost of drilling, resulting in reduced levels of drilling activity and therefore reduced demand for our services. Numerous federal, state and local departments and agencies are authorized by statute to issue, and have issued, rules and regulations binding upon participants in the oil and gas industry. Our operations and the markets in which we participate are affected by these laws and regulations and may be affected by changes to such laws and regulations, which may cause us to incur materially increased operating costs or realize materially lower revenues, or both.
 
Laws protecting the environment generally have become more stringent over time and are expected to continue to do so, which could lead to material increases in costs for future environmental compliance and remediation. The modification or interpretation of existing laws or regulations, or the adoption of new laws or regulations, could curtail exploratory or developmental drilling for oil and natural gas and could limit wellsite services opportunities. Additionally, environmental groups have advocated increased regulation in certain areas in which we currently operate or in which we may operate in the future. These initiatives could lead to more stringent permitting requirements, increased regulation, possible enforcement actions against the regulated community, and a moratorium or delays on permitting, which could adversely affect our wellsite service opportunities.
 
Some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict liability, which means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred as a result of conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties. Clean-up costs and other damages arising as a result of environmental laws, and costs associated with changes in environmental laws and regulations could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. We maintain insurance against some risks associated with underground contamination that may occur as a result of wellsite service activities. However, this insurance is limited to activities at the wellsite, and this insurance may not continue to be available or may not be available at premium levels that justify its purchase. The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured or indemnified against could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
 
 
11

 
 
Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in oil and gas production by our customers, which could adversely impact our revenues.
 
A portion of our customers’ oil and gas production is developed from unconventional sources, such as shales, that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into the formation to stimulate gas production. We do not engage in any hydraulic fracturing activities although many of our customers do. Legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the definition of “underground injection” and require federal permitting and regulatory control of hydraulic fracturing, as well as legislative proposals to require disclosure of the chemical constituents of the fluids used in the fracturing process, were proposed in recent sessions of Congress. The U.S. Congress continues to consider legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act. Any such legislation could make it easier for third parties opposed to hydraulic fracturing to initiate legal proceedings against our customers. In addition, the federal government is currently undertaking several studies of hydraulic fracturing’s potential impacts, the results of which are expected to be available between now and 2014. During 2012, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) issued a proposed rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing on public and Indian land. The rule would require companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations to the BLM after fracturing operations have been completed and includes provisions addressing well-bore integrity and flowback water management plans. Several states, including states in which our customers do business, such as Texas and Colorado, have also proposed or adopted legislative or regulatory restrictions on hydraulic fracturing. The chemical ingredient information for hydraulic fracturing fluid is generally available to the public through online databases, and this may bring more public scrutiny to hydraulic fracturing operations. We cannot predict whether any other legislation will ever be enacted and if so what its provisions would be. If additional levels of regulation and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level, that could lead to delays, increased operating costs and prohibitions for our customers, which could reduce demand for our services and materially adversely affect our results of operations.
 
Climate change legislation, regulatory initiatives and litigation could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the natural gas services we provide.
 
In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to restrict or regulate emissions of greenhouse gases, or GHGs, such as carbon dioxide and methane that may be contributing to global warming. It currently appears unlikely that comprehensive climate legislation will be passed by either house of Congress in the near future, although energy legislation and other initiatives are expected to be proposed that may be relevant to GHG emissions issues. In addition, almost half of the states, either individually or through multi-state regional initiatives, have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emission inventories or regional GHG cap and trade programs. Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring either major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. In general, the number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year until the overall GHG emission reduction goal is achieved. Depending on the scope of a particular program, we could be required to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations. Although most of the state-level initiatives have to date been focused on large sources of GHG emissions, such as electric power plants, it is possible that our operations could become subject to state-level GHG-related regulation.
 
Independent of Congress, the EPA has begun to adopt federal-level regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing Clean Air Act authority. In 2009, the EPA issued required findings under the Clean Air Act concluding that emissions of GHGs present an endangerment to human health and the environment, and issued a final rule requiring the reporting of GHG emissions from specified large GHG emission sources in the U.S. beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010. On November 30, 2010, the EPA published a final rule expanding its existing GHG emissions reporting rule for petroleum and natural gas facilities. These rules require data collection beginning in 2011 and reporting beginning in September 2012. On May 12, 2010, the EPA also issued a final rule, known as the ‘‘Tailoring Rule,’’ that makes certain large stationary sources and modification projects subject to permitting requirements for GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. As a result of this continued regulatory focus, future GHG regulations of the oil and gas industry remain a possibility.
 
Although it is not possible at this time to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing GHG emissions would impact our business, either directly or indirectly, any future federal or state laws or implementing regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions could require us to incur increased operating costs and could adversely affect demand for the natural gas our customers extract using our services. Moreover, incentives to conserve energy or use alternative energy sources could reduce demand for oil natural gas, resulting in a decrease in demand for our services. We cannot predict with any certainty at this time how these possibilities may affect our operations.
 
 
12

 
 
Delays in obtaining permits by our customers for their operations or by us for our operations could impair our business.
 
Our customers’ operations require permits from various governmental agencies, including the federal government, state agencies and local municipalities. The ease of obtaining the necessary permits depends on the type of operation and the state in which the operation will take place. As with all governmental permit processes, permits may not be issued in a timely fashion, or at all. As a result, the operations of our customers may be interrupted or suspended for long periods of time, which could cause us to lose revenue and have a material adverse effect on our results of operation.
 
An increase in the importation of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, as a substitute for oil and natural gas may reduce the level of drilling activities in North America, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
The importation of LNG may become increasingly important as a supply source necessary to meet domestic natural gas demand. If the importation of LNG increases, replaces or supplements oil and natural gas production as a source for natural gas, then the level of North American drilling activity related to oil and natural gas may decrease. Our services support drilling for oil and natural gas. Consequently, a substantial reduction in oil or natural gas production levels could have a material adverse effect on our business, even in an environment of stronger oil and natural gas prices.
 
We may be subject to litigation, which, if adversely determined, could result in substantial losses.
 
We may be, from time to time, during the ordinary course of business, subject to various litigation claims and legal disputes, including contract, lease, employment, and regulatory claims. Certain litigation claims may not be covered entirely or at all by our insurance policies or our insurance carriers may seek to deny coverage or impose significant deductibles. In addition, litigation claims can be expensive to defend and may divert our attention from the operations of our business. Further, litigation, even if without merit, can attract adverse media attention. As a result, litigation can have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and, because we cannot predict the outcome of any action, it is possible that adverse judgments or settlements could significantly reduce our earnings or result in losses.
 
Governmental taxation policies could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
 
Substantive changes in federal and state tax laws could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, the final determination of our income tax liabilities involves the interpretation of various federal and state laws and regulations, as well as the significant use of estimates and assumptions regarding the scope of past, current and future operations and results achieved and the timing and nature of income earned and expenditures incurred. Changes in the operating environment, including changes in or interpretation of tax law and currency/repatriation controls, could affect the determination of our income tax liabilities for a tax year.
 
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor confidence in our company and the market price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
 
Our reporting obligations as a public company will place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may experience difficulty in establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices required for us as a publicly traded and reporting company. It may be difficult to design and implement effective internal control over financial reporting for combined operations following the Share Exchange and other businesses which we may acquire in the future. In addition, differences in existing controls of acquired businesses may result in weaknesses that require remediation when internal controls over financial reporting are combined.
 
 
13

 
 
As directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we will be required to include a report from management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 10-K beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. This conclusion could adversely impact the market price of our common stock due to a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our reporting processes. In addition to the added strain that this process will create on our management, we also expect to incur additional costs and expenses associated with public company reporting obligations, including additional legal and accounting costs to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act that will apply to us as a public company. We are not currently able to accurately quantify these additional costs and expenses.
 
Risks Related to Ownership of our Common Stock
 
We may issue additional capital in the future, which could substantially dilute or otherwise adversely affect rights of holders of our common stock.
 
Our acquisition strategy requires significant capital. We may need to raise significant additional funds through equity financings. Holders of our common stock could experience substantial dilution if we issue additional capital stock in the future. Our future capital requirements will primarily depend on the frequency, timing, size and success of our acquisitions.
 
Delaware law contains provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
 
Delaware law prohibits us from engaging in any business combination with any “interested stockholder,” meaning generally that a stockholder who beneficially owns more than 15% of our common stock cannot acquire us for a period of three years from the date this person became an interested stockholder, unless various conditions are met, such as approval of the transaction by our board of directors. These provisions could limit the price that potential acquirers might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
 
Because we have no current plans to pay dividends on our common stock, investors must look solely to stock appreciation for a return on their investment in us.
 
We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends and other considerations that the board of directors deems relevant. For example, our credit agreement with Wells Fargo limits our ability to pay dividends. Investors may need to rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize a return on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
 
Because our common stock is subject to the “penny stock” rules, brokers cannot generally solicit the purchase of our common stock, which adversely affects its liquidity and market price.
 
The SEC has adopted regulations, which generally define “penny stock” to be an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to specific exemptions. We expect that the market price of our common stock on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board (“Bulletin Board”) will be substantially less than $5.00 per share and therefore we will be considered a “penny stock” according to SEC rules. This designation requires any broker-dealer selling these securities to disclose certain information concerning the transaction, obtain a written agreement from the purchaser and determine that the purchaser is reasonably suitable to purchase the securities. These rules limit the ability of broker-dealers to solicit purchases of our common stock and therefore reduce the liquidity of the public market for our shares.
 
Moreover, as a result of apparent regulatory pressure from the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a growing number of broker-dealers decline to permit investors to purchase and sell or otherwise make it difficult to sell shares of penny stocks. This may have a depressive effect upon our common stock price.
 
 
14

 
 
Our management will be able to exert control over us to the detriment of minority stockholders.
 
Our executive officers and directors own approximately 45% of our outstanding common stock, after giving effect to the Share Exchange. These stockholders, if they act together, may be able to control our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing our change in control and might affect the market price of our common stock.
 
Due to factors beyond our control, our stock price may be volatile.
 
Any of the following factors could affect the market price of our common stock:
 
§  
Actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly results of operations;
 
§  
Our failure to meet financial analysts’ performance expectations;
 
§  
Changes in earnings estimates;
 
§  
Short selling activities; or
 
§  
Changes in market valuations of similar companies.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
As used in the discussion below, “we,” “our,” and “us” refers to Austin Chalk prior to the inception of Aly Energy on July 17, 2012, to the combined operations of Aly Energy and Austin Chalk from July 17, 2012, until the reverse acquisition of Aly Energy by Preferred Voice on May 14, 2013, and the combined operations of Aly Energy, Austin Chalk and Preferred Voice from and after May 14, 2013.
 
Overview of Our Business
 
We are a provider of surface rental equipment and a roustabout service which is responsible for delivery of equipment and rig-up on well sites. Our primary products include mud circulating tanks (400 and 500 barrel capacity), mud pumps, mud gas separators, transfer pumps and 3” polyurethane pipe, and skimming systems. We fabricate several of our products in-house. Our operations are currently based in Giddings, Texas, from where we service the Eagle Ford shale and other areas in Texas.
 
We derive the majority of our operating revenues from rates per day for the rental of equipment. The remainder of our operating revenues are generated by delivery and rig-up services which we provide in conjunction with the rental of equipment. These services are typically billed at a flat rate per job but in certain cases the customer is billed at an hourly rate. The price we charge for our services depends on both the level of activity within the geographic area in which we operate and also the competitive environment.
 
 
15

 
 
Our operating costs do not fluctuate in direct proportion to changes in revenue. Our operating expenses consist primarily of labor costs and benefits, depreciation, sub-rental equipment expenses, third party trucking expenses, fuel, and repair and maintenance expenses. Sub-rental equipment expenses and third party trucking expenses are positively correlated with activity and negatively correlated with our investment in new rental equipment and new transportation equipment.
 
Current and anticipated oil and natural gas prices and the related level of drilling activity and general production spending in the areas in which we have operations primarily influence the demand for our services. The level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity in the United States is volatile, and may vary based on oil prices, governmental regulation, governmental limitations on exploration and drilling activity and other factors.
 
In 2012, our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 92% of total revenues. Our largest customer accounted for approximately 52% of total revenue and our second largest customer accounted for approximately 18% of total revenue. As a result, we are reliant on these two customers for the majority of our business.
 
Inception of Aly Energy
 
On July 17, 2012, Aly Energy was incorporated with the strategic objective of acquiring, integrating and growing a global oilfield services operation.
 
Acquisition of Austin Chalk
 
On October 26, 2012, Aly Energy acquired Austin Chalk Petroleum Services (“Austin Chalk”) for a total purchase price of $21.7 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $58,000. Total consideration included $17.9 million cash and the issuance of 4.0 million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value, at fair value of $3.8 million.
 
We recorded approximately $1.4 million of costs related to the acquisition during the year ended December 31, 2012, of which $0.2 million are included in corporate expenses. The remaining costs of $0.5 million and $0.7 million were capitalized as deferred financing costs and deducted from equity as stock issuance costs, respectively.
 
Results of Operations
 
The 2012 results in the table below include the results of Austin Chalk from January 1, 2012, through the date of the acquisition of Austin Chalk by Aly Energy on October 26, 2012, and the results of Aly Energy (including the Austin Chalk results from date of acquisition) from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012. From the date of inception (July 17, 2012) until the acquisition of Austin Chalk on October 26, 2012, Aly Energy did not have any revenues, cost of revenues or gross profit.
 
 
16

 
 
         
Successor
   
Predecessor
 
         
July 17
   
January 1
       
   
Year Ended
   
through
   
through
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
   
October 26,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2012
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
REVENUE
  $ 15,946,103     $ 3,509,697     $ 12,436,406     $ 7,380,381  
COST OF REVENUES                                
DIRECT COSTS
    2,443,868       602,391       1,841,477       1,016,164  
DEPRECIATION
    1,176,922       371,615       805,307       538,499  
AMORTIZATION
    87,012       87,012       -       -  
                                 
GROSS PROFIT
    12,238,301       2,448,679       9,789,622       5,825,718  
                                 
SELLING, GENERAL AND
                               
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
    5,506,678       1,190,360       4,316,318       3,166,327  
CORPORATE EXPENSES
    352,212       352,212       -       -  
                                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    6,379,411       906,107       5,473,304       2,659,391  
                                 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
                               
Interest income
    1,690       135       1,555       2,305  
Interest expense
    (110,953 )     (81,151 )     (29,802 )     (926 )
Other income
    49,138       -       49,138       -  
TOTAL OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
    (60,125 )     (81,016 )     20,891       1,379  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    6,319,286       825,091       5,494,195       2,660,770  
                                 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    227,632       227,632       -       -  
                                 
NET INCOME
  $ 6,091,654     $ 597,459     $ 5,494,195     $ 2,660,770  
                                 
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    (36,112 )     (36,112 )     -       -  
                                 
ACCRETION OF PREFERRED STOCK
    (9,932 )     (9,932 )     -       -  
                                 
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
  $ 6,045,610     $ 551,415     $ 5,494,195     $ 2,660,770  
 
 
17

 
 
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011
 
Our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012, were generated solely by Austin Chalk, and were $15.9 million, an increase of 116.1% compared to $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Revenues increased primarily due to improved equipment utilization and the expansion of the rental fleet through investment in new equipment, including mud circulating tanks (400 and 500 barrel capacity), diesel mud pumps, skimming systems, and light towers, and through the sub-rental of additional equipment.
 
Our direct costs for the year ended December 31, 2012, were also generated solely by Austin Chalk, and increased 140.5% to $2.4 million, or 15.3% of revenues, compared to $1.0 million, or 13.8% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase in direct costs as a percent of revenues is primarily due to increased sub-rental expense, increased third party trucking expense and increased fuel expense. Austin Chalk sub-rented an insignificant amount of equipment in 2011 compared to sub-renting over 100 mud circulating tanks (500 barrel capacity) and other equipment to meet increased demand in 2012. The increases in third party trucking expense and fuel expense relate to the rapid increase in activity in the Eagle Ford shale which is a greater distance from the Austin Chalk yard than the primary markets served in 2011.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense was $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense is due to the larger asset base in 2012, the write-up of the assets to fair market value on the acquisition date (October 26, 2012), and the amortization of intangible assets obtained with the acquisition.
 
Selling, general and administrative expense was $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, compared to $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The $2.3 million increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased payroll expense as Austin Chalk hired a significant amount of new employees in 2012 to manage the rapid increase in activity.
 
Corporate expense was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, consisted primarily of payroll for Aly Energy executives and $0.2 million of non-recurring legal fees associated with the acquisition of Austin Chalk. We did not incur corporate expenses in 2011 because Aly Energy was not incorporated until July 17, 2012.
 
Total other expense for the year ended December 31, 2012, was $60,000 compared to other income of $1,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase is attributable to the incurrence of approximately $110,000 interest expense associated with borrowing $8.3 million under a new term loan in October 2012.
 
Our income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2012, was $0.2 million, or 3.6% of our income before income taxes, compared to no income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2011. Prior to the acquisition by Aly Energy on October 26, 2012, Austin Chalk operated as an S-corporation and was not subject to federal income tax. Income tax expense for Aly Energy for the period from inception on July 17, 2012, through December 31, 2012, was $0.2 million, or 27.6% of income before income taxes.
 
The net income attributable to common shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, was $6.0 million and $2.7 million, respectively, after $46,000 and $0 in preferred stock dividends and accretion, respectively. The preferred stock dividends relate to 4.0 million shares of $0.01 par value preferred shares which receive a paid-in-kind dividend at a rate of 5.0% per annum.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our on-going capital requirements arise primarily from our need to acquire equipment to increase our existing rental fleet and to expand product offerings and service lines, to service our debt, and to fund our working capital requirements. Our primary source of liquidity has been internal cash flows from operations. Proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity funded the acquisition. Future funds are expected to be provided by operating cash flow and, to the extent we determine to do so, the issuance of debt and equity.
 
 
18

 
 
         
Successor
   
Predecessor
 
         
July 17
   
January 1
       
   
Year Ended
   
through
   
through
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
   
October 26,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2012
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                       
Net income
  $ 6,091,654     $ 597,459     $ 5,494,195     $ 2,660,770  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                               
Depreciation and amortization
    1,263,934       458,627       805,307       538,499  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
    22,261       22,261                  
Deferred tax benefit
    (101,131 )     (101,131 )     -       -  
Bad debt expense
    -       -       -       (39,173 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net effects of business acquisition:
                               
Accounts receivable
    (2,852,413 )     (927,778 )     (1,924,635 )     (986,680 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (254,351 )     (249,097 )     (5,254 )     21,556  
Accounts payable
    313,507       (461,839 )     775,346       37,519  
Accrued expenses
    521,669       211,458       310,211       151,570  
Income taxes payable
    (200,726 )     303,764       (504,490 )     -  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    4,804,404       (146,276 )     4,950,680       2,384,061  
                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                               
Cash paid for acquisition of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services (1)
    (17,950,000 )     (17,891,799 )     -       -  
Capital expenditures
    (3,116,199 )     (455,333 )     (2,660,866 )     (2,237,045 )
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (21,066,199 )     (18,347,132 )     (2,660,866 )     (2,237,045 )
                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                               
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    13,155,000       13,155,000       -       -  
Cash paid for stock issuance costs
    (709,813 )     (709,813 )     -       -  
Cash paid for financing costs
    (542,258 )     (542,258 )     -       -  
Proceeds from long-term debt
    8,250,000       8,250,000       -       765,147  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (435,226 )     -       (435,226 )     (329,921 )
Distribution to stockholder
    (3,565,325 )     -       (3,565,325 )     (158,463 )
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    16,152,378       20,152,929       (4,000,551 )     276,763  
                                 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (109,417 )     1,659,521       (1,710,737 )     423,779  
                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
                               
beginning of period
    1,768,938       -       1,768,938       1,345,159  
                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
                               
end of period
  $ 1,659,521     $ 1,659,521     $ 58,201     $ 1,768,938  
_________________
(1) Cash paid for acquisition of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services is shown net of cash acquired ($58,201) for the stub period from July 17, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
 
 
19

 
 
Operating Activities
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012, we generated $4.8 million of cash from operating activities. Our net income for this period was $6.1 million. Non-cash additions to net income totaled $1.2 million consisting primarily of $1.3 million of depreciation and amortization slightly offset by $0.1 million increase in deferred tax benefit.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012, changes in working capital used $2.5 million in cash. Cash was provided by an increase in accounts payable of $0.3 million and an increase in accrued expenses of $0.5 million, offset by cash used by an increase in accounts receivable of $2.9 million, an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $0.3 million, and a decrease in federal income taxes payable of $0.2 million. Our accounts receivable and our prepaid expenses and other assets increased primarily due to the increase in activity during 2012. Our accounts payable and accrued expenses increased due to the increase in operating costs as a result of increased activity. Our federal income taxes payable decreased due to the cash payment of 2011 income taxes in 2012 partially offset by a liability associated with 2012 income taxes.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2011, we generated $2.4 million of cash from operating activities. Our net income for this period was $2.7 million. Non-cash expenses totaled $0.5 million consisting of $0.5 million of depreciation and amortization slightly offset by bad debt expense of $39,173.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2011, changes in working capital used $0.8 million in cash. Cash was provided by a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $21,556, an increase in accounts payable of $37,519 and an increase in accrued expenses of $0.2 million, offset by cash used by an increase in accounts receivable of $1.0 million. Our accounts receivable increased primarily due to the increase in activity during 2011. Our accounts payable and accrued expenses increased due to the increase in operating costs as a result of increased activity.
 
Investing Activities
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012, we used $21.1 million in investing activities, consisting of $18.0 million for the acquisition of Austin Chalk and $3.1 million for capital expenditures. Aly Energy acquired Austin Chalk for total consideration of $21.7 million comprising $17.9 million in cash and 4.0 million shares of Aly Energy preferred stock at fair value of $3.8 million. The acquired assets of Austin Chalk included $58,201 in cash. Included in the $3.1 million of capital expenditures was approximately $1.5 million for the fabrication of 400 barrel capacity mud circulating tanks, skimming systems, and other rental equipment and $0.7 million for the purchase of 500 barrel capacity mud circulating tanks.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we used $2.2 million in investing activities, consisting of capital expenditures to fabricate equipment, primarily 400 barrel capacity mud circulating tanks, and to fund the purchase of equipment, primarily vehicles.
 
Financing Activities
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012, financing activities generated $16.2 million in cash. Aly Energy raised $12.4 million net of expenses from the issuance of common stock and borrowed $7.7 million net of expenses under a new term loan facility, offset in part by repayments of $0.4 million of long-term debt and a distribution to stockholder of $3.6 million. The repayment of debt took place on October 26, 2012, and was used to repay all existing debt at Austin Chalk. The distribution to stockholder of $3.6 million consisted of various cash payments to the seller of Austin Chalk in the period prior to the acquisition.
 
On October 26, 2012, Aly Energy closed on the acquisition of Austin Chalk with the proceeds of an issuance of common stock of $13.2 million before stock issuance costs of $0.7 million and term loan borrowings in the amount of $8.3 million before debt issuance costs of $0.5 million, borrowed under our credit facility with Wells Fargo. The executed credit agreement with Wells Fargo, entered into simultaneously with the closing of the Austin Chalk acquisition, provides for an $8.3 million term loan facility with a maturity date of October 26, 2016, and a $5.0 million revolving credit facility with a maturity date of October 26, 2016. The credit agreement contains customary events of default and covenants including restrictions on our ability, and the ability of Austin Chalk, to incur additional indebtedness, make capital expenditures, pay dividends or make other distributions, grant liens and sell assets. In addition, the credit agreement contains certain financial covenants including requirements to maintain (1) a consolidated funded debt to EBITDA ratio of not more than (a) 2.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012, and (b) 2.00 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter ending on or after March 31, 2013, and (2) a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.5 to 1.0. Our obligations under the agreement are guaranteed by Austin Chalk and secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of Austin Chalk.
 
 
20

 
 
The term loan is repayable in quarterly installments of $0.4 million. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest, at our option, at the base rate or LIBOR. The annual interest rate on each base rate borrowing is (a) the greatest of Wells Fargo’s Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and the one-month LIBOR rate on such day plus 1.00%, plus (b) a margin between 2.50% and 3.50% (depending on the then-current leverage ratio). The interest rate on each LIBOR loan will be the LIBOR rate for the applicable interest period plus a margin between 3.50% to 4.50% (depending on the then-current leverage ratio). At December 31, 2012, there was $8.3 million of outstanding borrowings under the term loan and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. In April 2013, we received a waiver for our non-compliance with the covenant requiring the submission of audited financial statements no later than 90 days after year-end.
 
The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2012, our obligations and commitments to make future payments under our long-term debt and operating leases:
 
   
Total
   
1 Year
   
1-3 Years
   
3-5 Years
   
A fter 5 Year s
 
Contractual Obligations
                             
Long-term Debt
  $ 8,250,000     $ 2,062,500     $ 3,300,000     $ 2,887,500     $ -  
Interest Payments on Long-Term Debt
  $ 765,188     $ 344,334     $ 351,986     $ 68,867     $ -  
Operating Leases
  $ 130,000     $ 71,000     $ 59,000     $ 0     $ -  
Total Contractual Cash Obligations
  $ 9,145,188     $ 2,477,834     $ 3,710,986     $ 2,956,367     $ -  
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note B in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this document. Our preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that effect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates.
 
Revenue Recognition : We provide rental equipment, oilfield services and drilling services to our customers at per-day contractual rates. We recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. The determination of whether revenue is realizable is determined based on management’s judgment and experience.
 
Property, Plant and Equipment : Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the life of the related assets, are charged to expense when incurred. Refurbishments and renewals are capitalized when the value of the equipment is enhanced for an extended period. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the asset account and related accumulated depreciation account are relieved, and any gain or loss is included in operating income.
 
The cost of property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from seven to 39 years. The determination of useful life requires management to make estimates and judgments, including how long the equipment will last given normal maintenance.
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: Accounts receivable are stated at the amount billed to customers and are ordinarily due upon receipt. We provide an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded when, in the judgment of management, it is deemed probable that the customer will not make the required payments at either the contractual due dates or in the future.
 
 
21

 
 
Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Amortization: Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is analyzed on a qualitative basis for indicators of impairment at least annually. To the extent it is determined, based on management’s judgment, that the probability of the fair value of our reporting unit exceeding the carrying value of the reporting unit is 50% or lower (“more-likely-than-not” threshold), then we would proceed to the two-step impairment test as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other , as amended in September 2011.
 
Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized, which determinations are made based on management’s judgment.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying amount is not recoverable. The determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, excluding interest expense. The determination of estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, excluding interest expense, requires management to make judgments and estimates, which may not be accurate.
 
Income Taxes: Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.
 
The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on balance sheet classification of the items on which those temporary differences arose. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
 
We are subject to the Texas Margin Tax, which is determined by applying a tax rate to a base that considers both revenue and expenses and therefore has the characteristics of an income tax.
 
We follow guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold an income tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and applies to all income tax positions. Each income tax position is assessed using a two-step process. A determination is first made as to whether it is more likely than not that the income tax position will be sustained, based upon technical merits, upon examination by the taxing authorities. If the income tax position is expected to meet the more likely than not criteria, the benefit recorded in the financial statements equals the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon its ultimate settlement. We had no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2012.
 
We record income tax related interest and penalties, if applicable, as a component of the provision for income tax expense. However, there were no amounts recognized relating to interest and penalties in the statement of income for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012. None of our federal or state income tax returns are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or state authorities. However, fiscal year 2012 and later remain subject to examination by the IRS and respective states.
 
We file a consolidated tax return.
 
We believe that there are no tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would significantly increase or decrease unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of the reporting date.
 
 
22

 
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
For a discussion of new accounting standards, see the applicable section in Note B to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the financial statements of Aly Energy Services Inc. included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements, other than normal operating leases and employee contracts, that have or are likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.
 
Directors and Executive Officers
 
Biographical Information
 
The table below sets forth information about our directors and executive officers after giving effect to the Share Exchange:
 
Name   Age   Position
         
Munawar H. Hidayatallah
  69   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(1)
Mark Patterson
  54   President and Chief Operating Officer
Alya Hidayatallah
  38   Chief Financial Officer(1)
Kurt Chew
  51   President, Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc.
Ali H M Afdhal
  68   Director
Allen S. Morton
  61   Director
Kouros Sariri
  57   Director
Saeed M. Sheikh
  76   Director
Nadine C. Smith
  56   Director
Zane Tankel
  73   Director
Mary G. Merritt
  55   Chief Executive Officer, Executive VP-Finance and Secretary/Treasurer
 
 
(1) 
Ms. Merritt will remain in her positions set forth in the table above until immediately after the filing of the Preferred Voice Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, and effective upon her resignation, Mr. Hidayatallah and Ms. Hidayatallah will assume their positions set forth in the table above.
 
Munawar H. “Micki” Hidayatallah has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since it was founded in July 2013, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. Mr. Hidayatallah founded Aly Energy in 2012 and has served as its chairman and chief executive officer since such date and also served as its chief financial officer during 2012. From 2001 to 2011, he served as chairman, chief executive officer and a director of Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. (“Allis-Chalmers”), where he was responsible for the overall management of the company. From 2004 to 2010, Allis-Chalmers’ revenue increased by more than tenfold (from $47.7 million to $659.7 million) and market capitalization increased by over seven times (from $72.2 million to $565.4 million) while the focus of Allis-Chalmers was transformed to drilling and completion and rental services. In February 2011, Archer Ltd. acquired Allis-Chalmers for $1.1 billion. Mr. Hidayatallah began his career at a major conglomerate in Pakistan with holdings in publishing, hotels, progressive manufacturing of automobiles and trading. During that time, Mr. Hidayatallah served as a senior executive and a member of the board of directors. In 1972, Mr. Hidayatallah came to the United States and undertook several successful entrepreneurial ventures through opportunistic purchases in areas such as cement processing, hotel and resorts, vending and cafeteria management and franchising and distribution of dairy products. From 1982 to 1994, he served as president and chief executive officer of Crescott Inc., a holding company with interests in financial services, food processing and franchising, as well as President and chief executive officer of its subsidiary, Beverly Hills Securities Company. In 1994, Mr. Hidayatallah was appointed Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and member of the board of directors of IRI International Corporation (“IRI”) and in 1997 was appointed chief financial officer. IRI was a manufacturer and distributor of oil rigs, workover rigs, fishing tools, top drives and other ancillary products. As chief financial officer, Mr. Hidayatallah oversaw IRI’s initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Hidayatallah remained in that position until 2000, when National Oilwell Varco, Inc. acquired IRI. In 2000, Mr. Hidayatallah formed OilQuip Rentals, Inc., which acquired Mountain Compressed Air Inc. as a platform acquisition and then merged with Allis-Chalmers in 2001. Mr. Hidayatallah is a qualified chartered accountant and serves as a director and as Chairman of the Audit Committee of Stewart & Stevenson LLC.
 
 
23

 
 
Mark C. Patterson has served as our President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary since the Share Exchange, and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Aly Energy since its inception. He worked with Mr. Hidayatallah at Allis-Chalmers as the President of the Rental Division and as a member of the Executive Team as Senior Vice President of the Rental Services Segment from 2008 to 2011. He is also a consultant for merger and acquisition opportunities focused in the oilfield services marketplace. During his tenure at Allis-Chalmers, Mr. Patterson directed and managed the complete merger and reorganization of the Rental Services Division. Mr. Patterson was responsible for integrating and expanding Allis-Chalmers’ product fleet and geographical presence. As a result of his efforts, Allis-Chalmers expanded into new and additional international markets such as Colombia and Brazil. Mr. Patterson also opened a new service facility through a joint venture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he served as a member of the board of directors. Additionally, Mr. Patterson was instrumental in facilitating the acquisition of American Well Control by Allis-Chalmers, and the integration of American Well Control into Allis-Chalmers’ Rental Segment. The successful merger and integration of American Well Control marked the first manufacturing company bought by Allis-Chalmers. Mr. Patterson’s 33 years of experience includes sales, business development, division and segment management, mergers, acquisitions, joint venture creation, and consulting, both domestically and internationally.
 
Alya H. Hidayatallah became chief financial officer of Aly Energy in January 2013, and will be our chief financial officer. Previously, from 2005 through 2012, she served as Director of Planning and Budgeting at Allis-Chalmers, which was acquired in 2011 and subsequently named Archer. From 2000 until 2004, Ms. Hidayatallah was a Financial Analyst and Senior Financial Analyst in the Financial Restructuring Group of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin. Ms. Hidayatallah graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Business Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1997. Ms. Hidayatallah is Mr. Hidayatallah’s daughter.
 
Ali H M Afdhal has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since October 2012, and has served as our non-executive Vice Chairman of the Board and a director since the Share Exchange. Since 2001, he has operated and managed his family's international property portfolio and agricultural interests. He also served as a director of Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. from 2006 to 2009. Mr Afdhal is a graduate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
 
Kurt Chew has 35 years of experience in creating companies and servicing the Oil & Gas Industry. He founded Austin Chalk in 2001 and upon the sale of Austin Chalk to Aly Energy Services in 2012, he remains and continues to run this company on a daily basis. In 2005 Mr. Chew co-founded B.E.G. Liquid Mud, LLC, which specialized in pre-mixed liquid drilling mud to the Oil and Gas Industry with facilities in three locations and utilized his fabricating experience to design and build the liquid mud plants. B.E.G. Liquid Mud Services was acquired by Omni Energy Services in 2008. Mr. Chew also co-founded Worldwide Deepwater Solutions, LLC in 2009. WDS continues to offer experienced technical support services in Project Management, Drilling and Completions Operations and Asset Integrity Management Services internationally and domestically.
 
Allen S. Morton has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since May 2, 2013, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. Mr. Morton is currently Managing Director and Head of the Houston office of FBR Capital Markets & Co.  Mr. Morton has held positions of increasing responsibility in the securities industry from 1980 through 2012, including as a Managing Director of RBC Capital Markets from 2001 to 2012. Mr. Morton holds a B.A. from Williams College and an MBA from New York University.
 
Kouros Sariri has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since October 2012, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. Mr. Sariri is the founder and CEO of Frequency Management International (FMI) Inc. Founded in 2003, FMI is a manufacturer of high reliability & extreme environment electronic components used in advanced electronic system applications. In 2003 Mr. Sariri also founded Chronos Technology (merged with FMI) which serves in a Research and Development capacity, conducting advanced research in the area of extreme environment electronic circuit design and related manufacturing processes. Innovations envisioned and introduced by Mr. Sariri have been used in commercial satellites and scientific/robotic space missions as well as in numerous oil, gas and geothermal fields worldwide. Frequency Management International is a globally recognized brand for the high reliability solutions used successfully in LWD, MWD, wire-line and digital oilfield systems. Mr. Sariri was the Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing at OE Waves (2001-2002), an optoelectronic technology startup associated with the California Institute of Technology & NASA, specializing in patented optical and RF signal generation used in advanced radar and communications systems. From 1987 to 2000, Mr. Sariri served as the Senior Applications Engineer, Engineering Manager, Executive Vice President and President at Q-Tech Corp., a manufacturer of electronic components. Mr. Sariri holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.
 
 
24

 
 
Saeed M. Sheikh has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since October 2012, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. He founded Star Trading & Marine, Inc., a transportation and shipping company, in 1973 and has served as its President since inception. In 1991, Mr. Sheikh was appointed to serve as the Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Baltimore, Maryland. He served in this capacity from 1991 until 1993 and then again from 1997 until 1999. Mr. Sheikh served as Executive Vice President of Crescent Marine Co, Inc. from 1969 until 1973, where he was responsible for all ship chartering functions. In 1969, Mr. Sheikh moved to the United States from Pakistan to serve as a Commercial Officer in the Embassy of Pakistan. Mr. Sheikh graduated from the Halley College of Commerce in Lahore, Pakistan.
 
Nadine Smith has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since October 2012, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. Ms. Smith is currently the President and Chairman of La Cortez Energy, Inc., an oil and gas exploration company operating in South America, and has served on its board of directors since February 2008. During her time at La Cortez Energy, she also served as vice president, interim chief financial officer and interim treasurer. Previously Ms. Smith was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and an investment banker in the Houston office of The First Boston Corporation. Ms. Smith has previously served as a director and on the Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees of several public companies including WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc., Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., Gran Tierra Energy Inc., American Retirement Corporation (currently Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.) and Loreto Resources Corporation. Ms. Smith holds a B.S. in economics from Smith College and an MBA from Yale University.
 
Zane Tankel has served on the board of directors of Aly Energy since October 2012, and has served as our director since the Share Exchange. Mr. Tankel is the Chairman and CEO of Apple-Metro, Inc., a multi-unit operator of family restaurants in the New York metropolitan area, which he co-founded in 1994. Mr. Tankel was a director of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. from February 2006 until February 2012, and a director of Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc. from February 2007 until February 2011. Prior to 1994, he served as the President and CEO of Collier Graphics Services (from 1964 to 1990) and founder/partner of a radio station (WJYR-FM, from 1989 to 1994), a music management company (American Entertainment Management, from 1975 to 1982) and a public relations company (Sage Communications, from 1982 to 1986). Mr. Tankel is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
 
Mary G.Merritt is a founder of Preferred Voice and has been a director since May 1994. She has served as Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Voice since February 2005, Chief Operating Officer from May 2004, and has served as Executive Vice President – Finance and Secretary/Treasurer since inception. She served as President of Star of Texas, Inc., from 1989 to May 1994. She also served as Controller of United Medicorp for several months during 1992. Ms. Merritt is a certified public accountant and was employed by Ernst & Whinney from 1981 to 1989.
 
Director Independence
 
As a result of completing the Share Exchange, we now have seven directors serving on our board of directors. We are not a listed issuer and, as such, are not subject to any director independence standards. Using the definition of independence set forth in the rules of the NYSE Mkt, however, all of our directors except Mr. Hidayatallah are independent.
 
Board Committees and Charters
 
Audit Committee. Our board of directors has established an Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Nadine C. Smith (Chair) and Ali Afdhal. Each of such members is independent in accordance with the independence standards for audit committees under the NYSE Mkt listing rules. Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Smith is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the SEC rules. The board of directors also intends to adopt a written Audit Committee charter.
 
 
25

 
 
Compensation Committee. Our board of directors has established a Compensation Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee are Zane Tankel (Chair) and Allen Morton. Each of such members is independent in accordance with the independence standards for compensation committees under the NYSE Mkt listing rules. Our board of directors also intends to adopt a written Compensation Committee charter.
 
Nominating Committee. Our board of directors has not yet determined whether or not to appoint a Nominating Committee.
 
Code of Ethics
 
We have not adopted a Code of Ethics, which would apply to our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or to all directors and employees. Our board of directors currently intends to adopt a code of ethics.
 
Stockholder Communications
 
Although we do not have a formal policy regarding communications with our board of directors, stockholders may communicate with the board of directors by writing to us at Aly Energy Services, Inc. 3 Riverway, Suite 920, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. Stockholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the board of directors may so specify, and the communication will be forwarded, as appropriate.
 
Board Structure
 
We have chosen to combine the chief executive officer and Chairman of the board of directors positions. We believe that this board of directors leadership structure is the most appropriate for us. Because we are a small company, it is more efficient to have the leadership of the board of directors in the same hands as the chief executive officer. The challenges faced by us at this stage – obtaining financing and implementing our business and marketing plan – are most efficiently dealt with by one person who is familiar with both the operational aspects as well as the strategic aspects of our business.
 
Board Assessment of Risk
 
Our board of directors oversees our risk management function. Our management intends to keep the board of directors apprised of material risks and provide directors access to all information necessary for them to understand and evaluate how these risks interrelate and how management addresses those risks. If the identified risk poses an actual or potential conflict with management, our independent directors may conduct the assessment. Currently, the primary risks affecting us are our ability to grow our business and manage our expected growth.
 
Board Diversity
 
While we do not have a formal policy on diversity, our board of directors considers diversity to include the skill set, background, reputation, type and length of business experience of our board of directors members as well as a particular nominee’s contributions to that mix. Our board of directors believes that diversity brings a variety of ideas, judgments and considerations that benefit our stockholders and us. Although there are many other factors, the board of directors seeks individuals with experience in operating growing businesses.
 
Executive Compensation
 
The following information is related to the compensation – a paid to our executive officers serving as such in 2012 (the “Named Executive Officers”).
 
 
26

 
 
Summary Compensation Table
 
Name and Principal Position
 
Year
 
Salary
($)
   
All Other Compensation
($)
   
Total
($)
 
                             
Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
2012
  $ 53,077           $ 53,077  
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (1)
                           
                             
Mark Patterson
 
2012
    31,846     $ 32,243       64,089  
President and Chief Operating Officer (2)                            
                             
Kurt Chew.
 
2012
    223,461       3,565,325 (3)     3,788,786  
President, Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc.   2011     220,000       242,677 (3)      462,677  
__________________
(1)
Mr. Hidayatallah became Chairman and chief executive officer of Aly Energy in July 2012.
 
(2)
Mr. Patterson became President and Chief Operating Officer of Aly Energy on October 26, 2012. Prior to that time, Mr. Patterson was a consultant to Aly Energy, and in that capacity received conslting fees, consisting of $26,500 in fees and $5,743 in expense reimbursements, which amounts are reflected in “All Other Compensation” in the table.
 
(3)
Reflects distributions received by Mr. Chew as the sole stockholder of Austin Chalk prior to the acquisition of Austin Chalk by Aly Energy.
 
Executive Employment Agreements
 
Aly Energy
 
Each of the Employment Agreements described below was entered into by Aly Energy prior to the Share Exchange. We assumed each agreement effective with the closing of the Share Exchange. Each person’s title with Aly Energy is identical with the Combined Company.
 
Effective May 2013, Aly Energy entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Hidayatallah to serve as our Chairman and chief executive officer. The term of the agreement expires December 31, 2016. Mr. Hidayatallah is paid a base salary of $420,000 per year and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus based upon the achievement of pre-established performance milestones. The bonus will range from 80% to 120% of base salary if pre-established performance milestones are met. No bonus will be payable in such periods if we do not achieve at least 90% of the EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) forecast approved by the board of directors of Aly Energy for the applicable year. Mr. Hidayatallah is also entitled to receive 50% of the shares allocated to the management team in the equity compensation plan that adopted in May 2013. The agreement also restricts Mr. Hidayatallah from competing with us for a two-year period after termination of his employment.
 
 
27

 
 
Effective February 2013, Aly Energy entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Patterson to serve as our President and Chief Operating Officer. The term of the agreement expires December 31, 2016. Mr. Patterson is paid a base salary of $210,000 per year (increasing to $250,000 per year effective January 1, 2014), and is entitled to receive 1,000 shares of Aly Energy common stock per month through December 31, 2013, and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus based upon the achievement of pre-established performance milestones. For 2013, if these performance milestones are met, Mr. Patterson’s bonus will be $100,000. In subsequent years, the bonus will range from 40% to 80% of base salary if pre-established performance milestones are met. No bonus will be payable in such periods if we do not achieve at least 90% of the EBITDA forecast approved by the board of directors of Aly Energy for the applicable year. Mr. Patterson is also entitled to receive 20% of the shares allocated to the management team in the equity compensation plan that was adopted in May 2013. The agreement also restricts Mr. Patterson from competing with us for a two-year period after termination of his employment.
 
Effective February 2013, Aly Energy entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Hidayatallah to serve as our chief financial officer. The term of the agreement expires December 31, 2016. Ms. Hidayatallah is paid a base salary of $200,000 per year and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus based upon the achievement of pre-established performance milestones. The bonus will range from 40% to 80% of base salary if pre-established performance milestones are met. No bonus will be payable in such periods if we do not achieve at least 90% of the EBITDA forecast approved by the board of directors of Aly Energy for the applicable year. Ms. Hidayatallah is also entitled to receive 5% of the shares allocated to the management team in the equity compensation plan that was adopted in May 2013. The agreement also restricts Ms. Hidayatallah from competing with us for a two-year period after termination of her employment.
 
Austin Chalk

Effective October 2012, Austin Chalk entered into an employment agreement with Kurt Chew to serve as its President. The term of the agreement expires October 26, 2015. Mr. Chew is paid a base salary of $220,000 per year and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of between 40% to 100% of base salary based upon the achievement of goals set by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors. The agreement also restricts Mr. Chew from competing with us for a two-year period after termination of his employment.
 
Termination Provisions
 
Each of Munawar Hidayatallah, Mark Patterson and Alya Hidayatallah will receive 24 months of base salary, and Mr. Chew will receive 12 months of base salary, upon their respective resignation with good reason or dismissal without cause. They will not be entitled to severance payments in connection with a termination of their employment upon death, disability, dismissal without cause, a change of control or the non-renewal of their employment at the board of directors’ discretion.
 
 “Good reason” in the above agreements generally includes the material diminution of the executives’ duties, any material reduction in base salary and the relocation of the geographical location where the executive performs services.
 
“Cause” in the above agreements means that employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of employee’s duties with respect to Aly Energy or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform employee’s duties and responsibilities to Aly Energy or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of the agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by Aly Energy or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to Aly Energy or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from Aly Energy confidential information of Aly Energy or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to Aly Energy or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
 
28

 
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
 
Preferred Voice and Aly Energy did not have an equity incentive plan in place, or any outstanding equity awards, as of December 31, 2012. On May 2, 2013, the board of directors adopted, and on May 13 , 2013, the stockholders of Aly Energy approved, the Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which Aly Energy may issue up to 340,000 shares of Aly Energy common stock upon the exercise of stock options (which options to purchase the 340,000 shares of Aly Energy common stock were granted under the Plan on May 2, 2013, at an exercise price of $4.00 per share), which Plan was assumed by Preferred Voice as a result of the Share Exchange and became a plan covering, and options to acquire, 6,769,400 shares of Combined Company common stock at a purchase price of $0.20 per share.
 
Director Compensation
 
Neither Preferred Voice nor Aly Energy compensated its directors for their service in fiscal 2012. In 2013, Aly Energy granted stock options to its directors, as provided in “ Adoption of Equity Awards Plan ” below.
 
Related Person Transactions
 
Aly Energy Stock Purchase
 
On October 26, 2012, Aly Energy sold an aggregate of 3,415,750 of its shares of common stock for a purchase price of $4.00 per share to obtain the initial funding of Aly Energy to acquire Austin Chalk. The purchasers of such shares included our directors and executive officers, including entities with which they are affiliated, in the following amounts:
 
Purchaser
 
Number of Shares
 
Micki Hidayatallah
    500,000  
Ali Afdhal
    625,000  
J. Steven Emerson
    620,000  
Zane Tankel
    250,000  
Kouros and Mariana Sariri
    125,000  
Nadine C. Smith
    62,500  
Saeed M. Sheikh
    106,250  
 
Stock Purchase of Austin Chalk
 
In October 2012, Aly Energy completed its acquisition of Austin Chalk from Kurt Chew, the president of Austin Chalk, for $21.7 million, of which $17.9 million (net of cash acquired) was paid in cash and $3.8 million was in the form of preferred stock of Aly Energy.
 
Lease Agreement with Kurt Chew, President of Austin Chalk
 
Austin Chalk leases certain of its facilities from Kurt Chew LLC, a limited liability company owned by Kurt Chew. Rent paid to Kurt Chew LLC was approximately $48,000 in 2012 and 24,000 in 2011. The term of the current lease on the property is until December 31, 2014, with rent at a rate of $57,000 per year. Austin Chalk has the option to extend the lease term by an additional three year period.
 
 
29

 
 
Stock Purchase of Preferred Voice Stock
 
On May 14, 2013, Preferred Voice, Aly Energy and the common stockholders of Aly Energy entered into the Exchange Agreement, as described in Item 1.01 above, which information is incorporated by reference here. The numbers of shares of Preferred Voice common stock issued to each of our directors and executive officers are reflected in the table under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in Item 1.01 above, which information is incorporated by reference here.
 
Adoption of Equity Awards Plan
 
In May 2013, Aly Energy adopted the Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and reserved 340,000 shares of common stock under the Plan for grants of awards, including stock options. At the time of adoption of the Plan, all the shares reserved under the Plan were granted in the form of stock options to various executives and directors of Aly Energy, which converted to shares of Combined Company common stock in connection with the Exchange, as follows:

Individual
 
Number of Aly Energy Shares
   
Number of Combined Company Shares into which Converted
 
Micki Hidayatallah
    170,000       3,384,700  
Alya Hidayatallah
    40,000       796,400  
Mark Patterson
    68,000       1,353,880  
Nadine Smith
    20,000       398,200  
Ali Afdhal
    8,400       167,244  
Allen Morton
    8,400       167,244  
Kouros Sariri
    8,400       167,244  
Zane Tankel
    8,400       167,244  
Saeed Sheikh
    8,400       167,244  
 
The stock options have a ten year term and will become exercisable only if (i) a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) occurs and the per share price of the common stock is at least $8 per share in the Change in Control or (ii) an Initial Public Offering (as defined in the Plan) occurs and the per share price of the common stock is at least $8 per share at any time during the six month period following the Initial Public Offering. The Plan contains customary adjustment provisions in the event of, amongst other things, the Share Exchange. Preferred Voice assumed the Plan and the options in the Share Exchange.

Following the Share Exchange, Preferred Voice intends to adopt a stock incentive plan providing for approximately 10% of the fully diluted shares of Preferred Voice to be available for equity awards to employees and directors.
 
 
30

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
 
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of May 14, 2013, after giving effect to the Share Exchange, by (i) each person or group who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock; (ii) each director; (iii) our president, our chief executive officer and each other executive officer whose cash compensation for the most recent fiscal year exceeded $100,000 and (iv) all such executive officers and directors as a group. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the persons named in the table to our knowledge have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of securities shown as beneficially owned by them. Each of our executive officers and directors may be contacted at 3 Riverway, Suite 920, Houston, Texas 77056. The information in this table is based upon 74,137,767 shares of common stock outstanding, after giving effect to the Share Exchange.
 
   
Common Stock
 
Name
 
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
   
Percent
of Class
 
J. Steven Emerson (1)
    13,241,516       17.9 %
Munawar Hidayatallah
    9,955,000       13.4 %
Ali H M Afdhal (2)
    12,443,750       16.8 %
Nezam Afdhal (3)
    6,221,875       8.4 %
Armand Neff and Christoph Luthy (4)
    5,973,000       8.1 %
Zane Tankel
    4,977,500       6.7 %
Saeed M. Sheikh
    2,115,438       2.9 %
Nadine C. Smith
    1,244,375       1.7 %
Mark Patterson
    29,820       *  
Kurt Chew
    0       *  
Alya Hidayatallah
    0       *  
Allen S. Morton
    0       *  
Kouros Sariri (5)
    2,488,750       3.4 %
Mary Merritt (6)
    227,580       *  
All 10 directors and officers as a group
    33,482,213       45.2 %

* Indicates ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

(1)
Includes 9,955,000 shares held in Mr. Emerson’s retirement accounts and 1,196,600 shares held by Emerson Partners. Mr. Emerson’s address is c/o TR Winston, 1999 Ave of the Stars #2530, Los Angeles, California 90067.
(2)
Consists of shares held of record by Cydas Investments Limited.
(3)
Mr. Afdhal’s address is 59 Pier 7, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129.
(4)
Held of record by Makini Enterprises S.A., whose address is c/o Prisma International Ltd. Bahnhofstrasse, PO Box 1055, CH-6304 Zug, Switzerland.
(5)
Consists of 816,589 shares held in Mr. Sariri’s retirement account, 550,591 shares held in Mr. Sariri’s spouse’s retirement account, and the remainder held jointly by Mr. Sariri and his spouse.
(6)
Ms. Merritt is the current Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Voice, but will cease to be an executive officer immediately after the filing of the Preferred Voice Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Ms. Merritt owned 3.7% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Voice prior to the Share Exchange.

 
31

 
 
Market Price and Dividends on our Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
 
Market Information
 
Our common stock has been listed on the OTC Electronic Bulletin Board under the symbol “PRFV”. As a result of completing the Share Exchange, we have made application to change the trading symbol of the common stock to “ALYE”. The following table indicates the quarterly high and low bid price for the common stock on the OTC Electronic Bulletin Board for the two fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and for the transition period of July 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012 (resulting from Preferred Voice’s change to a December 31 fiscal year end, effective December 31, 2012). Such inter-dealer quotations do not necessarily represent actual transactions and do not reflect retail mark-ups, markdowns or commissions.
 
Fiscal Year 2013
 
High
   
Low
 
2nd Quarter (April – May 14, 2013)
  $ 0.09     $ 0.09  
1st Quarter (January – March 2013)
  $ 0.10     $ 0.04  
 
Transition Period
 
High
   
Low
 
3rd Quarter (October - December 2012)
  $ 0.07     $ 0.02  
2nd Quarter (July - September 2012)
  $ 0.07     $ 0.06  
1st Quarter (April - June 2012)
  $ 0.07     $ 0.06  
                 
Fiscal Year 2012
 
High
   
Low
 
4th Quarter (January - March 2012)
  $ 0.05     $ 0.04  
3rd Quarter (October - December 2011)
  $ 0.07     $ 0.04  
2nd Quarter (July - September 2011)
  $ 0.07     $ 0.06  
1st Quarter (April - June 2011)
  $ 0.06     $ 0.06  
                 
Fiscal Year 2011
 
High
   
Low
 
4th Quarter (January - March 2011)
  $ 0.06     $ 0.04  
3rd Quarter (October - December 2010)
  $ 0.05     $ 0.04  
2nd Quarter (July - September 2010)
  $ 0.20     $ 0.04  
1st Quarter (April - June 2010)
  $ 0.25     $ 0.20  

Holders
 
The number of holders of record of our common stock as of May 14, 2013, after giving effect to the Share Exchange, was 56. This number does not include an undetermined number of stockholders whose stock is held in “street” or “nominee” name.
 
 
32

 
 
Equity Repurchases
 
We have not repurchased any of our equity securities during the past two years.
 
Dividends
 
In the past, we have not distributed earnings to our stockholders. Our board of directors will make any future decisions regarding dividends. We currently intend to retain and use any future earnings for the development and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to pay dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. For example, our credit agreement with Wells Fargo limits our ability to pay dividends.
 
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
 
We did not have in effect any compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance, and we did not have any outstanding stock options, at December 31, 2012. During 2013, Aly Energy’s board of directors and stockholders adopted, and Aly Energy’s stockholders approved, a new equity compensation plan pursuant to which 6,769,400 shares of common stock are reserved for future issuance pursuant to options granted under such plan.
 
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
 
Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange, we had 74,137,767 shares of common stock outstanding, of which our directors and executive officers own approximately 33.5 million shares. Of the 74,137,767 shares held by our stockholders, 6,130,184 shares are freely tradeable. No shares issued in connection with the Share Exchange can be publicly sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act until 12 months after the filing of this Report (or May 14, 2014). In general, Rule 144 provides that any non-affiliate of Aly Energy, who has held restricted common stock for at least 12-months, is entitled to sell their restricted stock freely, provided that we remain current in our SEC filings. After 12-months, a non-affiliate may sell without any restrictions.
 
Once the 12-month period has lapsed, an officer, director or other person in control of us may sell shares of common stock subject to the following restrictions: (i) we are current in our SEC filings, (ii) certain manner of sale provisions, (iii) filing of Form 144, and (iv) volume limitations limiting the sale of shares within any three-month period to a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the total number of outstanding shares. A person who has ceased to be an affiliate at least three months immediately preceding the sale and who has owned such shares of common stock for at least one year is entitled to sell the shares under Rule 144 without regard to any of the limitations described above.
 
Penny Stock Regulations
 
The SEC has adopted regulations, which generally define a “penny stock” to be an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share. Our common stock falls within the definition of penny stock and is subject to rules that impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell such securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors (generally those with assets in excess of $1,000,000 (excluding primary residence), or annual incomes exceeding $200,000 or $300,000, together with their spouse).
 
 
33

 
 
For transactions covered by these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of such securities and have received the purchaser’s prior written consent to the transaction. Additionally, for any transaction, other than exempt transactions, involving a penny stock, the rules require the delivery, prior to the transaction, of a risk disclosure document mandated by the SEC relating to the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. Consequently, the “penny stock” rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect the ability of investors to sell their common stock in the secondary market.
 
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
On May 14, 2013, in connection with the Share Exchange, Preferred Voice issued 68,007,583 shares of common stock to the stockholders of Aly Energy. The shares were sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. All of the securities so issued included a restrictive legend indicating that the shares are deemed to be “restricted securities.” As a result, such recipients of the shares will not be able to resell the shares unless pursuant to a registration statement or upon reliance of an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
 
Description of Common Stock
 
General
 
We are authorized to issue up to 100 million shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. After giving effect to the Share Exchange, 74,137,767 shares of common stock are outstanding. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote per share on all matters. Our bylaws provide that any vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Stockholders do not have preemptive rights to purchase shares in any future issuance of our common stock. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive, ratably, the net assets available to stockholders after payment of all creditors. All of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
Anti-takeover Effects of Our Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
 
Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain certain provisions that may have anti-takeover effects, making it more difficult for or preventing a third party from acquiring control of the Company or changing its board of directors and management. According to our Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, the holders of the Company’s common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of our directors. The combination of the present ownership and control of approximately 45% of our issued and outstanding common stock by our executive officers and directors as a group and the lack of cumulative voting, makes it more difficult for other stockholders to replace our board of directors or for a third party to obtain control of the company by replacing its board of directors.
 
 
34

 
 
Anti-takeover Effects of Delaware Law
 
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
 
Transfer Agent And Registrar
 
Our independent stock transfer agent is Computershare. Their mailing address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and their telephone number is 781-575-2000.
 
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
 
Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of our directors will be personally liable to us, or our stockholders, for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
 
§  
for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
 
§  
for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;
 
§  
under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law for the unlawful payment of dividends; or
 
§  
for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.
 
These provisions eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of his fiduciary duty of care as a director except in the situations described above. The limitations summarized above, however, do not affect our ability or that of our stockholders to seek non-monetary remedies, such as an injunction or rescission, against a director for breach of his fiduciary duty.
 
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides a corporation with the power to indemnify any officer or director acting in his capacity as our representative who is, or threatened to be, made a party to any lawsuit or other proceeding for expenses, judgment and amounts paid in settlement in connection with such lawsuit or proceeding. The indemnity provisions apply whether the action was instituted by a third party or was filed by one of our stockholders. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. We have provided for this indemnification in our Certificate of Incorporation because we believe that it is important to attract qualified directors and officers. We have further provided in our Certificate of Incorporation that no indemnification shall be available, whether pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise, arising from any lawsuit or proceeding in which we assert a direct claim, as opposed to a stockholders’ derivative action, against any directors and officers (or a director or officer sues us). This limitation is designed to insure that if we are involved in litigation adverse to a director or officer, we do not have to pay for his legal fees. We plan to enter into Indemnification Agreements with each of our executive officers and directors.
 
 
35

 
 
Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification by such director, officer or controlling person of us in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being offered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
At the present time, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer, employee or other agent of ours in which indemnification would be required or permitted. We are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding, which may result in a claim for such indemnification.
 
Description of Aly Energy Preferred Stock
 
General
 
Aly Energy’s authorized capital comprises: 10,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 3,415,750 shares are issued and outstanding; and 4,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (“Aly Preferred Stock”), all of which are issued and outstanding. Each outstanding share of Aly Energy common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote per share on all matters. As a result of the Share Exchange, all of the shares of Aly Energy common stock are owned by Preferred Voice. The Aly Preferred Stock was issued to Kurt Chew, the President of Austin Chalk, in connection with the acquisition of Austin Chalk by Aly Energy, and all of the shares of Aly Preferred Stock are currently owned by Mr. Chew.
 
Specific Terms of the Aly Preferred Stock
 
The following describes, in general terms, the rights of the Aly Preferred Stock.
 
Voting Rights. The shares of Aly Preferred Stock do not have voting rights except as required by Delaware law.
 
Dividend Rights. The holders of shares of Aly Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a cumulative dividend of 5% per annum on the liquidation preference of the shares of Aly Preferred Stock, which liquidation preference was initially $1.00 per share. Dividends are payable by adding the amount of such dividends to the liquidation preference of the Aly Preferred Stock.
 
Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up of Aly Energy. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Aly Energy, the holders of the Aly Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, prior to any payments made to the holders of Aly Energy common stock, their full liquidation preference, and any amount remaining for distribution after payment of the full liquidation preference shall be distributed to the holders of Aly Energy common stock.
 
 
36

 
 
Liquidity Event. Until October 26, 2017, in the event of a liquidity event, defined generally as any consolidation, reorganization, merger or other transaction in which the holders of Aly Energy common stock do not own at least 50% of the outstanding shares of the resulting entity, or a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Aly Energy, the holders of Aly Preferred Stock shall be entitled to require that Aly Energy or its successor redeem the shares of Aly Preferred Stock in an amount equal to the greater of (1) 1.2 times the liquidation preference of the Aly Preferred Stock, and (b) the Per Share EBITDA Value. The “Per Share EBITDA Value” is an amount calculated based on the trailing 12 months of Austin Chalk EBITDA, any new capitalization of Austin Chalk, and the liquidation amount of all shares of Aly Preferred Stock.
 
Conversion Upon an IPO. In the event that Aly Energy were to conduct an initial public offering of its common stock, referred to as a traditional IPO, or is acquired by a company that is listed on a national securities exchange, referred to as a reverse IPO, then the holders of the Aly Preferred Stock have the right to elect to have the shares of Aly Preferred Stock either (1) converted into shares of Aly Energy common stock, or (2) redeemed by Aly. In the event of an election to convert the shares in a traditional IPO, the shares would convert into the number of shares equal to the Per Share EBIDA Value divided by the price of the common stock sold in the traditional IPO. In the event of an election to convert the shares in a reverse IPO, the shares would convert into the number of shares equal to the Per Share EBIDA Value divided by the weighted average closing price of the common stock of the acquiring entity for the 45 days following the closing of the reverse IPO. In the event of an election to have the shares of Aly Preferred Stock redeemed in connection with a traditional IPO or reverse IPO, the shares would be redeemed for the liquidation amount of the Aly Preferred Stock calculated as described above.
 
Holder Optional Redemption. During the period beginning on August 27, 2016, and ending on September 26, 2016, the holders of the Aly Preferred Stock have the right to require Aly Energy to redeem the shares of Aly Preferred Stock for the liquidation amount of the Aly Preferred Stock calculated as described above, which amount shall be paid 25% on the redemption date and the remainder being paid in three four quarterly installments with interest accruing at a rate of 8% per annum.
 
Aly Energy Optional Redemption. During the period beginning on October 26, 2016, and ending on October 26, 2017, or if Aly Energy notifies the holders of Aly Preferred Stock that it intends to effect a traditional IPO, reverse IPO or a liquidity event and the holders of Aly Preferred Stock do not elect to have the shares of Aly Preferred Stock converted or redeemed, then Aly Energy shall have the right to redeem the shares of Aly Preferred Stock for the liquidation amount of the Aly Preferred Stock calculated as described above, which amount shall be paid 25% on the date 30 days from the date Aly Energy informs the holders of Aly Preferred Stock of its intent to redeem the Aly Preferred Stock, and the remainder being paid in three four quarterly installments with interest accruing at a rate of 8% per annum.
 
Item 3.02  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
 
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 2.01 of this Report, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 5.01  Changes in Control of Registrant
 
Reference is made to the disclosure set forth under Item 2.01 of this Report, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
37

 
 
Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
 
The directors of Preferred Voice prior to the Share Exchange, Mary G. Merritt and Scott Ogilvie, have resigned as directors effective upon the closing of the Share Exchange, and the new directors of the Combined Company, as set forth in Item 2.01 of this Report, have been appointed as the directors of the Combined Company. Similarly, the sole officer of Preferred Voice, Mary G. Merritt has tendered her resignation, to be effective immediately following the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, and the new executive officers of the Combined Company, as set forth in Item 2.01 of this Report, have been appointed, all effective as of the date of the Share Exchange, other than with respect to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, whose appointment is effective upon the resignation of the current chief executive officer and principal financial officer. For certain biographical and other information regarding the newly appointed officers and directors, and current chief executive officer and principal financial officer, see the disclosure under Item 2.01 of this Report, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 5.03  Amendment to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
 
As contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement, Preferred Voice amended its certificate of incorporation to change the name of Preferred Voice to “Aly Energy Services, Inc.”
 
Item 5.06  Change in Shell Company Status
 
Upon the consummation of the Share Exchange on May 14, 2013, the Combined Company ceased to be a “shell company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. See the disclosure under Item 2.01 of this Report, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
 
(a)
Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. In accordance with Item 9.01(a), audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 (Aly Energy and consolidated subsidiaries) and 2011 (Austin Chalk), are filed in this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and 99.2.
 
 
(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information. In accordance with Item 9.01(b), our pro forma financial statements are filed in this Report as Exhibit 99.3
 
 
(c)
Shell Company Transactions . Reference is made to Items 9.01(a) and 9.01(b) and the exhibits referred to therein, which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(d)
Exhibits. See Exhibit Index following the signature page of this Report, which is incorporated by reference here.
 
 
38

 
 
SIGNATURE
 
 
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.
 
  Aly Energy Services, Inc.  
       
Dated: May 14 , 2013
By:
/s/ Mary G. Merritt  
    Mary G. Merritt  
    Chief Executive Officer  
 
 
39

 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit Number  
Description
     
2.1  
Share Exchange Agreement dated May 14, 2013 by and among Preferred Voice, Inc., Aly Energy Services, Inc. and the stockholders of Aly Energy Services, Inc.
2.2  
Stock Purchase Agreement, By and Between Aly Energy Services Inc. and Kurt Chew, dated as of September 27, 2012.
3.1  
Certificate of Incorporation, filed on August 3, 1992 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.2  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on May 2, 1994 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.3  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on March 21, 1995 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.4  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on July 27, 1995 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.5  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on March 7, 1997 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.6  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on April 27, 2007 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.7  
Certificate of Amendment, filed on May 14, 2013 with the Secretary of State of Delaware
3.8  
Bylaws of the Registrant
4.1  
Aly Energy Services Inc. Investor Agreement dated October 26, 2013.
10.1  
Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc. and Munawar Hidayatallah
10.2  
Employment Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc. and Mark Patterson
10.3  
Employment Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc. and Alya Hidayatallah
10.4  
Employment Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc. and Kurt Chew
10.5  
Amended and Restated Lease Agreement, dated 25th day of October, 2012, by and between Kurt Chew, LLC and Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp.
10.6   Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.7   Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan
21.1  
Subsidiaries
23.1  
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2  
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
99.1  
Audited consolidated financial statements of Aly Energy Services Inc.
99.2  
Audited financial statements of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp.
99.3  
Pro forma financial statements
 
       
40

EXHIBIT 2.1
 
SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
 
THIS SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this " Agreement "), dated as of May 14, 2013 (the “ Effective Time ”), is by and among Preferred Voice, Inc., a Delaware corporation (" Parent "), Aly Energy Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (the " Company "), and the holders of the common stock of the Company listed on the signature page hereto (the “ Shareholders ”). The Company, the Shareholders and Parent are referred to collectively herein as the " Parties ".
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of Parent and the Company have determined that it is in the best interests of each corporation and their respective stockholders that the Parties consummate the business combination transaction provided for herein in which the Shareholders will exchange the common stock of the Company for newly issued shares of common stock of the Parent (the “ Exchange ”) and, in furtherance thereof, have approved this Agreement, the Exchange and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared the Exchange advisable; and
 
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Exchange shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
As used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings and, unless the context otherwise requires, use of the singular form shall include the plural and any gender shall be deemed to include both genders:
 
(a)           “ Company Common Stock ” means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.
 
(b)            Company Constituent Instruments ” means the Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of the Company and such other constituent instruments of the Company as may exist, each as amended to the date of this Agreement.
 
(c)           “ Company Preferred Stock ” means the Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.
 
(d)           “ Consent ” means any material consent, approval, including stockholder approval, license, permit, order or authorization.
 
(e)           “ Contract ” means any contract, lease, license, indenture, note, bond or agreement.
 
 
1

 
 
(f)            Governmental Entity ” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or any court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
 
(g)            " Law " means any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, code, ordinance, rule or regulation promulgated, or order, judgment, writ, stipulation, award, injunction or decree entered, by a Governmental Entity.
 
(h)           " Lien " means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, capitalized lease or other title retention agreement).
 
(i)           “ Parent Common Stock ” means the common stock, $.001 par value, of the Parent.
 
(j)            Parent Constituent Instruments ” means the Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of Parent and such other constituent instruments of Parent as may exist, each as amended to the date of this Agreement.
 
(k)            " Person " means any individual or corporation, company, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity.
 
ARTICLE II
THE EXCHANGE
 
2.1            The Exchange . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing defined herein, the Shareholders will sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Parent, all of the Company Common Stock as set forth on Schedule I hereto, and, in exchange therefor, Parent will issue and deliver to the Shareholders an aggregate of approximately 68 million shares of Parent Common Stock as set forth on Schedule I hereto, at the ratio of 19.91 shares of Parent Common Stock for each outstanding share of Company Common Stock.

2.2            Closing . The closing of the Exchange (the " Closing ") shall take place concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the actual time and date of the Closing being referred to herein as the " Closing Date "). At the Closing, the Shareholders shall deliver to Parent the certificates representing the Company Common Stock to be exchanged and Parent shall issue and deliver to the Shareholders the Parent Common Stock to be issued in consideration therefor. The Parties hereto shall further execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as any party reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

2.3.            Charter Amendments . Immediately prior to the Closing, (i) Parent has duly amended its certificate of incorporation to change its corporate name to “Aly Energy Services, Inc.” and (ii) the Company has duly amended its certificate of incorporation to change its corporate name to “Aly Operating, Inc.” (the “ Charter Amendments ”).
 
 
2

 

2.4            Parent Executive Officers and Directors . Concurrently with the Closing, all of the existing executive officers and directors have resigned their positions and have caused (i) Munawar H. Hidayatallah to be appointed as the chairman of Parent’s board of directors and as its CEO and President and (ii) Nadine Smith, Zane Tankel, Saeed M. Sheikh and Allen S. Morton have been appointed as additional members of Parent’s board of directors.

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent that the statements contained in this Article III are true and correct, except to the extent specifically set forth on the disclosure letter delivered separately and concurrently herewith by the Company to Parent (the " Company Disclosure Letter ").
 
3.1            Organization, Standing and Power . The Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has the corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or on the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated herein (a “ Company Material Adverse Effect ”).
 
3.2            Capital Structure . The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 3,415,750 shares are issued and outstanding on the date hereof, and 4,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock, all of which shares are issued and outstanding on the date hereof. The Company is the sole record and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of its subsidiaries. All outstanding equity interests of the Company and of each of its subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the applicable Laws of its jurisdiction of formation, the Company Constituent Instruments or any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock or the capital stock of any of its subsidiaries may vote. Except for the Company’s outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock, and options to acquire 340,000 shares of the Company’s common stock granted pursuant to the “Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan,” there are not any options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound (i) obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any capital stock of or other equity interest in, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or right similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders of the capital stock of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries. There are not any outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Common Stock or shares of capital stock of any subsidiary. No transfers of Company Common Stock have been made on the stock transfer books of the Company after the close of business on the day prior to the Closing Date.
 
 
3

 

3.3            Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability . The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved by the board of directors, and (subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders) no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. When executed and delivered, this Agreement will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
 
3.4            No Conflicts . The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the Company Constituent Instruments or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Contract to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject or (iii) any judgment, order or decree or material Law applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
3.5            Consents . No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any Governmental Entity or other Person is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
3.6            Brokers . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
 
 
4

 
 
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct, except to the extent specifically set forth on the disclosure letter delivered separately and concurrently herewith by Parent to the Company (the " Parent Disclosure Letter ").
 
4.1            Organization, Standing and Power . Parent and each of its subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has the corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of Parent, a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or on the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated herein (a “ Parent Material Adverse Effect ”). Parent and each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of its properties make such qualification necessary except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
 
4.2            Capital Structure of Parent . The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 100 million shares of Parent Common Stock, of which 6,130,184 shares of Parent Common Stock Shares are issued and outstanding on the date hereof and held by approximately 400 beneficial owners. Parent is the sole record and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of its subsidiaries. All outstanding equity interests of Parent and each of its subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the applicable Laws of its jurisdiction of formation, the Parent Constituent Instruments or any Contract to which Parent is a party or otherwise bound; and all such equity interests have been issued in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Parent or any of its subsidiaries having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Parent Common Stock or the shares of capital stock of any of its subsidiaries may vote. There are not any options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound (i) obligating Parent or any of its subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any capital stock of or other equity interest in, Parent or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) obligating Parent or any of its subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking or (iii) that give any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or right similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders of the capital stock of Parent or of any of its subsidiaries. There are not any outstanding contractual obligations of Parent or of any of its subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of Parent or any subsidiary. Parent has reserved for issuance the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Exchange and an additional 18,250,000 shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued to officers, directors, employees and consultants pursuant to an equity incentive plan to be adopted by Parent after the Effective Time.
 
 
5

 
 
4.3            Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability . Parent has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved by the board of directors of Parent, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. When executed and delivered, this Agreement will be enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms.
 
4.4            No Conflicts . The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or any of its subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the Parent Constituent Instruments or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Contract to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject or (iii) any judgment, order or decree or material Law applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent or any of its subsidiaries has violated, or is in breach of, or is in default under (with or without the passage of time or giving of notice or both), any of (i) the Parent Constituent Instruments or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Contract to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject or (iii) any judgment, order or decree or material Law applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
 
4.5            Consents . No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any Governmental Entity or other Person is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to Parent or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
4.8            Brokers . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its subsidiaries.
 
 
6

 
 
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SHAREHOLDERS

Each of the Shareholders, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to Parent that the statements contained in this Article V are true and correct in respect of such Shareholder.
 
(i)           The Shareholder is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”)), and, as such, is sophisticated and well-informed and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters in general and in investments in particular, based on actual participation, as is necessary to enable the Shareholder to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in Parent Common Stock.

(ii)          The Shareholder has no need for liquidity in his investment in Parent Common Stock and is able to bear the risk of that investment for an indefinite period. The Shareholder’s present financial condition is such that the Shareholder is under no present or contemplated future need to dispose of any portion of the Parent Common Stock to be issued to the Shareholder hereunder to satisfy any existing or contemplated undertaking, need or indebtedness.

(iii)         The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities act.

(iv)          In evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in Parent, the Shareholder has relied on the advice of his own personal legal and financial counsel.

(v)          The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued to Shareholder hereunder are being acquired solely for the Shareholder’s own account, for investment purposes only, and is not being purchased with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization thereof; and the Shareholder has no present plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for such resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization. The Shareholder is not taking and will not take or cause to be taken any action that would cause the Shareholder to be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act.

(vi)         The Shareholder has been given the opportunity to: (i) ask questions of and receive answers from Parent and its designated representatives concerning the terms of the Exchange and the business and financial condition of Parent; and (ii) obtain any additional information that Parent possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to assist the Shareholder in evaluating the advisability of an investment in Parent. The Shareholder is not relying on any oral representation made by any person as to Parent or its operations and financial condition.
 
 
7

 

(vii)        The Shareholder understands that no federal, state or other governmental authority has made any recommendation, findings or determination relating to the merits of an investment in Parent.

ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

6.1           Director and Officer Indemnification .
 
(a)           Parent agrees that all rights to indemnification and all limitations on liability existing in favor of any individuals who on or prior to the Effective Time were officer, directors or agents of Parent (the “Indemnitees”) in respect of acts or omissions of such Indemnitees on or prior to the Effective Time as provided in the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of Parent or an agreement between an Indemnitee and Parent in effect as of the date hereof shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b)           For six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitees to the same extent indemnification is provided as of the date hereof with respect to all actions or omissions by them in their capacities as officers or directors or agents of Parent, or taken by them at the request of Parent. In the event any claim in respect of which indemnification is available pursuant to the foregoing provisions is asserted or made within the period specified in the previous sentence, all rights to indemnification shall continue until such claim is disposed of or all judgments, orders, decrees or other rulings in connection with such claim are duly satisfied.

(c)           The obligations of Parent under this Section 6.1 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Indemnitee to whom this Section 6.1 applies without the consent of such affected Indemnitee (it being expressly agreed that the Indemnitees to whom this Section 6.1 applies shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 6.1).
 
 
8

 
 
6.2            Treatment of Company Preferred Stock . Parent agrees that upon the listing of Parent Common Stock following the Closing on any of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, the NYSE MKT LLC or the successors thereof, a Reverse IPO (as defined in the certificate of incorporation of the Company) will be deemed to have occurred, and Parent agrees to issue shares of Parent Common Stock upon the deemed conversion of the Company Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the certificate of incorporation of the Company, provided that the holders of the Company Preferred Stock shall concurrently therewith transfer and assign to the Company the Company Preferred Stock so deemed to have converted in full consideration of such issuance of Parent Common Stock.
 
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
 
7.1            Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties made herein shall not survive beyond the Effective Time or a termination of this Agreement. This Section 7.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the Parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.

7.2            Acknowledgement. Each of the Shareholders acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to consult with legal counsel regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and further acknowledge that Cooley LLP represents the Company and not any of the Shareholders in connection with the transaction or the Agreement.
 
7.3            Counterparts . For the convenience of the Parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.

7.4            Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of Law thereof.

7.5            Notices . Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any Party to the other Parties shall be deemed delivered upon actual receipt and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, reputable overnight courier, or by facsimile transmission (with a confirming copy sent by reputable overnight courier), as follows:
 
  (a)
if to Parent, to:
     
   
c/o Mary G. Merritt
   
3112 Purdue Avenue
   
Dallas, Texas 75225
   
m.merritt@sbcglobal.net
     
  (b)
if to the Company or the Shareholders, to:
     
   
Aly Energy Services Inc.
   
3 Riverway, Suite 920
   
Houston, Texas 77056
   
Attn: Chairman and CEO

 
 
9

 
 
 
or to such other Persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice.

7.6           Entire Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement and the exhibits and schedules delivered pursuant hereto (i) constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (ii) shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise.

7.7           Parties in Interest . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, other than the right to receive the consideration payable in the Exchange pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however , that Kurt Chew shall be a third-party beneficiary solely of Section 6.2 of this Agreement.
 
7.8           Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the maximum extent possible.

7.9           Trial by Jury . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
7.10          Captions . The Article, Section and paragraph captions herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
 
 
10

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the Parties hereto and shall be effective as of the date first herein above written.
 
  Preferred Voice, Inc.
       
  By: /s/ Mary G. Merritt  
    Mary G. Merritt  
    Chairman and CEO  
       
  Aly Energy Services Inc.
   
 
 
  By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
    Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
    Chairman and CEO  
 
[Signature Page to Share Exchange Agreement]
 
 
11

 
 
Shareholders:
 
Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian, Kouros Sariri, Account # 407193
 
       
By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah
  By:
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling
 
      Name:
Trust, Custodian, Kouros Sariri
 
      Title: /s/ Kouros Sariri  
           
Cydas Investments Limited   Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian, Mariana Gharai, Account # 407194  
         
By: /s/ Ali Afdhal   By:
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling
 
Name:
Ali Afdhal
  Name:
Trust Custodian Mariana Gharai
 
Title:     Title: /s/ Mariana Gharai  
           
Emerson Partners   Kouros Sariri  
           
By:
/s/ J. Steven Emerson
  By: /s/ Kouros Sariri  
Name: J. Steven Emerson        
Title: Authorized Trader        
           
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC as Custodian, Rollover Account II   Mariana Gharai  
           
By: /s/ J. Steven Emerson   By: /s/ Mariana Gharai  
Name: J. Steven Emerson        
Title:
Sole Beneficiary self directed IRA
       
           
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC as Custodian, Roth Account   Nadine C. Smith  
           
By: /s/ J. Steven Emerson   By: /s/ Nadine C. Smith  
Name: J. Steven Emerson        
Title: Sole Beneficiary self directed IRA        
           
 
[Signature Page to Share Exchange Agreement]
 
 
12

 
 
J. Steven Emerson   John D. Long  
       
By: /s/ J. Steven Emerson   By: /s/ John D. Long  
           
Nezam Afdhal   Saeed M. Sheikh  
           
By:
/s/ Nezam Afdhal
  By:
/s/ Saeed M. Sheikh
 
           
Makini Enterprises S.A., St. Vincent
May 13, 2013
  Chilton Global Management Partners, Ltd.  
           
By:
Armand Neff
Christoph Luthy   By: /s/ Howard Lorch  
Name: Director Director   Name: Howard Lorch  
Title: /s/ Armand Neff /s/ Christoph Luthy   Title:
General Partner
 
           
Zane Tankel   Arvind Sanger  
           
By:
/s/ Zane Tankel
  By:
/s/ Arvind Sanger
 
           
Ironman PI Fund II (QP), L.P.   James W. Crystal  
       
By:
/s/ G. Bryan Dutt
  By:
/s/ James W. Crystal
 
Name: G. Bryan Dutt        
Title:
President
       
           
Freebird Partners, LP   Mark Patterson  
           
By: /s/ Curtis Huff   By: /s/ Mark Patterson  
Name: Curtis Huff        
Title:
Chairman
       
 
[Signature Page to Share Exchange Agreement]
 
 
13

 
 
Schedule I
 
Principal
Record Holder / Address
Number of Shares of
Company Common Stock
Held and to be Sold Shares
Number of Shares of Parent Common Stock to be Received
Micki Hidayatallah
Munawar Hidayatallah
500,000
9,955,000
Ali Afdhal
Cydas Investments Limited
625,000
12,443,750
J. Steven Emerson
Emerson Partners
60,000
1,194,600
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC as Custodian, Rollover Account II
250,000
4,977,500
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC as Custodian, Roth Account
250,000
4,977,500
J. Steven Emerson
60,000
1,194,600
Nezam Afdhal
Nezam Afdhal
312,500
6,221,875
Armand Neff and Christoph Luthy
Makini Enterprises S.A., St. Vincent
300,000
5,973,000
Zane Tankel
Zane Tankel
250,000
4,977,500
Bryan Dutt
Ironman PI Fund II (QP), L.P.
125,000
2,488,750
Curtis Huff
Freebird Partners, LP
125,000
2,488,750
Kouros and Mariana Sariri
 
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian Kouros Sariri, Account # 407193
41,014
816,589
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian Mariana Gharai, Account # 407194
27,654
550,591
Kouros Sariri and Mariana Gharai
56,332
1,121,570
Nadine C. Smith
Nadine C. Smith
62,500
1,244,375
John D. Long
John D. Long
62,500
1,244,375
Saeed M. Sheikh
Saeed M. Sheikh
106,250
2,115,438
Howard Lorch
Chilton Global Management Partners, Ltd.
75,000
1,493,250
Arvind Sanger
Arvind Sanger
62,500
1,244,375
James W. Crystal
James W. Crystal
62,500
1,244,375
Mark Patterson
Mark Patterson
2,000
39,820
Total
 
3,415,750
68,007,583
 
 
14

EXHIBIT 2.2
 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
BY AND BETWEEN
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
 
AND
 
KURT CHEW
 
Dated as of September 27, 2012
 
 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
 
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS        
  1.1
Certain Definitions.
    1  
             
ARTICLE II SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES        
  2.1
Sale and Purchase of Acquired Shares; Assignment and Assumption.
    11  
             
ARTICLE III CONSIDERATION        
  3.1
Consideration.
    11  
  3.2
Payment of Purchase Price.
    12  
  3.3
Adjustments to the Cash Purchase Price.
    12  
             
ARTICLE IV CLOSING AND TERMINATION        
  4.1
Closing Date.
    13  
  4.2
Termination of Agreement.
    13  
  4.3
Procedure Upon Termination.
    14  
  4.4
Effect of Termination.
       
             
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER        
  5.1
Organization and Good Standing.
    14  
  5.2
Authorization of Agreement.
    14  
  5.3
Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.
    15  
  5.4
Capitalization.
    15  
  5.5
Subsidiaries.
    16  
  5.6
Corporate Records.
    16  
  5.7
Ownership and Transfer of Acquired Shares.
    16  
  5.8
Financial Statements.
    16  
  5.9
No Undisclosed Liabilities.
    17  
  5.10
Absence of Certain Developments.
    17  
  5.11
Taxes.
    18  
  5.12
Real Property.
    22  
  5.13
Assets.
    23  
  5.14
Intellectual Property.
    23  
  5.15
Material Contracts.
    24  
  5.16
Employee Benefits Plans.
    26  
  5.17
Labor.
    28  
  5.18
Litigation.
    29  
  5.19
Compliance with Laws; Permits.
    29  
  5.20
Environmental Matters.
    29  
  5.21
Insurance.
    30  
  5.22
Equipment Inventory.
    30  
  5.23
Accounts Receivable/Payable.
    31  
  5.24
Related Party Transactions.
    31  
  5.25
Customers and Supplies.
    31  
  5.26
Product Liability.
    32  
 
 
i

 
 
  5.27
Banks.
    32  
  5.28
Powers of Attorney.
    32  
  5.29
Full Disclosure.
    32  
  5.30
Financial Advisors.
       
             
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER        
  6.1
Organization and Good Standing.
    32  
  6.2
Authorization of Agreement.
    32  
  6.3
Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.
    33  
  6.4
Litigation.
    33  
  6.5
Newly-Formed Entity.
    33  
             
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS        
  7.1
Access to Information.
    34  
  7.2
Conduct of the Business Pending the Closing.
    34  
  7.3
Consents.
    36  
  7.4
Further Assurances.
    36  
  7.5
No Shop.
    36  
  7.6
Preservation of Records.
    37  
  7.7
Publicity.
    37  
  7.8
Environmental Matters.
    37  
  7.9
Cooperation with Financing.
    38  
  7.10
Notification of Changes.
    38  
  7.11
Non-Competition.
    38  
  7.12
Release.
    40  
             
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING        
  8.1
Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Purchaser.
    40  
  8.2
Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Seller.
    42  
             
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION        
  9.1
Survival of Representations and Warranties.
    43  
  9.2
Indemnification.
    43  
  9.3
Indemnification Procedures.
    45  
  9.4
Limitations on Indemnification for Breaches of Representations and Warranties.
    47  
  9.5
Tax Matters.
    47  
  9.6
Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments.
    51  
  9.7
Express Negligence
    51  
             
ARTICLE X PREFERRED SHARES        
  10.1
Compliance with Law.
    51  
  10.2
Economic Risk; Sophistication; Accredited Investors.
    52  
  10.3
Restriction on Sale or Other Transfer of Preferred Shares.
    52  
             
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS        
  11.1
Expenses.
    53  
  11.2
Specific Performance.
    53  
  11.3
Dispute Resolution.
    53  
  11.4
Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.
   
54
 
 
 
ii

 
 
  11.5
Governing Law.
    55  
  11.6
Notices.
    55  
  11.7
Severability.
    56  
  11.8
Binding Effect; Assignment.
    56  
  11.9
No Partnership; Third-Party Beneficiaries.
    56  
  11.10
Non-Recourse.
    57  
  11.11
Counterparts.
    57  
 
LIST OF EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit A
Form of Employment Agreement
   
Exhibit B
Terms of the Preferred Shares
   
Exhibit C
Estimated Cash Purchase Price
   
Exhibit D
Form of Opinion of Cook Brooks Johnson PLLC
   
Exhibit E
Form of Amended and Restated Lease Agreement
   
 
LIST OF SCHEDULES
 
Schedule 5.9
No Undisclosed Liabilities
Schedule 5.10
Capital Expenditures
Schedule 5.11(f)
Taxes
Schedule 5.12(a)
Real Property
Schedule 5.13(b)
Personal Property
Schedule 5.14(a)
Intellectual Property
Schedule 5.14(i)
Software
Schedule 5.15
Material Contracts
Schedule 5.16(a)
Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 5.16(i)
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
Schedule 5.18
Litigation
Schedule 5.22
Equipment Inventory
Schedule 5.23(a)
Accounts Receivable
Schedule 5.23(b)
Accounts Payable
Schedule 5.24
Related Party Transactions
Schedule 5.25(a)
Customers
Schedule 5.25(b)
Suppliers
Schedule 5.27
Bank Accounts
Schedule 5.28
Powers of Attorney
Schedule 5.30
Financial Advisors
 
 
iii

 

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into this 27th day of September, 2012, by and between Aly Energy Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto, “ Purchaser ”), and Kurt Chew, an individual residing in Texas (“ Seller ”).
 
R E C I T A L S
 
WHEREAS, Seller owns an aggregate of 1,000 shares of the common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “ Acquired Shares ”), of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), which constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company; and
 
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, the Acquired Shares for the purchase price and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1           Certain Definitions.
 
(a)           For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 :
 
Accounting Firm ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(c) hereof.
 
Acquired Shares ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
 
Acquisition Transaction ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.5(a) hereof.
 
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, and the term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
 
Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
 
 
- 1 -

 
 
Annual Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(a) hereof.
 
Balance Sheet ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(b) hereof.
 
Balance Sheet Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(b) hereof.
 
Basket ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.4(a) hereof.
 
Business ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(a) hereof.
 
Business Day ” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in Texas are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.
 
Cap ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.4(b) hereof.
 
CapEx Deficit ” shall mean the excess of $500,000 over the Capital Expenditures during the period from May 1, 2012 until the Closing Date.
 
CapEx Overage ” shall mean the excess of the Capital Expenditures during the period from May 1, 2012 until the Closing Date over $500,000.
 
Capital Expenditures ” shall mean expenditures for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets, or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements) which are required to be capitalized under GAAP on a balance sheet.
 
Cash Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
 
Closing ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1 hereof.
 
Closing Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1 hereof.
 
Closing Date Debt ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.9 hereof.
 
COBRA ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.16(l) hereof.
 
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
Collected Amounts ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(b) hereof.
 
 
- 2 -

 
 
Common Stock ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.4(a) hereof.
 
Company ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
 
Company Activities ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(c) hereof.
 
Company Plans ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.16(a) hereof.
 
Company Properties ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.12(a) hereof.
 
Company Released Parties ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.12 hereof.
 
Confidential Information ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(c) hereof.
 
Contract ” means any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, commitment or other arrangement or agreement, whether written or oral.
 
Current Assets ” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable that are eligible for financing and are not in excess of 90 days outstanding, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Purchaser will not receive the benefit following the Closing; (b) deferred Tax assets; and (c) receivables from any of the Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the UHY Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.
 
Current Liabilities ” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities and the current portion of long-term debt, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the UHY Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.
 
Employees ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.16(a) hereof.
 
 
- 3 -

 
 
Employment Agreement ” means the Employment Agreement to be entered into by and between Seller and the Company on the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A .
 
Environmental Costs and Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to the extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, order or agreement with any Governmental Body or other Person, which relates to any environmental, health or safety condition, violation of Environmental Law or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.
 
Environmental Law ” means any foreign, federal, state or local law, statute, regulation, rule, decree, ordinance, rule of common law or other legal requirement, as now or hereafter in effect, in any way relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or natural resources (including, without limitation, the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of any Hazardous Materials and any Release or threatened Release of, or any exposure of any individual or property to, any Hazardous Material) including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq. ), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 1801 et seq. ), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. ), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. ), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq. ) the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. ), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq. ), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq. ), as each has been or may be amended and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
 
Environmental Permit ” means any Permit required by or issued pursuant to Environmental Laws for the operation of the Company.
 
ERISA ” means the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
 
ERISA Affiliate ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.16(b) hereof.
 
Estimated Capital Expenditures ” shall mean the estimated capital expenditures set forth in Exhibit C .
 
Estimated Working Capital ” shall mean the estimated working capital as determined in accordance with Exhibit C .
 
 
- 4 -

 
 
“Existing Indebtedness ” means that certain Promissory Note dated October 26, 2011, made by the Company and payable to JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA in the principal amount of $453,000.00.
 
Expenses ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.2(a)(v) hereof.
 
Final Capital Expenditures ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(a) .
 
Final Cash Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(a) .
 
Final Closing Statement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(a) .
 
Final Working Capital ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(a) .
 
Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(a) hereof.
 
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as of the date hereof.
 
Governmental Authority ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(a) hereof.
 
Governmental Body ” means any government or governmental or regulatory body thereof, or political subdivision thereof, whether federal, state, local or foreign, or any agency, instrumentality or authority thereof, or any court or arbitrator (public or private).
 
Hazardous Material ” means any substance, material or waste that is regulated, classified, or otherwise characterized under or pursuant to any Environmental Law as “hazardous,” “toxic,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,” “radioactive,” or words of similar meaning or effect, including without limitation, petroleum and its by-products and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, mold, urea formaldehyde insulation.
 
Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (i) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable; (ii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the Ordinary Course of Business); (iii) all obligations of such Person under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP; (iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction; (v) the liquidation value of all redeemable preferred stock of such Person; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of any Persons for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety or otherwise, including guarantees of such obligations; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person).
 
 
- 5 -

 
 
Indemnification Claim ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.3(a) hereof.
 
Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual property rights used by the Company arising from or in respect of the following, whether protected, created or arising under the Laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction: (i) all patents and applications therefor, including continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, or reissues of patent applications and patents issuing thereon (collectively, “ Patents ”); (ii) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, brand names, trade dress rights, logos, Internet domain names and corporate names and general intangibles of a like nature, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and all applications, registrations and renewals thereof (collectively, “ Marks ”); (iii) copyrights and registrations and applications therefor, works of authorship and mask work rights (collectively, “ Copyrights ”); (iv) discoveries, concepts, ideas, research and development, know-how, formulae, inventions, compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical data, procedures, designs, drawings, specifications, databases, and other proprietary and confidential information, including customer lists, supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals of the Company, in each case excluding any rights in respect of any of the foregoing that comprise or are protected by Copyrights or Patents (collectively, “ Trade Secrets ”); and (v) all Software and Technology of the Company.
 
Intellectual Property Licenses ” means (i) any grant to a third Person of any right to use any of the Intellectual Property, and (ii) any grant to the Company of a right to use a third Person’s intellectual property rights.
 
IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service.
 
Knowledge ” means, with respect to any Person, the knowledge after due inquiry of the officers, directors and other management employees of such Person or, in the case of an individual, of such individual.
 
Law ” means any foreign, federal, state or local law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or other requirement.
 
Legal Requirement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(a) hereof.
 
Liability ” means any debt, loss, damage, adverse claim, liability or obligation (whether direct or indirect, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due, and whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise), and including all costs and expenses relating thereto.
 
 
- 6 -

 
 
Lien ” means any lien, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, claim, lease, charge, option, right of first refusal, easement, servitude, proxy, voting trust or agreement, transfer restriction under any shareholder or similar agreement, encumbrance or any other restriction or limitation whatsoever.
 
Losses ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.2(a)(i) hereof.
 
Material Adverse Effect ” means (i) a material adverse effect on the historical, near-term or long-term projected business, assets, liabilities, capitalization, properties, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company; (ii) a material adverse effect on the financial, banking, capital markets or general economic conditions; (iii) a material adverse effect on the value of the Company; (iv) changes in general economic, regulatory or political conditions, or securities markets in the United States or worldwide or any outbreak of hostilities, terrorist activities or war, or any material worsening of any such hostilities, activities or war underway as of the date hereof; or (v) a material adverse effect on the ability of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform its obligations under this Agreement or Seller Documents. A Material Adverse Effect shall be determined in light of Purchaser’s intended capital structure for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
Material Contracts ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.15(a) hereof.
 
Order ” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Body.
 
Ordinary Course of Business ” means the ordinary and usual course of day-to-day operations of the business through the date hereof consistent with past practice.
 
Permits ” means any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits or certificates of a Governmental Body.
 
Permitted Exceptions ” means (i) all defects, exceptions, restrictions, easements, rights of way and encumbrances disclosed in policies of title insurance which have been made available to Purchaser; (ii) statutory liens for current Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet delinquent, provided that an appropriate reserve is established therefor in accordance with GAAP; and (iii) zoning, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations by any Governmental Body, provided that such regulations have not been violated.
 
Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Body or other entity.
 
Personal Property Leases ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.13(b) hereof.
 
 
- 7 -

 
 
Preferred Distribution Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2(b) .
 
Preferred Shares ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b) hereof.
 
Primary Property ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.1(n) hereof.
 
Proceeding ” means any judicial, administrative or arbitral actions, suits, proceedings (public or private), claims or proceedings by or before a Governmental Body.
 
Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1 hereof.
 
Purchaser ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
 
Purchaser Documents ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.2 hereof.
 
Purchaser Indemnified Parties ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.2(a) hereof.
 
Purchaser’s Environmental Assessments ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.10 hereof.
 
Real Property Leases ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.12(a) hereof.
 
Release ” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or leaching into the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property.
 
Remedial Action ” means all actions to (i) clean up, remove, treat or in any other way address any Hazardous Material; (ii) prevent the Release or minimize the further Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; (iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care; or (iv) to correct a condition of noncompliance with Environmental Laws.
 
Representatives ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.5(a) hereof.
 
Restricted Area ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(a) hereof.
 
 
- 8 -

 
 
Securities Act ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.01 hereof.
 
Seller ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
 
Seller Documents ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.2 hereof.
 
Seller Indemnified Parties ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.2(b) hereof.
 
Straddle Period ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.5(c) hereof.
 
Subsidiary ” means any Person of which a majority of the outstanding voting securities or other voting equity interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
 
Survival Period ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1 hereof.
 
Taxes ” means (i) all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, (ii) all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Taxing Authority in connection with any item described in clause (i) and all interest imposed on such penalties, fines, additions to tax, or additional amounts, (iii) any and all liability for the payment of any item described in clause (i) or (ii) above as a result of being or ceasing to be a member of a fiscal unity, affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group and (iv) any transferee or successor liability in respect of any items described in clauses (i), (ii) and/or (iii) payable by reason of contract, assumption, transferee liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof of any analogous or similar provision under Law) or otherwise.
 
Tax Audit ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.11(d) .
 
Taxing Authority ” means the IRS and any other Governmental Body responsible for the administration of any Tax.
 
Tax Return ” means any return, report, document or statement permitted or required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any attachments thereto, and any amendment thereof) including, but not limited to, any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax, and including, where permitted or required, combined, consolidated or unitary returns for any group of entities that includes the Company or any of its Affiliates.
 
 
- 9 -

 
 
Technology ” means, collectively, all designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical data, programs, subroutines, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses, and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing, in any form whether or not specifically listed herein, and all related technology, that are used in, incorporated in, embodied in, displayed by or relate to, or are used by the Company.
 
Transaction Expenses ” means the aggregate amount of fees and expenses and other payment obligations incurred by or on behalf of, or paid or payable by, the Company in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees and expenses of counsel, advisors, brokers, consultants and accountants; any transaction, change of control or similar bonuses; costs, fees, penalties, payments or expenses incurred in obtaining any requisite consents, repayment of any Indebtedness or the release and termination of any Liens; and all fees and charges of any Governmental Body.
 
UHY Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.1(o) .
 
Uncollected Amounts ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.3(b) hereof.
 
WARN ” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended.
 
Working Capital Target ” shall mean $2,100,000.00.
 
Work Product ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.11(c) hereof.
 
Working Capital ” means the excess, if any, of (a) the Current Assets of the Company, over (b) the Current Liabilities of the Company.
 
Working Capital Deficit ” shall mean the excess of the Working Capital Target over the Working Capital as of the open of business on the Closing Date.
 
Working Capital Surplus ” shall mean the excess of the Working Capital as of the open of business on the Closing Date over the Working Capital Target.
 
(b)           Other Definitional and Interpretive Matters . Unless otherwise expressly provided, for purposes of this Agreement, the following rules of interpretation shall apply:
 
Calculation of Time Period . When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day.
 
 
- 10 -

 
 
Dollars . Any reference in this Agreement to $ shall mean U.S. dollars.
 
Exhibits/Schedules . The Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are hereby incorporated and made a part hereof and are an integral part of this Agreement. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Schedule or Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall be defined as set forth in this Agreement.
 
Gender and Number . Any reference in this Agreement to gender shall include all genders, and words imparting the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa.
 
Headings . The provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement. All references in this Agreement to any “Section” are to the corresponding Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
 
Herein . The words such as “ herein ,” “ hereinafter ,” “ hereof ,” and “ hereunder ” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires.
 
Including . The word “ including ” or any variation thereof means “including, without limitation” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it.
 
(c)           The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE II
SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
2.1          Sale and Purchase of Acquired Shares; Assignment and Assumption. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, on the Closing Date, Seller agrees to sell the Acquired Shares to Purchaser, and Purchaser agrees to purchase the Acquired Shares from Seller.
 
ARTICLE III
CONSIDERATION
 
3.1          Consideration. Subject to any adjustments pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 9.4(d) , the aggregate consideration for the Acquired Shares (the “ Purchase Price ”) shall be as follows:
 
 
- 11 -

 
 
(a)           an amount in cash (the “ Cash Purchase Price ”) equal to (i) $16,500,000.00 (ii) plus the Working Capital Surplus or minus the Working Capital Deficit, as applicable, if any, and (iii) plus the CapEx Overage or minus the CapEx Deficit, as applicable, if any; and
 
(b)           4,000,000 shares of preferred stock in Purchaser, with such terms and provisions as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto (the “ Preferred Shares ”).
 
3.2           Payment of Purchase Price.
 
(a)           On the Closing Date, Purchaser shall pay an estimated cash purchase price to Seller, calculated according to Exhibit C , which shall be paid to Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds into an account designated by Seller at least two (2) days prior to the Closing Date.
 
(b)           Purchaser shall issue the following amounts of Preferred Shares to Seller, subject to any adjustments pursuant to Section 9.2(c) (i), on the following dates: (i) 2,000,000 Preferred Shares on December 31, 2012 and (ii) 2,000,000 Preferred Shares on the earlier of March 31, 2013 or the date that is five (5) days after Purchaser’s auditors have completed an audit of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the date of such distribution under clause (ii) being referred to as the “ Preferred Distribution Date ”).
 
3.3           Adjustments to the Cash Purchase Price.
 
(a)           As soon as practicable but in any event prior to December 31, 2012, Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to Seller a statement (the “ Final Closing Statement ”) setting forth (i) the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Company during the period from May 1, 2012 until the Closing Date (the “ Final Capital Expenditures ”), (ii) the amount of Working Capital of the Company as of the open of business on the Closing Date (the “ Final Working Capital ”), (iii) any adjustments to the Final Working Capital pursuant to Section 3.3(b) and (iv) the final Cash Purchase Price calculated in accordance with Section 3.1 (“ Final Cash Purchase Price ”).
 
(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if (i) on or prior to December 31, 2012, the Company has collected any amounts (the “ Collected Amounts ”) related to accounts receivable that were in excess of ninety (90) days outstanding as of the Closing Date, the Final Working Capital shall be adjusted upward by an amount equal to the Collected Amounts and (ii) the Company has not collected any amounts (the “ Uncollected Amounts ”) related to accounts receivable that are included in the calculation of Final Working Capital pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and, on January 1, 2013, such accounts receivable were in excess of ninety (90) days outstanding, the Final Working Capital shall be adjusted downward by an amount equal to the Uncollected Amounts. Any accounts receivable in existence on the Closing Date that has not been collected by the Company by the date of the calculation of the Final Working Capital will be assigned to Seller.
 
(c)           Within thirty (30) days following the delivery of the Final Closing Statement, Seller shall notify Purchaser if Seller disagrees with the Final Working Capital or the Final Capital Expenditures as set forth on the Final Closing Statement. If Seller does not so notify Purchaser, Seller shall be deemed to have accepted such amounts. If Seller does so notify Purchaser that Seller disagrees with any such amounts, and Seller and Purchaser are thereafter unable to agree within twenty (20) days after delivery of the Final Closing Statement, the Final Working Capital and/or the Final Capital Expenditures, as the case may be, shall be determined by an independent accounting firm selected by Purchaser from a list of three nationally or regionally recognized independent accounting firms in the United States provided by Seller, so long as such selected firm is not then retained by Purchaser or Seller (the “ Accounting Firm ”). The determination by the Accounting Firm shall be final and binding on Purchaser and Seller, and the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by the party that assigned amounts to items in dispute that were, on a net basis, furthest in amount from the amount finally resolved by the Accounting Firm in accordance with this Section 3.3(c) , as determined by reference to the Final Cash Purchase Price.
 
 
- 12 -

 
 
(d)           If the Final Working Capital, as finally determined pursuant to Section 3.3(c) , is greater than the Estimated Working Capital, then, within five (5) days following the final determination thereof, Purchaser shall pay Seller an amount equal to such difference by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts designated by Seller. If the Final Working Capital, as finally determined pursuant to Section 3.3(c) , is less than the Estimated Working Capital, then, within five (5) days following the final determination thereof, Seller shall pay Purchaser an amount equal to such difference by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts designated by Purchaser. If the Final Capital Expenditures, as finally determined pursuant to Section 3.3(c) , is greater than the Estimated Capital Expenditures, then, within five (5) days following the final determination thereof, Seller shall pay Purchaser an amount equal to such difference by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts designated by Purchaser. If the Final Capital Expenditures, as finally determined pursuant to Section 3.3(c) , is less than the Estimated Capital Expenditures, then, within five (5) days following the final determination thereof, Purchaser shall pay Seller an amount equal to such difference by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts designated by Sellers.
 
ARTICLE IV
CLOSING AND TERMINATION
 
4.1           Closing Date. The closing of the sale and purchase of the Acquired Shares provided for in Section 2.1 hereof (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of Baker Botts L.L.P. at 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas at 10:00 a.m. (Houston time) on a date no later than the second Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Article VIII (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions). The date on which the Closing shall be held is referred to in this Agreement as the “ Closing Date .”
 
4.2           Termination of Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as follows:
 
(a)           At the election of Seller or Purchaser on or after October 22, 2012, if the Closing shall not have occurred by the close of business on such date, provided that the terminating party is not in default or breach of any of its obligations hereunder, or has not failed or refused to close without justification hereunder;
 
 
- 13 -

 
 
(b)           by either Seller or Purchaser in writing without prejudice to other rights and remedies which the terminating party may have (provided the terminating party are not otherwise in material default or breach of this Agreement, or have not failed or refused to close without justification hereunder), if the other party shall (i) materially fail to perform its covenants or agreements contained herein required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) breach or have breached any of its representations or warranties contained herein; provided, however, that in the case of clause (i) or (ii), the defaulting party shall have a period of ten (10) days following written notice from the non-defaulting party to cure any breach of this Agreement, if such breach is curable; or
 
(c)           by mutual written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
 
4.3           Procedure Upon Termination. In the event of termination and abandonment by Purchaser or Seller, or both, pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other party or parties, and this Agreement shall terminate, and the purchase of the Acquired Shares hereunder shall be abandoned, without further action by Purchaser or Seller.
 
4.4          Effect of Termination. In the event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided herein, then each of the parties shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination; provided, however, that the obligations of the parties set forth in Article XI hereof shall survive any such termination and shall be enforceable hereunder; and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall relieve Purchaser or Seller of any liability for a breach of this Agreement prior to the effective date of termination.
 
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
 
Seller hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser that:
 
5.1          Organization and Good Standing. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. The Company is duly qualified or authorized to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property and each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties requires such qualification or authorization.
 
5.2          Authorization of Agreement. Seller has all requisite power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other agreement, document, or instrument or certificate contemplated by this Agreement to be executed by Seller in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with this Agreement, the “Seller Documents”), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each of Seller Documents will be at or prior to the Closing, duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and each of Seller Documents when so executed and delivered will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against him in accordance with their respective terms.
 
 
- 14 -

 
 
5.3           Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.
 
(a)           None of the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement or any of Seller Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or compliance by Seller with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or give rise to any obligation of the Company to make any payment under, or to the increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation of any Liens upon any of the properties or assets of Company under, any provision of (i) the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company; (ii) any Contract or Permit to which the Company is a party or by which any of the properties or assets of the Company are bound; (iii) any Order of any Governmental Body applicable to the Company or any of the properties or assets of the Company; or (iv) any applicable Law.
 
(b)           The execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement or any of Seller Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or compliance by Seller with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination or cancellation under any provision of (i) any Contract to which Seller is a party, (ii) any Order of any Governmental Body applicable to Seller, or (iii) any applicable Law.
 
(c)           No consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required on the part of the Company or Seller in connection with (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of Seller Documents by Seller, the compliance by Seller with any of the provisions hereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (ii) the continuing validity and effectiveness immediately following the Closing of any Permit or Contract of the Company.
 
(d)           Seller and the Company have waived their rights contained in Article IX of the Bylaws of the Company.
 
5.4           Capitalization.
 
(a)           The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). As of the date hereof, there are 1,000 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and no shares of Common Stock are held by the Company as treasury stock. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock were duly authorized for issuance and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
 
- 15 -

 
 
(b)           There is no existing option, warrant, call, right or Contract of any character to which Seller or the Company is a party requiring, and there are no securities of the Company outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance, sale or transfer of any additional shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company. None of Seller or the Company is a party to any voting trust or other Contract with respect to the voting, redemption, sale, transfer or other disposition of the capital stock of the Company.
 
5.5            Subsidiaries. The Company does not have, and has never had, any Subsidiaries and does not own, control, or otherwise hold, directly or indirectly, any equity interests in any Person. The Company is not party to any Contract that could require it to make any loan to, investment in, or contribution or advance to, any Person.
 
5.6           Corporate Records.
 
(a)           Seller has delivered to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation (certified by the Texas Secretary of State) and Bylaws (certified by the secretary, assistant secretary or other appropriate officer) of the Company.
 
(b)          The minute books of the Company previously made available to Purchaser contain true, correct and complete records of all meetings and accurately reflect all other corporate action of the stockholders and board of directors (including committees thereof) of the Company. The stock certificate books and stock transfer ledgers of the Company previously made available to Purchaser are true, correct and complete.
 
5.7           Ownership and Transfer of Acquired Shares. Seller is the record and beneficial owner of the Acquired Shares as his sole and separate property, free and clear of any and all Liens. Seller has all requisite power and authority to sell, transfer, assign and deliver such Acquired Shares as provided in this Agreement, and such delivery will convey to Purchaser good and marketable title to such Acquired Shares, free and clear of any and all Liens.
 
5.8           Financial Statements.
 
(a)           Seller has delivered to Purchaser copies of the unaudited balance sheets of the Company as at December 31, 2010 and 2011 and the related unaudited statement of revenue and expenses of the Company for the years then ended (the “ Financial Statements ”).
 
(b)          Each of the Financial Statements is complete and correct in all material respects, has been prepared consistently without modification of the accounting principles used in the preparation thereof throughout the periods presented and presents fairly on a historical cost basis the financial position and results of operations of the Company as at the dates and for the periods indicated therein. For the purposes hereof, the balance sheet of the Company as at December 31, 2011   is referred to as the “ Balance Sheet ” and December 31, 2011 is referred to as the “ Balance Sheet Date .”
 
(c)           The Company keeps books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of its assets. The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the actual levels at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
 
 
- 16 -

 
 
5.9           No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.9 , the Company has no Liabilities except (i) trade payables incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the Balance Sheet Date, (ii) the Existing Indebtedness and (iii) as fully reflected in, reserved against or otherwise described in the Balance Sheet or the notes thereto. Other than trade payables incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the Balance Sheet Date, the Liabilities of the Company, including, without limitation, the Existing Indebtedness, will be paid in full by the Company on or before Closing.
 
5.10         Absence of Certain Developments.
 
(a)           Since the Balance Sheet Date (i) the Company has conducted its business only in the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) there has not been any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, other than any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the capital stock of the Company.
 
(b)           Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, since the Balance Sheet Date:
 
(i)            there has not been any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, with respect to the property and assets of the Company having a replacement cost of more than $50,000 for any single loss or $200,000 for all such losses;
 
(ii)           the Company has not awarded any bonuses to employees of the Company, except to the extent accrued on the Balance Sheet, or entered into any employment, deferred compensation, severance or similar agreement (nor amended any such agreement) or agreed to increase the compensation payable or to become payable by it to any of the Company’s directors, officers, Employees, agents or representatives or agreed to increase the coverage or benefits available under any severance pay, termination pay, vacation pay, company awards, salary continuation for disability, sick leave, deferred compensation, bonus or other incentive compensation, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for or with such directors, officers, Employees, agents or representatives;
 
(iii)           there has not been any change by the Company in accounting or Tax reporting principles, methods or policies;
 
(iv)           the Company has not made or rescinded any election relating to Taxes or settled or compromised any claim relating to Taxes;
 
 
- 17 -

 
 
(v)           the Company has not entered into any transaction or Contract or conducted its business other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(vi)           the Company has not failed to promptly pay and discharge current liabilities;
 
(vii)          the Company has not made any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person or paid any fees or expenses to Seller or any director, officer, partner, stockholder or Affiliate of Seller;
 
(viii)         the Company has not mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any Lien any of its assets, or acquired any assets or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed of any assets of the Company, except for assets acquired or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(ix)           the Company has not canceled or compromised any debt or claim or amended, canceled, terminated, relinquished, waived or released any Contract or right except in the Ordinary Course of Business and which, in the aggregate, would not be material to the Company;
 
(x)            the Company has not issued, created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any Indebtedness;
 
(xi)           the Company has not granted any license or sublicense of any rights under or with respect to any Intellectual Property;
 
(xii)           the Company has not instituted or settled any Proceeding; and
 
(xiii)         neither Seller nor the Company has agreed, committed, arranged or entered into any understanding to do anything set forth in this Section 5.10 .
 
(c)            Since May 1, 2012, except as disclosed on Schedule 5.10, the Company has not made or committed to make any capital expenditures or capital additions or betterments.
 
5.11        Taxes.
 
(a)           (i) all Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Taxing Authority in all jurisdictions in which such Tax Returns are required to be filed (after giving effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such filings), and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct and (ii) all Taxes payable by or on behalf of the Company have been fully and timely paid to the appropriate Taxing Authority. All required estimated Tax payments sufficient to avoid any underpayment penalties have been made by or on behalf of the Company to the appropriate Taxing Authority.
 
(b)           The Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes and has duly and timely withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority all amounts required to be so withheld and paid under all applicable Laws.
 
 
- 18 -

 
 
(c)           All sales, use, transfer or similar Taxes required to be collected by the Company have been duly and timely collected, or caused to be collected, and either duly and timely paid to the proper Taxing Authority.
 
(d)           All Taxes that the Company is or was required to withhold or collect in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any Employee, director, manager, independent contractor, shareholder, member, nonresident, creditor, or other third Person (including amounts paid or owing by or to the Company and any such Taxes due as a result of a plan intended to be a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code that has not been operated in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the Code and associated IRS and Treasury Department guidance) have been duly withheld or collected and have been paid, to the extent required, to the proper Taxing Authority or other Person; the Company has complied with all information reporting and backup withholding requirements, including the maintenance of required records, with respect to such amounts; and the Company has paid all employer contributions and premiums and filed all Tax Returns with respect to any employee income Tax withholding, and social security and unemployment Taxes and premiums, all in compliance with the withholding provisions of the Code and other applicable Laws.
 
(e)           Purchaser has received complete copies of (i) all federal, state, local and foreign income or franchise Tax Returns of, or including, the Company relating to all taxable periods since 2008 and (ii) any audit report issued within the last three years relating to any Taxes due from or with respect to the Company. All income and franchise Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company have been examined by the relevant Taxing Authority or the statute of limitations with respect to such Tax Returns has expired.
 
(f)           Schedule 5.11(f) lists (i) all material types of Taxes paid, and all types of Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) all of the jurisdictions that impose such Taxes or with respect to which such Tax Returns are required to be filed. No claim has been made by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns such that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
 
(g)           All deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of any audits, investigations, claims, inquiries, or other administrative proceeding, discussions or other Legal Proceeding by or with any Taxing Authority (“ Tax Audit ”) of the Tax Returns of, or including, the Company have been fully paid, and there are no Tax Audits by or with any Taxing Authority in progress, nor has Seller or the Company received any notice from any Taxing Authority that it intends to conduct such a Tax Audit. No issue has been raised by a Taxing Authority in any prior Tax Audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, could reasonably be expected to result in a proposed deficiency or assessment for any subsequent taxable period.
 
(h)           Neither the Company nor any other Person on its behalf has (i) filed a consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as such term is defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company, (ii) made, agreed to or is required to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar provision of Law or has any knowledge that any Taxing Authority has proposed any such adjustment, or has any application pending with any Taxing Authority requesting permission for any changes in accounting methods that relate to the Company, (iii) executed or entered into a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any similar provision of Law with respect to the Company, (iv) requested or agreed to any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed, (v) granted any extension or waiver for the assessment or collection of Taxes, which Taxes have not since been paid, or (vi) granted to any Person any power of attorney that is currently in force with respect to any Tax matter.
 
 
- 19 -

 
 
(i)           No property owned by the Company is (i) property required to be treated as being owned by another Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in effect immediately prior to the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, (ii) “tax-exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h)(1) of the Code, (iii) “tax-exempt bond financed property” within the meaning of Section 168(g) of the Code, (iv) “limited use property” within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 76-30, (v) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(A) of the Code, (vi) directly or indirectly secures any debt the interest of which is exempt from Tax under Section 103(a) of the Code, or (vii) subject to any provision of state, local or foreign Law comparable to any of the provisions listed above.
 
(j)            Seller is not a foreign person within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code.
 
(k)           The Company is not a party to any tax sharing, allocation, indemnity or similar agreement or arrangement (whether or not written) pursuant to which it will have any obligation to make any payments after the Closing.
 
(l)            There is no agreement, plan, arrangement or other Contract (including, without limitation, this Agreement or the arrangements contemplated hereby) covering any present or former employee or independent contractor of the Company that, individually or collectively with any other such Contracts, will, or could reasonably be expected to, (i) give rise, directly or indirectly, to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to Section 280G of the Code or Section 162 of the Code (as determined without regard to Section 280G(b)(4)) or (ii) subject any such Person to additional Taxes under Section 409A of the Code. The Company is not a party to any Contract, and does have any obligation (current or contingent) to compensate any individual for Tax-related payments, including Taxes paid pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code and Taxes under Section 409A of the Code.
 
(m)           The Company has not requested, is not subject to, and is not the subject of any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, closing agreement, or similar ruling, memorandum, or agreement from, of or with the IRS or any other Taxing Authority.
 
(n)           There are no liens as a result of any unpaid Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company.
 
(o)           The Company has never been a member of any fiscal unity, consolidated, combined, affiliated or unitary group of corporations for any Tax purposes. No Acquired Company has liability for Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), or as a transferee or successor.
 
 
- 20 -

 
 
(p)           The Company is, and has at all times been, in compliance with the provisions of Section 6011, Section 6111, and Section 6112 of the Code relating to tax shelter disclosure, registration, list maintenance, and record keeping, and with the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including any predecessor or successor Code provisions or Treasury Regulations, as applicable), and the Company has not at any time engaged in or entered into (i) any transaction that would be defined as a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b), (ii) any confidential corporate tax shelter within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.6111-2, or (iii) any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011, Section 301.6111, or Section 301.6112, or any transaction that would have been such a “listed transaction” if current Law was in effect at the time the transaction was entered into. No IRS Form 8886 has been filed with respect to the Company. The Company has not entered into any tax shelter or listed transaction with the sole or dominant purpose of the avoidance or reduction of a Tax liability in a jurisdiction outside the United States with respect to which there is a significant risk of challenge of such transaction by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction outside the United States.
 
(q)           The Company has not constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (A) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (B) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(r)           There is no taxable income of Company that will be required under applicable Tax Law to be reported by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates for a taxable period beginning after the Closing Date which taxable income was realized (and reflects economic income) arising prior to the Closing Date. The Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any period, or portion thereof, beginning after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) change in method of accounting, (ii) intercompany transactions (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13(b)(1) or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-19 or any similar foreign, state or local Law), (iii) excess loss account, (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.
 
(s)           The Company and Seller have disclosed on their federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to substantial understatement of federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.
 
(t)           The Company does not have, and has never had, a permanent establishment in any country other than the United States and has not engaged in a trade or business in any country other than the United States that subjected it to tax in such country.
 
 
- 21 -

 
 
(u)           The Company has been a validly electing “S” corporation within the meaning of Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code at all times since January 1, 2008 and the Company will be an “S” corporation up to and including the Closing Date.
 
(v)           The Company has been a validly electing “S” corporation under each provision of state or local Law analogous to Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code in each jurisdiction where Company is required to file a Tax Return at all times since January 1, 2008 and the Company will be an “S” corporation up to and including the Closing Date.
 
5.12         Real Property.
 
(a)           The Company does not own or have any ownership interest in any real property and has never owned or had any ownership interest in real property. Schedule 5.12(a) sets forth a complete list of all real property and interests in real property leased by the Company (“ Real Property Leases ” and such leased properties being referred to as “ Company Properties ”). The Company Properties constitute all interests in real property currently used or currently held for use in connection with the business of the Company. All of the Company Properties, buildings, fixtures and improvements thereon owned or leased by the Company are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear). The Company has delivered or otherwise made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Real Property Leases, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements, if any, thereto.
 
(b)           The Company has a valid and enforceable leasehold interest under each of the Real Property Leases. The Company is in compliance with the terms of each Real Property Lease. Each of the Real Property Leases is in full force and effect, and the Company has not received or given any notice of any default or event that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under any of the Real Property Leases and, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, no other party is in default thereof, and no party to any Real Property Lease has exercised any termination rights with respect thereto.
 
(c)           The Company has all certificates of occupancy and Permits of any Governmental Body necessary or useful for the current use and operation of each Company Property, and the Company has fully complied with all material conditions of the Permits applicable to them. No default or violation, or event that with the lapse of time or giving of notice or both would become a default or violation, has occurred in the due observance of any Permit.
 
(d)           There does not exist any actual or threatened condemnation or eminent domain Proceedings that affect any Company Property or any part thereof, and the Company has not received any notice, oral or written, of the intention of any Governmental Body or other Person to take or use all or any part thereof.
 
(e)           Neither Seller nor the Company has received any notice from any insurance company that has issued a policy with respect to any Company Property requiring performance of any structural or other repairs or alterations to such Company Property.
 
 
- 22 -

 
 
(f)           The Company does not own or hold, and is not obligated under or a party to, any option, right of first refusal or other Contractual right to purchase, acquire, sell, assign or dispose of any real estate or any portion thereof or interest therein.
 
5.13        Assets.
 
(a)           The Company has good and indefeasible title to all assets purported to be owned by it, including those reflected on the Balance Sheet (except as sold or disposed of subsequent to the date thereof in the Ordinary Course of Business) or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, free and clear of any and all Liens, other than the Permitted Exceptions. All items of tangible personal property are in good condition and in a state of good maintenance and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are suitable and adequate for the purposes used.
 
(b)           Schedule 5.13(b) sets forth all leases of personal property (“ Personal Property Leases ”) involving annual payments in excess of $10,000 relating to personal property used in the business of the Company or to which the Company is a party or by which the properties or assets of the Company are bound. All of the items of personal property under the Personal Property Leases are in good condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are suitable for the purposes used, and such property is in all material respects in the condition required of such property by the terms of the lease applicable thereto during the term of the lease. The Company has delivered or otherwise made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Personal Property Leases, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.
 
(c)           The Company has a valid and enforceable leasehold interest under each of the Personal Property Leases under which it is a lessee. Each of the Personal Property Leases is in full force and effect. There is no default under any Personal Property Lease by the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, by any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder. No party to any of the Personal Property Leases has exercised any termination rights with respect thereto.
 
(d)           The assets owned by the Company and to be indirectly acquired through the purchase of the Acquired Shares are sufficient to conduct the business of the Company in the same manner as such business has been conducted prior to the date hereof.
 
5.14          Intellectual Property.
 
(a)           Schedule 5.14(a) sets forth an accurate and complete list of Intellectual Property owned or filed by the Company. Schedule 5.14(a) lists the jurisdictions in which each such item of Intellectual Property has been issued or registered or in which any such application for such issuance and registration has been filed.
 
(b)           The Company is the sole and exclusive owner of, or has valid and continuing rights to use, sell and license, as the case may be, all Intellectual Property used by the Company in its businesses, free and clear of all Liens or obligations to others.
 
 
- 23 -

 
 
(c)           The Intellectual Property owned, used, practiced or otherwise commercially exploited by the Company and the Company’s present and currently proposed business practices and methods do not constitute an unauthorized use or misappropriation of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other similar right, of any Person and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, do not infringe, constitute an unauthorized use of, or violate any other right of any Person (including, without limitation, pursuant to any non-disclosure agreements or obligations to which the Company or any of its present or former employees is a party). The Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company includes all of the intellectual property rights necessary to enable the Company to conduct their businesses in the manner in which such business is currently being conducted and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, as currently proposed to be conducted.
 
(d)           The Company is not required, obligated, or under any Liability whatsoever, to make any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner, licensor of, or other claimant to any Intellectual Property, or other third party, with respect to the use thereof or in connection with the conduct of the businesses of the Company as currently conducted or proposed to be conducted.
 
(e)           The Company is not a party to any Intellectual Property License.
 
(f)           No Trade Secret or any other non-public, proprietary information material to the business of the Company has been disclosed by the Company to any employee or any third party other than pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement restricting the disclosure and use of the Intellectual Property. The Company has taken adequate security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all the Trade Secrets of the Company and any other confidential information.
 
(g)           To the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, no Person is infringing, violating, misusing or misappropriating any material Intellectual Property of the Company, and no such claims have been made against any Person by the Company.
 
(h)           No present or former Employee has any right, title, or interest, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in any material Intellectual Property owned or used by the Company.
 
(i)           Schedule 5.14(i) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Software that is used by the Company in the business that is not exclusively owned by the Company, excluding Software available on reasonable terms through commercial distributors or in consumer retail stores for a license fee of no more than $10,000.
 
5.15        Material Contracts.
 
(a)           Schedule 5.15 sets forth all of the following Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (collectively, the “ Material Contracts ”):
 
(i)            Contracts with Seller or any current or former officer, director, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company;
 
 
- 24 -

 
 
(ii)           Contracts containing an agreement of the Company to deal exclusively with any Person or otherwise restricting the conduct of the Company’s business;
 
(iii)           Contracts for the acquisition or sale of any of the assets of the Company other than in the Ordinary Course of Business or for the grant to any Person of any preferential rights to purchase any of its assets;
 
(iv)          Contracts for joint ventures, strategic alliances, investments, partnerships or other arrangement involving a sharing of profits or losses;
 
(v)           Contracts containing covenants of the Company not to compete in any line of business or with any Person in any geographical area;
 
(vi)          Contracts relating to the acquisition by the Company of any operating business or the capital stock of any other Person;
 
(vii)         Contracts relating to the incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Indebtedness or imposing a Lien on any of the Company’s assets;
 
(viii)        Contracts under which the Company has made advances or loans to any other Person;
 
(ix)          Contracts providing for severance, retention, change in control or other similar payments;
 
(x)           Contracts for the employment of any individual on a full-time, part-time or consulting or other basis;
 
(xi)          Contracts with any of the Company’s customers and suppliers;
 
(xii)          outstanding agreements of guaranty, surety or indemnification, direct or indirect, by the Company; and
 
(xiii)         any other Contract which is material to the Company.
 
(b)          Each of the Material Contracts is in full force and effect and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. The Company is not in default under any Material Contract, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, is any other party to any Material Contract in default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder. No party to any of the Material Contracts has exercised any termination rights with respect thereto. The Company has delivered or otherwise made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of all of the Material Contracts, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.
 
 
- 25 -

 
 
5.16        Employee Benefits Plans.
 
(a)           The Company (i) does not have, maintain, or contribute to or have an obligation to contribute to and (ii) during the six-year period preceding the Closing Date, has not had, maintained, or contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to any “employee pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Schedule 5.16(a) sets forth a correct and complete list of all “employee benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and all other employee benefit plans, programs, agreements, policies, arrangements or payroll practices, including bonus plans, employment, consulting or other compensation agreements, collective bargaining agreements, incentive, equity or equity-based compensation, or deferred compensation arrangements, change in control, termination or severance plans or arrangements, stock purchase, severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation for disability, hospitalization, medical insurance, life insurance and scholarship plans and programs maintained by the Company or to which the Company contributed or is obligated to contribute thereunder for current or former employees of the Company (“ Employees ”) (collectively, the “ Company Plans ”).
 
(b)           The Company has no Affiliate or any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is or has ever been under common control, or that is or has ever been treated as a single employer, with any of them under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (each, an “ ERISA Affiliate ”). None of the Company Plans are “multiemployer plans,” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, or is or have been subject to Sections 4063 or 4064 of ERISA.
 
(c)           Correct and complete copies of the following documents, with respect to each of the Company Plans have been made available or delivered to Purchaser by the Company, to the extent applicable: (i) any plan documents, all amendments thereto and related trust documents, insurance contracts or other funding arrangements, and amendments thereto; (ii) written communications to employees relating to the Company Plans; (iii) written descriptions of all non-written agreements relating to the Company Plans; (iv) the most recent annual or other report filed with each Governmental Body with respect to each such plan, including all applicable schedules and audited financial statements attached thereto; (v) the most recent summary plan description and any summaries of material modifications thereto and (vi) the most recent determination letter or opinion letter issued by the IRS.
 
(d)           The Company Plans have been maintained in all material respects in accordance with their terms and with all provisions of ERISA, the Code (including rules and regulations thereunder) and other applicable Federal and state Laws and regulations, and neither the Company nor any “party in interest” or “disqualified person” with respect to any Company Plans has engaged in a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA. No fiduciary has any liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure to act or comply in connection with the administration or investment of the assets of any Company Plan.
 
(e)           The Company Plans intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code are so qualified and any trusts intended to be exempt from Federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Code are so exempt, and nothing has occurred with respect to the operation of the Company Plans that could cause the loss of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any liability, penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code.
 
 
- 26 -

 
 
(f)           Each Company Plan that is intended to meet the requirements for tax-favored treatment under Subchapter B of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code meets such requirements.
 
(g)           The Company has not engaged in any transaction within the meaning of Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
 
(h)           All contributions (including all employer contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) required to have been made under any of the Company Plans or by Law (without regard to any waivers granted under Section 412 of the Code), to any funds or trusts established thereunder or in connection therewith have been made by the due date thereof, and all contributions for any period ending on or before the Closing Date that are not yet due will have been paid or sufficient accruals for such contributions and other payments in accordance with GAAP are duly and fully provided for on the Balance Sheet.
 
(i)           Set forth on Schedule 5.16(i) is a true, accurate, and complete list of each “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as such term is defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) sponsored or maintained by the Company. Since January 1, 2005, each such nonqualified deferred compensation plan has been maintained in good faith operational compliance with Section 409A of the Code and, as of December 31, 2008, each nonqualified deferred compensation plan is in documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
 
(j)           There are no pending actions, claims or lawsuits that have been asserted or instituted against the Company Plans, the assets of any of the trusts under the Company Plans or the sponsor or administrator of any of the Company Plans, or against any fiduciary of the Company Plans with respect to the operation of any of the Company Plans (other than routine benefit claims), nor does the Company or Seller have any Knowledge of facts that could form the basis for any such claim or lawsuit.
 
(k)           There is no material violation of ERISA or the Code with respect to the filing of applicable reports, documents and notices regarding the Company Plans with the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary of the Treasury or the furnishing of such documents to the participants in or beneficiaries of the Company Plans. All amendments and actions required to bring the Company Plans into conformity in all material respects with all of the applicable provisions of the Code, ERISA and other applicable Laws have been made or taken. Any bonding required with respect to the Company Plans in accordance with applicable provisions of ERISA has been obtained and is in full force and effect.
 
(l)           None of the Company Plans provides for post-employment life or health insurance, benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of a participant, except as may be required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”), and at the expense of the participant or the participant’s beneficiary. The Company has complied with the notice and continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code, COBRA, Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.
 
 
- 27 -

 
 
(m)           Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment becoming due to any Employee, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable to any Employee or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits.
 
(n)           The Company has no contract, plan or commitment, whether legally binding or not, to create any employee benefit plan of any kind.
 
5.17        Labor.
 
(a)           The Company is not a party to any labor or collective bargaining agreement and there are no labor or collective bargaining agreements which pertain to employees of the Company.
 
(b)           No employees are represented by any labor organization. No labor organization or group of employees of the Company has made a pending demand for recognition, and there are no representation Proceedings or petitions seeking a representation Proceeding presently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened to be brought or filed, with the National Labor Relations Board or other labor relations tribunal. There is no organizing activity involving the Company pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, threatened by any labor organization or group of employees of the Company.
 
(c)           There are no (i) strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or arbitrations or (ii) material grievances or other labor disputes pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened against or involving the Company. There are no unfair labor practice charges, grievances or complaints pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened by or on behalf of any employee or group of employees of the Company.
 
(d)           There are no complaints, charges or claims against the Company pending or, to Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened that could be brought or filed, with any Governmental Body or based on, arising out of, in connection with or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment or failure to employ by the Company, of any individual. The Company is in compliance with all Laws relating to the employment of labor, including all such Laws relating to wages, hours, immigration and employment of immigrants, WARN and any similar state or local “mass layoff” or “plant closing” Law, collective bargaining, discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation and the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes and any similar tax except for immaterial non-compliance. There has been no “mass layoff” or “plant closing” (as defined by WARN) with respect to the Company.
 
 
- 28 -

 
 
5.18         Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.18 , there is no Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened against the Company (or to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, pending or threatened, against any of the officers, directors or Employees of the Company with respect to their business activities on behalf of the Company), or to which Seller or the Company is otherwise a party. To the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, there is no reasonable basis for any Proceeding against the Company. The Company is not subject to any Order.
 
5.19         Compliance with Laws; Permits.
 
(a)           To the Knowledge of Seller and Company, the Company has been since January 1, 2010 and is in compliance in all material respects with all Laws applicable to its business, operations or assets. The Company has not received any notice of or been charged with the violation of any Laws. To the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, the Company is not under investigation with respect to the violation of any Laws and there are no facts or circumstances which could form the basis for any such violation.
 
(b)           The Company currently has all Permits that are required for the operation of its business. The Company is not in default or violation, and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation, in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any Permit to which it is a party, to which its business is subject or by which its properties or assets are bound, and to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, there are no facts or circumstances that could form the basis for any such default or violation.
 
5.20         Environmental Matters.
 
(a)           The operations of the Company and all Company Properties are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining in good standing and complying with all Environmental Permits. No action or Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened to revoke, modify or terminate any such Environmental Permit, and, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, no facts, circumstances or conditions currently exist that could adversely affect such continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or require currently unbudgeted capital expenditures to achieve or maintain such continued compliance with Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits.
 
(b)           Neither the Company nor any of the Company Properties is the subject of any outstanding written Order or Contract with any Governmental Body or Person or is subject to any judgment respecting (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) Remedial Action or (iii) any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material.
 
(c)           No claim has been made or is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened against the Company or any Company Property alleging that the Company may be in violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit or may have any liability under any Environmental Law.
 
 
- 29 -

 
 
(d)           No facts, circumstances or conditions exist (including any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials) with respect to the Company or any property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company or any property to which the Company arranged for the disposal or treatment of Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to result in the Company incurring Environmental Costs and Liabilities.
 
(e)           There are no investigations of the business, operations, or currently or to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, previously owned, operated or leased property of the Company pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or Seller, threatened which could lead to the imposition of any Environmental Costs and Liabilities or Liens under Environmental Law.
 
(f)           To the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, there is not located at any Company Property (nor has there ever been) any (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) landfill, (iii) surface impoundment, (iii) asbestos-containing material or (iv) equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls.
 
(g)           Seller has provided to Purchaser all environmentally related audits, studies, reports, analyses, and results of investigations that have been performed with respect to the currently or previously owned, leased or operated properties of the Company.
 
5.21         Insurance. The Company has insurance policies in full force and effect for such amounts as are sufficient for all requirements of Law and all Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound. No event relating to the Company has occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in a retroactive upward adjustment in premiums under any of the Company’s insurance policies or which could reasonably be expected to result in a prospective upward adjustment in such premiums. Excluding insurance policies that have expired and been replaced in the Ordinary Course of Business, no insurance policy has been cancelled within the last two (2) years and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, no threat has been made to cancel any insurance policy of the Company during such period. No event has occurred that limits or impairs the rights of the Company under any of the Company’s insurance policies and the Company has given notice to its insurers of any claim or circumstance that might give rise to a claim under such insurance policies. There is no material claim pending under any current or prior insurance policy that has been disputed or denied by any of the Company’s insurers or as to which any of the Company’s insurers have reserved their rights. All premiums in respect of such policies have been, or will be, paid in full and such policies will be continued in full force and effect until their natural expiry and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has complied with each such insurance policy and has not failed to give any notice or present any claim thereunder in a due and timely manner.
 
5.22        Equipment Inventory. The inventory of the Company is in good condition and in a state of good maintenance and repair and is leasable in the Ordinary Course of Business. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.22 , (i) the amounts of inventories of the Company that are classified as such on the   Balance Sheet were reasonable in relation to then-existing circumstances of the Company and (ii) the Company does not depend on any single vendor for its inventories the loss of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
 
- 30 -

 
 
5.23          Accounts Receivable/Payable.
 
(a)           All accounts and notes receivable of the Company have arisen from bona fide transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice and are payable on ordinary trade terms. All accounts and notes receivable of the Company reflected on the Balance Sheet have been collected. Except as provided on Schedule 5.23(a) , all accounts and notes receivable arising after the Balance Sheet Date are good and collectible within 120 days without resort to Proceedings or collection agencies at the aggregate recorded amounts thereof. None of the accounts or the notes receivable of the Company are subject to any setoffs or counterclaims.
 
(b)           All accounts payable of the Company reflected in the Balance Sheet or arising after the date thereof are the result of bona fide transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business and have been paid or are not yet due and payable. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.23(b) , none of the accounts payable of the Company have been outstanding for more than 45 days from their respective billing dates.
 
5.24        Related Party Transactions.
 
Except as set forth in Schedule 5.24 , neither Seller nor any other director, officer, partner, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company (i) owns any direct or indirect interest of any kind in, or controls or is a director, officer, employee or partner of, or consultant to, or lender to or borrower from or has the right to participate in the profits of, any Person which is (A) a competitor, supplier, customer, landlord, tenant, creditor or debtor of the Company, (B) engaged in a business related to the business of the Company, or (C) a participant in any transaction to which the Company is a party or (ii) is a party to any Contract with the Company.
 
5.25         Customers and Supplies.
 
(a)           Schedule 5.25(a) sets forth a list of all customers of the Company, showing the approximate total sales by the Company to each such customer for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. Except as provided on Schedule 5.25(a) , since the Balance Sheet Date, no customer has terminated its relationship with the Company or, except in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, materially reduced, or changed the terms of, its business with the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, no customer has notified the Company that it intends to terminate or, except in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, materially reduce, or change the terms of, its business with the Company.
 
(b)           Schedule 5.25(b) sets forth a list of all suppliers of the Company, showing the approximate total expenditures by the Company to each such suppler to whom the Company made total expenditures in excess of $25,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. Except as provided on Schedule 5.25(b) , since the Balance Sheet Date, no supplier has terminated its relationship with the Company or, except in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, materially reduced, or changed the terms of, its business with the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company and Seller, no supplier has notified the Company that it intends to terminate or, except in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, materially reduce, or change the terms of, its business with the Company.
 
 
- 31 -

 
 
5.26        Product Liability.
 
(a)           The Company does not have any liability for replacement or repair of any products assembled, repaired, maintained, delivered or installed that are not reserved against on the Balance Sheet.
 
(b)           The Company has not committed any act or failed to commit any act, which would result in, and there has been no occurrence which would give rise to or form the basis of, any product liability or liability for breach of warranty (whether covered by insurance or not) on the part of the Company with respect to products assembled, repaired, maintained, delivered or installed or services rendered prior to the Closing.
 
5.27        Banks. Schedule 5.27 contains a complete and correct list of the names and locations of all banks in which the Company has accounts or safe deposit boxes and the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon or to have access thereto.
 
5.28         Powers of Attorney. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.28 , no person holds a power of attorney to act on behalf of the Company.
 
5.29        Full Disclosure. This Agreement and its respective schedules delivered by or on behalf of Seller hereunder are true, correct and complete in all material respects. No representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement and no written statement made by or on behalf of Seller or the Company to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. There is no fact which the Company or Seller have not disclosed to Purchaser in writing that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
5.30        Financial Advisors. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.30 , no Person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or financial advisor for Seller or the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no Person is entitled to any fee or commission or like payment in respect thereof.
 
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
 
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to Seller that:
 
6.1          Organization and Good Standing. Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate properties and carry on its business.
 
6.2          Authorization of Agreement. Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument or certificate contemplated by this Agreement or to be executed by Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (the “Purchaser Documents”), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement and each Purchaser Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of Purchaser. This Agreement has been, and each Purchaser Document will be at or prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and each Purchaser Document when so executed and delivered will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a Proceeding at Law or in equity).
 
 
- 32 -

 
 
6.3           Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.
 
(a)           Neither the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and Purchaser Documents nor the compliance by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will (i) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Purchaser; (ii) conflict with, violate, result in the breach of, or constitute a default under any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, agreement or other obligation to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser or its properties or assets are bound; (iii) violate any non competition agreement entered into by Purchaser or any of the owners of Purchaser; or (iv) violate any statute, rule, regulation or Order of any Governmental Body by which Purchaser is bound, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations, breaches or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(b)           No consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required on the part of Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or Purchaser Documents or the compliance by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof or thereof.
 
6.4          Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened that are reasonably likely (a) to prohibit or restrain the ability of Purchaser to enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or (b) to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser.
 
6.5          Newly-Formed Entity. Purchaser is a newly-formed entity, with limited operating history and formed for the purpose of acting as a holding company in order to finance the acquisition of the Company. Within five (5) days of the Closing Date, Purchaser will provide to Seller, a pro forma balance sheet of Purchaser that, to Purchaser’s knowledge, reasonably projects the assets, liabilities and capitalization of Purchaser as of the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser makes no representation or warranty to Seller with respect to the historical assets and liabilities of the Company included in such pro forma balance sheet.
 
 
- 33 -

 
 
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
 
7.1          Access to Information. Seller agrees that prior to the Closing Date, Purchaser shall be entitled, through its officers, employees and representatives (including, without limitation, its legal and financial advisors and accountants), to make such investigation of the properties, books and records, businesses and operations of the Company as it reasonably requests. Seller shall cooperate, and shall cause the Company to cooperate, fully therein. No investigation by Purchaser prior to or after the date of this Agreement shall diminish or obviate any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of Seller contained in this Agreement or Seller Documents. In order that Purchaser may have full opportunity to make such physical, business, accounting and legal review, examination or investigation as it may reasonably request of the affairs of the Company, Seller shall cause the officers, employees, consultants, agents, accountants, attorneys and other representatives of the Company to cooperate fully with such representatives in connection with such review and examination.
 
7.2           Conduct of the Business Pending the Closing.
 
(a)           Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Purchaser, Seller shall, and shall cause the Company to:
 
(i)            conduct the respective businesses of the Company only in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(ii)           use its best efforts to (A) preserve its present business operations, organization (including, without limitation, management and the sales force) and goodwill of the Company and (B) preserve its present relationship with Persons having business dealings with the Company;
 
(iii)           maintain (A) all of the assets and properties of the Company in their current condition and (B) insurance upon all of the properties and assets of the Company in such amounts and of such kinds comparable to that in effect on the date of this Agreement;
 
(iv)          (A) maintain the books, accounts and records of the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) continue to collect accounts receivable and pay accounts payable utilizing normal procedures and without discounting or accelerating payment of such accounts, and (C) comply with all contractual and other obligations applicable to the operation of the Company; and
 
(v)           comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws; and
 
(vi)           not take any action which would adversely affect the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(b)           Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Purchaser, Seller shall not, and shall not permit the Company to:
 
 
- 34 -

 
 
(i)           declare, set aside, make or pay any non-cash dividend or other non-cash distribution in respect of the capital stock of the Company or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of the capital stock or other securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company;
 
(ii)           transfer, issue, sell or dispose of any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or grant options, warrants, calls or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Company;
 
(iii)          effect any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split or like change in the capitalization of the Company;
 
(iv)          amend the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company;
 
(v)          (A) increase the compensation payable or to become payable to any employee, officer or director, consultant of the Company, (B) grant any unusual or extraordinary bonus, benefit or other direct or indirect compensation to any employee, officer, director or consultant, (C) increase the coverage or benefits available under any (or create any new) severance pay, termination pay, vacation pay, company awards, salary continuation for disability, sick leave, deferred compensation, bonus or other incentive compensation, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan or arrangement made to, for, or with any of the directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives of the Company or otherwise modify or amend or terminate any such plan or arrangement or (D) enter into any employment, deferred compensation, severance, consulting, non-competition or similar agreement (or amend any such agreement) to which the Company is a party or involving a director, officer or employee of the Company in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company;
 
(vi)          incur or assume any Indebtedness;
 
(vii)         subject to any Lien or otherwise encumber or permit, allow or suffer to be encumbered, any of the properties or assets (whether tangible or intangible) of the Company;
 
(viii)        acquire any material properties or assets, make any Capital Expenditures, or sell, assign, license, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the material properties or assets of the Company;
 
(ix)          enter into or agree to enter into any merger or consolidation with, any corporation or other entity, and not engage in any new business or invest in, make a loan, advance or capital contribution to, or otherwise acquire the securities of any other Person;
 
(x)           cancel or compromise any debt or claim or waive or release any material right of the Company;
 
(xi)           enter into any commitment for capital expenditures of the Company;
 
 
- 35 -

 
 
(xii)          enter into any labor or collective bargaining agreement or, through negotiation or otherwise, make any commitment or incur any liability to any labor organization;
 
(xiii)         introduce any material change with respect to the operation of the Company, including any change in prices or terms;
 
(xiv)         permit the Company to enter into any transaction or to enter into, modify or renew any Contract which by reason of its size, nature or otherwise is not in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(xv)          permit the Company to make any investments in or loans to, or pay any fees or expenses to, or enter into or modify any Contract with any Affiliate of the Company or any director, officer or employee of the Company;
 
(xvi)        make a change in its accounting or Tax reporting principles, methods or policies;
 
(xvii)        make or rescind any election relating to Taxes or settle or compromise any claim or Proceeding relating to Taxes;
 
(xviii)      enter into any Contract, understanding or commitment that restrains, restricts, limits or impedes the ability of the Company to compete with or conduct any business or line of business in any geographic area;
 
(xix)         terminate, amend, restate, supplement or waive any rights under any Material Contract, Real Property Lease, Personal Property Lease, Intellectual Property License or Permit; and
 
(xx)         agree to do anything prohibited by this Section 7.2 or anything which would make any of the representations and warranties of Seller in this Agreement or Seller Documents untrue or incorrect in any material respect.
 
7.3          Consents. Seller shall use (and shall cause the Company to use) its best efforts to obtain at the earliest practicable date all consents and approvals required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
7.4          Further Assurances. Seller shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to cause the fulfillment at the earliest practicable date of all conditions to the parties’ obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
7.5          No Shop.
 
(a)           Seller will not, and will not permit the Company or any of the directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents of the Company (collectively, “ Representatives ”) to, directly or indirectly, (i) discuss, negotiate, undertake, authorize, recommend, propose or enter into, either as the proposed surviving, merged, acquiring or acquired corporation, any transaction involving a merger, consolidation, business combination, purchase or disposition of any amount of the assets of the Company or any capital stock of the Company other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (an “ Acquisition Transaction ”); (ii) facilitate, encourage, solicit or initiate discussions, negotiations or submissions of proposals or offers in respect of an Acquisition Transaction; (iii) furnish or cause to be furnished, to any Person, any information concerning the business, operations, properties or assets of the Company in connection with an Acquisition Transaction; or (iv) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other Person to do or seek any of the foregoing.
 
 
- 36 -

 
 
(b)           Seller shall (and shall cause the Company and the Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any Person (other than Purchaser) conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing. Seller agrees not to (and to cause the Company not to) release any third party from the confidentiality and standstill provisions of any agreement to which the Company is a party.
 
7.6          Preservation of Records. Seller and Purchaser agree that each of them shall (and shall cause the Company to) preserve and keep the records held by them relating to the respective businesses of the Company for a period of six years from the Closing Date and shall make such records and personnel available to the other as may be reasonably required by such party in connection with, among other things, any insurance claims by, Proceedings against or governmental investigations of Seller, the Company, or Purchaser or any of their Affiliates or in order to enable Seller or Purchaser to comply with their respective obligations under this Agreement and each other agreement, document or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
7.7          Publicity.
 
(a)           Neither Seller nor Purchaser shall (and Seller shall cause the Company not to) issue any press release or public announcement concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without obtaining the prior written approval of the other party hereto.
 
(b)           Purchaser and Seller agree that the terms of this Agreement shall not be disclosed or otherwise made available to the public and that copies of this Agreement shall not be publicly filed or otherwise made available to the public, except where such disclosure, availability or filing is required by applicable Law and only to the extent required by such Law. In the event that such disclosure, availability or filing is required by applicable Law, each of Purchaser and Seller agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain “confidential treatment” of this Agreement and to redact such terms of this Agreement as the other party shall request.
 
7.8          Environmental Matters. At Purchaser’s request and at its cost, following the Closing, Seller shall permit Purchaser and Purchaser’s environmental consultant, to conduct such investigations (including investigations known as “Phase I” and “Phase II” environmental Site Assessments) of the environmental conditions of any real property leased by Seller to the Company and the operations conducted thereat as Purchaser, in its sole discretion, shall deem necessary or prudent (“ Purchaser’s Environmental Assessments ”). Purchaser’s Environmental Assessment shall be conducted by a qualified environmental consulting firm, possessing reasonable levels of insurance, in compliance with applicable Laws and in a manner that minimizes the disruption of the operations of the Company.
 
 
- 37 -

 
 
7.9          Cooperation with Financing. Seller shall, and shall cause the Company to, provide such assistance and cooperation as Purchaser and its Affiliates may reasonably request in obtaining financing related to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, if requested by Purchaser’s lenders, Seller shall execute (a) a customary subordination agreement, pursuant to which Seller shall agree to subordinate the payments to be made, if any, pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof, to the payment of the obligations to Purchaser’s lenders and (b) a customary landlord waiver and consent with respect to the Lease.
 
7.10        Notification of Changes. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, Seller shall, or shall cause the Company to, promptly notify Purchaser in writing if Seller or the Company becomes aware of (a) any fact or condition that causes or constitutes a breach of any of Seller’s representations or warranties made as of the date hereof or (b) the occurrence of any fact or condition that would, or would be reasonably likely to, cause or constitute a breach of any of Seller’s representations or warranties contained in Article V , had such representation or warranty been made as of the time of the occurrence of, or Seller’s discovery of, such fact or condition. Seller shall also promptly notify Purchaser of the occurrence of any breach of any covenant of Seller contained in this Article VII or of the occurrence of any event that may make the satisfaction of the conditions in Article VIII impossible or unlikely. This Section 7.10 shall not modify or limit in any way Purchaser’s rights under Articles IV , VIII or IX or any other provision hereof.
 
7.11        Non-Competition. As partial consideration for payment of the Purchase Price, Seller agrees to the following covenants:
 
(a)           Definitions . The following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(i)            Business ” means (A) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (B) all other services provided by any Company during the three (3) year period prior to the Closing Date to any current or former customer of any Company.
 
(ii)           Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(iii)           Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
(iv)          Prohibited Period ” means a period five (5) years.
 
 
- 38 -

 
 
(v)           Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which any Company has performed services or otherwise engaged in activities for the purpose of performing services during the three (3) year period prior to the Closing Date.
 
(b)           Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation .
 
(i)             Seller shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any Person or Persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its Affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Seller works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its Affiliates; and
 
(ii)           Seller shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other Person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its Affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its Affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its Affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
 
(c)           Confidentiality . All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Seller, individually or in conjunction with others, during the Prohibited Period (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s or its Affiliate’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Seller individually or in conjunction with others during the Prohibited Period (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Seller agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Purchaser to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership.
 
 
- 39 -

 
 
7.12        Release. In exchange for receipt of the Purchase Price and effective as of the Closing, Seller hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges, without any additional consideration or the need for additional documentation, each of the Company and its Affiliates, and each of their respective partners, members, managers, officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents, contractors, successors, assigns, heirs and legal and personal representatives (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, suits, judgments, demands, actions, obligations or liabilities, damages, causes of action, rights, costs, loans, debts and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred), of any nature whatsoever, known, unknown or presently unknowable, contingent or absolute, whether asserted or not, now existing or which may subsequently accrue to them in the future, emanating from, in connection with, related to or arising out of the ownership, management or operation of the business of the Company prior to the Closing. In exchange for receipt of the Purchase Price and effective as of the Closing, Seller hereby agrees that it shall not institute, pursue, solicit, encourage or assist any Proceeding(s) (at Law or in equity), suits, or claims in state or federal court against or adverse to the Company Released Parties arising from or attributable to the business of the Company in connection with the foregoing.
 
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
 
8.1          Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Purchaser. The obligation of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by Purchaser in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
 
(a)           the representations and warranties of Seller in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material   respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing as though made at and as of the Closing;
 
(b)           Seller shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all obligations and agreements required in this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing Date, and Purchaser shall have received copies of such documents evidencing the performance thereof as Purchaser may reasonably request;
 
 
- 40 -

 
 
(c)           there shall not have been or occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
 
(d)           no Proceedings shall have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made against Seller, the Company, or Purchaser seeking to restrain or prohibit or to obtain substantial damages with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there shall not be in effect any Order by a Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
 
(e)           Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by Seller, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that each of the conditions specified above in Sections 8.1(a)-(d) have been satisfied in all respects;
 
(f)           Seller shall have obtained all consents, waivers and approvals referred to in Section 5.3(c) hereof in a form satisfactory to Purchaser;
 
(g)           Purchaser shall have received the written resignations of each of the officers and directors of the Company;
 
(h)           Purchaser shall have received the Estimated Closing Statement;
 
(i)           Seller shall have entered into the Employment Agreement and such Employment Agreement shall be in full force and effect and Seller shall be willing and able to perform in accordance with such Employment Agreement;
 
(j)            Purchaser shall have received an opinion of Cook Brooks Johnson PLLC, counsel to Seller, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D ;
 
(k)           Seller shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser stock certificates representing the Acquired Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock transfer powers and with all requisite stock transfer tax stamps attached;
 
(l)            Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by the Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to (i) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company; (ii) the Bylaws of the Company; (iii) the resolutions adopted by the Company in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iv) the officers of the Company;
 
(m)           Purchaser shall have received financing on terms and conditions satisfactory to Purchaser in its sole discretion sufficient to fund the Cash Purchase Price;
 
(n)           Seller shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser an executed counterpart of the amended and restated lease agreement by and between the Company and Kurt Chew, LLC in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E .
 
 
- 41 -

 
 
(o)           Purchaser shall have received (i) balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2011, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended audited by UHY LLP and (ii) and balance sheets of the Company as of June 30, 2012, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the six months then ended reviewed by UHY LLP (collectively, the “ UHY Financial Statements ”), and, in each case, such financial statements shall be materially consistent with the Financial Statements, except with respect to any changes necessary in order to reflect the conversion from cash basis accounting to accrual basis accounting.
 
(p)           Seller shall have delivered to Purchaser (i) in form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser a payoff letter from the creditor of the Existing Indebtedness, which letter shall be addressed to the Company confirming the outstanding amount of the Existing Indebtedness owed to such creditor as of the Closing Date and any per diem payable thereafter and (ii) satisfactory evidence that, other than trade payables incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the Balance Sheet Date, the Liabilities of the Company as of the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, the Existing Indebtedness, have been terminated in full and confirming that, upon payment of such amounts or termination of such Indebtedness, all Liens affecting the real and personal property of the Company in favor of such creditors will be released;
 
(q)           Seller shall have delivered a certificate of non-foreign status satisfying the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b) and in a form reasonably acceptable to Purchaser;
 
(r)           All advances to any Employee shall have been collected and paid in full by the Company; and
 
(s)           Seller shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Purchaser such other documents as Purchaser shall reasonably request.
 
8.2          Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Seller. The obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, prior to or on the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by Seller in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
 
(a)           the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing as though made at and as of the Closing;
 
(b)           Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all respects with all obligations and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date;
 
(c)           there shall not have been or occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Purchaser;
 
(d)           no Proceedings shall have been instituted or threatened or claim or demand made against Seller, the Company, or Purchaser seeking to restrain or prohibit or to obtain substantial damages with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there shall not be in effect any Order by a Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
 
 
- 42 -

 
 
(e)           Seller shall have received a certificate signed by Purchaser, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that each of the conditions specified above in Sections 8.2(a)-(b) have been satisfied in all respects; and
 
(f)           Purchaser shall have obtained any other consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Body required to be obtained or made by Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of the transactions contemplated herein.
 
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
 
9.1          Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in Articles V and VI of this Agreement shall survive the Closing through and including the second anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, however, that the representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Sections 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.4 , 5.5 and 5.7 shall survive indefinitely and the representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Sections 5.11 , 5.16 , 5.20 and 5.30 and the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 shall survive the Closing until ninety (90) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (including any extension thereof, whether automatic or permissive) with respect to the particular matter that is the subject matter thereof (in each case, the “Survival Period”); provided, however, that any obligations to indemnify and hold harmless shall not terminate with respect to any Losses as to which the Person to be indemnified shall have given notice to the indemnifying party in accordance with Section 9.3(a) before the termination of the applicable Survival Period. Each party hereto waives any right, claim or affirmative defense as to any time limitations on the assertion or prosecution of any Indemnification Claim, including any and all statutes of limitations, statutes of repose, laches, and any other time bars, with respect to any matter for which notice has been provided to the indemnifying party in accordance with Section 9.3(a) before the termination of the applicable Survival Period. For the avoidance of doubt, claims by the parties arising from fraud or intentional misrepresentation shall not be subject to this Section 9.1 .
 
9.2           Indemnification.
 
(a)           Solely for the purpose of indemnification in this Section 9.2 , the representations and warranties of Seller in this Agreement shall be deemed to have been made without regard to any qualifiers as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect. Subject to Sections 9.1 , 9.4 and 9.5 hereof, Seller hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Purchaser, the Company, and their respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, stockholders, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the “ Purchaser Indemnified Parties ”) harmless from and against:
 
 
- 43 -

 
 
(i)           any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, damages, costs and expenses, including those suffered or incurred directly (individually, a “ Loss ” and, collectively, “ Losses ”), based upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of representation or warranty made by Seller in this Agreement or any Seller Document to be true and correct in all respects at the date hereof and at the Closing Date;
 
(ii)           any and all Losses based upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other agreement on the part of Seller under this Agreement or any Seller Document;
 
(iii)           any and all Losses (including any loss of use of Company Property or any tangible personal property of the Company) imposed under or pursuant to Environmental Laws arising from or related to any condition, act or omission, by the Company or any predecessor thereof or related to the operations of the Company or any predecessor thereof at any real property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, to the extent existing on or prior to the Closing Date, including, but not limited to any Environmental Costs and Liabilities, including those imposed pursuant to common law associated with a Release of Hazardous Materials;
 
(iv)           any and all Losses relating to or arising from the Proceedings set forth on Schedule 5.18 ;
 
(v)           any and all notices, actions, suits, Proceedings, claims, demands, assessments, judgments, costs, penalties and expenses, including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and disbursements (collectively, “ Expenses ”) incident to any and all Losses with respect to which indemnification is provided hereunder.
 
(b)           Subject to Sections 9.1 and 9.4 , Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Seller and its Affiliates, stockholders, agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the “ Seller Indemnified Parties ”) harmless from and against:
 
(i)           any and all Losses based upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any representation or warranty of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or any Purchaser Document to be true and correct at the date hereof and at the Closing Date;
 
(ii)           any and all Losses based upon, attributable to or resulting from the breach of any covenant or other agreement on the part of Purchaser under this Agreement or any Purchaser Document; and
 
(iii)          any and all Expenses incident to any and all Losses with respect to which indemnification is provided hereunder.
 
 
- 44 -

 
 
(c)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) prior to the Preferred Distribution Date, (A) the Purchaser Indemnified Parties’ first recourse and recovery rights from Seller with respect to Losses recoverable pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall be recovery from Seller solely by way of reduction in the Purchase Price and a corresponding reduction in the number of Preferred Shares to be issued to Seller on the Preferred Distribution Date by a number of shares equal to the dollar amount of the alleged amount of Losses with respect to such Indemnification Claim and (B) if the number of Preferred Shares issuable has been reduced to zero pursuant to clause (i)(A) , the Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover any such Losses from Seller directly and (ii) following the Preferred Distribution Date, the Purchaser Indemnified Parties’ recourse and recovery rights from Seller with respect to Losses recoverable pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall be recovery, at the Purchaser Indemnified Parties’ sole discretion (A) by way of purchasing a number of Preferred Shares then outstanding equal to the dollar amount of the alleged amount of Losses with respect to such Indemnification Claim at a purchase price equal to $1.00 per Preferred Share so purchased paid by satisfaction of the corresponding portion of the Losses with respect to such Indemnification Claim or (B) from Seller directly. Upon the dismissal with prejudice, resolution by final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent and proper jurisdiction, issuance of arbitration order or final settlement, if the number of Preferred Shares by which the Purchase Price was reduced pursuant to clause (i)(A) or purchased pursuant to clause (ii)(A) exceeds the amount of Losses so determined to be recoverable pursuant to this Section 9.2 , Purchaser shall issue a number of Preferred Shares, if any, equal to such excess. If the Purchaser Indemnified Parties elect to purchase Preferred Shares pursuant to clause (ii)(B) , the certificates representing such purchased Preferred Shares shall be tendered to Purchaser for cancellation and the holder of such Preferred Shares shall cease to have any rights or remedies under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Purchaser with respect to such purchased Preferred Shares.
 
9.3          Indemnification Procedures.
 
(a)           Except as provided in Section 9.5 , in the event that any Proceedings shall be instituted or that any claim or demand shall be asserted by any Person in respect of which payment may be sought under Section 9.2 hereof (regardless of the limitations set forth in Section 9.4 ) (“ Indemnification Claim ”), the indemnified party shall promptly cause written notice of the assertion of any Indemnification Claim by a third party of which it has Knowledge which is covered by this indemnity to be forwarded to the indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall have the right, at its sole expense, to be represented by counsel of its choice, which must be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any Indemnification Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified against hereunder; provided that the indemnifying party shall have acknowledged in writing to the indemnified party its unqualified obligation to indemnify the indemnified party as provided hereunder. If the indemnifying party elects to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any Indemnification Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified against hereunder, it shall within five (5) days (or sooner, if the nature of the Indemnification Claim so requires) notify the indemnified party of its intent to do so. If the indemnifying party elects not to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any Indemnification Claim which relates to any Losses indemnified against hereunder, fails to notify the indemnified party of its election as herein provided or contests its obligation to indemnify the indemnified party for such Losses under this Agreement, the indemnified party may defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with such Indemnification Claim. If the indemnified party defends any Indemnification Claim, then the indemnifying party shall reimburse the indemnified party for the Expenses of defending such Indemnification Claim upon submission of periodic bills. If the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of any Indemnification Claim, the indemnified party may participate, at his or its own expense, in the defense of such Indemnification Claim; provided , however , that such indemnified party shall be entitled to participate in any such defense with separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party if (i) so requested by the indemnifying party to participate or (ii) in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the indemnified party, a conflict or potential conflict exists between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party that would make such separate representation advisable; and provided , further , that the indemnifying party shall not be required to pay for more than one such counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any Indemnification Claim. The parties hereto agree to cooperate fully with each other in connection with the defense, negotiation or settlement of any such Indemnification Claim. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.3 to the contrary, neither the indemnifying party nor the indemnified party shall, without the written consent of the other party, settle or compromise any Indemnification Claim or permit a default or consent to entry of any judgment unless the claimant and such party provide to such other party an unqualified release from all liability in respect of the Indemnification Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a settlement offer solely for money damages is made by the applicable third party claimant, and the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party in writing of the indemnifying party’s willingness to accept the settlement offer and, subject to the applicable limitations of Section 9.4 , pay the amount called for by such offer, and the indemnified party declines to accept such offer, the indemnified party may continue to contest such Indemnification Claim, free of any participation by the indemnifying party, and the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to such Indemnification Claim that the indemnifying party has an obligation to pay hereunder shall be limited to the lesser of (A) the amount of the settlement offer that the indemnified party declined to accept plus the Losses of the indemnified party relating to such Indemnification Claim through the date of its rejection of the settlement offer or (B) the aggregate Losses of the indemnified party with respect to such Indemnification Claim. If the indemnifying party makes any payment on any Indemnification Claim, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated, to the extent of such payment, to all rights and remedies of the indemnified party to any insurance benefits or other claims of the indemnified party with respect to such Indemnification Claim.
 
 
- 45 -

 
 
(b)           After any final decision, judgment or award shall have been rendered by a Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time in which to appeal therefrom, or a settlement shall have been consummated, or the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have arrived at a mutually binding agreement with respect to an Indemnification Claim hereunder, the indemnified party shall forward to the indemnifying party notice of any sums due and owing by the indemnifying party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter and the indemnifying party shall be required to pay all of the sums so due and owing to the indemnified party by wire transfer of immediately available funds within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such notice.
 
(c)           The failure of the indemnified party to give reasonably prompt notice of any Indemnification Claim with respect to a third-party claim shall not release, waive or otherwise affect the indemnifying party’s obligations with respect thereto except to the extent that the indemnifying party can demonstrate actual loss and prejudice as a result of such failure.
 
(d)           With respect to any Indemnification Claim not involving a third party, the indemnified party shall notify the indemnifying party of such claim. If Seller contests responsibility for such Indemnification Claim, Seller may, within fifteen (15) days after delivery thereof, deliver a notice thereof to Purchaser. Any such notice shall specify the basis for the contest. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute, the indemnifying party will be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the indemnified party.
 
 
- 46 -

 
 
9.4           Limitations on Indemnification for Breaches of Representations and Warranties.
 
(a)           An indemnifying party shall not have any liability under Section 9.2(a)(i) or Section 9.2(b)(i) hereof unless the aggregate amount of Losses and Expenses to the indemnified parties finally determined to arise thereunder based upon, attributable to or resulting from the failure of any representation or warranty to be true and correct, other than the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.4 , 5.5 , 5.7 , 5.11 , 5.20 , 5.30 , 6.1 and 6.2 , exceeds $50,000 in the aggregate (the “ Basket ”) and, in such event, the indemnifying party shall be required to pay the entire amount of all such Losses and Expenses;
 
(b)           Neither Seller nor Purchaser shall be required to indemnify, any Person under Section 9.2(a)(i) or 9.2(b)(i) for an aggregate amount of Losses exceeding the Purchase Price (the “ Cap ”) in connection with Losses related to the breach of any representation and warranty of Seller or Purchaser in Articles V and VI , respectively, other than in respect of any claim for fraud or intentional misrepresentation or any representation.
 
(c)           Seller shall have no recourse against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, attorneys, representatives, assigns or successors for any Indemnification Claims asserted by the Purchaser Indemnified Parties.
 
9.5          Tax Matters.
 
(a)           Tax Indemnification . Seller hereby agrees to be liable for and to indemnify and hold the Purchaser Indemnified Parties harmless from and against any and all Losses and Expenses in respect of (i) all Taxes of the Company (or any predecessor thereof) (A) for any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date, and (B) for the portion of any Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date (determined as provided in Section 9.5(c) ); (ii) any and all Taxes imposed on Seller or any Affiliate of Seller, (iii) any and all Taxes imposed on any member of a fiscal unity, affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Company (or any predecessor thereof) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) the failure of any of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.11 to be true and correct in all respects (determined without regard to any qualification related to materiality contained therein); (v) the failure to perform any covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to Taxes; and (vi) any failure by Seller to timely pay any and all Taxes required to be borne by Seller pursuant to Section 9.5(e) .
 
(b)           Filing of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes .
 
(i)             Seller shall cause the Company to timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the Closing Date and shall pay or cause to be paid all Taxes shown due thereon. Seller shall prepare or cause to be prepared and timely file or cause to be timely filed all IRS Forms 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation (and any comparable state or local Tax Return), of the Company for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date and shall pay, or cause to be paid, any Taxes shown due thereon. Seller shall cause all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit or other Tax items required to be included in a Tax Return (“Tax Items”) recognized by the Company to be allocated for federal income Tax purposes (and any applicable state or local Tax purposes) between the portion of the taxable period in which the Closing occurs during which the Company is an S corporation under Section 1361(a) of the Code (and any comparable state or local Tax Laws) and the remainder of the taxable period in which the Closing occurs based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business on the last day during which the Company is an S corporation. All Tax Returns described in this Section 9.5(b)(i) shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past tax accounting practice. Seller shall cause the Company to provide Purchaser with copies of such completed Tax Returns at least twenty (20) days prior to the due date for filing thereof, along with all supporting workpapers, for Purchaser’s review and approval. Seller and Purchaser shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disagreements regarding such Tax Returns prior to the due date for filing. In the event that Seller and Purchaser are unable to resolve any dispute with respect to any such Tax Return at least ten (10) days prior to the due date for filing, such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 9.5(f) , which resolution shall be binding on the parties.
 
 
- 47 -

 
 
(ii)           Except as provided in Section 9.5(b)(i) , following the Closing, Purchaser shall cause to be timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company after the Closing Date and, subject to the rights to payment from Seller under Section 9.5(b)(iii) , pay or cause to be paid all Taxes shown due thereon.
 
(iii)           Not later than thirty (30) days prior to the due date for the payment of Taxes on any Tax Returns which Purchaser has the responsibility to cause to be filed pursuant to Section 9.5(b)(ii) , Seller shall pay to Purchaser the amount of Taxes, as reasonably determined by Purchaser, owed by Seller pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.5(a) . No payment pursuant to this Section 9.5(b)(iii) shall excuse Seller from its indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 9.5(a) and payment obligations pursuant to Section 9.5(g) if the amount of Taxes as ultimately determined (on audit or otherwise) for the periods covered by such Tax Returns exceeds the amount of Seller’s payment under this Section 9.5(b)(iii) .
 
(c)           Straddle Period Tax Allocation . Seller and Purchaser will, unless prohibited by applicable Law, close the taxable period of the Company as of the close of business on the Closing Date. If applicable Law does not permit the Company to close its taxable year on the Closing Date or in any case in which a Tax is assessed with respect to a taxable period which includes the Closing Date (but does not begin or end on that day) (a “ Straddle Period ”), the Taxes, if any, attributable to a Straddle Period shall be allocated as follows: (i) in the case of income and similar Taxes, withholding Taxes, any Taxes resulting from, or imposed on, sales, receipts, uses, transfers or assignments of property, or payments to other Persons (including wages), the amount of Taxes allocated to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be equal to the amount of Taxes payable for such portion of the period determined utilizing the “closing of books” methodology by assuming that the taxable period ended at the close of business on the Closing Date; and (ii) in the case of all other Taxes, the amount of Taxes allocated to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be equal to the amount of Taxes for the entire Straddle Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle Period. For purposes of clause (i), any item determined on an annual or periodic basis (including amortization and depreciation deductions) shall be allocated to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date based on the relative number of days in such portion of the Straddle Period as compared to the number of days in the entire Straddle Period (but computed without regard to items resulting from increases in the assets, capital or liabilities of the Company occurring on or after the Closing Date). If any material aspect relating to the allocation of Taxes remains in dispute within ten (10) days prior to the due date for filing any Tax Return relating to such Taxes, such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 9.5(f) , which resolution shall be binding on the parties.
 
 
- 48 -

 
 
(d)           Tax Audits .
 
(i)           If notice of any Tax Audit of the Company (a ” Tax Claim ”) shall be received by either party (the “ Recipient ”) for which the other party may reasonably be expected to be liable pursuant to Section 9.5(a) , the notified party shall notify such other party in writing of such Tax Claim no later than the earlier of (i) 5 days of receipt by the Recipient of such Tax Claim and (ii) 10 days prior to the deadline for responding to the Tax Claim. Such notice shall contain factual information describing any asserted liability for Taxes in reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice and other documents received from any Taxing Authority with respect to such Tax Claim; provided , however , that if the Recipient fails to give such notice to the other party, it shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with such Tax Claim to the extent that such failure to give such Audit Notice results in a monetary detriment to the other party.
 
(ii)           Purchaser shall have the right, at the expense of Seller to the extent such Tax Claim is subject to indemnification by Seller pursuant to Section 9.5(a) hereof, to represent the interests of the Company in, and control the disposition of, any Tax Claim except Tax Claims relating to tax periods occurring prior to the Closing Date. With respect to a Tax Claim relating exclusively to taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date, Seller shall have the sole right to represent the Company and exclusive control of the disposition of the Tax Claim. With respect to any Tax Claim made by a Taxing Authority that creates liability to the Company (as opposed to the Seller) that is part of an appeal by Seller, Seller shall not make any disposition of such Tax Claim without the prior written consent of Purchaser.
 
(iii)           If a Tax Claim is subject to indemnification by Seller pursuant to Section 9.5(a) , and in order to (i) contest such Tax Claim or (ii) avoid the imposition of penalties (whether monetary or otherwise, including, without limitation, a stricter evidentiary standard) on the relevant taxpayer, Purchaser (or any Affiliate of Purchaser) or other relevant party must pay such Taxes in advance of such Tax Claim or post a bond, letter of credit, deposit, or other form of security, Seller, upon request of Purchaser, shall provide the relevant Taxing Authority with such form of security as is acceptable to such Taxing Authority in order that (i) the Tax Claim may be contested and (ii) no such penalties are imposed.
 
 
- 49 -

 
 
(e)           Transfer Taxes . Seller shall be liable for and shall pay (and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser Indemnified Parties against) all sales, use, stamp, documentary, filing, recording, transfer or similar fees or taxes or governmental charges as levied by any Governmental Body including any interest and penalties) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(f)           Disputes . Any dispute as to any matter to which this Section 9.5(f) applies shall be resolved by an independent accounting firm mutually acceptable to Seller and Purchaser. With respect to any dispute described in Section 9.5(b)(i) , the independent accounting firm shall resolve such dispute on a basis consistent with past tax accounting practices (unless such past practices are no longer permissible under applicable Law), and to the extent any items are not covered by past tax accounting practices (or in the event such practices are no longer permissible under applicable Law), in accordance with reasonable tax accounting practices selected by the independent accounting firm. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm shall be borne equally by Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser on the other. If any dispute with respect to a Tax Return is not resolved prior to the due date of such Tax Return, such Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by the party responsible therefor in accordance with Section 9.5(b) , subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution of such dispute by the independent accounting firm, and the making of any payments necessary to give effect to the resolution.
 
(g)           Payment . Except as provided in Section 9.5(b)(iii) , all amounts payable or to be paid to Purchaser pursuant to this Section 9.5 shall be paid to Purchaser within 30 days after the day Purchaser delivers written notice to Seller stating the Taxes to which such amount relates have been paid or incurred and providing details supporting the calculation of such amount.
 
(h)           Time Limits . Any claim for indemnity under this Section 9.5 may be made at any time prior to sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to the relevant taxable period (including all periods of extension, whether automatic or permissive).
 
(i)           Tax Refunds . Any Tax refunds that are received by Purchaser or the Company for Taxes paid by Seller with respect to a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date or the portion of any Straddle Period ending on or before the Closing Date shall be for the account of Seller and Purchaser shall pay over to Seller any such refund (without interest and reduced for all reasonable expenses and Taxes incurred, or that will be incurred, by Purchaser or the Company to obtain such refund) within 15 days after receipt.
 
(j)           Cooperation on Tax Matters . In connection with the preparation of Tax Returns or the conduct of any Tax Claim relating to the Tax liabilities imposed on the Company or on any asset of the Company, Purchaser, on the one hand, and Seller, on the other hand, shall cooperate fully with each other, including the furnishing or making available during normal business hours records, personnel (as reasonably required), books of account, powers of attorney or other materials necessary or helpful for the preparation of such Tax Returns or the conduct of any Tax Claim. Seller and Purchaser shall (a) retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Company relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (and any extension thereof) for the respective taxable periods and abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any Taxing Authority, and (b) give all parties reasonable written notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and provide any party with copies of such books and records upon reasonable request.
 
 
- 50 -

 
 
(k)           Exclusivity . The indemnification provided for in this Section 9.5 shall be the sole remedy for any claim in respect of Taxes, including any claim arising out of or relating to a breach of Section 5.11 . In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Section 9.5 , on the one hand, and the provisions of Sections 9.1 through 9.4 , on the other hand, the provisions of this Section 9.5 shall control.
 
(l)           Tax Agreements . All Tax sharing, allocation, indemnification or other similar agreements or arrangements relating to the allocation or responsibility for Taxes between or among the Company, Seller or any Affiliate of Seller shall be terminated with respect to the Company prior to Closing, and all obligations of the Company thereunder shall be released in full so that as of Closing the Company shall have no liability under any such agreement or arrangement.
 
9.6          Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, Seller and Purchaser shall treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to this Article IX as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for federal, state, local and foreign income tax purposes. If, notwithstanding the treatment required by the preceding sentence, any indemnification payment under this Article IX (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 9.5 ) is determined to be taxable to the party receiving such payment by any Taxing Authority, the amount of such payment shall be increased by the amount necessary so that, net of such Taxes (including any Taxes applicable to additional amounts payable under this sentence) and Expenses incurred by the party receiving such payment in connection with such Taxes, the party receiving such payment receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had no such Tax been imposed.
 
9.7          Express Negligence. THE FOREGOING INDEMNITIES ARE INTENDED TO BE ENFORCEABLE AGAINST THE PARTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPRESS TERMS AND SCOPE THEREOF NOTWITHSTANDING ANY EXPRESS NEGLIGENCE RULE OR ANY SIMILAR DIRECTIVE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT OR OTHERWISE LIMIT INDEMNITIES BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, CONCURRENT, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE) OR OTHER FAULT OR STRICT LIABILITY OF ANY OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES.
 
ARTICLE X
PREFERRED SHARES
 
10.1        Compliance with Law. Seller acknowledges that the Preferred Shares to be issued to Seller pursuant to this Agreement, will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amend (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state securities Laws (collectively, the “Securities Laws“), and therefore may not be resold without compliance with the Securities Laws. The Preferred Shares are being or will be acquired by Seller solely for his own account, for investment purposes only, and with no present intention of distributing, selling or otherwise disposing of them in connection with a distribution. Seller covenants, warrants and represents that none of the Preferred Shares will be, directly or indirectly, offered, sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of except after full compliance with all of the applicable provisions of the Securities Laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable state securities regulatory authority (including holding the Preferred Shares for at least six months or such other period as required by Rule 144 of the Securities Act). Certificates representing the Preferred Shares shall bear the following legend:
 
 
- 51 -

 
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED WITH RESPECT TO THESE SECURITIES UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID ACT.
 
Seller consents to Purchaser making a notation on its records or giving instructions to any transfer agent of Purchaser in order to implement the restrictions on transfer of the Preferred Shares set forth in this Article X .
 
10.2        Economic Risk; Sophistication; Accredited Investors. Seller is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Preferred Shares and can afford to sustain a total loss of such investment. Seller has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that Seller is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the proposed investment and therefore has the capacity to protect Seller’s own interests in connection with the acquisition of the Preferred Shares pursuant hereto. Seller represents to Purchaser that Seller is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act. Seller represents that Seller and Seller’s representatives have had an adequate opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers of Purchaser concerning, among other matters, Purchaser, its management, its plans for the operation of its businesses and potential additional acquisitions .
 
10.3        Restriction on Sale or Other Transfer of Preferred Shares. Seller covenants, warrants and represents that the Preferred Shares will be subject to certain transfer restrictions as described in Exhibit B   and that the certificates representing the Preferred Shares shall bear the following legend, which shall reflect such transfer restrictions, in addition to the legend under Section 10.1 :
 
THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO A CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO SUCH CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTIONS OR WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
 
 
- 52 -

 
 
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
 
11.1        Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Seller and Purchaser shall each bear its own expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument contemplated by this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; provided that Seller shall be responsible for, and in no event shall the Company bear, any Transaction Expenses.
 
11.2        Specific Performance. Seller acknowledges and agrees that the breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to Purchaser and that Purchaser will not have an adequate remedy at law. Therefore, the obligations of Seller under this Agreement, including, without limitation, Seller’s obligation to sell the Acquired Shares to Purchaser, shall be enforceable by a decree of specific performance issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, and appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and granted in connection therewith. Such remedies shall, however, be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies which any party may have under this Agreement or otherwise.
 
11.3        Dispute Resolution.
 
(a)           Other than with respect to claims or disputes with respect to Sections 3.3 or 9.3 hereof or any dispute to which Section 9.5(f) applies, any claim, controversy, dispute, demand, cause of action, liability, loss, expense, obligation, action, suit or Proceeding arising from or relating to this Agreement or the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute or common law shall be finally and exclusively settled by binding arbitration in Austin, Texas, except that this agreement to arbitrate shall not limit (i) any party’s right to seek equitable or injunctive relief to enforce the provisions hereof or otherwise request a court to enjoin any action affected or the outcome of which may be affected by any claim subject to this agreement to arbitrate and (ii) Purchaser’s rights with respect to any claim for fraud or intentional misrepresentation.
 
 
- 53 -

 
 
(b)           Such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with rules and procedures mutually agreed upon by all parties to such Proceeding or, if such parties cannot so agree within 10 days after the submission of the claim to arbitration, then such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect, and the arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association office in Dallas, Texas. Each notice of the commencement of any arbitration proceeding shall be sent to the applicable parties in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in Section 11.6 . The arbitration shall be conducted by and before one neutral arbitrator who is admitted to practice Law. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive Law (and the Law of remedies and statutes of limitation, if applicable) of the State of Texas as applicable to the claims asserted. If any party refuses to honor its obligations under this agreement to arbitrate, the other party may compel arbitration in either Federal or state court. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any claim relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement generally and this agreement to arbitrate, including any claim that all or part of this Agreement is void or voidable and any claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The arbitrator shall (as he deems necessary or appropriate) have authority and jurisdiction to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person and to hear and rule on motions (including motions to dismiss or motions for summary judgment) and pre-hearing disputes upon request of any party to the Proceeding. The arbitration hearing shall commence within 90 days of the appointment of the arbitrator.
 
(c)           The prevailing party (as may be determined by the arbitrator) shall be entitled to have and recover from the other party interest at prime rate (as quoted from time to time in The Wall Street Journal ), or, if less, the maximum applicable nonusurious rate on all amounts payable from the date determined due and payable under the date such amounts are paid in full, and all costs and expenses incurred, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and costs actually incurred. The arbitrator shall render a written opinion embodying his final findings and awards. Such findings and awards shall be final and binding on all parties to the applicable arbitration proceeding and may be enforced in any court having jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter.
 
(d)           The parties hereto hereby submit to personal jurisdiction before any arbitration tribunal empanelled pursuant to this Section 11.3 and, solely for purposes of the enforcement of any arbitration award rendered pursuant to this Section 11.3 , to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the federal or Texas state courts located in Austin, Texas. Any arbitration commenced in any other venue will be transferred to Austin, Texas, upon the written request of any party to this Agreement.
 
(e)           With respect to claims or disputes with respect to Section 3.3 hereof, the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state courts located in Travis County, Texas.
 
(f)           Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to process being served by any party to this Agreement in any suit, action or Proceeding by delivery of a copy thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.6 hereof.
 
11.4        Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits hereto) represents the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and can be amended, supplemented or changed, and any provision hereof can be waived, only by written instrument making specific reference to this Agreement signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver is sought. No action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. No failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies provided by Law.
 
 
- 54 -

 
 
11.5         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Texas applicable to contracts made and performed in such state.
 
11.6        Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (ii) when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of transmission and concurrent delivery by electronic mail) or (iii) one business day following the day sent by overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt), in each case at the following addresses and facsimile numbers (or to such other address or facsimile number as a party may have specified by notice given to the other party pursuant to this provision):
 
  If to Seller, to:
   
   
Kurt Chew
11409 Cezanne Court
Austin, Texas 78726
Fax: 979-542-3520
E-mail: kcpetro@aol.com
     
  With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
     
   
Michael L. Cook
Cook Brooks Johnson PLLC
7800 N. Mopac Expressway, Suite 215
Austin, TX 78759
Fax: (512) 381-3010
E-mail: mcook@cbjlawfirm.com
     
  If to Purchaser, to:
     
   
Aly Energy Services Inc.
   
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
   
Houston, TX 77056
   
Attention: Munawar H. Hidayatallah
   
E-mail: mickihidayatallah@me.com
 
 
- 55 -

 
 
  With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
     
   
John Geddes
   
Baker Botts L.L.P.
   
910 Louisiana, Suite 3200
   
Houston, Texas 77002
   
Fax: 713-229-2713
   
E-mail: john.geddes@bakerbotts.com
 
11.7        Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms or provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
 
11.8        Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, executors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall create or be deemed to create any third party beneficiary rights in any person or entity not a party to this Agreement except as provided below. No assignment of this Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by either Seller or Purchaser (by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consents shall be void; provided, however, that Purchaser may assign this Agreement and any or all rights or obligations hereunder (including, without limitation, Purchaser’s rights to purchase the Acquired Shares and Purchaser’s rights to seek indemnification hereunder) to any Affiliate of Purchaser, any Person from which it has borrowed money or any Person to which Purchaser or any of its Affiliates proposes to sell all or substantially all of the assets relating to the business. Upon any such permitted assignment, the references in this Agreement to Purchaser shall also apply to any such assignee unless the context otherwise requires.
 
11.9         No Partnership; Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create a joint venture, partnership, tax partnership, or agency relationship between the parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall provide any benefit to any third Person or entitle any third Person to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind, it being the intent of the Parties that this Agreement shall not be construed as a third party beneficiary contract; provided, however, that the indemnification provisions of Article IX shall inure to the benefit of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties and the Seller Indemnified Parties as provided therein.
 
 
- 56 -

 
 
11.10      Non-Recourse. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney or representative of Purchaser shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of Purchaser under this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
11.11      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
 
** REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK**
 
 
- 57 -

 
 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
 
  PURCHASER:  
       
  ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Munawar Hidayatallah  
  Name: Munawar Hidayatallah  
  Title:
Chairman and CEO
 
       
       
  SELLER:  
       
  By: Kurt Chew  
   
Kurt Chew, a Texas resident
 
 
 
 

 
 
EXHIBIT A

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into this ____ day of _______, 2012, by and between Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), and Kurt Chew (the “ Employee ”).
 
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the equity interests of the Company are being acquired by Aly Energy Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”), under that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated _____________, 2012 governing that transaction (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). Therefore, the Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee accepts employment with the Company, on the following terms and conditions:
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
 
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement.
 
1.1           “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Purchaser.
 
1.2           “ Cause ” shall mean that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from the Company confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
1.3           “ CEO ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Purchaser.
 
1.4           “ COO ” shall mean the Chief Operating Officer of the Purchaser.
 
1.5           “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.6           “ Date of Termination ” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination relating to termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.
 
 
A-1

 
 
1.7           “ Good Reason ” shall mean without the prior consent of Employee: (a) a relocation of Employee or the Company principal executives to a location outside the Austin, Texas metropolitan area, (b) there is a material reduction by the Company in Employee’s responsibilities, duties, authority, title, or reporting relationship or (c) the Company acts in any way that would reduce Employee’s Base Salary or if the Company adversely affects Employee’s participation in or materially reduces Employee’s benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which Employee is participating.
 
1.8          “ Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Company or Employee to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the Date of Termination that sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.
 
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
 
2.1           Employment; Effective Date . The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Closing Date (the “ Effective Date ”) and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Purchase Agreement is terminated, this Agreement shall be void ab initio and Employee and Company shall have no rights under this Agreement.
 
2.2           Position . From and after the Effective Date, Employee shall serve in the position of President of the Company or in such other position or positions as the parties mutually may agree and shall report to the CEO and the COO.
 
2.3           Duties and Services . Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 hereof and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the usual and customary duties and services appertaining to such positions, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such positions which the Company and Employee mutually may agree upon from time to time. Employee’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees, as such policies may be amended from time to time.
 
2.4           Other Interests . Employee agrees, during the Term, to devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments, (b) engage in charitable and civic activities, and (c) engage in such other activities that the Company and Employee mutually agree to; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or materially interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, Employee may continue his membership in,   and continue to perform any duties or responsibilities incidental thereto, Worldwide Deepwater Solutions, LLC and its affiliates.
 
 
A-2

 
 
2.5           Duty of Loyalty . Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Business (as defined below) and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.
 
ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
3.1           Term . Subject to the remaining terms of this Article III, this Agreement shall be for a term that begins on the Effective Date and continues in effect through the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Term ”). Subject to Section 9.13, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Term and Employee shall continue as an at-will employee of the Company.
 
3.2           Company’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:
 
(a)           for Cause; or
 
(b)           for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
 
3.3           Employee’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1:
 
(a)           Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, provided, however, that termination for Good Reason by the Employee shall not be permitted unless (x) Employee has given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that he has a basis for a termination for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason and (y) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason within such 30-day period.
 
(b)           Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for any reason other than Good Reason, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b), the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).
 
3.4           Deemed Resignations . Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors of the Company (if applicable), from the board of directors or similar governing body of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
 
 
A-3

 
 
3.5           Meaning of Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.
 
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
4.1           Base Salary . During the Term, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $220,000.00 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.
 
4.2           Bonuses . Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual, calendar-year bonus based on criteria determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Annual Bonus ”) with a discretionary target between 40% and 100% of Employee’s Base Salary. If Employee has not been employed by the Company since January 1 of the year that includes the Effective Date, then the Annual Bonus for such year shall be prorated based on the ratio of the number of days during such calendar year that Employee was employed by the Company to the number of days in such calendar year. Any Annual Bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4.2 will be paid to Employee no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided Employee is employed by the Company on such date of payment.
 
4.3           Benefits . During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in such group life, health, accident, disability or hospitalization insurance plans and retirement plans as the Company may make available to its other similarly situated executive employees as a group, subject to the terms and conditions of any such plans. Employee’s participation in all such plans shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and responsibilities at the Company.
 
4.4           Vacation and Leave . Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks paid vacation but Employee will not take more than two (2) weeks consecutive vacation. Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to its employees generally.
 
4.5           Expenses . The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is one year after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company. Employee will be paid $750.00 per month plus fuel as an automobile allowance and Employee will continue to use his personal 2012 Tahoe in connection with Company business. Employee will pay all maintenance costs necessary for the upkeep of the vehicle. Employee will retain his current cellular telephone number and provider contract and the Company will reimburse Employee for all expenses relating to such telephone.
 
 
A-4

 
 
ARTICLE V
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
 
5.1           Disclosure to and Property of the Company . For purposes of this Article V, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director, manager and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee individually or in conjunction with others during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
 
 
A-5

 
 
5.2           Disclosure to Employee . The Company shall disclose to Employee, or place Employee in a position to have access to or develop, Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company; and shall entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company; and shall place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company.
 
5.3           No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure . Employee agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and of all Work Product containing Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to obligate all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent (a) such Confidential Information has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee or (b) disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article V. As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, confidential information or work product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
 
5.4           Ownership by the Company . If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
 
 
A-6

 
 
5.5           Assistance by Employee . During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall reasonably assist the Company and its nominee, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods and for reasonable compensation, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
 
5.6           Remedies . Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article V by Employee, and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article V by specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article V but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
ARTICLE VI
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
6.1            Statements . Each of the Employer and Employee will refrain, both during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and after the termination thereof, from publishing any oral or written statements about the other party, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information (other than Confidential Information that has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee) of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the other party, any of the Company’s affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the parties hereby under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing shall prevent any party from testifying in any legal proceeding pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
 
 
A-7

 
 
ARTICLE VII
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION
 
7.1           Effect of Termination of Employment on Compensation .
 
(a)            Benefit Obligation and Accrued Obligation Defined . For purposes of this Agreement, payment of the “ Benefit Obligation ” shall mean payment by the Company to Employee (or his designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan document, of all vested benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of the employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements in which Employee is a participant as of the Date of Termination. “ Accrued Obligation ” means the sum of (1) Employee’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (2) any accrued vacation pay earned by Employee, and (3) any incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.5, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid.
 
(b)            Termination of Employee for Any Reason other than by the Company Without Cause . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever other than by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination. Following such payment, the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee other than as may be required by law or the terms of an employee benefit plan of the Company. The Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
(c)            Termination of Employee by the Company Without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason, then Employee shall receive the following benefits and compensation from the Company:
 
(i)          the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the date of Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(ii)         the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary for twelve (12) months, with such amount payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the 60th day following Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(iii)        the Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
 
A-8

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Employee, nor his estate, shall be permitted to specify the taxable year in which a payment described in this Section 7.1(c) shall be paid.
 
(d)            General Release of Claims . Payments to Employee under this Article VII (other than Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations) are contingent upon Employee’s execution of a release, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within fifty (50) days of Employee’s Date of Termination that is not revoked by Employee during any applicable revocation period provided in such release (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, managers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company or its affiliates or the termination of such employment). Nothing in this Section 7.1(d) shall be construed to require Employee to execute a release in any form if Employee does not accept payments described in this Section 7.1 other than the Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations.
 
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS AGAINST COMPETITION
 
8.1           Definitions . As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)           “ Business ” means (i) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (ii) the provision of products or services provided by the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3) year period prior to the Date of Termination. In the event Employee proposes to invest in an entity that would meet the definition of Business only because of the activities of an affiliate of the Company, Employee may request a waiver of the provisions of this Article VIII in writing and the Company many not unreasonably withhold its consent to such waivers if Employee had only immaterial access to the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the affiliate, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that are among the assets of the affiliate.
 
(b)           “ Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(c)           “ Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
(d)           “ Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following Employee’s Date of Termination.
 
 
A-9

 
 
(e)           “ Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which the Company has performed services or otherwise engaged in activities for the purpose of performing services during the three (3) year period prior to the Closing Date and any country or subdivision thereof in which the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business during the Prohibited Period. With respect to the Business of an affiliate of Company, the term “Restricted Area” means the trade area of the affiliate existing on the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.
 
8.2           Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . Employee presently has specialized knowledge of the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the Company, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that were among the assets of the Company prior to the closing of the Purchase Agreement. Employee acknowledges his expertise and specialized knowledge of research and development, and other Confidential Information of the Company. Employee will continue to obtain and develop specialized knowledge of Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates and the business of the Company through his continued involvement in the business of the Company, including his employment under this Agreement. The Company’s promise to provide Employee with this Confidential Information is an essential part of the Company’s agreement to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
 
To induce the Purchaser to carry out the Purchase Agreement, and in consideration of the Company’s promises and undertakings in this Agreement, including the promise to provide specialized training and knowledge, the promise to provide Employee access to and control of Confidential Information that the Company and its affiliates will continue to develop and/or receive and that Employee will have access to through the Term, and to ensure the protection of the Company’s and its affiliates’ Confidential Information during Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Company and Employee agree and covenant that during the Prohibited Period:
 
(c)           Employee shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any Person or Persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business for the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Employee works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and
 
(d)           Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
 
A-10

 
 
8.3           Relief . Employee and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 hereof are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Employee and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments then owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise and to seek in a court of competent jurisdiction specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, however, that such termination of payments owing to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise may not occur in the absence of a breach of this Article VIII by Employee. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
8.4           Reasonableness; Enforcement . Employee hereby represents to the Company that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII. Employee acknowledges that the duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature of the operations of the Company’s Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Company’s Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, and (c) the amount of compensation, trade secrets and Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable. It is specifically agreed that the period specified in Section 8.2 shall be computed by excluding from that computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of Section 8.2.
 
8.5           Reformation . The Company and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Employee expressly represents that enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article VIII will not impose an undue hardship upon Employee or any person or entity affiliated with Employee. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.
 
 
A-11

 
 
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
9.1           Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:
 
  If to Employee, addressed to:
Kurt Chew
   
11409 Cezanne Court
   
Austin, TX 78726
     
  If to the Company, addressed to:
Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp.
   
c/o Aly Energy Services Inc.
   
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
   
Houston, TX 77056
   
Phone: 832-454-7394
   
Fax: 310-459-8500
   
Attention: Micki Hidayatallah
 
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
 
9.2           Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
(b)            This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
(c)            With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Texas.
 
9.3           Litigation . Employee agrees to cooperate, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, with the Company and its attorneys, both during and after the termination of his employment, in connection with any litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which Employee was involved prior to the termination of his employment to the extent the Company pays all expenses Employee incurs in connection with such cooperation and to the extent such cooperation does not unduly interfere (as determined by Employee in good faith) with Employee’s personal or professional schedule.
 
9.4           Dispute Resolution . Except as provided otherwise in Sections 5.6, 6.1 and 8.3, all claims, demands, causes of action, disputes, controversies or other matters in question (“ Claims ”) arising out of this Agreement or Employee’s service (or termination from service) with the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute, equity or common law, that the Company may have against Employee or that Employee may have against the Company, or its parents or subsidiaries, or against each of the foregoing entities’ respective officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.4(a) and (b). Claims covered by this Section 9.4 include, without limitation, claims by Employee for breach of this Agreement, wrongful termination, discrimination (based on age, race, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other factor), harassment and retaliation.
 
 
A-12

 
 
(a)            Agreement to Negotiate . First, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Claims promptly by negotiations between Employee and executives or directors of the Company or its affiliates who have authority to settle the Claims. Either party may give the other disputing party written notice of any Claim not resolved in the normal course of business. Within five days after the effective date of that notice, Employee and such executives or directors of the Company shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to meet and shall meet at that time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Claim. The first of those meetings shall take place within 30 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice. If the Claim has not been resolved within 60 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and place for an initial meeting within five days of that notice, either party may elect to undertake arbitration in accordance with Section 9.4(b).
 
(b)            Agreement to Arbitrate . If a Claim is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to Section 9.4(a), such Claim must be resolved through arbitration regardless of whether the Claim involves claims that the Agreement is unlawful, unenforceable, void, or voidable or involves claims under statutory, civil or common law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). If a party refuses to honor its obligations under this Section 9.4(b), the other party may compel arbitration any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law, or both as applicable to the Claims asserted. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or enforceability or formation of this Agreement (including this Section 9.4), including any claim that all or part of the Agreement is void or voidable and any Claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The results of arbitration will be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto. Any arbitrator’s award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon will be final and unappealable. The seat of arbitration shall be in Harris County in the State of Texas, and unless agreed otherwise by the parties, all hearings shall take place at the seat. Any and all of the arbitrator’s orders, decisions and awards may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and entered by any federal or state court having jurisdiction. All evidentiary privileges under applicable state and federal law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. The decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. Arbitrations will be conducted in such a manner that the final decision of the arbitrator will be made and provided to Employee and the Company no later than 120 days after a matter is submitted to arbitration. All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrators, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Each party shall pay its own attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs of arbitration. The arbitrator’s fees shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or by such party or parties as the arbitrator shall determine. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR A COURT TRIAL OF ANY SERVICE RELATED CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.
 
 
A-13

 
 
9.5           No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
 
9.6           Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 
9.7           Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 
9.8           Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions . The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
 
9.9           Headings . The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
 
9.10         Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
 
9.11         Affiliate . As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.
 
9.12         Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.
 
9.13         Term . Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
 
 
A-14

 
 
9.14         Entire Agreement . Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Executive, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Executive by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.
 
9.15         Modification; Waiver . Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement; provided that the Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend this Agreement at any time (to the extent Employee is not adversely affected by such amendment), if determined to be reasonably necessary to comply with administrative guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
9.16         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code . Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance benefits under Article VII would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, and Employee constitutes a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any such payments that Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following Employee’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
 
 
A-15

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
  AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.  
       
  By:
Aly Energy Services, its sole shareholder
 
       
       
  By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
  Name:
Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
  Title:
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer
 
       
  KURT CHEW  
       
    /s/ Kurt Chew  
       
 
 
 
 
 
Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement
 
 

 
 
Exhibit A
 
Form of Waiver and Release Agreement
 
Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. has offered to pay me certain benefits (the “Benefits”) pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of my employment agreement with   Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., dated as of _____________, 2012 (the “Employment Agreement”), which were offered to me in exchange for my agreement, among other things, to waive all of my claims against and release Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. and its predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively referred to as the “Company”), all of the affiliates (including parents and subsidiaries) of the Company (collectively referred to as the “Affiliates”) and the Company’s and Affiliates’ directors and officers, employees and agents, insurers, employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively, with the Company and Affiliates, referred to as the “Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates; provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to (1) any existing right I have to indemnification, contribution and a defense, (2) any directors and officers and general liability insurance coverage, (3) any rights I may have as a shareholder of the Company, (4) any rights I have to the Benefits, and (5) any rights which cannot be waived or released as a matter of law.
 
I understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release and has given me at least 21 days from the day I received a copy of this Waiver and Release to sign it.
 
In exchange for the payment to me of Benefits, I, among other things, (1) agree not to sue in any local, state and/or federal court regarding or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates, (2) knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates and (3) waive any rights that I may have under any of the Company’s involuntary severance benefit plans, except to the extent that my rights are vested under the terms of employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company or the Affiliates and except with respect to such rights or claims as may arise after the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“ADEA”); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”); the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5851; the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; claims in connection with workers’ compensation or “whistle blower” statutes; and/or contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law. Further, I expressly represent that no promise or agreement which is not expressed in the Employment Agreement has been made to me in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am relying on my own judgment in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am not relying on any statement or representation of the Company, any of the Affiliates or any other member of the Corporate Group or any of their agents. I agree that this Waiver and Release is valid, fair, adequate and reasonable, is entered into with my full knowledge and consent, was not procured through fraud, duress or mistake and has not had the effect of misleading, misinforming or failing to inform me.
 
 
A-A-1

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Waiver and Release is intended to prohibit or restrict me in any way from (1) bringing a lawsuit against the Company to enforce the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (2) making any disclosure of information required by law; (3) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal, compliance or human resources officers; (4) testifying or participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (5) filing any claims that are not permitted to be waived or released under applicable law (although my ability to recover damages or other relief is still waived and released to the extent permitted by law).
 
Should any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to be invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, it is agreed that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions of this Waiver and Release. I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Employment Agreement set forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group. I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following the date that I sign this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer, provided that my written statement of revocation is received on or before that seventh day by [Name], Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., [Address], [City, State Zip], facsimile number: _______________________, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the Company shall have no obligation to provide me Benefits. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of the offer within 7 calendar days from the date I sign this Waiver and Release will result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
 
I acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity to ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation, discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, or disability and any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and Release. By execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts, omissions, or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group which occur after the date of the execution of this Waiver and Release.
 
       
Employee’s Printed Name
 
Company Representative
 
       
       
Employee’s Signature
 
Company’s Execution Date
 
       
       
Employee’s Signature Date
 
Employee’s Social Security Number
 
 
 
A-A-2

 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT B
 
CUMULATIVE PAID-IN-KIND
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
TERM SHEET
 
Issuer:
Aly Energy Services Inc. (the “ Company ”).
   
Investor:
Kurt Chew (“ Investor ”).
   
Class of Shares:
Cumulative Paid-In-Kind Convertible Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Shares ”).
   
Amount:
Up to 4,000,000 Preferred Shares in the aggregate, subject to reductions for purchase price adjustments in connection with any indemnification claims within six months of the closing date (the “ Closing Date ”) of the acquisition of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. (“ Austin Chalk ”).
   
Issuance Date:
Up to 2,000,000 Preferred Shares will be issued to the Investor on December 31, 2012 and (ii) up to 2,000,000 Preferred Shares will be issued to the Investor on the earlier of March 31, 2012 or the date that is five (5) days after the Company’s auditors have completed an audit of Austin Chalk’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012.
   
Dividends:
The Preferred Shares will be entitled to an annual dividend at a rate of 5.0% per annum payable through the issuance of additional Preferred Shares.
   
Conversion / Put Rights:
Preferred Termination Date . No earlier than 60 and no later than 30 days prior to the date that is four years after the Closing Date (the “ Preferred Termination Date ”), the Investor will have the right to elect to sell the Preferred Shares outstanding on the Preferred Termination Date to the Company at a purchase price of $1.00 per Preferred Share with 1/4 of the purchase price paid on the Preferred Termination Date and 1/4 of the purchase price paid in three (3) equal quarterly payments together with interest equal to eight percent (8%) per annum, the first such payment being due and payable three (3) months following the Preferred Termination Date.
 
Initial Public Offering. If the Company engages in an initial public offering (an “ IPO ”), the Investor will have the right to (i) convert the Preferred Shares into shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Shares ”), of the Company, with each Preferred Share being convertible into a number of Common Shares equal to the Per Share Exit Value divided by the price to the public in the IPO, or (ii) sell the Preferred Shares outstanding at such time to the Company at a purchase price of $1.00 per Preferred Share.
 
Liquidity Event . If the Company engages in a Liquidity Event during the Liquidity Event Period (as hereafter defined), the Investor shall have the right to sell the Preferred Shares outstanding at such time to the Company at a purchase price per share equal to the Per Share Exit Value.
 
 
B-1

 
 
Definition of “Liquidity Event”:
A “ Liquidity Event ” shall include (other than in connection with an IPO) (i) a sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company, (ii) the sale of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock to a person or group other any person or group holding capital stock of the Company on the Closing Date or (iii) a consolidation, reorganization, merger or other transaction in which (x) the outstanding capital stock of the Company is exchanged for cash, securities or other property of another company and (y) the holders of capital stock of the Company immediately prior to the transaction own less than a majority of the capital stock of the surviving entity after the transaction.
   
Definition of “Per Share Exit Value”:
The “ Per Share Exit Value ” shall be an amount equal to the greater of (a) $1.20 and (b) an amount calculated by dividing (i) an amount equal to 20% of the difference of (x) the product of the EBITDA of Austin Chalk for the twelve months preceding the calculation times 4.0, less (y) any New Capitalization of Austin Chalk as hereafter defined, by (ii) the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on the date of determination.
As used in this Term Sheet the term “New Capitalization” shall mean any increase in Austin Chalk’s capitalization from the Closing Date to the determination date by way of: (i) intercompany debt or other transfers from affiliates of Austin Chalk to Austin Chalk reduced by intercompany debt or transfers by Austin Chalk to its affiliates; (ii) third party debt; or (iii) issuance of equity by Austin Chalk.
   
Liquidity Event Period:
For purposes of this Term Sheet, the term “ Liquidity Event Period ” shall mean anytime from the Closing Date to the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date. If the Company shall have exercised its Redemption Right prior to a Liquidity Event occurring in the Liquidity Event Period, Investor shall have the option of electing to repay all consideration paid to the Investor pursuant to such redemption, together with interest at 8% per annum from the date of payment, and fully participate in the Liquidity Event.
   
Liquidation Preference:
In the event of any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company, holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive, in preference to the holders of all other classes of capital stock of the Company, a per share amount equal to $1.00.
 
 
B-2

 
 
Redemption:
The Preferred Shares shall be redeemable by the Company (the “ Redemption Right ”) at $1.00 per Preferred Share (i) during the period beginning on the Preferred Termination Date and ending on the first (1st) anniversary of the Preferred Termination Date or (ii) after the date that is 15 business days after the Company delivers written notice to the Investor that the Company intends to effect an IPO or Liquidity Event if the Investor has not made an election at such time to either convert or sell the Preferred Shares, as applicable.
   
Voting Rights:
The Preferred Shares will have no voting rights except as required by Delaware law.
 
 
B-3

 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT C
 
ESTIMATED CASH PURCHASE PRICE
 
The estimated cash purchase price payable by Purchaser to Seller on the Closing Date shall equal $17,951,566.67, which is calculated as follows:
 
   
$16,500,000.00
 
 
+
Estimated Working Capital Surplus
 
 
+
Estimated CapEx Overage
 
Estimated Cash Purchase Price
=
$17,951,566.67
 
 
Where:
 
   
Estimated Accounts Receivable
 
 
-
Estimated Eligible Accounts Payable
 
 
-
Estimated Accrued Liabilities
 
 
-
$2,100,000.00
 
Estimated Working Capital Surplus
=
$128,633.67
 
 
And where:
 
   
Estimated Capital Expenditures
 
 
-
$500,000.00
 
Estimated CapEx Overage
=
$1,322,933.00
 
 
And where:
 
 
Estimated Accrued Liabilities
=
$375,893.00
 
 
Estimated Accounts Payable
=
$421,140.00
 
 
Estimated Eligible Accounts Receivable
=
$3,025, 666.67
 
 
Estimated Capital Expenditures
=
$1,822,933.00
 
 
 
C-1

 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT D
 
, 2012
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
___________________
___________________
 
 
Re:
Purchase (“ Purchase ”) by Aly Energy Services, Inc. (“ Purchaser ”) of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., a Texas corporation (“ Company ”) from Kurt Chew (“ Seller ”)
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
We have acted as counsel to the Company and Seller. Our representation has been in connection with and limited to a sale of all of the capital stock of the Company to the Purchaser.
 
Capitalized terms used without definition in this opinion have the meanings that are given to them in the SPA and the other Seller Documents (as defined below).
 
I. DOCUMENTS EXAMINED
 
For purposes of this opinion, we have examined executed and acknowledged (where appropriate) originals (or certified copies thereof) of the following documents all of which are certified of even date with this opinion unless otherwise noted in this opinion:
 
A.           Stock Purchase Agreement (“ SPA ”) by and between Seller and Purchaser, dated as of __________, 2012, including all attachments thereto;
 
B.            Seller’s Certificate executed by Seller;
 
C.            Employment Agreement by and between Seller and Purchaser;
 
D.           Amended and Restated Lease Agreement by and between Kurt Chew L.L.C. and the Company;
 
E.            Stock Power executed by Seller; and
 
F.            Written Consent of the Sole Shareholder of the Company by the sole shareholder of the Company.
 
 
D-1

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 2
 
The documents listed in paragraphs A through _____________ in this Section I are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Seller Documents ”.
 
II. CORPORATE DOCUMENTS
 
As counsel to the Company and Seller, we have made such other legal and factual examinations and inquiries as we deemed necessary or desirable for the purpose of rendering this opinion, including, without limitation, examination of the following documents:
 
A.           Articles of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Texas Secretary of State on March 15, 2001.
 
B.            Bylaws of the Company dated effective as of March 15, 2001.
 
C.            Certificate of Account Status of the Company issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts on ____________, 2012.
 
D.            Certificate of Fact as to existence of the Company issued by the Texas Secretary of State on _____________, 2012.
 
The documents listed in paragraphs A and B in this Section II are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Organizational Documents ”. The documents listed in paragraphs C and D in this Section II are referred to as the “ Authority Documents ”.
 
III.  OPINIONS
 
We have been requested by the Company and Seller to examine the Seller Documents, Organizational Documents and Authority Documents and to render our opinion as to certain matters in connection therewith.
 
Whenever this opinion with respect to the existence or absence of facts is qualified by the phrase “to our knowledge,” it is intended to indicate that, during the course of our representation of the Company and Seller, no information has come to our attention which would give us actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts to the contrary, and no other inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be drawn from the fact of our representation of the Company and Seller.
 
In addition to any other limitations and qualifications in this letter, this opinion is also subject to and limited by assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth in Sections IV and V below.
 
 
D-2

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 3
 
Based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions in this letter and upon such further investigations as we have deemed necessary, we are of the opinion that:
 
1.            The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas.
 
2.            The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted. To our knowledge, the Company is not required to be authorized, registered or qualified to do business in any jurisdiction other than its jurisdiction of incorporation.
 
3.            The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of One Million (1,000,000) shares of common stock . As of the date hereof, there are One Thousand (1,000) shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock were duly authorized for issuance and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All of the Acquired Shares are owned, beneficially and of record, by Seller and, to our knowledge, free and clear of all Liens. To our knowledge, there are no Persons (as defined below) who by reason of any past or present relationship with the Company or Seller, including prior or existing marital relationships, or otherwise, may have any rights or claims with respect to the Acquired Shares. To our knowledge, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right or contract of any character to which Seller or the Company is a party requiring, and there are no securities of the Company outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance, sale or transfer of any additional shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company. To our knowledge, neither Seller nor the Company is a party to any voting trust or other contract with respect to the voting, redemption, sale, transfer or other disposition of the capital stock of the Company. “ Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Body (as defined in the next sentence)or other entity. “ Governmental Body ” means any and all courts, boards, agencies, commissions, offices or authorities of any nature whatsoever for any governmental unit (federal, state, county, district, municipal, city or otherwise) whether now or hereafter in existence.
 
4.            Seller has all requisite power, authority and, to our knowledge, legal capacity to execute and deliver the Seller Documents, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The Seller Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto) the Seller Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against him in accordance with their respective terms.
 
 
D-3

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 4
 
5.            None of the execution and delivery by Seller of the Seller Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, or compliance by Seller with any of the provisions thereof will conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or give rise to any obligation of the Company to make any payment under, or to the increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation of any Liens upon any of the properties or assets of the Company under, any provision of: (a) the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company; (b) any Applicable Law; and (c) to our knowledge (i) any Contract or Permit to which the Company is a party or by which any of the properties or assets of the Company are bound; or (ii) any Order of any Governmental Body applicable to the Company or any of the properties or assets of the Company.
 
6.            No consent, waiver, approval, Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Person or Governmental Body is required on the part of the Company or Seller in connection with (i) the execution and delivery of any of the Seller Documents by Seller, the compliance by Seller with any of the provisions thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, or (ii) the continuing validity and effectiveness immediately following the closing of the Purchase of any Permit of or Contract with the Company.
 
7.            To our knowledge, there are no suits, actions, claims, arbitration, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened against or by or relating to or involving the Company or Seller or the real or personal property of the Company before any Governmental Body or other third party. To our knowledge, no written notice of any suit, action, claim, arbitration, proceeding or investigation, whether pending or threatened, has been received by the Company.
 
IV. ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
 
In addition to any other limitations and qualifications, this opinion is also subject to and limited by the following limitations and qualifications; provided, however that such limitations and qualifications will not prevent a practical realization of the principal benefits and security intended to be provided to Purchaser by the Seller Documents:
 
1.            The discretion of any court of competent jurisdiction in awarding equitable remedies, including, without limitation, specific performance or injunctive relief;
 
2.            Limitations imposed by law upon the availability of equitable remedies, including the remedy of specific enforcement;
 
 
D-4

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 5
 
3.            In giving this opinion, we have assumed without independent verification:
 
  (a) The accuracy of the representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in the Seller Documents, provided, however, to our knowledge we are not aware of any facts that are contrary to such representations and warranties;
     
  (b) That Purchaser has full power, authority and right to enter into and execute the Seller Documents and that each person executing the Seller Documents on behalf of Purchaser is competent and has all requisite capacity and authority to execute such documents.
 
4.            We are licensed to practice law only in the State of Texas and we have not examined the laws of any state other than the State of Texas and the laws of the United States of America. Accordingly, the foregoing opinions apply only insofar as the laws, rules and regulations of the State of Texas and the laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America may be concerned, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
 
V. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS
 
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:
 
1.            The opinions in Section III, Paragraph 1 above are limited in all respects to the Texas Business Organizations Code and to the extent such opinions relate to the existence and good standing of the Company in the State of Texas are based solely on the Organizational Documents, the Certificate of Fact as to the existence of the Company, dated _______________, 2012, issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, and the Certificate of Account Status with respect to the Company, dated __________________, 2012, issued by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas.
 
2.            The enforceability of each of the Seller Documents and the provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
 
 
D-5

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 6
 
With respect to our opinion set forth in Section III, Paragraph 2 above, we express no opinion with respect to the validity or enforceability of the following provisions to the extent that they are contained in the Seller Documents: (i) provisions purporting to release, exculpate, hold harmless, or exempt any person or entity from, or to require indemnification or contribution of or by any person or entity for, liability for (A) wrongful or negligent acts, (B) violations of law or (C) matters found to be contrary to any statute or public policy; (ii) provisions purporting to waive, subordinate or not give effect to rights to notice, demands, legal defenses or other rights or benefits that cannot be waived, subordinated or rendered ineffective under Applicable Law; (iii) provisions purporting to provide remedies or waive remedies inconsistent with Applicable Law; (iv) provisions purporting to render void and of no effect any transfers of the rights in any collateral in violation of the terms of the Seller Documents; (v) provisions relating to powers of attorney or severability; (vi) provisions restricting access to courts or purporting to affect the jurisdiction or venue of courts; (vii) provisions relating to waiver of jury trial; (viii) provisions purporting to exclude all conflicts-of-law rules; (ix) provisions pursuant to which a party agrees that a judgment rendered by a court or other tribunal in one jurisdiction may be enforced in any other jurisdiction; (x) provisions providing for liquidated damages to the extent they may be deemed a penalty; or (xi) provisions providing that decisions by a party are conclusive or may be made in its sole discretion.
 
4.            Our opinions are based solely on our reading of the Seller Documents and on Applicable Laws. We note that enforceability of the Seller Documents may be affected by the parties’ course of dealing, or by waivers, modifications or amendments (whether made in writing, orally, or by course of conduct), and we express no opinion on the effect of the foregoing on the enforceability of the Seller Documents.
 
5.            We express no opinion with respect to the provisions of the Employment Agreement imposing any competition restrictions on the parties executing such agreements.
 
6.            With respect to our opinion set forth in Section III, Paragraph 3, our opinion is based solely on our examination of the company’s minute books, stock register and the Seller's Certificate.
 
As referenced in Section IV, Paragraph 4, we express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas and the United States (referred to herein as the “ Applicable Laws ”).
 
This opinion letter has been prepared in accordance with the customary practice of lawyers who regularly give and lawyers who regularly advise recipients regarding opinions of the kinds contained herein.
 
This opinion letter is rendered as of the date set forth above. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update this letter after such date.
 
3.            This opinion letter is given solely for your benefit (and the benefit of Purchaser’s successors and assigns permitted in the next paragraph hereof to rely on this opinion letter) in connection with the transactions described in the Seller Documents and may not be relied upon by, any other person or for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
 
 
D-6

 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
______________________, 2012
Page 7
 
We hereby consent to reliance hereon by any of Purchaser’s successors and/or assigns on the condition and understanding that (i) this opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof, (ii) we have no responsibility or obligation to update this opinion letter, to consider its applicability or correctness to any person other than its addressees, or to take into account changes in law, facts or any other developments of which we may later become aware, and (iii) any such reliance by such successor or assign must be actual and reasonable under the circumstances existing at the time of assignment, including any changes in law, facts or any other developments known to or reasonably knowable by such successor or assign at such time.
 
Without limiting the foregoing restriction on reliance, Purchaser, its successors and assigns may provide copies of this opinion to (a) independent auditors, accountants, attorneys and other professionals acting on behalf of such party, (b) governmental agencies having regulatory authority over such party, (c) designated persons pursuant to an order or legal process of any court or governmental agency, (d) any lender who lent money to Purchaser for the purpose of providing a portion of the Purchase Price (as defined in the SPA) (the “ Loan ”) and prospective purchasers and participants of the Loan and (e) any statistical rating agency which provides a rating on securities backed in part by the Loan.
 
  Very truly yours,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D-7

 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT E
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT
 
BETWEEN
 
KURT CHEW, LLC
 
Lessor
 
AND
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.
 
Lessee
 
Date: __________, 2012
 
 
E-1

 
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT
 
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT (this “ Lease ”) is made as of the ____ day of __________, 2012 (“ Effective Date ”) by and between KURT CHEW, LLC , a Texas limited liability company, with offices at P.O. Box 155, Giddings, Texas 78942 (“ Lessor ”), and AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP., a Texas corporation, with offices at P.O. Box 1110, Giddings, Texas 78942 (“ Lessee ”).
 
RECITALS:
 
A.
Lessor and Lessee entered into that certain Lease Agreement (the “ Original Lease ”) dated January 1, 2012 with respect to the Property (as defined below).

B.
Lessor and Lessee desire to amend and restate the Original Lease in its entirety so that after this Lease is executed by Lessor and Lessee, only this Lease shall continue in full force and effect.
 
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee hereby agree that from and after the Effective Date of this Lease, this Lease amends and restates the Original Lease in its entirety and this Lease alone shall govern the rights and obligations of Lessor and Lessee with respect to Lessee’s leasing of the Property.
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
ARTICLE I
 
Demised Property and Term.
 
1.1          Lessor, for and in consideration of the rents, covenants and agreements hereinafter reserved, mentioned and contained on the part of the Lessee, its successors and assigns, to be paid, kept and performed, has leased, rented, let and demised, and by these presents does lease, rent, let and demise unto Lessee, and Lessee does hereby take and hire, upon and subject to the covenants, agreements, provisions, limitations and conditions hereinafter expressed, that certain parcel of real property located in Lee County, Texas and more particularly described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto (the “ Land ”) and the office building and apartment (“ Office Building ”) and the shop (“ Shop ”) currently located on the Land (collectively, the “ Buildings ”, and together with the Land, the “ Property ”), to be used and occupied pursuant to all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of Texas pertaining thereto as to which Lessor, Lessee and the Property may be bound. The term “Property” shall not include the 0.689 acre tract of land described on Exhibit “B” attached hereto (“ Excluded Property ”).
 
1.2          Lessee shall enjoy the tenancy of the Property subject to the provisions hereof, for a term (as may be extended as provided in this Lease, the “ Term ”) commencing on January 1, 2012 (“ Commencement Date ”) and expiring on December 31, 2014 (“ Expiration Date ”), subject to the renewal option set forth in Section 1.03 below.
 
 
E-2

 
 
1.3          Upon the expiration of the initial Term of this Lease, Lessee shall have the right, privilege and option (the “ Extension Option ”) to extend the Term of this Lease for one (1) period of three (3) years (the “ Extension Term ”) under the same terms and conditions of this Lease then in effect, except that the Net Rent (as hereinafter defined) payable during the Extension Term shall be $5,750.00 per month. Lessee, if it elects to exercise its Extension Option, shall do so by giving Lessor written notice of such exercise at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial Term of this Lease.
 
1.4          Lessee represents and warrants to Lessor that (i) except as set forth in this Lease, neither Lessor nor any agent, officer, partner, joint venturer, employee, or representative of Lessor has made any representation whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Lease or any part thereof, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) representations as to the applicable zoning, the physical nature or condition of the Property (including, without limitation, any latent defect) or operating expenses or carrying charges affecting the Property, and (ii) except as set forth in this Lease, Lessee, in executing, delivering and performing this Lease, does not rely upon any statement, information, or representation to whomsoever made or given, whether to Lessee or others, and whether directly or indirectly, verbally or in writing, made by any person, firm or corporation. Without limiting the foregoing, but in addition thereto, Lessee agrees to accept the Property in its “as is” condition on the Commencement Date subject to the existing state of title (without express or implied warranty of Lessor with respect to the condition, quality, repair or fitness of the Property for a particular use or title thereto), all such warranties being hereby waived and renounced by Lessee. The foregoing, however, is not intended to release Lessor from any and all obligations and/or liability that Lessor may have under applicable law, nor be a waiver of any rights Lessee may have under applicable law, relating to Hazardous Materials at, on or under the Property. Any diminution or shutting off of light, air or view by any structure which may hereafter be erected (whether or not constructed by Lessor) shall in no way affect this Lease or impose any liability on Lessor
 
1.5          During the Term of this Lease including any renewals, Lessor and Lessee acknowledge that (i) Kurt Chew shall have exclusive use of the office he currently occupies, along with the apartment that is attached to said office, and the area shown on Exhibit “C” attached hereto (collectively, the “ Kurt Chew Area ”) and (ii) Lessee acknowledges that Lessor owns the personal property described on Exhibit “D” attached hereto (“ Lessor’s Personal Property ”) and that at no time may Lessee remove any of Lessor’s Personal Property. During the Lease, in the event Lessor removes any of Lessor’s Personal Property which are fixtures and attached to the Buildings, Lessor will replace such fixtures with commercially reasonable substitutes for the items removed.
 
1.6          Lessor retains the right to pump and sell the water from the water well that is not currently being used. In the event that Lessor does sell the water from this water well, Lessor will use its best efforts to keep any interference with Lessee’s use of the Property to a minimum.
 
 
E-3

 
 
ARTICLE II
 
Use of Property.
 
2.1          The Property shall be used, and Lessee covenants and agrees to continuously at all times during the Term of this Lease to use the Property, for general office and industrial purposes and for no other use without the prior written consent of the Lessor (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Neither Lessor nor Lessee will (a) use or occupy or allow the Property or any part thereof to be used or occupied for any illegal, unlawful, disreputable or hazardous purpose or use or in violation of any certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance or certificate of need covering or affecting the use of the Property or any part thereof or in any manner which would cause structural injury to the Property or any part thereof, (b) take any action or omit to take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the value or usefulness of the Property or any part thereof to diminish, or (c) suffer any act to be done or cause any condition to exist on the Property or any part thereof, or any action to be brought thereon, which may be dangerous or which may constitute a nuisance, public or private, or waste, or which may make it impossible to obtain the insurance provided for herein or which may increase the cost of such insurance. Lessee shall not use, suffer or permit the Property or any part thereof to be used by Lessee, any third party or the public without restriction or in such manner as would reasonably be expected to impair Lessor’s title to the Property, or in such manner as would reasonably be expected to make possible a claim or claims of adverse usage or adverse possession or implied dedication of the Property or any part thereof by the public or third parties. Except as otherwise provided in this Lease, no action by Lessor shall be construed to mean that Lessor has granted to Lessee any authority to do any act or make any agreement that may create any such third party or public right, title, interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance upon the estate of the Lessor in the Property.
 
ARTICLE III
 
Rent.
 
3.1          Lessee covenants and agrees to pay in advance on the first day of each and every calendar month to Lessor, in lawful money of the United States, at the address specified above or such other place as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee, beginning on the Commencement Date and ending December 31, 2012, a fixed rent at the monthly rate of FOUR THOUSAND and NO/100 DOLLARS ($4,000.00) per month and beginning on January 1, 2013 and ending December 31, 2014, a fixed rent at the monthly rate of FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY and NO/100 DOLLARS ($4,750.00) per month (“ Net Rent ”).
 
3.2          It is the intention of Lessor and Lessee that the Net Rent payable by Lessee to Lessor during the entire Term of this Lease shall be net of the property taxes more specifically described in ARTICLE 4 herein and all costs and expenses incurred in connection with or relating to the Property, including, without limitation, in connection with or relating to the management, operation, maintenance and repair of the Property in accordance with this Lease. Lessor shall have no obligations or liabilities whatsoever in connection with or relating to the Property or the management, operation, maintenance or repair of the Property during the term of this Lease, and Lessee shall be responsible for all obligations of every kind and nature whatsoever in connection with or relating to the Property or any part thereof, including, without limitation, the management, operation, maintenance and repair of the Property in accordance with this Lease and Lessee shall pay all costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith before such costs or expenses become delinquent.
 
 
E-4

 
 
3.3          The Net Rent shall be paid to Lessor promptly when due without notice or demand therefor, and without any abatement, deduction, set-off, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever.
 
3.4          Lessee will also pay to Lessor promptly when due, in lawful money of the United States, at the address specified above or such other place as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee, without notice or demand therefor and without any abatement, deduction, setoff, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever, as additional rent (the “ Additional Rent ”), the Impositions (as defined in ARTICLE 4 hereof) which shall become due and payable from Lessee to Lessor under this Lease, and, in the event of any non-payment thereof (beyond all applicable notice, grace and cure periods set forth in this Lease), Lessor shall have (in addition to all other rights and remedies which Lessor may have hereunder) all the rights and remedies provided for herein or by law or equity in the case of non-payment of the Net Rent (beyond all applicable notice, grace and cure periods set forth in this Lease). Net Rent, Additional Rent and all other payments due by Lessee under this Lease are collectively referred to in this Lease as “Rent”.
 
3.5          In the event any monthly installment of Net Rent or any payment of Additional Rent is not received by the Lessor on the day when due, a late fee of five percent (5%) of the amount due shall be due and payable, provided, however, that Lessee shall have a 5-day grace period once every 12 months during the Term, and if the amount due is paid during such 5-day grace period, no late fee shall be assessed. In no event shall such late fee be deemed to grant to Lessee a grace period or extension of time within which to pay any Rent or prevent Lessor from exercising any right or enforcing any remedy available to Lessor upon Lessee’s failure to pay all Net Rent or Additional Rent due and as required under this Lease, including, without limitation, the right to terminate this Lease (after giving effect to all applicable notice, grace and cure periods). All amounts of money payable by Lessee to Lessor hereunder, if not paid when due, shall bear Interest (as hereinafter defined) from the due date until paid.
 
3.6          If the Commencement Date occurs on a day other than the first day of a calendar month, the Net Rent for such partial calendar month shall be prorated and paid on the Commencement Date. Any apportionments or prorations of Net Rent or Additional Rent to be made under this Lease shall be computed on the basis of a 365-day year.
 
3.7          No payment by Lessee or receipt or acceptance by Lessor of a lesser amount than the correct Net Rent or Additional Rent shall be deemed to be other than a payment on account, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or any letter accompanying any check or payment be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Lessor may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Lessor’s right to recover the balance or pursue any other remedy in this Lease or at law or equity provided.
 
 
E-5

 
 
3.8          Lessee shall pay Net Rent and Additional Rent as above and as herein provided, by good and sufficient check drawn on a bank which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or a successor thereto.
 
3.9          On the Commencement Date, Lessee shall pay Lessor the first month’s Net Rent and deposit with Lessor Net Rent for the last month of the Term of this Lease to be held by Lessor as a credit for the final Net Rent payment.
 
3.10          On the Commencement Date, Lessee shall deposit with Lessor $4,000.00 (the “ Security Deposit ”), which shall be held by Lessor, without obligation for interest, to secure Lessee’s obligations under this Lease; however, the Security Deposit is not an advance rental deposit or a measure of Lessor’s damages for an Event of Default (defined below). Lessor may use any portion of the Security Deposit to satisfy Lessee’s unperformed obligations hereunder, without prejudice to any of Lessor’s other remedies. If so used, Lessee shall pay Lessor an amount that will restore the Security Deposit to its original amount upon request. In connection with any waiver of a Lessee default or modification of this Lease, Lessor may require that Lessee provide Lessor with an additional amount to be held as part of the Security Deposit. The unused portion of the Security Deposit will be returned to Lessee within a reasonable time after the end of the Term, provided that Lessee has fully and timely performed its obligations hereunder throughout the Term. In the event Lessor conveys the Land and assigns this Lease, the new owner shall reimburse Lessor for the Security Deposit upon the execution of the assignment of this Lease.
 
ARTICLE IV
 
Payment of Taxes, Assessments, Etc.
 
4.1          Except as hereinafter provided in Section 4.02 or unless Lessee is then making deposits therefor pursuant to Section 4.03, Lessee covenants and agrees to pay, not later than fifteen (15) days before the first day on which any interest or penalty will accrue or be assessed for the non-payment thereof (“ Due Date ”), all of the following items applicable to or affecting the Property, or any part thereof accruing or payable from and after the Commencement Date and during the Term of this Lease or applicable thereto: (i) all real estate taxes and assessments (including, without limitation, assessments for special business improvement or assessment districts), (ii) personal property taxes, (iii) occupancy and rent taxes, (iv) water and sewer rents, rates and charges, and vault taxes, (v) county real estate taxes and charges, (vi) charges for public utilities, (vii) license and permit fees, and (viii) any taxes, assessments or governmental levies, general and special, ordinary and extraordinary, foreseen and unforeseen, of any kind and nature whatsoever which at any time during or applicable to the Term of this Lease or any part thereof may be assessed, levied, confirmed, or imposed upon, or grow or accrue or become due and payable out of, or charged with respect to, or become a lien on, the Property or any part thereof, or the sidewalks or streets in front of or adjoining the Property, or any vault, passageway or space in, over or under such sidewalk or street, or any other appurtenances to the Property, or any personal property, equipment or other facility used in the operation thereof, or the income received therefrom, or any use or occupation of the Property, or the Net Rent and Additional Rent payable hereunder, or any document to which Lessee is a party creating or transferring an interest or estate in the Property (all such items aforesaid being hereinafter collectively referred to as “ Impositions ”, and any of the same being hereinafter individually referred to as an “ Imposition ”); provided, however, that
 
 
E-6

 
 
(a)          if, by law, any Imposition which is an assessment not related to general real estate taxes may at the option of the taxpayer be paid in installments (whether or not interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of such Imposition), Lessee may exercise the option to pay the same (and any accrued interest on the unpaid balance of such Imposition) in installments and, in such event, shall pay such installments plus interest as may become due during the Term of this Lease, provided that all such payments shall be made before any fine, penalty, further interest or other charge for non-payment of any installment may be added thereto and provided further that all such installments for any such Imposition imposed or becoming a lien during the Term of this Lease shall be paid in full on or before the Expiration Date subject to apportionment as provided in Paragraph (b) below.
 
(b)          any Imposition (including, without limitation, those Impositions which have been converted into installment payments by Lessee as referred to in Section 4.01(a)) relating to a fiscal period of the taxing authority, a part of which period is included within the Term of this Lease and a part of which is included in a period of time before the commencement or after the expiration or earlier termination of the Term of this Lease, shall (whether or not such Imposition shall be assessed, levied, confirmed, imposed upon or in respect of or become a lien upon the Property, or shall become payable, during the Term of this Lease) be adjusted between Lessor and Lessee as of the commencement and expiration or earlier termination of the Term of this Lease, as the case may be, so that Lessor shall pay that portion of such Imposition which that part of such fiscal period included in the period of time after the expiration or earlier termination and prior to the commencement of the Term of this Lease bears to such fiscal period, and Lessee shall pay the remainder thereof.
 
Lessee shall exhibit to Lessor paid receipts, if available, or other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to Lessor for all of the above items in this Section 4.01 within ten (10) days after Lessee’s receipt of written request by Lessor.
 
4.2          Nothing herein contained shall require Lessee to pay municipal, state or federal income, excess profits, capital levy, estate, succession, inheritance, transfer or gift taxes of Lessor, any corporate franchise tax imposed upon Lessor, any tax imposed because of the nature of the business entity of Lessor, or any taxes applicable to the Excluded Property or the Kurt Chew Area; provided, however, that if, at any time during the Term of this Lease, the method of taxation prevailing at the Commencement Date shall be altered so that any new tax, assessment, levy (including, but not limited to, any municipal, state or federal levy), imposition or charge, or any part thereof, shall be measured by or be based in whole or in part upon the Property or any part thereof and shall be imposed upon Lessor, then all such new taxes, assessments, levies, impositions or charges, or the part thereof, shall be deemed to be included within the term “Impositions” to the extent that such Impositions would be payable if the Property were the only property of Lessor subject to such Impositions, and Lessee shall pay and discharge the same as herein provided in respect of the payment of Impositions.
 
 
E-7

 
 
4.3  
 
(a)          In order to ensure the payment of all Impositions, Lessee agrees to deposit with any fee mortgagee requiring payment of Impositions to it in escrow on the first day of each and every month during the Term of this Lease, one-twelfth (1/12) of all Impositions for the current Lease Year (as defined below) as reasonably estimated in writing by Lessor based on current bills for same (or, if unavailable, based on the previous Lease Year’s actual Impositions). Lessee shall deposit, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date for any Imposition, such additional amounts as may be necessary so that there shall be sufficient funds in such deposit account to pay each such Imposition at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the Due Date thereof. On or prior to April 30th of each Lease Year or as soon thereafter as administratively available, Lessor shall send to Lessee a statement of actual Impositions incurred for the prior Lease Year. If the amount prepaid or escrowed by Lessee exceeds the amount that was actually due then Lessor shall issue a credit to Lessee in an amount equal to the over charge, which credit Lessee may apply to future payments on account of Impositions until Lessee has been fully credited with the over charge. If the credit due to Lessee is more than the aggregate total of future rental payments, Lessor shall pay to Lessee the difference between the credit and such aggregate total within twenty (20) days of the computation of such credit. If Lessor has undercharged Lessee, then Lessor shall send Lessee an invoice with the additional amount due, which amount shall be paid in full by Lessee within twenty (20) days of receipt.
 
Within ninety (90) days following Lessee’s receipt of Lessor’s statement of actual Impositions for the prior Lease Year delivered in accordance with this Section 4.03(a), either an employee of Lessee or an accountant or other consultant retained by Lessee with experience in auditing books and records of similar real estate properties, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, and upon reasonable prior written notice delivered to Lessor and in a manner so as to not unreasonably interfere with Lessor’s business, may examine or audit Lessor’s accounting records relating to the calculation of Impositions for such Lease Year. In the event Lessee’s audit reflects that the amount prepaid or escrowed by Lessee exceeds the amount that was actually due then Lessor shall issue a credit to Lessee in an amount equal to the over charge, which credit Lessee may apply to future payments on account of Impositions until Lessee has been fully credited with the over charge. If the credit due to Lessee is more than the aggregate total of future rental payments, Lessor shall pay to Lessee the difference between the credit and such aggregate total within twenty (20) days of the computation of such credit. If Lessee’s audit reveals that Lessor’s calculation of Impositions was overstated by three percent (3%) or more, Lessor shall pay for the reasonable and actual cost of such examination or audit. If the audit reveals that Lessor has undercharged Lessee for Impositions, then Lessor shall send Lessee an invoice with the additional amount due, which amount shall be paid in full by Lessee within twenty (20) days of receipt.
 
(b)          If at any time the amount of any Imposition is increased or Lessor or such fee mortgagee receives written notice indicating that such Imposition will be increased, and if the monthly deposits then being made by Lessee for this purpose would not make up a fund sufficient to pay such Imposition fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date of such Imposition, said monthly deposits shall thereupon be increased after notice in writing to Lessee and Lessee shall deposit immediately with Lessor (or with any such fee mortgagee, as the case may be) sufficient moneys so that the moneys then on hand for the payment of said Imposition plus the increased one-twelfth (1/12) payments shall be sufficient to pay such Imposition at least fifteen (15) days before the Due Date of such Imposition.
 
 
E-8

 
 
(c)          For the purpose of determining whether Lessor (or any such fee mortgagee, as the case may be) has on hand sufficient moneys to pay any particular Imposition at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date therefor, deposits for each category of Imposition shall be treated separately, it being the intention of the parties hereto that moneys deposited for the payment of an item not yet due and payable shall not be used for the payment of an item that is due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Lessee fails to make any deposit required hereunder, Lessor (or such fee mortgagee) may use deposits for one item for the payment of another item then due and payable.
 
(d)          Upon the Expiration Date or earlier termination of this Lease, all such deposits then held shall be applied on account of any and all sums due to Lessor under this Lease and Lessee shall forthwith pay the resulting deficiency. The excess, if any, shall be returned to Lessee. Lessee shall not be entitled to any interest on such funds so deposited with Lessor or any fee mortgagee.
 
4.4          If permitted by applicable law, and provided no Event of Default (hereinafter defined) is then in existence, Lessee shall have the right, at its own expense, to contest the amount or validity, in whole or in part, of any Imposition by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted in good faith, but only after payment of such Imposition (which payment may be made under protest, at Lessee’s option), unless such payment would operate as a bar to such contest or interfere materially with the prosecution thereof, in which event, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4.01 or 4.03, Lessee may postpone or defer payment of such Imposition, if and only if:
 
(a)          neither the Property (nor any other premises owed by Lessor) nor any part thereof would by reason of such postponement or deferment be, in the judgment of Lessor (exercised in good faith), in danger of being forfeited or lost; and no criminal liability could be, in the judgment of Lessor (exercised in good faith), imposed on Lessor by reason of such postponement or deferment, and
 
(b)          Lessee shall have deposited with Lessor or the assessing body (i) the amount so contested and unpaid, together with all interest and penalties as reasonably estimated by Lessor in connection therewith and all charges as reasonably estimated by Lessor that may or might be assessed against or become a lien or charge on the Property or any part thereof in such proceedings, or (ii) at Lessor’s option, such other security (in the form of a surety company bond or otherwise) reasonably required by Lessor or the assessing body.
 
 
E-9

 
 
Upon the termination of any such proceedings, Lessee shall pay the amount of such Imposition or part thereof as finally determined as due in such proceedings, the payment of which may have been deferred during the prosecution of such proceedings, together with any costs, fees, interest, penalties or other liabilities in connection therewith, and, upon such payment, Lessor shall, provided an Event of Default is not then in existence, return, without interest, any amount still on deposit with it with respect to such Imposition as aforesaid. If at any time during the continuance of such proceedings Lessor or the assessing body shall reasonably deem the amount deposited or the undertaking insufficient, Lessee shall, upon receipt of twenty (20) days’ prior written notice, make an additional undertaking or deposit with Lessor or the assessing body as Lessor or the assessing body reasonably may request, and upon failure of Lessee so to do, the amount theretofore deposited shall be applied by Lessor or the assessing body to the payment, removal and discharge of such Imposition and the interest and penalties in connection therewith and any costs, fees (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) or other liability accruing in any such proceedings, and the balance, if any, shall be returned to Lessee or the deficiency, if any, shall be paid by Lessee immediately on written demand of Lessor to the taxing authority to which such Imposition is payable. Nothing contained in this Section 4.04 or elsewhere in this Lease shall be deemed to limit Lessee’s obligation to make the deposits provided for in Section 4.03 hereof.
 
Either Lessor or Lessee may, if it shall so desire, endeavor at any time or times to obtain a lowering of the assessed valuation upon the Property, or any part thereof, for the purpose of reducing taxes thereon, and in such event, the other party will cooperate in effecting such reduction.
 
4.5          Lessor shall reasonably cooperate with Lessee in connection with any proceedings referred to in Section 4.04 but Lessor shall not be required to join in any such proceedings unless the provisions of any law, rule or regulation at that time in effect shall require that such proceedings be brought by and/or in the name of Lessor or any owner of the Property, in which event, Lessor shall join in such proceedings or permit the same to be brought in its name. Lessor shall not be subject to any liability for the payment of any costs or expenses in connection with any such proceedings, and Lessee will indemnify and save harmless Lessor from and against any such costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, and from any liability resulting from such proceeding. Lessee shall be entitled to any refund with respect to any Imposition and penalties or interest thereon which have been paid by Lessee (whether directly or through escrowed funds), or which have been paid by Lessor but previously reimbursed in full to Lessor by Lessee.
 
4.6          The certificate, advice or bill of the appropriate official designated by law to make or issue the same or to receive payment of any Imposition, or of non-payment of such Imposition, shall be prima facie evidence that such Imposition is due and unpaid at the time of the making or issuance of such certificate, advice or bill.
 
4.7          Unless escrowed as provided in Section 4.03, Lessor appoints Lessee the attorney-in-fact of Lessor for the purpose of making all payments to be made by Lessee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Lease to persons or entities other than Lessor. In case any person or entity to whom any sum is directly payable by Lessee under any of the provisions of this ARTICLE 4 shall refuse to accept payment of such sum from Lessee, Lessee shall thereupon give written notice of such fact to Lessor and shall pay such sum directly to Lessor at the address specified in Section 19.01 hereof, and Lessor shall promptly pay such sum to such person or entity.
 
 
E-10

 
 
4.8          Unless escrowed as provided in Section 4.03, and except as otherwise provided in Section 4.07, Lessee shall make all payments of Impositions directly to the appropriate taxing authorities.
 
4.9          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereinabove set forth, in the event any fee mortgagee requires any Imposition to be escrowed, Lessee shall comply with such mortgagee’s escrow requirements delivered to Lessee in writing.
 
ARTICLE V
 
Insurance.
 
5.1          At all times during the Term of this Lease, Lessee, at its own cost and expense, shall carry and maintain insurance coverage set forth below in the name of Lessor, Lessee and the holder of any fee mortgage (provided Lessee receives written notice of the identity of any such fee mortgagee) as their respective interests may appear.
 
(a)           Property Insurance .
 
(i)          Insurance on the Property (including, without limitation, the Buildings and all improvements thereto hereafter made by Lessee) and all fixtures, equipment and personal property at the Property under an “All Risks of Physical Loss” policy (hereinafter referred to as “ All Risks ”), including, without limitation, coverage for loss or damage by water, flood, subsidence and sprinkler damage and, when and to the extent obtainable from the United States government or any agency thereof at commercially reasonable rates, war risks; such insurance to be written with full replacement coverage (the “ Replacement Value ”), i.e., in an amount equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the full costs of replacement of the Property and such fixtures, equipment and personal property (less the cost of excavations, foundations and footings below the basement floor) or (2) an amount sufficient to prevent Lessee from becoming a co-insurer of any loss under the applicable policy. The insurance company’s determination of the amount of coverage required in clause (1) above shall be binding and conclusive on Lessor and Lessee for purposes of the coverage required by clause (1). A stipulated value or agreed amount endorsement deleting the co-insurance provision of the policy shall be provided with such insurance. If not otherwise included within the “All Risks” coverage specified above, Lessee shall carry or cause to be carried, by endorsement to such “All Risks” policy, coverage against damage due to water and sprinkler leakage, flood and collapse and shall be written with limits of coverage reasonably required by Lessor.
 
(ii)         The Replacement Value shall include the cost of debris removal and the value of grading, paving, landscaping, architects, and development fees.
 
 
E-11

 
 
(b)          Liability Insurance . Comprehensive general liability insurance with respect to the Property and the operations related thereto, whether conducted on or off the Property, against liability for personal injury, including bodily injury and death, and property damage. Such comprehensive general liability insurance shall be on an occurrence basis and specifically shall include:
 
(i)          Contractual Liability to cover Lessee’s obligation to indemnify Lessor as required hereunder; and
 
(ii)         Water damage and sprinkler leakage legal liability.
 
All such insurance against liability for personal injury, including bodily injury and death, and property damage as specified above shall be written for a combined single limit which is in accordance with Lessee’s current liability policies or which Lessee is then maintaining for the Property or such greater amount as may be determined by Lessee. Such limit shall be subject to reasonable increase (as reasonably determined by Lessor and Lessee) from time to time in accordance with the limits then being customarily carried on buildings of similar age and construction and similarly situated as the Property.
 
(c)           Miscellaneous Insurance . Such other insurance in such amounts as from time to time reasonably may be required by Lessor or any mortgagee of the fee of the Property.
 
5.2           Lessee further covenants and agrees, at its sole cost and expense, to take out and maintain at all times during the Term of this Lease all necessary worker’s compensation insurance in compliance with applicable law covering all persons employed by Lessee in and about the Property.
 
In addition to the insurance carried by Lessee, during the course of any alteration or repair work undertaken by a contractor hired by or for Lessee, Lessee shall require such contractor to carry public liability insurance in limits of not less than the amounts herein specified for Lessee or such other amounts reasonably approved by Lessor.
 
5.3           All insurance provided for in this ARTICLE 5 shall be in such form and shall be issued by such responsible insurance companies licensed to do business in the State of Texas as are reasonably approved by Lessor. Upon the execution of this Lease, and, thereafter, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration dates of the expiring policies required pursuant to this ARTICLE 5, originals of the policies or renewal certificates, as the case may be, bearing notations evidencing the payment of premiums or accompanied by other evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lessor of such payment, shall be delivered by Lessee to Lessor.
 
5.4           All policies of insurance provided for in Sections 5.01 and 5.02 shall name any mortgagee of the fee of the Property (provided Lessee receives written notice of the identity of any such fee mortgagee), Lessor and Lessee as the insureds as their respective interests may appear.
 
5.5           Neither Lessor nor Lessee shall violate or permit to be violated any of the conditions, provisions or requirements of any insurance policy required by this ARTICLE 5, and Lessee shall perform, satisfy and comply with, or cause to be performed, satisfied and complied with, the conditions, provisions and requirements of the insurance policies and the companies writing such policies so that, at all times during the Term of this Lease, companies reasonably acceptable to Lessor provide the insurance required by this ARTICLE 5.
 
 
E-12

 
 
5.6           Each policy of insurance required to be carried pursuant to the provisions of ARTICLE 5 shall contain (i) a provision that no act or omission of Lessor or Lessee shall affect or limit the obligation of the insurance company to pay the amount of any loss sustained, (ii) an agreement by the insurer that such policy shall not be cancelled, modified or denied renewal without at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor, (iii) an agreement that if cancellation is due to nonpayment of premiums, the insurer will so specify in the notice given in (ii) above and will reinstate the policy upon payment of the premiums by Lessor or a fee mortgagee, and (iv) a waiver of subrogation by the insurer.
 
5.7           If, by reason of changed economic conditions, the insurance amounts referred to in this Lease become inadequate, upon Lessor’s request, the limits shall be reasonably increased by Lessor from time to time to meet changed circumstances including but not limited to changes in purchasing power of the dollar and changes indicated by the course of plaintiffs’ verdicts in personal injury actions in the District Court, Lee County, State of Texas.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
Damage or Destruction.
 
If at any time during the Term of this Lease the Property or any part thereof shall be damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty (including any casualty for which insurance coverage was required by this Lease but not obtained) of any kind or nature, provided there are adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee for such purposes under the policies of insurance required by this Lease, or there would have been adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee if Lessee carried the policies of insurance required by this Lease, Lessee shall rebuild the same to substantially the condition which existed prior to such damage or destruction and this Lease shall continue in full force and effect. If there are not adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee under the policies of insurance required by this Lease, and there would not have been adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee if Lessee carried the policies of insurance required by this Lease, then Lessee may elect within ninety (90) days of such casualty by written notice to Lessor, to either (a) rebuild the same to substantially the condition which existed prior to such damage or destruction (or with such modifications as are reasonably approved by Lessor) in which event this Lease shall continue in full force and effect and Lessee shall pay any cost of rebuilding the Improvements not covered by such policies of insurance , or (b) provided Lessee is not then in default hereunder beyond any curative period provided herein, remove all improvements from the Land, at Lessee’s cost and expense, in which event this Lease shall terminate effective as of the date of the removal of such improvements and delivery of the Property to Lessor in accordance with the terms of this Lease. All insurance money paid on account of such damage or destruction of the Property under the policies of insurance provided for in Section 5.01(a) above (herein sometimes referred to as the " Casualty   Insurance   Proceeds ") shall, unless an Event of Default by Lessee then exists hereunder, be available for the payment of the costs of rebuilding or removing the improvements, including temporary repairs for the protection of other property, to the extent such Casualty Insurance Proceeds shall be sufficient for such purpose and, unless an Event of Default by Lessee then exists hereunder, Lessor shall have no claim thereto; provided, however, should Lessee elect to remove all improvements from the Land and terminate this Lease as permitted above, all such insurance proceeds attributable to the improvements that are in excess of the cost of removing the improvements shall be paid to Lessor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a reasonable and equitable abatement of Rent for any period(s) in which Lessee is not reasonably able to operate its business from the Property due to casualty and/or restoration efforts for the portion of the Property that is rendered untenantable.
 
 
E-13

 

ARTICLE VII
 
Condemnation.
 
7.1           In the event of a taking of the entire Property, this Lease shall terminate upon the date that Lessee surrenders possession to the condemning authority (the “ Taking Date ”), at which time Rent shall be apportioned and the parties shall be released from liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease. In the event of a taking of a substantial portion as would render the balance of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use, this Lease shall terminate, at Lessee’s option, such option to be exercised by Lessee giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor at which time the parties shall be released from further liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease. The loss or material change of any of the rights of parking or access, ingress or egress to and from the Property existing as of the Effective Date shall be deemed such a substantial taking as would render the use of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use.
 
7.2           In the event of a taking of less than the entire Property or less than a substantial portion as would render the balance of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use, Rent shall be abated fairly and equitably in accordance with the portion taken. If such taking occurs within the last Lease Year of the Term and has a material impact on Lessee’s ability to do business, this Lease shall terminate, at Lessee’s option, such option to be exercised by Lessee giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor at which time the parties shall be released from further liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease.
 
7.3           In the event of a taking of any portion of the Property as would materially adversely affect Lessee’s ability to do business at the Property for a period of ninety (90) days or less, the Term shall toll and Rent shall abate from the Taking Date and recommence when possession is restored to Lessee. If such taking shall extend beyond ninety (90) days, the taking shall, at the option of Lessee, be considered permanent, entitling Lessee to its rights set forth in Section 7.01 above.
 
7.4           Upon a taking, all sums awarded for the Property shall be apportioned between Lessor and Lessee in accordance with their interests in the Property. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to give Lessor any interest in, or to require Lessee to assign to Lessor, any award made to Lessee for the taking of any of Lessee’s property, Lessee’s relocation costs or Lessee’s business damages. Lessor shall not agree to any settlement in lieu of condemnation with the condemning authority without Lessee’s prior written consent.
 
 
E-14

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
Repairs and Maintenance; Services
 
8.1           Lessee shall, at its own cost and expense, keep and maintain all the Property in good condition and repair and make all necessary repairs and replacements to the Property, whether structural or non-structural, including, but not limited to, road maintenance, the pipes, water, sewage and septic system, heating system, plumbing system, window glass, fixtures, and all other appliances and their appurtenances and all equipment and personal property used in connection with the Property so that the Property is in at least the same condition as when received by Lessee, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. Such repairs and replacements, interior and exterior, structural and non-structural, shall be made promptly, as and when necessary so that the Property is in at least the same condition as when received by Lessee, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. All repairs and replacements shall be in quality and class at least equal to the original work. Upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default by Lessee in making such repairs or replacements, Lessor may, but shall not be required to, make such repairs and replacements for Lessee’s account, and the expense thereof together with Interest thereon until paid shall constitute and be collectible as Additional Rent. Lessee shall maintain at its sole cost and expense all portions of the Property in a clean and orderly condition, free of dirt, rubbish, snow, ice and unlawful obstructions. Periodically, J & P Services, Inc., or another company reasonably acceptable to Lessor providing the same service, will maintain the access roadway to the Property and will invoice Lessor for its 1/5 pro rata share of the road maintenance (“ Road Maintenance Costs ”). Lessee is obligated to timely pay the Road Maintenance Costs upon receipt of the invoice from Lessor. In the event Lessor receives the invoice for the Road Maintenance Costs, Lessor will promptly forward the invoice to Lessee for payment (and Lessor shall ensure that such invoice is delivered to Lessee in a manner that allows Lessee sufficient time to process the payment of the Road Maintenance Costs before the due date therefor).
 
8.2           Neither Lessor nor Lessee will suffer any waste or damage, disfigurement or injury to the Property or any part thereof.
 
8.3           Subject to Section 8.01, unless resulting from any act or omission of Lessor or any of its employees, agents, contractors, representatives, licensees or invitees, it is intended by Lessee and Lessor that Lessor shall have no obligation, in any manner whatsoever, to repair or maintain the Property (or any equipment therein), whether structural or nonstructural, all of which obligations are intended, as between Lessor and Lessee, to be those of Lessee. Except as provided above in this Section 8.03, Lessee expressly waives the benefit of any statute now or in the future in effect which would otherwise afford Lessee the right to make repairs at Lessor’s expense or to terminate this Lease because of Lessor’s failure to keep the Property in good order, condition and repair.
 
8.4           Lessee shall, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, supply the Property with electricity, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, water, natural gas, lighting, replacement for all lights, restroom supplies, telephone service and disposal services, and such other services as Lessee determines to furnish to the Property. Unless resulting from any act or omission of Lessor or any of its employees, agents, contractors, representatives, licensees or invitees, Lessor shall not be in default hereunder or be liable for any damage or loss directly or indirectly resulting from, nor shall the Net Rent or Additional Rent be abated or a constructive or other eviction be deemed to have occurred by reason of, the installation, use or interruption of use of any equipment in connection with the furnishing of any of the foregoing services, any failure to furnish or delay in furnishing any such services, whether such failure or delay is caused by accident or any condition beyond the control of Lessor or Lessee or by the making of repairs or improvements to the Property or otherwise, or any limitation, curtailment, rationing or restriction on use of water, electricity, gas or any form of energy serving the Property, whether such results from mandatory governmental restriction or voluntary compliance with governmental guidelines or otherwise. Lessee shall pay as Additional Rent the full cost of any and all of the foregoing services that Lessee is not paying directly to the provider of such service, provided that Lessee shall receive any invoices and other documentation reasonably required by Lessee to evidence the cost of such services.
 
 
E-15

 
 
ARTICLE IX
 
Alterations and Improvements by Lessee.
 
9.1           Unless required by law or any governmental authority, Lessee shall not make any alterations or improvements (except restorations, repairs and maintenance pursuant to ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8, as applicable, and the removal and replacement of equipment from the Buildings as set forth in ARTICLE 16) to the Property or any part thereof without the prior written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Lessee need not seek the consent of Lessor, and such consent shall not be required, with respect to alterations or improvements aggregating TWENTY THOUSAND and NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000.00) or less in value or cost (whichever is higher) to be commenced or performed in any Lease Year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall Lessee make any alterations or improvements which would affect the structure or structural integrity of the Buildings or the facade of the Buildings, without obtaining the prior written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. In no event shall Lessee be permitted to install underground storage tanks or underground fuel systems on the Property. Lessor’s refusal to consent to the installation of an underground tank or underground fuel system shall be conclusively presumed to be reasonable. Any such alterations or improvements in or to the Property requiring the approval of Lessor shall be subject, however, in all cases to the following:
 
(a)           Any improvement or alteration shall be made with at least fifteen (15) days prior notice to the Lessor, unless a governmental authority requires otherwise or except in the case of an emergency, in which case, Lessee shall give Lessor as much notice as is practicable, accompanied by a copy of the proposed plans and specifications in detail reasonably sufficient for Lessor to review same, the identity of the contractor and any subcontractors, and a copy of all contracts with respect to the improvement or alteration, and shall be made promptly at the sole cost and expense of the Lessee and in a good and workmanlike manner and in compliance in all respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, permits and authorizations promulgated or issued by any governmental authority having jurisdiction thereof. Upon Lessor’s request, to be made not more frequently than once per Lease Year, Lessee shall deliver to Lessor “as-built” plans and specifications for any work theretofore completed.
 
(b)           The Property shall at all times be free of liens for labor and materials supplied or claimed to have been supplied to the Property.
 
 
E-16

 
 
(c)           Notice is hereby given that Lessor shall not be liable for any labor or materials furnished to or for the Lessee. Furthermore, notice is hereby given to Lessee and Lessee’s mechanics, laborers and materialmen with respect to the Property that no mechanic’s, materialman’s or laborer’s lien shall attach to or affect the reversion or other interest of Lessor in or to the Property.
 
(d)           Worker’s compensation and general liability insurance with respect to the alterations and improvements as required by Section 5.02 shall be maintained and/or provided.
 
(e)           All fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or permanent equipment installed or made by Lessee, or at Lessee’s expense, upon or in the Property shall be the property of Lessor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lessor shall have the right and privilege to serve notice upon Lessee , at the time of Lessor’s approval of any such fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or permanent equipment, that any such fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or equipment shall be removed, in which event, Lessee shall, at its own cost and expense and prior to the expiration of the Term of this Lease, remove same in accordance with such request, and restore the Property to its original condition, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. If Lessee fails to so remove and restore, Lessor shall have the right to remove such property and to dispose of the same and to restore the Property without accountability to Lessee, and at the sole cost and expense of Lessee. In the event of any damage to the Property as a result of the removal of such property, Lessee shall immediately repair such damage or, in the Event of Default with respect to such obligation, shall immediately upon receipt of written request from Lessor reimburse Lessor for Lessor’s reasonable costs and expenses in repairing such damage, and the provisions of this sentence shall survive the expiration of the Term of this Lease. All personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee upon or in the Property shall remain the property of Lessee unless Lessee fails to remove such personal property or equipment upon termination of this Lease or surrender by Lessee of the Property to Lessor all in accordance with the provisions set forth above with respect to removals at Lessor’s request. All interior alterations and improvements in the Office Building must be consistent with the current finish.
 
ARTICLE X
 
Discharge of Liens.
 
10.1         Except as provided in ARTICLE 18, Lessee shall not create or permit to be created any lien, encumbrance or charge upon the Property or any part thereof, and Lessee shall not suffer any other matter or thing whereby the estate, rights and/or interest of Lessee and/or Lessor (or any part thereof) in the Property or any part thereof might be encumbered by any such lien, encumbrance or charge.
 
 
E-17

 
 
10.2         If any mechanic’s, laborer’s or materialman’s lien shall at any time be filed against the Property or any part thereof, Lessee, within twenty (20) days after receipt of notice of the filing thereof, will cause the same to be discharged of record by payment, deposit, bond, order of a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise. If Lessee shall fail to cause such lien to be discharged within the period aforesaid, then, in addition to any other right or remedy Lessor may have hereunder or at law or equity, Lessor may, but shall not be obligated to, discharge the same and Lessor shall be entitled, if Lessor so elects, to compel the prosecution of an action for the foreclosure of such lien by the lienor and to pay the amount of the judgment in favor of the lienor with interest, costs and allowances. Any amount so paid by Lessor and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by Lessor in connection with the discharge of the lien and/or the prosecution of such action, together with Interest thereon from the respective dates of Lessor’s making of the payment or incurring of the cost and expense to the date Lessee reimburses Lessor for such amount shall constitute Additional Rent payable by Lessee under this Lease and shall be paid by Lessee to Lessor immediately upon Lessee’s receipt of demand therefor in writing.
 
10.3         Nothing in this Lease contained shall be deemed or construed in any way as constituting the consent or request of Lessor, expressed or implied, by inference or otherwise, to any contractor, subcontractor, laborer or materialman for the performance of any labor or the furnishing of any materials for any specific improvement, alteration to or repair of the Property or any part thereof.
 
ARTICLE XI
 
Compliance with Laws, Ordinances, Etc.
 
11.1         Throughout the Term of this Lease, Lessee, at its sole cost and expense, will promptly comply in all material respects with all present and future laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and requirements of all federal, state and municipal governments, departments, commissions, boards and officers (including, without limitation, all environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and requirements), and all orders, rules and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or any other body or bodies exercising similar functions, foreseen or unforeseen, ordinary, as well as extraordinary, which may be applicable to the Property or any part thereof and the sidewalks, alleyways, passageways, curbs and vaults adjoining the Property or to the use or manner of use of the Property or the tenants or occupants thereof, whether or not such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement shall necessitate structural changes or improvements or other work or interfere with the use and enjoyment of the Property.
 
11.2         Lessee shall likewise observe and comply in all material respects with the requirements of all policies of public liability, fire and all other policies of insurance at any time in force with respect to the Property and the improvements thereon, and Lessee shall, in the event of any violation or any attempted violation of the provisions of this Section 11.02, take steps immediately upon obtaining knowledge of such violation or attempted violation to remedy or prevent the same, as the case may be.
 
 
E-18

 
 
11.3         Provided no Event of Default is then in existence, Lessee shall have the right, after prior written notice to Lessor, to contest by appropriate legal proceedings diligently conducted in good faith, in the name of Lessee or Lessor or both, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense and without cost or expense to Lessor, the validity or application of any law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of the nature referred to in Section 11.01 and defer compliance therewith during the pendency of such contest, subject to the following:
 
(a)           If compliance therewith, pending the prosecution of any such proceeding, may legally be delayed without the incurrence of any lien, charge or liability of any kind against the Property or any part thereof and without subjecting Lessor to any liability, civil or criminal, or fine or forfeiture, for failure so to comply therewith during such period, then Lessee may delay compliance therewith until the final determination of such proceeding.
 
(b)           If any lien, charge or civil liability would be incurred by reason of any such delay, Lessee, nevertheless, may contest as aforesaid and delay as aforesaid, provided that such delay would not subject Lessor to criminal liability, fine or forfeiture, or the Property to a lien, and Lessee, prior to instituting any such proceedings, furnishes to Lessor a letter of credit or bond or undertaking by a surety company or cash deposit or other security reasonably satisfactory to Lessor (such choice of security to be at Lessor’s sole option) securing compliance with the contested law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement and payment of all interest, penalties, fines, fees and expenses in connection therewith.
 
(c)           Any such proceeding instituted by Lessee shall be begun as soon as is reasonably possible after the passage or issuance of any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement and the application thereof to Lessee or to the Property and shall be prosecuted to final adjudication with dispatch and due diligence.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Lessee shall promptly comply with any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement being contested and compliance shall not be deferred if at any time the Property or any part thereof shall be in danger of being forfeited or lost or if Lessor shall be in danger of being subjected to criminal liability or penalty by reason of noncompliance therewith.
 
(e)           Lessee agrees to indemnify and hold Lessor, the partners of Lessor and Lessor’s employees, agents and representatives harmless from and against any and all claims, causes of action, judgments, damages, fines, forfeitures, costs, and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of or in connection with Lessee’s failure to comply with and/or contesting any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.03.
 
 
E-19

 
 
Lessor will execute and deliver any appropriate papers which may be reasonably necessary or proper, and otherwise reasonably cooperate with Lessee, to permit Lessee to contest the validity or application of any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement.
 
ARTICLE XII
 
Lessor’s Right to Perform Lessee’s Covenants.
 
12.1         If, after any applicable cure, grace and/or notice period, but without cure, notice or grace in the case of an emergency, Lessee shall at any time fail to pay any Imposition in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE 4 hereof or to take out, pay for, maintain or deliver any of the insurance policies provided for in ARTICLE 5 or ARTICLE 9 hereof, or shall fail to make any other payment or perform in any material respect any other act on its part to be made or performed under this Lease, or shall default in the performance in any material respect of any of its obligations under this Lease (“ Breaches ”), then Lessor, or any fee mortgagee, without thereby waiving such Breach or releasing Lessee from any obligation contained in this Lease, may (but shall not be obligated to) perform the same for the account of and with the expense thereof to be paid by Lessee, and may (but shall be under no obligation to) enter upon the Property for any such purpose and take all such action thereon, as may be necessary therefor.
 
12.2         All sums so paid by Lessor or any fee mortgagee pursuant to Section 12.01 above and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all reasonable legal fees and disbursements incurred by Lessor or any fee mortgagee in connection with the performance of any such act pursuant to Section 12.01 above, together with Interest thereon from the respective dates of Lessor’s or such fee mortgagee’s making of each such payment or incurring of each such cost and expense to the date paid by Lessee to Lessor or such fee mortgagee shall constitute Additional Rent payable by Lessee under this Lease and shall be paid by Lessee to Lessor or such fee mortgagee immediately upon Lessee’s receipt of written demand therefor.
 
ARTICLE XIII
 
Entry On Property By Lessor.
 
13.1         Lessee will permit Lessor and its authorized representatives to enter the Property at all reasonable times and hours upon reasonable written notice to Lessee for the purpose of (i) inspecting the same, and (ii) making any necessary repairs thereto and performing any work therein that Lessor may be entitled to make or perform, respectively, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.01 hereof; provided, however, Lessor and its authorized representatives shall not cause any unreasonable interference with Lessee’s business operations on the Property as a result of any such entry. Nothing herein shall imply any duty upon the part of Lessor to do any such work, and performance thereof by Lessor shall not constitute a waiver of Lessee’s Event of Default in failing to perform the same.
 
 
E-20

 
 
ARTICLE XIV
 
Indemnification of Lessor.
 
14.1         Lessee will indemnify and save harmless Lessor and any partner of Lessor against and from all liabilities, suits, obligations, fines, damages, penalties, claims, costs, charges and expenses, judgments and causes of action, including, without limitation, reasonable architects’ and attorneys’ fees and disbursements, which may be imposed upon or incurred by or asserted against Lessor and/or any such partner by reason of any of the following occurring during the Term of this Lease:
 
(a)           any work or thing done in, on or about the Property or any part thereof at the direction or with the consent of Lessee;
 
(b)           any negligence on the part of Lessee or any of its agents, contractors, servants, employees, sublessees, licensees or invitees;
 
(c)           any accident, injury (including, without limitation, death) or damage to any person or entity or property (other than Lessor’s Personal Property) occurring in, on or about the Property;
 
(d)           any material failure on the part of Lessee to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements, terms, provisions, conditions or limitations contained in this Lease on its part to be performed or complied with;
 
(e)           any lien or claim which may be alleged to have arisen against or on the Property under any law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations or requirements;
 
(f)            any failure on the part of Lessee to keep, observe and perform in any material respects any of the terms, covenants, agreements, provisions, conditions or limitations contained in any occupancy agreements, concession agreements or other contracts and agreements affecting the Property, on Lessee’s part to be kept, observed or performed;
 
(g)           any tax or fee attributable to the execution or recording of this Lease or any memorandum thereof charged by any governmental authority; or
 
(h)           any contest permitted pursuant to the provisions of any Article of this Lease.
 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, LESSEE’S INDEMNIFICATION SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE NEGLIGENCE AND/OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF LESSOR, ITS AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES.
 
 
E-21

 
 
In the event of loss or damage to Lessor’s Personal Property, to the extent Lessor recovers such loss or damage from insurance proceeds Lessor hereby waives and releases Lessee from any and all right of recovery, claim, or action for such loss or damage to the extent of Lessor’s recovery from insurance proceeds, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE OR ORIGIN, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OF LESSEE OR ITS AGENTS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. Provided, however, the foregoing waiver and release does not include the gross negligence or intentional misconduct by Lessee or any loss or damage in excess of insurance recovery.
 
The obligations of Lessee under this ARTICLE 14 shall not in any way be affected by the absence or presence in any case of covering insurance or by the failure or refusal of any insurance carrier to perform any obligation on its part under insurance policies affecting the Property.
 
In case any claim, action or proceeding is made or brought against Lessor by reason of any of the foregoing events to which reference is made in this Section 14.01, then Lessee will, upon receipt of written notice from Lessor, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, resist or defend such claim, action or proceeding, in Lessor’s name, if necessary, by counsel reasonably approved in writing by Lessor, such approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lessor may engage its own counsel, at Lessor’s expense, to defend it or to assist in its defense.
 
14.2         The provisions of Section 14.01 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Lease with respect to any action occurring during the Term of the Lease.
 
ARTICLE XV
 
Assignments, Subletting, Mortgages.
 
15.1         Lessee expressly covenants that it shall not, without Lessor’s prior written consent, assign all or any part of this Lease or suffer or permit the Property or any part thereof to be used by others or sublet all or any part of the Property, nor shall Lessee mortgage, hypothecate, assign, pledge, grant a security interest in or encumber the Property or any part thereof, this Lease and/or the leasehold estate created hereby, nor shall Lessee assign, pledge, hypothecate and/or give a security interest in, any personal property included within this Lease and/or the income, receipts, revenues and profits of the Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that Lessor will not withhold, condition or delay consent to any assignment of this Lease or any subletting of all or any part of the Property so long as (i) the proposed assignee or sublessee is engaged in a business using the Property for the uses permitted under this Lease and such use is in keeping with the then applicable standards of the Property, (ii) Lessee shall remain primarily liable under this Lease; and (iii) the credit standing of such proposed assignee or sublessee is acceptable to Lessor in Lessor’s reasonable judgment; and (v) the term of any proposed sublease (together with all extensions or renewals thereof) shall terminate on or before the end of the Term of this Lease.
 
 
E-22

 
 
If Lessee desires at any time to assign this Lease or sublet all or a portion of the Property, it shall first notify Lessor of its desire to do so and shall submit in writing to Lessor (a) the name of the proposed assignee, (b) the nature of the proposed assignee’s business to be carried on in the Property, (c) a copy of the proposed assignment and any other applicable agreement, (d) such financial information as Lessor may reasonably request concerning the proposed assignee, including, without limitation, current financial statements of any prospective guarantor and (e) such other information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate (a) through (e) above. To the extent Lessor’s consent is required as a condition to the effectiveness of any such assignment or sublease, Lessor hereby reserves the right to condition any such consent upon Lessor’s reasonable determination that (1) the proposed assignee is financially responsible as a sole lessee, (2) the proposed assignee or sublessee is likely to conduct a business on the Property of a type and quality substantially similar to that conducted by Lessee, and (3) the proposed use by the assignee is compatible with any existing or future use by Lessee. Lessor agrees to advise Lessee in writing within thirty (30) days after Lessor’s receipt of Lessee’s notice as provided above as to whether or not a proposed assignee or sublessee is acceptable. Except as otherwise permitted by this Lease, any attempted assignment, transfer, mortgage or other encumbrance of Lessee’s interest in this Lease of the Property or subletting or permissive use in occupancy of the Property without Lessor’s written consent shall be null and void and have no force and effect whatsoever and shall constitute a breach of this Lease.
 
15.2         Notwithstanding anything contained in this ARTICLE 15 or elsewhere in this Lease to the contrary, Lessee may assign all or any part of this Lease, sublet all or any part of the Property or otherwise transfer all or any part of its interest in this Lease and the Property to any Permitted Transferee. The term “Permitted Transferee” means (i) any affiliate of Lessee, (ii) the purchaser of all or substantially all of Lessee’s assets, or (iii) any corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or other business entity in which, with which or to which Lessee, or its corporate successors or assigns, is merged, consolidated or sold (provided such sale is of all or substantially all of the assets of Lessee) in accordance with applicable statutory provisions and other laws governing merger, consolidation and sale of business entities, or (iv) any Leasehold Mortgagee (as hereinafter defined) succeeding to Lessee’s interest in this Lease by virtue of foreclosure (or transfer in lieu of foreclosure) of the Leasehold Mortgage (as hereinafter defined).
 
15.3         Lessee shall at all times and from time to time have the right, without Lessor’s consent, to encumber by mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or security agreement (the “ Leasehold Mortgage ”) Lessee’s leasehold estate in the Property created by this Lease, together with Lessee’s rights and interests in all of Lessee’s fixtures, equipment, personalty and improvements situated thereon and all rents, issues, profits, revenues and other income to be derived by Lessee therefrom, to secure such loans from time to time made by any lender (defined below) (“ Leasehold Mortgagee ”) to Lessee or any affiliate of Lessee; provided, however, that such Leasehold Mortgage shall in no event encumber Lessor’s fee title and interest in the Property.
 
 
E-23

 
 
If Lessor has received notice from Lessee or Leasehold Mortgagee notifying Lessor of the existence of a Leasehold Mortgage, together with the name and address of Leasehold Mortgagee, Lessor shall deliver to the Leasehold Mortgagee notice of any default by Lessee hereunder, and no notice of default shall be deemed effective against a Leasehold Mortgagee who has notified Lessor of the existence of its Leasehold Mortgage until the notice of default is so delivered to Leasehold Mortgagee. If there exists at any one time more than one Leasehold Mortgage, Lessor shall deliver a copy of notice of default only to the Leasehold Mortgagee that is identified by notice to Lessor as holding the first priority Leasehold Mortgage or, if no Leasehold Mortgagee has been so identified, then Lessor may deliver a copy of notice of default to either Leasehold Mortgagee. Leasehold Mortgagee shall have the right to correct or cure any such default within the same period of time after receipt of such notice as is given to Lessee under this Lease to correct or cure defaults, plus an additional period of ten (10) days thereafter for a monetary default and an additional period of forty-five (45) days in the event of a nonmonetary default. Lessor will accept Leasehold Mortgagee’s performance of any covenant, condition or agreement on Lessee’s part to be performed hereunder with the same force and effect as though performed by Lessee if, at the time of such performance, Leasehold Mortgagee delivers to Lessor evidence of its interest in this Lease. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Lease under which Lessor may declare a default and terminate or cancel this Lease or any of Lessee’s rights or interests hereunder, no notice of default given by Lessor to Lessee or other action by Lessor to declare a default (other than notice of a default that can be corrected or cured by the payment of money or of a default that is within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure within the time permitted hereunder) shall be effective to terminate this Lease if and so long as Leasehold Mortgagee shall promptly commence the enforcement of and diligently pursue all rights and remedies legally available to it to correct or cure all defaults that are within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure and, with respect to defaults that are not within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure, if Leasehold Mortgagee shall promptly commence the enforcement of and diligently pursue all rights and remedies legally available to it to acquire the leasehold estate hereunder, and upon acquisition thereof, perform all of the covenants and provisions on Lessee’s part to be performed during the period of its ownership of the leasehold estate. If this Lease terminates by reason of the happening of any Event of Default, or because of a disaffirmance of this Lease by a receiver, liquidator or trustee for Lessee’s property, or by any department of the city, state or federal government that had taken possession of Lessee’s business or property because of Lessee’s insolvency or alleged insolvency, and if, at the time of such termination, the Leasehold Mortgage constitutes a first lien upon Lessee’s leasehold estate (a “ First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee ”), Lessor shall give notice thereof to the First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee. Upon First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s written request made within thirty (30) business days after delivery of such notice to First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee, and upon payment to Lessor of all Rent and other monies due under this Lease to such date and unpaid by Lessee, as well as all sums that would have become payable hereunder by Lessee to Lessor to the date of execution and delivery of the new lease hereinafter mentioned, had this Lease not been terminated, together with reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses in connection therewith and in connection with the removal of Lessee from the Property, and the curing of all Events of Default hereunder that are within First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to cure, and the performance of all of the covenants and provisions hereunder that are within First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to perform up to the date of the execution and delivery of the new lease hereinafter mentioned, giving credit, however, for any net income actually collected by Lessor from the Property, Lessor shall enter into a new lease of the Property with First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee for the remainder of the Term, including the exercised or unexercised Extension Option, at the same Rent and on the same terms and conditions as contained in this Lease and dated as of the date of termination of this Lease. First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s estate, as tenant under the new lease, shall have priority equal to Lessee’s estate hereunder (that is, there shall be no charge, lien or burden upon the Property prior to or superior to the estate granted by such new lease that was not prior to or superior to Lessee’s estate under this Lease as of the date immediately preceding the date of the Event of Default, except, however, any charge, lien or burden that should not have been permitted and/or should have been discharged by Lessee under the terms of this Lease). Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to impose any obligation upon Lessor to deliver physical possession of the Property to any Leasehold Mortgagee until such Leasehold Mortgagee has entered into a new lease of the Property with Lessor.
 
 
E-24

 
 
Leasehold Mortgagee or any purchaser in foreclosure proceedings, including any person formed by Leasehold Mortgagee or the holder of the note or other obligations secured by the Leasehold Mortgage, may become the legal owner and holder of this Lease and the equipment, fixtures and other property assigned as additional security for such Leasehold Mortgage by foreclosure of the Leasehold Mortgage or as a result of assignment or conveyance in lieu of foreclosure.
 
ARTICLE XVI
 
Surrender.
 
16.1         Lessee shall on the last day of the Term hereof, or upon any earlier termination of this Lease, or upon any re-entry by Lessor upon the Property pursuant to ARTICLE 17 hereof, surrender and deliver up the Property (except personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee and except as Lessor instructs pursuant to ARTICLE 9) and all fixtures, equipment and other personal property now or hereafter at the Property into the possession and use of Lessor in the same condition as received, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and free and clear of any liens created by Lessee or resulting from the acts or omissions of Lessee. Lessee shall at no time during the Term of this Lease remove any fixtures, equipment or other personal property from the Property (except personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee and except as Lessor instructs pursuant to ARTICLE 9) except Lessee may remove from the Property any equipment or other personal property which is obsolete or unfit for use or which is no longer useful in the operation of the Property. Nothing in this ARTICLE 16 shall in any way be deemed to affect any of Lessee’s obligations as to the use of the Property set forth in ARTICLE 2 of this Lease.
 
16.2         If the Property is not surrendered as above set forth, Lessee shall indemnify, defend and hold Lessor harmless from and against loss or liability resulting from the delay by Lessee in so surrendering the Property, including, without limitation, any claim made by any succeeding occupant founded on such delay. Lessee’s obligation to observe or perform this covenant shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Lease. In addition to the foregoing, and in addition to the Additional Rent, Lessee shall pay to Lessor a sum equal to 150% of the Net Rent payable as of the expiration or termination of this Lease during each month or portion thereof for which Lessee shall remain in possession of the Property or any part thereof after the expiration or termination of the Term or of Lessee’s rights of possession, whether by lapse of time or otherwise. The provisions of this Paragraph 16.02 shall not be deemed to limit or constitute a waiver of any other rights or remedies of Lessor provided herein, at law or at equity.
 
 
E-25

 
 
16.3         Except for surrender upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term hereof, no surrender to Lessor of this Lease or of the Property shall be valid or effective unless agreed to and accepted in writing by Lessor.
 
ARTICLE XVII
 
Default Provisions.
 
17.1         Each of the following events shall be an “ Event of Default ” hereunder:
 
(a)            Default by Lessee in paying any installment of Net Rent or Additional Rent or in making any deposit required pursuant to ARTICLE 4 and the continuance of such default for five (5) days after Lessee’s receipt of written notice of such default from Lessor;
 
(b)            If Lessee shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or shall be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall file any petition or answer seeking any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under present or any future bankruptcy act or any other present or future applicable federal, state or other statute or law or other law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, or shall seek or consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of Lessee or of all or any substantial part of its properties or of Lessee’s leasehold estate with respect to the Property;
 
(c)            If within sixty (60) days after the commencement of any proceeding against Lessee seeking any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under the present or any future federal bankruptcy act or any other present or future applicable federal, state or other statute or law or other law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, such proceeding shall not have been dismissed, or if, within sixty (60) days after the appointment, without the consent or acquiescence of Lessee, of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of Lessee or of all or any substantial part of its properties or of Lessee’s leasehold estate with respect to the Property, such appointment shall not have been vacated or stayed on appeal or otherwise, or if, within thirty (30) days after the expiration of any such stay, such appointment shall not have been vacated;
 
(d)            If a material levy under execution or attachment shall be made against Lessee or a material portion of its property and such execution or attachment shall not be vacated or removed by court order, bonding or otherwise within a period of thirty (30) days;
 
(e)            If the Property becomes vacant or is deserted or abandoned;
 
(f)             If the Property is used for other than the use permitted under this Lease;
 
(g)            If Lessee fails to take possession of the Property within 30 days of when possession is given to Lessee by Lessor;
 
 
E-26

 
 
(h)            Default by Lessee in observing or performing one or more of the other material terms, conditions, covenants or agreements of this Lease and the continuance of such default for a period of twenty (20) days after Lessee’s receipt of written notice by Lessor specifying such default (unless such default requires work to be performed, acts to be done, or conditions to be removed which cannot by their nature reasonably be performed, done or removed, as the case may be, within such twenty (20) day period, in which case no such Event of Default shall be deemed to exist so long as Lessee shall have commenced curing such default within such twenty (20) day period and shall diligently and continuously prosecute the same to completion, provided, however, that in any event such an Event of Default shall be deemed to exist if such cure of such default has not been completed within 90 days after Lessee’s receipt of Lessor’s written notice to Lessee as described above); or
 
(i)             If, without Lessor’s consent, Lessee shall reorganize, consolidate, merge, spin off an entity or otherwise enter into any restructure plan (a “ Reorganization ”) whereby, as a result of such Reorganization, the net value of Lessee or Lessee’s assets after the Reorganization is significantly and materially less than the value thereof prior to the Reorganization.
 
17.2         If an Event of Default shall exist, Lessor may, at its option, give written notice to Lessee stating that this Lease and the Term of this Lease shall expire and terminate on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be not less than three (3) days from the date of such notice, and upon the expiration of the date specified in such notice, this Lease and the Term of this Lease and all rights of the Lessee under this Lease shall expire and terminate as if that date were the Expiration Date, and Lessee shall quit and surrender the Property and all other property as required hereunder to Lessor but Lessee shall remain liable as hereinafter provided.
 
17.3         If any Event of Default shall exist, or if this Lease shall be terminated as provided in Section 17.02 hereof or by summary proceedings or otherwise, then, and in any of such events, Lessor may without notice, re-enter the Property either by force or otherwise, and dispossess Lessee and the legal representative of Lessee or other occupant of the Property by summary proceedings or otherwise, and remove their effects and hold the Property as if this Lease had not been made, and Lessee hereby waives the service of notice of intention to re-enter or to institute legal or other proceedings to that end. The terms “enter,” “re-enter,” “entry,” or “re-entry,” as used in this Lease, are not restricted to their technical legal meaning.
 
17.4         In the event of any termination of this Lease under the provisions of this Article or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions herein, or in the event this Lease is otherwise terminated due to an Event of Default by Lessee hereunder, or in the event of re-entry by or under any summary dispossession or other proceedings or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessee shall thereupon pay to the Lessor the Net Rent and Additional Rent payable by Lessee to Lessor up to the time of such termination of this Lease, or of such recovery of possession of the Property by the Lessor, as the case may be, and shall also pay to Lessor damages as hereinafter provided.
 
17.5         In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by Lessee of any of its obligations under this Lease, Lessor shall also have the right of injunction. The special remedies to which Lessor may resort in this Article are cumulative and not intended to be exclusive of any other remedies or means of redress to which Lessor may lawfully be entitled at any time and Lessor may invoke any remedy allowed at law or in equity as if specific remedies were not provided for herein.
 
 
E-27

 
 
17.6         Subject to applicable law, if this Lease shall terminate under the provisions of Section 17.02, or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions of Section 17.03 or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or re-entry, by or under any summary dispossession or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessor shall be entitled to retain all monies, if any, paid by Lessee to Lessor, whether as advance Rent, security or otherwise, but such monies shall be credited by Lessor against any Net Rent or Additional Rent due from Lessee at the time of such termination or re-entry or, at Lessor’s option, against any damages payable by Lessee under this Article or pursuant to law or equity.
 
17.7         If this Lease is terminated or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions of this Article, or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or of re-entry, by or under any summary dispossession or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessee shall pay to Lessor as damages, at the election of Lessor, sums equal to the Net Rent and the Additional Rent payable hereunder throughout the stated term of this Lease which would have been payable by Lessee had this Lease not so terminated, or had Lessor not so re-entered the Property, payable upon the due date therefor specified herein following such termination or such re-entry.
 
17.8  
 
(a)          In the event Lessor terminates this Lease under this Article, Lessor shall credit Lessee with the net rents received by Lessor from any re-letting of the Property during what would have been the balance of Lessee’s stated lease Term, such net rents to be determined by first deducting from the gross rents as and when received by Lessor from such re-letting, the expenses incurred or paid by Lessor in terminating this Lease or in re-entering the Property and in securing possession thereof (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and amounts for which Lessee indemnifies Lessor under Section 14.01(c) of this Lease incurred by Lessor in connection with an Event of Default by Lessee resulting in such termination), as well as the expenses of re-letting, including, without limitation, altering, repairing and preparing the Property for new tenants, brokers’ commissions and other expenses sustained in securing any new tenants or other occupants, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and all other expenses properly chargeable against the Property and the rental thereof (including, without limitation, the cost and expense of Lessor in maintaining and operating the Property), and any other liability of Lessee to Lessor, it being understood that any such re-letting may be for a period shorter or longer than the remaining Term of this Lease, but in no event shall Lessee be entitled to receive any excess of such net rents over the sums payable by Lessee to Lessor hereunder, or shall Lessee be entitled in any suit for the collection of damages pursuant to this Section to a credit in respect of any net rents from a re-letting, except to the extent that such net rents are actually received by Lessor. No re-entry by Lessor, whether had or taken under summary proceedings or otherwise, shall absolve or discharge Lessee from liability hereunder. Lessor in no way shall be responsible or liable for any failure to re-let the Property or any part thereof, or for any failure to collect any rent due on any such re-letting; provided, however, that neither the foregoing nor anything else contained in this Article shall relieve Lessor from any obligation under Texas law to mitigate the damages of Lessor arising as a result of an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease and shall not be construed in any way as a provision or provisions which purports/purport to waive a right of Lessee to require that Lessor mitigate, or to exempt Lessor from a duty to mitigate (or from liability for its failure to satisfy such duty), Lessor’s damages arising due to an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease.
 
 
E-28

 
 
(b)           If the Property or any part thereof be re-let by Lessor for the unexpired portion of the Term of this Lease, or any part thereof, before presentation of proof of such damages to any court, commission or tribunal, the amount of rent reserved upon such reletting shall, prima facie, be the fair and reasonable rental value for the Property, or part thereof, so re-let during the term of the re-letting.
 
17.9         Suit or suits for the recovery of damages or deficiencies, or any installments thereof, may be brought by Lessor from time to time at its election, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require Lessor to postpone suit until the date when the Term of this Lease would have expired if it had not been so terminated hereunder, or under any provision of law, or had Lessor not re-entered the Property. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or preclude recovery by Lessor against Lessee of any sums or damages to which, in addition to the damages particularly provided above, Lessor may lawfully be entitled by reason of any Event of Default hereunder on the part of Lessee. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or prejudice the right of Lessor to obtain as damages by reason of the termination of this Lease or re-entry of the Property for an Event of Default of Lessee under this Lease an amount equal to the maximum allowed by any statute or rule of law in effect at the time when, and governing the proceedings in which, such damages are to be proved whether or not such amount be greater, equal to, or less than any of the sums referred to in Section 17.07.
 
17.10       Lessee hereby expressly waives any and all rights of redemption granted by or under any present or future laws in the event of Lessee being evicted or dispossessed, or in the event of Lessor obtaining possession of the Property, as a result of an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease.
 
17.11       Lessee waives the right to trial by jury with respect to any action arising out of this Lease. Lessee further waives its rights to interpose any offset in any summary proceeding instituted by Lessor based upon non-payment of Net Rent or Additional Rent.
 
17.12       All amounts payable by Lessee hereunder and each and every installment thereof, and all costs, attorneys’ fees, disbursements and other expenses which may be incurred by Lessor in enforcing the provisions of this Lease or on account of any delinquency of Lessee in carrying out the provisions of this Lease, shall be and they hereby are declared to constitute a valid lien upon the Lessee’s leasehold with respect to the Property to the extent permitted by law.
 
 
E-29

 
 
17.13       No receipt of moneys by Lessor from Lessee after termination of this Lease, or after the giving of any notice of termination of this Lease, shall reinstate, continue or extend the Term of this Lease or affect any notice theretofore given Lessee, or operate as a waiver of the right of Lessor to enforce the payment of Net Rent and Additional Rent payable by Lessee hereunder or thereafter falling due, or operate as a waiver of the right of Lessor to recover possession of the Property, it being agreed that after the service of notice to terminate this Lease or the commencement of suit or summary proceedings, or after final order or judgment for the possession of the Property, or after possession of the Property by re-entry by summary proceedings or otherwise, Lessor may demand, receive and collect any moneys due or thereafter falling due without in any manner affecting such notice, proceeding, order, suit or judgment, all such moneys collected being deemed payments on account of the use and occupation of the Property or, at the election of Lessor, on account of Lessee’s liability hereunder.
 
17.14       No failure of Lessor to exercise any right or remedy available during the continuance of an Event of Default, and no acceptance of full or partial Net Rent or Additional Rent by Lessor during the continuance of any such Event of Default, shall constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default. No covenant, agreement, term or condition of this Lease to be performed or complied with by either party, and no Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, with respect thereto, shall be waived, altered or modified except by a written instrument executed by that party. No waiver of any Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, shall affect or alter this Lease, but each and every covenant, agreement, term and condition of this Lease shall continue in full force and effect with respect to any other then existing or subsequent Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, thereof.
 
17.15       Each right and remedy of Lessor provided for in this Lease shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other right or remedy provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Lessor of any one or more of the rights or remedies provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by Lessor of any or all other rights or remedies provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.
 
17.16       Lessee shall pay to Lessor all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by Lessor in enforcing any of the covenants and provisions of this Lease and/or incurred by Lessor in any action brought on account of the provisions hereof, and all such costs and expenses may be included in and form a part of any judgment entered in any action or proceeding against Lessee.
 
17.17       While an Event of Default is in existence, this Lease shall continue in effect for so long as Lessor does not terminate Lessee’s right to possession, and Lessor shall have the right to enforce all its rights and remedies under this Lease, including, without limitation, the right to recover all Net Rent and Additional Rent as it becomes due under this Lease. Acts of maintenance or preservation or efforts to relet the Property or the appointment of a receiver upon initiative of Lessor to protect Lessor’s interest under this Lease shall not constitute a termination of Lessee’s right to possession unless written notice of termination is given by Lessor to Lessee.
 
 
E-30

 
 
17.18       Except as otherwise provided in this Lease, all agreements and covenants to be performed or observed by Lessee under this Lease shall be at Lessee’s sole cost and expense and without any abatement of Net Rent or Additional Rent.
 
17.19       Lessor Default
 
(a)           If Lessor fails to perform or observe any of its obligations under this Lease and such failure continues for more than twenty (20) days after Lessee has delivered written notice thereof to Lessor, such failure will constitute a default under this Lease unless Lessor disputes the claimed default in good faith by written notice to Lessee within such twenty (20) day period; provided, however, that if the nature of Lessor’s obligation is such that more than twenty (20) days are required for performance, then Lessor will not be in default if Lessor commences performance within such twenty (20) day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion; provided, however, that such additional period will in no event be longer than sixty (60) days after Lessor’s receipt of Lessee’s written notice to Lessor as described above. Lessee will identify the Lease provisions containing the Lessor’s obligations that are the subject of Lessee’s complaint and specify in reasonable detail the nature and extent of Lessor’s failure with respect thereto. If Lessor fails to cure any default within the applicable cure period, Lessee will have all rights and remedies available in this Lease and at law or in equity.
 
(b)           If Lessor fails to commence performance of an unperformed material obligation (as reasonably determined by Lessee) (a “ Material Obligation ”) within twenty (20) days after written notice from Lessee specifying such failure (subject to extension for cure as provided in Section 17.19(a)), then Lessee may perform such Material Obligation and Lessor shall reimburse Lessee all actual and reasonable third-party, out-of-pocket costs incurred by Lessee in connection therewith within thirty (30) days after Lessee delivers to Lessor written demand therefor, accompanied by invoices substantiating Lessee’s claim (provided, if the costs would constitute Additional Rent had Lessor performed such work, then such costs paid by Lessee shall be treated as Additional Rent, whereupon Lessee shall receive a credit therefor against Additional Rent next due, and Lessor shall not be responsible for reimbursing Lessee for such costs). If Lessor fails to pay such amount within such thirty (30)-day period, then Lessee may deliver a written notice to Lessor requesting reimbursement, and if Lessor fails to pay such amount within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, then Lessee may offset such costs (as well as any other amounts owing to Lessee from Lessor, whether or not arising out of this Lease) against its obligation to pay Rent, unless Lessor is in good faith disputing such claim, in which case, Lessee may offset the amount of such claim that is not in dispute.
 
ARTICLE XVIII
 
Subordination.
 
18.1        This Lease is subject and subordinate to all present and future ground or underlying leases and to all present and future mortgages which may now or hereafter affect such leases or the Property (or any part thereof) or Lessor’s fee interest in the Property, and to all renewals, modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions thereof, but only on the condition that Lessor has secured and delivered to Lessee, in recordable form, a Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement (an “ SNDA ”) executed and acknowledged by each such lessor and mortgagee, whereby each such lessor or mortgagee has agreed to attorn to this Lease and not disturb Lessor’s use of the Property and Lessee has subordinated its rights hereunder to such lessor or mortgagee, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lessee. Lessee’s obligations under this Lease are expressly contingent and conditioned upon Lessee’s receipt of an SNDA from each lessor and mortgagee as provided above. Except as provided above in this Section 18.01, the provisions of this Section 18.01 shall be self-operative and no further instrument of subordination shall be required. In confirmation of such subordination, Lessee shall promptly execute and deliver at its own cost and expense any instrument, in recordable form, if required, that Lessor, or the holder of any such Lease or mortgage or any of their respective successors in interest may request to evidence such subordination, and Lessee hereby constitutes and appoints Lessor or its successors in interest to be Lessee’s attorney-in-fact, irrevocably and coupled with an interest, to execute and deliver any such instrument for or on behalf of Lessee. Nothing contained in this Lease shall limit or curtail Lessor’s right to sell, mortgage or otherwise deal with its fee interest in the Property, or affect Lessor’s right to assign the Net Rent and/or Additional Rent payable under this Lease either as further collateral security under a fee mortgage or otherwise, and any such assignment of Rent shall be honored by Lessee; provided, however, in the event of any foreclosure proceeding which is prosecuted or completed or any transfer of the Property or Lessor’s interest therein by foreclosure, by deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, the leasehold estate granted to Lessee under this Lease shall not be terminated or disturbed so long as no Event of Default by Lessee shall exist under this Lease and Lessee shall pay all sums due under this Lease and shall fully perform and comply with all of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease on the part of Lessee to be performed and/or complied with.
 
 
E-31

 
 
18.2        In the event of any act or omission of Lessor constituting a default by Lessor hereunder beyond any applicable notice period, Lessee shall not exercise any remedy until Lessee has given all fee mortgagees of the Property (provided such fees mortgagees have been made known to Lessee in writing) written notice of such act or omission, and unless and until a reasonable period of time (not to exceed thirty (30) days) to allow such mortgagees to remedy such act or omission shall have elapsed following receipt of such notice. However, if such act or omission cannot, with due diligence and in good faith, be remedied within such period or cannot be cured simply by the payment of money, such mortgagees shall be allowed such further period of time as may be reasonably necessary provided that such mortgagees commence remedying the same with due diligence and in good faith and thereafter diligently prosecute such cure to completion (and if such mortgagees require possession of the Property to commence curing any such default, such mortgagees shall also be entitled to such further periods of time as may be reasonably required to obtain possession of the Property). Nothing herein contained shall be construed or interpreted as requiring any mortgagee receiving such notice to remedy such act or omission.
 
 
E-32

 
 
ARTICLE XIX
 
Bills and Notices.
 
19.1        Except as otherwise in this Lease provided, a bill, statement, notice or communication which Lessor may desire or be required to give to Lessee shall be deemed sufficiently given or rendered if, in writing, delivered to Lessee personally by hand or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Lessee at PO Box 1110, Giddings, TX 78942 or at such other address as Lessee may designate by written notice from time to time to Lessor, and the time of the rendition of such bill or statement and of the giving of such notice or communication shall be deemed to be the time when the same is delivered to Lessee personally or delivered to Lessee by overnight courier or five days after mailed as herein provided. Any notice by Lessee to Lessor must be served personally by hand or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Lessor at the address first hereinabove given or at such other address as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee from time to time during the Term hereof, and the time of the rendition of such notice shall be deemed to be the time when the same is delivered to Lessor personally or delivered to Lessor by overnight courier or five days after mailed as herein provided.
 
ARTICLE XX
 
Quiet Enjoyment.
 
20.1        Lessor covenants and agrees with Lessee that upon Lessee paying the Net Rent and Additional Rent and observing and performing all the material terms, covenants and conditions on Lessee’s part to be observed and performed hereunder, Lessee may peaceably and quietly enjoy the Property hereby demised for the duration of the Term of this Lease.
 
ARTICLE XXI
 
Covenants To Bind And Benefit Respective Parties.
 
21.1        The covenants and agreements herein contained shall bind and inure to the benefit of Lessor and Lessee and their respective successors and (except as otherwise provided herein) assigns, and cannot be changed, modified or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties.
 
ARTICLE XXII
 
Definitions.
 
22.1        Interest ” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) eight percent (8%), (ii) the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, or (iii) the maximum applicable legal rate, if any.
 
22.2        Lessor ” as used in this Lease means only the owner, or the mortgagee in possession, for the time being of the Property, so that in the event of any transfer of title of said Property, the said transferor or Lessor, as applicable, shall be and hereby is entirely freed and relieved of all future covenants, obligations and liabilities of Lessor hereunder, provided such transferee of the Property agrees to assume in writing such covenants, obligations and liabilities of said transferor or Lessor, as applicable, under this Lease. The obligations contained in this Lease to be performed by Lessor shall, subject as aforesaid, be binding on Lessor’s successors and assigns only during their respective periods of ownership.
 
 
E-33

 
 
22.3        Lessee ” as used in this Lease, shall include more than one person if more than one person is Lessee and if, at any time, the term “Lessee” shall include more than one person, the obligations of all such persons under this Lease shall be joint and several.
 
22.4        Lease Year ” shall mean a period of twelve consecutive calendar months. The first Lease Year shall commence on the Commencement Date and each succeeding Lease Year shall commence on the anniversary date of the first Lease Year.
 
22.5        Unavoidable Delays ” shall mean delays caused by strikes, lockouts, acts of God, inability to obtain labor or materials, governmental restrictions, enemy action, civil commotion, fire, terrorist action, epidemic, public utility failure, unavoidable casualty, moratorium or similar laws prohibiting performance or severe weather conditions or any other similar matter which shall be beyond the reasonable control of Lessee or Lessor, as the case may be, but the lack or insufficiency of funds shall not constitute an Unavoidable Delay.
 
ARTICLE XXIII
 
Net Lease; Non-Terminability.
 
23.1        This is a net lease and the Net Rent, Additional Rent and all other sums payable hereunder by Lessee shall be paid without notice or demand therefor and, except as otherwise provided in this Lease, without any abatement, deduction, set-off, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever except as provided herein.
 
23.2        Except as provided herein including, without limitation, ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, this Lease shall not terminate, nor shall Lessee have any right to terminate this Lease, nor shall Lessee be entitled to any abatement or reduction of Net Rent or Additional Rent hereunder, nor shall the obligations of Lessee under this Lease be affected, by reason of (i) subject to ARTICLE 6 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, any damage to or destruction of all or any part of the Property from whatever cause, (ii) subject to ARTICLE 7 of this Lease, the taking of the Property or any portion thereof by condemnation, requisition or otherwise, or (iii) subject to ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, the prohibition, limitation or restriction of Lessee’s use of all or any part of the Property, or any interference with such use, unless caused by Lessor or any employee, agent, contractor, representative, licensee or invitee of Lessor.
 
 
E-34

 
 
ARTICLE XXIV
 
Hazardous Material.
 
24.1        Lessee (i) shall comply, and cause the Property to comply, in all material respects, with all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined) applicable to the Property (including, without limitation, the making of all submissions to governmental authorities required by Environmental Laws and the carrying out of any remediation program specified by such authority), (ii) shall prohibit the use of the Property for the generation, manufacture, refinement, production, or processing of any Hazardous Material (as hereinafter defined) or for the storage, handling, transfer or transportation of any Hazardous Material, (iii) shall not permit to remain, install or permit the installation on the Property of any surface impoundments, underground storage tanks, or asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, and (iv) shall cause any alterations of the Property to be done in a way so as to not expose in an unsafe manner the persons working on or visiting the Property to Hazardous Materials, and in connection with any such alterations, shall remove, in compliance with Environmental Laws, any Hazardous Materials present upon the Property which are not in compliance with Environmental Laws or which present a danger to persons working on or visiting the Property.
 
24.2        Environmental Laws ” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§6901, et. seq. (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§9601 et. seq. (CERCLA), the Toxic Substance Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§2601 et. seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136 et. seq., and all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations, as any of the foregoing may have been or may be from time to time amended, supplemented or supplanted, and any other federal, state or local laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations, now or hereafter existing relating to regulations or control of Hazardous Materials. The term “ Hazardous Materials ” as used in this Lease shall mean substances defined as “hazardous substances”, “hazardous materials”, “hazardous wastes” or “toxic substances” in any applicable federal, state or local statute, rule, regulation or determination, including the Environmental Laws, and asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive substances, methane, volatile hydrocarbons, petroleum or petroleum-derived substances or wastes, radon, industrial solvents or any other material as may be specified in applicable law or regulations; provided, however, Hazardous Materials shall not include, and nothing contained in this Lease will be deemed to prohibit the use of, normal quantities of office supplies, household cleaners and other products customarily used in the conduct of general office, business or industrial uses similar to the uses of the Property permitted under this Lease.
 
24.3        Lessee shall pay, indemnify and save harmless Lessor, from all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses and other reasonable expenses and costs of every kind and description to which Lessor is subjected as a result of the discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which occurs after the Term commences, and as the direct result of a discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials by Lessee or its agents or employees; provided, however, that such indemnification shall not be applicable to the extent of matters for which Lessor indemnifies Lessee pursuant to Section 24.04.
 
 
E-35

 
 
24.4        Lessor shall pay, indemnify and save harmless Lessee from all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses and other reasonable expenses and costs of every kind and description to which Lessee is subjected as a result of the discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which either (a) occurs after the Term commences, and as the direct result of a discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which is due to an act of Lessor or its agents or employees, or (b) for any discharge or release of Hazardous Materials onto the Property, or any other conditions of the Property existing prior to commencement of the Term.
 
ARTICLE XXV
 
Miscellaneous.
 
25.1        Lessor and Lessee hereby warrant and represent to each other that there are no broker or finder fees or any real estate commissions claiming by or through Lessor or Lessee due any broker, agent, or other party in connection with the negotiation or execution of this Lease, and Lessee hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Lessor harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, liabilities, causes of action, claims or suits in connection with compensation, commissions, fees, or other sums claimed to be due or owing to any party (other than the Brokers) with respect to the negotiation or execution of this Lease, claiming by or through Lessee. Similarly, Lessor agrees to indemnify and hold Lessee harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, liabilities, causes of action, claims or suits in connection with compensation, commissions, fees, or other sums claimed to be due or owing to any party (including the Brokers) with respect to the negotiation or execution of this Lease claiming by or through the Lessor. The indemnification provisions of this Section 25.01 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.
 
25.2        If any term or provision of this Lease shall to any extent be held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions of this Lease shall not be affected thereby, but each term and provision shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
25.3        Each party agrees at any time, and from time to time, upon not less than ten (10) days’ prior written request from the other party, to execute, acknowledge and deliver to the other party a statement in writing, certifying (if true) that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect as modified, and stating the modifications), the dates to which the Net Rent and Additional Rent have been paid and whether or not to the best knowledge of the party executing such statement an Event of Default exists under this Lease or whether any events have occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, could constitute an Event of Default hereunder, it being intended that any such statement delivered pursuant to this Section may be relied upon by the party which requested the statement to be executed and by any prospective transferee or assignee of this Lease from Lessor or Lessee, any fee mortgagee or purchaser of the fee interest in the Property and any Leasehold Mortgagee.
 
25.4        Promptly upon the request of either party, either party may record a memorandum of this Lease and any amendments thereto. If a memorandum is to be recorded, the parties shall execute, acknowledge and deliver a memorandum hereof in recordable form, prepared by Lessee, the form and substance of which shall conform to applicable law, but may contain such other provisions of this Lease or the substance thereof, as either party may reasonably require, excepting rental provisions. The foregoing shall also apply with respect to each modification of this Lease.
 
 
E-36

 
 
25.5        Whenever in this Lease Lessor covenants not to unreasonably withhold or delay its consent or approval, if Lessor shall refuse such consent or approval, then Lessee’s sole remedy shall be for specific performance of any such covenant and in no event shall Lessee be entitled to any money damages for a breach of such covenant.
 
25.6        Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Lease, whether express or implied, it is agreed that Lessee will look only to Lessor’s fee interest in and to the Property for the collection of any judgment (or other judicial process) requiring the payment of money by Lessor in the event of a breach or default under this Lease by Lessor, and no other property or assets of Lessor or its directors, officers, shareholders, partners, joint venturers or other principals (disclosed or undisclosed) shall be subject to suit or to levy, execution or other enforcement procedures for the satisfaction of any such judgment (or other judicial process).
 
25.7        Lessee shall at all times keep and maintain full and correct records and books of account of the operations of the Property in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and shall accurately record and preserve the records of such operations. During the existence of an Event of Default, Lessee shall permit Lessor and Lessor’s accountants and fee mortgagees access thereto, with the right to make copies and excerpts therefrom at Lessor’s and such accountants’ and fee mortgagees’ sole cost and expense; provided, however, any such access shall only be provided at reasonable times and hours and only upon reasonable written notice to Lessee for such purposes, and Lessor and Lessor’s accountants and fee mortgagees shall not cause any unreasonable interference with Lessee’s business operations on the Property as a result of any such access.
 
25.8        The captions of this Lease are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of this Lease or of any provisions thereof, or in any way affect this Lease.
 
25.9        The use herein of (i) the singular shall include the plural, and (ii) the neuter pronoun in any reference to Lessor or Lessee shall be deemed to include any individual Lessor or Lessee.
 
25.10       This Lease shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas in all respects including, without limitation, the validity, construction and performance thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Lease shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party causing this Lease to be drafted.
 
25.11       There shall be no merger of the leasehold estate created hereby by reason of the fact that the same person or entity may own directly or indirectly, (1) the leasehold estate created hereby or any interest in this Lease or such leasehold estate and (2) the fee estate in the Property. Notwithstanding any such combined ownership, this Lease shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by an instrument executed by both Lessor and Lessee and consented to by any fee mortgagee(s).
 
 
E-37

 
 
25.12       Should either party employ attorneys to enforce any of the provisions of this Lease, the non-prevailing party in any final judgment agrees to pay the prevailing party all reasonable costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expended or incurred in connection therewith, including pretrial, trial and all appellate levels. All references in this Lease to the attorneys’ fees will also be deemed to include fees of all legal assistants, fees of the in-house legal staff of Lessor, Lessee and either party’s affiliates, as applicable, and will include all fees incurred through all post-judgment and appellate levels.
 
[SIGNATURES FOLLOW]
 
 
E-38

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lessor and Lessee have caused this Lease to be executed as of the Effective Date.
 
  LESSOR:  
       
 
KURT CHEW, LLC,
a Texas limited liability company
 
       
  By:    
  Name:
Kurt Chew, LLC
 
  Title: Member  
       
       
  LESSEE:  
       
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.,
a Texas corporation
 
       
  By:    
 
By:
   
 
Name:
   
 
Title:
   
 
 
 

EXHIBIT 3.1
 
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
DIRECT CONNECT, INC.
__________________
 
The undersigned, a natural person, for the purpose of organizing a corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known, identified and referred to as the “ General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ”), hereby certifies that:
 
FIRST : The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “ corporation ”) is
 
DIRECT CONNECT, INC.
 
SECOND : The address, including street, number, city, and county, of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is 32 Loockerman Square, Suite L-100, City of Dover, County of Kent; and the name of the registered agent of the corporation in the State of Delaware is The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.
 
THIRD : The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
FOURTH : The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred (100). The par value of each of such shares is Ten Cents ($.10). All such shares are of one class and are shares of Common Stock.
 
FIFTH : The name and the mailing address of the incorporator are as follows:
 
NAME
 
MAILING ADRESS
     
N.S. Truax
 
32 Loockerman Square, Suite L-100
Dover, Delaware 19901
 
SIXTH : The corporation is to have perpetual existence.
 
 
1

 
 
SEVENTH : Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation.
 
EIGHTH : For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the corporation and of its directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided:
 
1.           The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the corporation shall be vested in its Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws. The phrase “whole Board” and the phrase “total number of directors” shall be deemed to have the same meaning, to wit, the total number of directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies. No election of directors need be by written ballot.
 
2.           After the original or other By-Laws of the corporation have been adopted, amended, or repealed, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 109 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and, after the corporation has received any payment for any of its stock, the power to adopt, amend, or repeal the By-Laws of the corporation may be exercised by the Board of Directors of the corporation; provided, however, that any provision for the classification of directors of the corporation for staggered terms pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 141 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall be set forth in an initial By-Law or in a By-Law adopted by the stockholders entitled to vote of the corporation unless provisions for such classification shall be set forth in this certificate of incorporation.
 
3.           Whenever the corporation shall be authorized to issue only one class of stock, each outstanding share shall entitle the holder thereof to notice of, and the right to vote at, any meeting of stockholders. Whenever the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock, no outstanding share of any class of stock which is denied voting power under the provisions of the certificate of incorporation shall entitle the holder thereof to the right to vote at any meeting of stockholders except as the provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall otherwise require; provided, that no share of any such class which is otherwise denied voting power shall entitle the holder thereof to vote upon the increase or decrease in the number of authorized shares of said class.
 
 
2

 
 
NINTH : The personal liability of the directors of the corporation is hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented.
 
TENTH : The corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
 
ELEVENTH : From time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of incorporation may be amended, altered or repealed, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted in the manner and at the time prescribed by said laws, and all rights at any time conferred upon the stockholders of the corporation by this certificate of incorporation are granted subject to the provisions of this Article ELEVENTH.
 
Signed on August 3, 1992.
     
   
/s/ N. C. Truax
 
   
Incorporator
 
 
 
3

EXHIBIT 3.2
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF DIRECT CONNECT, INC.
 
Pursuant to §241 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the undersigned corporation executes this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Direct Connect, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).
 
I.
 
Paragraph FIRST of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FIRST . The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “ corporation ”) is Preferred/telecom, Inc.
 
II.
 
Paragraph FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FOURTH . The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is ten million (10,000,000). The par value of each of such shares is One Tenth of One Cent ($.001). All such shares are of one (1) class and are shares of Common Stock.
 
III.
 
The corporation certifies that it has not received any payment for any of its stock and that the foregoing amendment was adopted in accordance with §241 of the Delaware General Corporation Law by unanimous vote of the Directors who have been elected and qualified.
 
 
1

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Direct Connect, Inc., by Martin J. Sweeney, its director.
 
   
/s/ Martin J. Sweeney
 
   
Martin J. Sweeney
 
   
Director
 
 
STATE OF TEXAS
§
  §
COUNTY OF DALLAS
§
 
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared Martin J. Sweeney, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that it represents the act and deed of Direct Connect, Inc., and that the facts stated therein are true.
 
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND and seal of office this 22 nd day of April, 1994.
 
   
/s/ Cindy J. Clowes
 
   
Notary Public in and for the State of Texas
 
 
 
2

EXHIBIT 3.3
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF PREFERRED/TELECOM, INC.
 
Pursuant to §242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the undersigned corporation executes this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Preferred/telecom, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).
 
I.
 
Paragraph FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FOURTH . The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is fifteen million (15,000,000). The par value of each of such shares is One Tenth of One Cent ($.001). All such shares are of one (1) class and are shares of Common Stock.
 
Each share of Common Stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share, issued and outstanding or held in treasury of the Corporation are hereby reclassified and changed into three fully paid nonassessable Shares of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share.
 
II.
 
The foregoing amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Preferred/telecom, Inc., by H. David Friedman, its President.
 
   
/s/ M. David Friedman
 
   
President
 
 
 
 

 
 
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
§
COUNTY OF DALLAS
§
 
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared H. David Friedman, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that it represents the act and deed of Preferred/telecom, Inc., and that the facts stated therein are true.
 
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND and seal of office this 9 th day of March, 1995.
 
   
/s/ Steven K. Smith
 
   
Notary Public in and for the State of Texas
 
 
 
2

EXHIBIT 3.4
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF PREFERRED/TELECOM, INC.
 
Pursuant to §242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the undersigned corporation executes this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Preferred/telecom, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).
 
I.
 
Paragraph FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FOURTH . The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is twenty million (20,000,000). The par value of each of such shares is One Tenth of One Cent ($.001). All such shares are of one (1) class and are shares of Common Stock.
 
II.
 
The foregoing amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Preferred/telecom, Inc., by H. David Friedman, its President.
 
   
/s/ M. David Friedman
 
   
President
 
 
 
1

 
 
STATE OF TEXAS
§
  §
COUNTY OF DALLAS
§
 
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared H. David Friedman, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that it represents the act and deed of Preferred/telecom, Inc., and that the facts stated therein are true.
 
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND and seal of office this 26 th day of July, 1995.
 
   
/s/ James D. Beightol
 
   
Notary Public in and for the State of Texas
 
 
 
2

EXHIBIT 3.5
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF PREFERRED/TELECOM, INC.
 
Preferred/telecom, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), does hereby certify:
 
FIRST : ARTICLE FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation is amended by changing the name of the Corporation to Preferred Voice, Inc.”
 
Accordingly, ARTICLE FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation as amended is deleted and the following new ARTICLE FIRST is substituted in lieu thereof:
 
“ARTICLE FIRST
 
The name of the Corporation is Preferred Voice, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).”
 
SECOND : That upon effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment (i) each two shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share of the Corporation, previously issued and outstanding or held in treasury at the effective time of this Certificate of Amendment shall be deemed to have been reclassified into and exchanged for one (1) new share of outstanding Common Share, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation; and (ii) fractional shares shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
 
THIRD : That the Certificate of Amendment has been approved by the Corporation pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors and a consent in writing signed by the holders of in excess of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Corporation, which was not less than the minimum number of votes necessary to authorize the Certificate of Amendment at a meeting at which all stockholders of the Corporation having the right to vote thereon were present and voted, and written notice of such action has been sent to all other stockholders who have not consented in writing to such action.
 
FOURTH : That the Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 and Section 242 of the General Corporation Laws of the State of Delaware.
 
FIFTH : That the Certificate of Amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (EST) on the date this Certificate of Amendment is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Preferred/telecom, Inc., by Dennis Lee Gundy, its President, this 5 th day of March, 1997.
 
 
   
/s/ Dennis Lee Gundy
 
   
President
 
EXHIBIT 3.6
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF PREFERRED VOICE, INC.
 
Preferred Voice, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify:

FIRST: That Article FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

FOURTH . The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred million (100,000,000). The par value of each of such shares is One Tenth of One Cent ($.001). All such shares are of one (1) class and are shares of Common Stock.

SECOND: That the foregoing amendment (the “Amendment”) has been approved by the Corporation pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors and that thereafter, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation was duly called and held, upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of Amendment.
 
THIRD: That the Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH: That this Certificate of Amendment shall become effective on the date and at the time this Certificate of Amendment is duly filed with and accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Preferred Voice, Inc., by Mary G. Merritt, its President, this 27th day of April, 2006.
 
 
   
/s/ Mary G. Merritt
 
   
Mary G. Merritt, President
 
EXHIBIT 3.7
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF PREFERRED VOICE, INC.

Preferred Voice, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify:

FIRST: That Article FIRST of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FIRST.  The name of the Corporation shall be “Aly Energy Services, Inc.”
 
SECOND: That the foregoing amendment (the “Amendment”) has been approved by the Corporation pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors and that thereafter, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a majority in interest of the stockholders of the Corporation (acting by written consent in lieu of special meeting) voted in favor of the Amendment.

THIRD: That the Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH: That this Certificate of Amendment shall become effective on the date and at the time this Certificate of Amendment is duly filed with and accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Certificate of Amendment has been executed for Preferred Voice, Inc., by Mary G. Merritt, its President, this May 14, 2013.
 
    /s/ Mary G. Merritt   
    Mary G. Merritt, President  
 
EXHIBIT 3.8
 
BYLAWS
OF
DIRECT CONNECT, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
 
ARTICLE I
 
STOCKHOLDERS
 
1.              Certificates Representing Stock . Certificates representing stock in the corporation shall be signed by, or in the name of, the corporation by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation. Any or all the signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
 
Whenever the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class of stock, and whenever the corporation shall issue any shares of its stock as partly paid stock, the certificates representing shares of any such class or series or of any such partly paid stock shall set forth thereon the statements prescribed by the General Corporation Law. Any restrictions on the transfer or registration of transfer of any shares of stock of any class or series shall be noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares.
 
The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the owner of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
 
2.              Uncertificated Shares . Subject to any conditions imposed by the General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of any uncertificated shares, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof any written notice prescribed by the General Corporation Law.
 
3.              Fractional Share Interests . The corporation may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of a share. If the corporation does not issue fractions of a share, it shall (1) arrange for the disposition of fractional interests by those entitled thereto, (2) pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or (3) issue scrip or warrants in registered form (either represented by a certificate or uncertificated) or bearer form (represented by a certificate) which shall entitle the holder to receive a full share upon the surrender of such scrip or warrants aggregating a full share. A certificate for a fractional share or an uncertificated fractional share shall, but scrip or warrants shall not unless otherwise provided therein, entitle the holder to exercise voting rights, to receive dividends thereon, and to participate in any of the assets of the corporation in the event of liquidation. The Board of Directors may cause scrip or warrants to be issued subject to the conditions that they shall become void if not exchanged for certificates representing the full shares or uncertificated full shares before a specified date, or subject to the conditions that the shares for which scrip or warrants are exchangeable may be sold by the corporation and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of scrip or warrants, or subject to any other conditions which the Board of Directors may impose.
 
 
1

 
 
4.              Stock Transfers . Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock, if any, transfers or registration of transfers of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only on the stock ledger of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent or a registrar, if any, and, in the case of shares represented by certificates, on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares of stock properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes due thereon.
 
5.              Record Date for Stockholders . In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the General Corporation Law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the corporation's registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the General Corporation Law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
 
6.              Meaning of Certain Terms . As used herein in respect of the right to notice of a meeting of stockholders or a waiver thereof or to participate or vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of a meeting, as the case may be, the term "share" or "shares" or "share of stock" or "shares of stock" or "stockholder" or "stockholders" refers to an outstanding share or shares of stock and to a holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of stock when the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares of stock, and said reference is also intended to include any outstanding share or shares of stock and any holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of stock of any class upon which or upon whom the certificate of incorporation confers such rights where there are two or more classes or series of shares of stock or upon which or upon whom the General Corporation Law confers such rights notwithstanding that the certificate of incorporation may provide for more than one class or series of shares of stock, one or more of which are limited or denied such rights thereunder; provided , however , that no such right shall vest in the event of an increase or a decrease in the authorized number of shares of stock of any class or series which is otherwise denied voting rights under the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, except as any provision of law may otherwise require.
 
 
2

 
 
7.              Stockholder Meetings .
 
   TIME . The annual meeting shall be held on the date and at the time fixed, from time to time, by the directors, provided , that the first annual meeting shall be held on a date within thirteen months after the organization of the corporation, and each successive annual meeting shall be held on a date within thirteen months after the date of the preceding annual meeting. A special meeting shall be held on the date and at the time fixed by the directors.
 
   PLACE . Annual meetings and special meetings shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the directors may, from time to time, fix. Whenever the directors shall fail to fix such place, the meeting shall be held at the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware.
 
   CALL . Annual meetings and special meetings may be called by the directors or by any officer instructed by the directors to call the meeting.
 
   NOTICE OR WAIVER OF NOTICE . Written notice of all meetings shall be given, stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting and stating the place within the city or other municipality or community at which the list of stockholders of the corporation may be examined. The notice of an annual meeting shall state that the meeting is called for the election of directors and for the transaction of other business which may properly come before the meeting, and shall (if any other action which could be taken at a special meeting is to be taken at such annual meeting) state the purpose or purposes. The notice of a special meeting shall in all instances state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The notice of any meeting shall also include, or be accompanied by, any additional statements, information, or documents prescribed by the General Corporation Law. Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law, a copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given, personally or by mail, not less than ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, unless the lapse of the prescribed period of time shall have been waived, and directed to each stockholder at his record address or at such other address which he may have furnished by request in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited, with postage thereon prepaid, in the United States Mail. If a meeting is adjourned to another time, not more than thirty days hence, and/or to another place, and if an announcement of the adjourned time and/or place is made at the meeting, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting unless the directors, after adjournment, fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
 
 
3

 
 
   STOCKHOLDER LIST . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city or other municipality or community where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by this section or the books of the corporation, or to vote at any meeting of stockholders.
 
   CONDUCT OF MEETING . Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority and if present and acting - the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, a Vice-President, or, if none of the foregoing is in office and present and acting, by a chairman to be chosen by the stockholders. The Secretary of the corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.
 
   PROXY REPRESENTATION . Every stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder or by his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and, if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the corporation generally.
 
   INSPECTORS . The directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspectors at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots, or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots, or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question, or matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them. Except as otherwise required by subsection (e) of Section 231 of the General Corporation Law, the provisions of that Section shall not apply to the corporation.
 
   QUORUM . The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction of any business. The stockholders present may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum.
 
 
4

 
 
   VOTING . Each share of stock shall entitle the holders thereof to one vote. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Any other action shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast except where the General Corporation Law prescribes a different percentage of votes and/or a different exercise of voting power, and except as may be otherwise prescribed by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and these Bylaws. In the election of directors, and for any other action, voting need not be by ballot.
 
8.              Stockholder Action Without Meetings . Any action required by the General Corporation Law to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing. Action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.
 
ARTICLE II
 
DIRECTORS
 
1.              Functions and Definition . The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the corporation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the members thereof. The use of the phrase "whole board" herein refers to the total number of directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
 
2.              Qualifications and Number . A director need not be a stockholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of Delaware. The initial Board of Directors shall consist of one person. Thereafter the number of directors constituting the whole board shall be at least one. Subject to the foregoing limitation and except for the first Board of Directors, such number may be fixed from time to time by action of the stockholders or of the directors, or, if the number is not fixed, the number shall be one. The number of directors may be increased or decreased by action of the stockholders or of the directors.
 
 
5

 
 
3.              Election and Term . The first Board of Directors, unless the members thereof shall have been named in the certificate of incorporation, shall be elected by the incorporator or incorporators and shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation. Thereafter, directors who are elected at an annual meeting of stockholders, and directors who are elected in the interim to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Except as the General Corporation Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or of special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or for the removal of one or more directors and for the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors for cause or without cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.
 
4.              Meetings .
 
   TIME . Meetings shall be held at such time as the Board shall fix, except that the first meeting of a newly elected Board shall be held as soon after its election as the directors may conveniently assemble.
 
   PLACE . Meetings shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be fixed by the Board.
 
   CALL . No call shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Special meetings may be called by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, of the President, or of a majority of the directors in office.
 
   NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER . No notice shall be required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Written, oral, or any other mode of notice of the time and place shall be given for special meetings in sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the directors thereat. Notice need not be given to any director or to any member of a committee of directors who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of any such person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when he attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
 
   QUORUM AND ACTION . A majority of the whole Board shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevents such majority, whereupon a majority of the directors in office shall constitute a quorum, provided , that such majority shall constitute at least one-third of the whole Board. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Except as herein otherwise provided, and except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law, the vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. The quorum and voting provisions herein stated shall not be construed as conflicting with any provisions of the General Corporation Law and these Bylaws which govern a meeting of directors held to fill vacancies and newly created directorships in the Board or action of disinterested directors.
 
Any member or members of the Board of Directors or of any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
 
 
6

 
 
   CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING . The Chairman of the Board, if any and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings. Otherwise, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any and if present and acting, or the President, if present and acting, or any other director chosen by the Board, shall preside.
 
5.              Removal of Directors . Except as may otherwise be provided by the General Corporation Law, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
 
6.              Committees . The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation with the exception of any authority the delegation of which is prohibited by Section 141 of the General Corporation Law, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
 
7.              Written Action . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
 
ARTICLE III
 
OFFICERS
 
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and, if deemed necessary, expedient, or desirable by the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board, an Executive Vice-President, one or more other Vice-Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers with such titles as the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing them shall designate. Except as may otherwise be provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing him, no officer other than the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, need be a director. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, as the directors may determine.
 
 
7

 
 
Unless otherwise provided in the resolution choosing him, each officer shall be chosen for a term which shall continue until the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor shall have been chosen and qualified.
 
All officers of the corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management and operation of the corporation as shall be prescribed in the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating and choosing such officers and prescribing their authority and duties, and shall have such additional authority and duties as are incident to their office except to the extent that such resolutions may be inconsistent therewith. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall record all of the proceedings of all meetings and actions in writing of stockholders, directors, and committees of directors, and shall exercise such additional authority and perform such additional duties as the Board shall assign to him. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors.
 
ARTICLE IV
 
CORPORATE SEAL
 
The corporate seal shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
 
ARTICLE V
 
FISCAL YEAR
 
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
CONTROL OVER BYLAWS
 
Subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and the provisions of the General Corporation Law, the power to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws may be exercised by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders.
 
 
8

 
 
I Hereby Certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of the Bylaws of Direct Connect, Inc. , a Delaware corporation, as in effect on the date hereof.
 
Dated:
 
 
     
       
    Secretary of  
   
DIRECT CONNECT, INC.
 
 
 
9

EXHIBIT 4.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
 
INVESTOR AGREEMENT
 
DATED
 
OCTOBER 26, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
        Page  
           
1.
Definitions.
    1  
             
2. Agreement Among the Company and the Investors     3  
             
  2.1.
Right of First Refusal
    3  
  2.2.
Tag-Along
    5  
  2.3.
Drag-Along
    6  
  2.4.
Effect of Failure to Comply
    9  
             
3. Exempt Transfers     3  
             
  3.1.
Exempted Transfers
    9  
  3.2.
Exempted Offerings
    10  
             
4. Legend     10  
             
5. Miscellaneous     10  
             
  5.1.
Term
    10  
  5.2.
Stock Split
    11  
  5.3.
Ownership
    11  
  5.4.
Dispute Resolution
    11  
  5.5.
Notices
    12  
  5.6.
Entire Agreement
    12  
  5.7.
Delays or Omissions
    12  
  5.8.
Amendment; Waiver and Termination
    12  
  5.9.
Assignment of Rights
    13  
  5.10.
Severability
    13  
  5.11.
Additional Investors
    13  
  5.12.
Governing Law
    13  
  5.13.
Titles and Subtitles
    14  
  5.14.
Counterparts
    14  
  5.15.
Specific Performance
    14  
  5.16.
Additional Investors
    14  
  5.17.
Consent of Spouse
    14  
             
Schedule A - Investors        
Exhibit A - Consent of Spouse        
 
 
 

 
 
INVESTOR AGREEMENT
 
THIS ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC. INVESTOR AGREEMENT is made as of the 26th day of October, 2012 by and among Aly Energy Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the Investors listed on Schedule A .
 
WHEREAS, each Investor is the beneficial owner of the number of shares of Capital Stock, set forth opposite the name of such Investor on Schedule A ; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company and each Investor are parties to separate subscription agreements (the “ Subscription Agreements ”), pursuant to which the Investors have agreed to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”);
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, and the Investors agree as follows:
 
1.            Definitions.
 
1.1.            Additional Investors ” means any person acquiring Capital Stock who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
 
1.2.            Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Investor, any other Investor who directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Investor, including without limitation any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such Investor, or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing which is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Investor.
 
1.3.            Capital Stock ” means (a) shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock (whether now outstanding or hereafter issued in any context), (b) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock and (c) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise or conversion, as applicable, of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities of the Company, in each case now owned or subsequently acquired by any Investor, any Investor, or their respective successors or permitted transferees or assigns. For purposes of the number of shares of Capital Stock held by an Investor or Investor (or any other calculation based thereon), all shares of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been converted into Common Stock at the then-applicable conversion ratio.
 
1.4.            Change of Control ” means a transac­tion or series of related transactions in which a person, or a group of related persons, acquires from stockholders of the Company shares representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the out­standing voting power of the Company.
 
 
1

 
 
1.5.            Company Notice ” means written notice from the Company notifying the selling Investors that the Company intends to exercise its Right of First Refusal as to some or all of the Transfer Stock with respect to any Proposed Investor Transfer.
 
1.6.            Investor Notice ” means written notice from an Investor notifying the Company and the selling Investor that such Investor intends to exercise its Secondary Refusal Right as to a portion of the Transfer Stock with respect to any Proposed Investor Transfer.
 
1.7.            Investors ” means the persons named on Schedule A hereto, each person to whom the rights of an Investor are assigned pursuant to Section 5.9 , each person who hereafter becomes a signatory to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.11 and any one of them, as the context may require.
 
1.8.            Marketable Securities ” means securities that are (a) approved for listing on an established U.S. national or non-U.S. securities exchange or (b) reported through an established non-U.S. over-the-counter trading system or (c) otherwise traded over-the-counter or purchased and sold in transactions effected pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, that in each case are not subject to restrictions on Transfer under the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws by non-affiliates of the issuer of such securities (other than the restriction under Rule 144A limiting transfers solely to qualified institutional buyers) or subject to contractual restrictions on transfer other than reasonable and customary lock-up provisions that do not exceed one hundred and eighty (180) days in duration.
 
1.9.            Proposed Investor Transfer ” means any assignment, sale, offer to sell, pledge, mortgage, hypothecation, encumbrance, disposition of or any other like transfer or encumbering of any Transfer Stock (or any interest therein) proposed by any of the Investors.
 
1.10.          Proposed Transfer Notice ” means written notice from an Investor setting forth the terms and conditions of a Proposed Investor Transfer.
 
1.11.           Prospective Transferee ” means any person to whom a Investor proposes to make a Proposed Investor Transfer.
 
1.12.           Restated Certificate ” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time.
 
1.13.          Right of First Refusal ” means the right, but not an obligation, of the Company, or its permitted transferees or assigns, to purchase some or all of the Transfer Stock with respect to a Proposed Investor Transfer, on the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice.
 
1.14.          Secondary Notice ” means written notice from the Company notifying the Investors and the selling Investor that the Company does not intend to exercise its Right of First Refusal as to all shares of Transfer Stock with respect to any Proposed Investor Transfer.
 
1.15.          Secondary Refusal Right ” means the right, but not an obligation, of each Investor to purchase up to its pro rata portion (based upon the total number of shares of Capital Stock then held by all Investors) of any Transfer Stock not purchased pursuant to the Right of First Refusal, on the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice.
 
 
2

 
 
1.16.          Tag-Along Right ” means the right, but not an obligation, of an Investor to participate in a Proposed Investor Transfer on the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice.
 
1.17.          Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
1.18.          Transfer Stock ” means shares of Capital Stock owned by an Investor, or issued to an Investor after the date hereof (including, without limitation, in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, or the like).
 
1.19.          Undersubscription Notice ” means written notice from an Investor notifying the Company and the selling Investor that such Investor intends to exercise its option to purchase all or any portion of the Transfer Stock not purchased pursuant to the Right of First Refusal or the Secondary Refusal Right.
 
2.           Agreement Among the Company and the Investors .
 
2.1.          Right of First Refusal .
 
(a)             Grant . Subject to the terms of Section 3 below, each Investor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Company a Right of First Refusal to purchase all or any portion of Transfer Stock that such Investor may propose to transfer in a Proposed Investor Transfer, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as those offered to the Prospective Transferee, except in connection with a Drag-Along Transaction.
 
(b)             Notice . Each Investor proposing to make a Proposed Investor Transfer must deliver a Proposed Transfer Notice to the Company and each other Investor not later than forty-five (45) days prior to the consummation of such Proposed Investor Transfer. Such Proposed Transfer Notice shall contain the material terms and conditions (including price and form of consideration) of the Proposed Investor Transfer and the identity of the Prospective Transferee. To exercise its Right of First Refusal under this Section 2 , the Company must deliver a Company Notice to the selling Investor within fifteen (15) days after delivery of the Proposed Transfer Notice.
 
(c)             Grant of Secondary Refusal Right to Investors . Subject to the terms of Section 3 below, each Investor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Investors a Secondary Refusal Right to purchase all or any portion of the Transfer Stock not purchased by the Company pursuant to the Right of First Refusal, as provided in this Section 2.1 (c) . If the Company does not intend to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to all Transfer Stock subject to a Proposed Investor Transfer, the Company must deliver a Secondary Notice to the selling Investor and to each Investor to that effect no later than fifteen (15) days after the selling Investor delivers the Proposed Transfer Notice to the Company. To exercise its Secondary Refusal Right, an Investor must deliver an Investor Notice to the selling Investor and the Company within ten (10) days after the Company’s deadline for its delivery of the Secondary Notice as provided in the preceding sentence.
 
 
3

 
 
(d)             Undersubscription of Transfer Stock . If options to purchase have been exercised by the Company and the Investors with respect to some but not all of the Transfer Stock by the end of the 10-day period specified in the last sentence of Section 2.1 (c) ) (the “ Investor Notice Period ”), then the Company shall, immediately after the expiration of the Investor Notice Period, send written notice (the “ Company Undersubscription Notice ”) to those Investors who fully exercised their Secondary Refusal Right within the Investor Notice Period (the “ Exercising Investors ”). Each Exercising Investor shall, subject to the provisions of this Section 2.1 (d) , have an additional option to purchase all or any part of the balance of any such remaining unsubscribed shares of Transfer Stock on the terms and conditions set forth in the Proposed Transfer Notice. To exercise such option, an Exercising Investor must deliver an Undersubscription Notice to the selling Investor and the Company within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Investor Notice Period. In the event there are two or more such Exercising Investors that choose to exercise the last-mentioned option for a total number of remaining shares in excess of the number available, the remaining shares available for purchase under this Section 2.1 (d) shall be allocated to such Exercising Investors pro rata based on the number of shares of Transfer Stock such Exercising Investors have elected to purchase pursuant to the Secondary Refusal Right (without giving effect to any shares of Transfer Stock that any such Exercising Investor has elected to purchase pursuant to the Company Undersubscription Notice). If the options to purchase the remaining shares are exercised in full by the Exercising Investors, the Company shall immediately notify all of the Exercising Investors and the selling Investor of that fact.
 
(e)             Forfeiture of Rights . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the total number of shares of Transfer Stock that the Company and the Investors have agreed to purchase in the Company Notice, Investor Notices and Undersubscription Notices is less than the total number of shares of Transfer Stock, then the Company and the Investors shall be deemed to have forfeited any right to purchase such Transfer Stock, and the selling Investor shall be free to sell all, but not less than all, of the Transfer Stock to the Prospective Transferee on terms and conditions substantially similar to (and in no event more favorable than) the terms and conditions set forth in the Proposed Transfer Notice, it being understood and agreed that (i) any such sale or transfer shall be subject to the other terms and restrictions of this Agreement, including without limitation the terms and restrictions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 5.9(b) ; (ii) any future Proposed Investor Transfer shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including this Section 2 ; and (iii) such sale shall be consummated within forty-five (45) days after receipt of the Proposed Transfer Notice by the Company and, if such sale is not consummated within such forty-five (45) day period, such sale shall again become subject to the Right of First Refusal and Secondary Refusal Right on the terms set forth herein.
 
(f)             Consideration; Closing . If the consideration proposed to be paid for the Transfer Stock is in property, services or other non-cash consideration, the fair market value of the consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors and as set forth in the Company Notice. If the Company or any Investor cannot for any reason pay for the Transfer Stock in the same form of non-cash consideration, the Company or such Investor may pay the cash value equivalent thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and as set forth in the Company Notice. The closing of the purchase of Transfer Stock by the Company and the Investors shall take place, and all payments from the Company and the Investors shall have been delivered to the selling Investor, by the later of (i) the date specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice as the intended date of the Proposed Investor Transfer and (ii) forty-five (45) days after delivery of the Proposed Transfer Notice.
 
 
4

 
 
2.2.          Tag-Along .
 
(a)             Exercise of Right . If any Transfer Stock subject to a Proposed Investor Transfer is not purchased pursuant to Section 2.1 above and thereafter is to be sold to a Prospective Transferee and a Change of Control will occur in connection therewith and the Dragging Investors have not elected to exercise their rights under Section 2.3 , each respective Investor may elect to exercise its Tag-Along Right and participate on a pro rata basis in the Proposed Investor Transfer as set forth in Section 2.2 (b) below and, subject to Section 2.2(d) , otherwise on the same terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice. Each Investor who desires to exercise its Tag-Along Right (each, a “ Participating Investor ”) must give the selling Investor written notice to that effect within fifteen (15) days after the deadline for delivery of the Secondary Notice described above, and upon giving such notice such Participating Investor shall be deemed to have effectively exercised the Tag-Along Right.
 
(b)             Shares Includable . Each Participating Investor may include in the Proposed Investor Transfer all or any part of such Participating Investor’s Capital Stock equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of shares of Transfer Stock subject to the Proposed Investor Transfer (excluding shares purchased by the Company or the Participating Investors pursuant to the Right of First Refusal or the Secondary Refusal Right) by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Capital Stock of such series owned by such Participating Investor immediately before consummation of the Proposed Investor Transfer (including any shares that such Investor has agreed to purchase pursuant to the Secondary Refusal Right) and the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Capital Stock of such series owned, in the aggregate, by all Participating Investors immediately prior to the consummation of the Proposed Investor Transfer (including any shares that all Participating Investors have collectively agreed to purchase pursuant to the Secondary Refusal Right), plus the number of shares of Transfer Stock held by the selling Investor or Investors. To the extent one or more of the Participating Investors exercise such right of participation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, the number of shares of Transfer Stock that the selling Investor may sell in the Proposed Investor Transfer shall be correspondingly reduced.
 
(c)             Purchase and Sale Agreement . The Participating Investors and the selling Investor agree that the terms and conditions of any Proposed Investor Transfer in accordance with Section 2.2 will be memorialized in, and governed by, a written purchase and sale agreement with the Prospective Transferee (the “ Purchase and Sale Agreement ”) with customary terms and provisions for such a transaction, and the Participating Investors and the selling Investor further covenant and agree to enter into such Purchase and Sale Agreement as a condition precedent to any sale or other transfer in accordance with this Section 2.2 .
 
(d)             Allocation of Consideration . The aggregate consideration payable to the Participating Investors and the selling Investor shall be allocated based on the number of shares of Capital Stock sold to the Prospective Transferee by each Participating Investor and the selling Investor as provided in Section 2.2(b) .
 
(e)             Purchase by Selling Investor; Deliveries . Notwithstanding Section 2.2(c) above, if any Prospective Transferee or Transferees refuse(s) to purchase securities subject to the Tag-Along Right from any Participating Investor or Investors or upon the failure to negotiate in good faith a Purchase and Sale Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Investors, no Investor may sell any Transfer Stock to such Prospective Transferee or Transferees unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, such Investor purchases all securities subject to the Tag-Along Right from such Participating Investor or Investors on the same terms and conditions (including the proposed purchase price) as set forth in the Proposed Transfer Notice and as provided in Section 2.2(d) . In connection with such purchase by the selling Investor, such Participating Investor or Investors shall deliver to the selling Investor a stock certificate or certificates, properly endorsed for transfer, representing the Capital Stock being purchased by the selling Investor. Each such stock certificate delivered to the selling Investor will be transferred to the Prospective Transferee against payment therefor in consummation of the sale of the Transfer Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice, and the selling Investor shall concurrently therewith remit or direct payment to each such Participating Investor the portion of the aggregate consideration to which each such Participating Investor is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale as provided in this Section 2.2(e) .
 
 
5

 
 
(f)             Additional Compliance . If any Proposed Investor Transfer is not consummated within sixty (60) days after receipt of the Proposed Transfer Notice by the Company, the Investors proposing the Proposed Investor Transfer may not sell any Transfer Stock unless they first comply in full with each provision of this Section 2 . The exercise or election not to exercise any right by any Investor hereunder shall not adversely affect its right to participate in any other sales of Transfer Stock subject to this Section  2.2 .
 
2.3.          Drag-Along .
 
(a)             If any Transfer Stock subject to or Proposed Investor Transfer is not purchased pursuant to Section 2.1 above and thereafter is to be sold to a Prospective Transferee and a Change of Control will occur in connection therewith (any such transaction, a “ Drag-Along Transaction ”), such Investors proposing to effect such transaction (the “ Dragging Investors ”) shall have the right to require all (but not less than all) of the other Investors (each, a “ Drag-Along Investor ”) to transfer their Capital Stock in such Drag-Along Transaction; provided, however, the consideration received in a Drag-Along Transaction by the Drag-Along Investors may not include consideration other than cash or Marketable Securities unless otherwise agreed by the Drag-Along Investors.
 
(b)             The Dragging Investors shall provide each Drag-Along Investor notice of the terms and conditions of such proposed Drag-Along Transaction (the “ Drag-Along Notice ”) not later than twenty (20) days prior to the closing of the proposed Drag-Along Transaction. The Drag-Along Notice shall contain a true and complete copy of any and all available documents constituting the agreement to transfer and, to the extent not set forth in the accompanying documents, the price offered for the applicable Transfer Stock, all information reasonably available to the Dragging Investors regarding the acquirer, all other material terms and conditions of the proposed Drag-Along Transaction and, in the case of a proposed Drag-Along Transaction in which the consideration consists in whole or in part of consideration other than cash, such information relating to such other consideration as is reasonably available to the Dragging Investors. Each Drag-Along Investor shall be required to participate in the Drag-Along Transaction on the terms and conditions set forth in the Drag-Along Notice and this Section 2.3 . No Investor shall have any dissenters’ or appraisal rights in connection with the Drag-Along Transaction, and each Investor hereby releases, and will execute such further instrument as the Company reasonably requests to further evidence the waiver of, such rights.
 
 
6

 
 
(c)             Within ten (10) days following receipt of the Drag-Along Notice, each Drag-Along Investor must deliver to such Dragging Investors (i) wire transfer instructions for payment of the purchase price for the applicable Capital Stock to be sold in such Drag-Along Transaction and (ii) all other documents required to be executed in connection with such Drag-Along Transaction. The Drag-Along Investors shall cooperate fully with all reasonable requests of the Dragging Investors regarding the Drag-Along Transaction. Each Drag-Along Investor hereby makes, constitutes, and appoints the Dragging Investor holding the highest percentage of Capital Stock among the Dragging Investors, as its true and lawful attorney in fact for such person and in its name, place, and stead and for its use and benefit, to sign, execute, certify, acknowledge, swear to, file and record any instrument that is now or may hereafter be deemed necessary by the Company in its reasonable discretion to carry out fully the provisions and the agreement, obligations, and covenants of such Investor in this Section 2.3 in the event that such Investor is or becomes a Drag-Along Investor pursuant to this Section 2.3 . Each Drag-Along Investor hereby gives such attorney in fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act or thing whatsoever requisite or advisable to be done in connection with such Drag-Along Investor’s obligations and agreements as a Drag-Along Investor pursuant to this Section 2.3 as fully as such Drag-Along Investor might or could do personally, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that any such attorney in fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of the power of attorney granted hereby. The power of attorney granted pursuant hereto is a special power of attorney, coupled with an interest, and is irrevocable, and shall survive the bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or cessation of existence of the applicable Drag-Along Investor.
 
(d)             If, at the end of the 90-day period after the date on which the Dragging Investors give the Drag-Along Notice (which 90-day period shall be extended if any of the transactions contemplated by the Drag-Along Transaction are subject to regulatory approval until the expiration of ten (10) days after all such approvals have been received, but in no event later than one hundred and twenty (120) days following the delivery of the Drag-Along Notice), the Drag-Along Transaction has not been completed on substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Drag-Along Notice, the Drag-Along Investors shall no longer be obligated to sell their Capital Stock pursuant to such Drag-Along Notice and the Dragging Investors shall return to each Drag-Along Investor any documents in the possession of the Dragging Investors executed by or on behalf of such Drag-Along Investor in connection with the proposed Drag-Along Transaction.
 
(e)             Concurrently with the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction, Dragging Investors shall (i) notify the Drag-Along Investors thereof, (ii) cause the total consideration for the Capital Stock of the Drag-Along Investors transferred pursuant thereto to be remitted directly to the Drag-Along Investors and (iii) promptly after the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction, furnish such other evidence of the completion and the date of completion of such transfer and the terms thereof as may be reasonably requested by the Drag-Along Investors.
 
 
7

 
 
(f)              Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.3 , there shall be no liability on the part of the Dragging Investors to the Drag-Along Investors if the transfer pursuant to this Section 2.3 is not consummated for whatever reason.
 
(g)            Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.3 , the obligations of the Drag-Along Investors to participate in a Drag-Along Transaction are subject to the following conditions:
 
(i)             Upon the consummation of such Drag-Along Transaction all of the Investors participating therein will receive the same form of consideration;
 
(ii)            No Investor participating therein shall be obligated to pay any expenses incurred in connection with any unconsummated Drag-Along Transaction except for its own expenses, and each Investor shall be obligated to pay only its pro rata share (based on the amount of Capital Stock being transferred) of expenses incurred in connection with a consummated Drag-Along Transaction to the extent such expenses are incurred for the benefit of all Investors and are not otherwise paid by the Company or another person;
 
(iii)           Without the written consent of a Drag-Along Investor, such Drag-Along Investor shall not be obligated with respect to (A) any representation or warranty other than (x) a representation and warranty that relates solely to such Drag-Along Investor’s title to its Transfer Stock, and its authority and capacity to execute and deliver the subject purchase and sale agreement or (y) a representation and warranty that relates to the Company and its operations which each Investor is severally making (provided, that if such Investor or an Affiliate of such Investor is not actively involved in the day to day operations of the Company, any such representation shall be limited to such Investor’s actual knowledge), or (B) any indemnity obligation beyond a pro rata portion or in excess of the gross proceeds received by a Drag-Along Investor (in each case, based on the value of consideration received by such Drag-Along Investor in the Drag-Along Transaction) of the indemnity obligations which obligate the Dragging Investors and all Drag-Along Investors and then, such indemnity obligations shall be several and not joint or (C) any other continuing obligation on such Drag-Along Investor in favor of any other person following the Drag-Along Transaction of such Drag-Along Investor’s Interests (other than obligations relating to representations and warranties that relate solely to such Drag-Along Investor and not to any other Investor or the indemnification obligation provided for in clause (B) above); and
 
(iv)           No Drag-Along Investor shall be obligated to consummate such Drag-Along Transaction contemplated by the Drag-Along Notice with respect to its Capital Stock unless the Dragging Investors consummate such Drag-Along Transaction with respect to all (but not less than all) of the Drag-Along Investor’s Capital Stock on the terms and conditions contemplated by the Drag-Along Notice.
 
 
8

 
 
2.4.          Effect of Failure to Comply .
 
(a)             Transfer Void; Equitable Relief . Any Proposed Investor Transfer not made in compliance with the requirements of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company or its transfer agent and shall not be recognized by the Company. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement would result in substantial harm to the other parties hereto for which monetary damages alone could not adequately compensate. Therefore, the parties hereto unconditionally and irrevocably agree that any non-breaching party hereto shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available at law or in equity (including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of purchases, sales and other transfers of Transfer Stock not made in strict compliance with this Agreement).
 
(b)             Violation of First Refusal Right . If any Investor becomes obligated to sell any Transfer Stock to the Company or any Investor under this Agreement and fails to deliver such Transfer Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company and/or such Investor may, at its option, in addition to all other remedies it may have, send to such Investor the purchase price for such Transfer Stock as is herein specified and transfer to the name of the Company or such Investor (or request that the Company effect such transfer in the name of an Investor) on the Company’s books the certificate or certificates representing the Transfer Stock to be sold.
 
(c)             Violation of Tag-Along Right . If any Investor purports to sell any Transfer Stock in contravention of the Tag-Along Right (a “ Prohibited Transfer ”), each Investor who desires to exercise its Tag-Along Right under Section 2.2 may, in addition to such remedies as may be available by law, in equity or hereunder, require such Investor to purchase from such Investor the type and number of shares of Capital Stock that such Investor would have been entitled to sell to the Prospective Transferee had the Prohibited Transfer been effected in compliance with the terms of Section 2.2 . The sale will be made on the same terms, including, without limitation, as provided in Section 2.2(d) , and subject to the same conditions as would have applied had the Investor not made the Prohibited Transfer, except that the sale (including, without limitation, the delivery of the purchase price) must be made within ninety (90) days after the Investor learns of the Prohibited Transfer, as opposed to the timeframe proscribed in Section  2.2 . Such Investor shall also reimburse each Investor for any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, incurred pursuant to the exercise or the attempted exercise of the Investor’s rights under Section 2.2 .
 
3.            Exempt Transfers .
 
3.1.          Exempted Transfers . Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of Section 2 shall not apply: (a) in the case of an Investor that is an entity, upon a transfer by such Investor to its stockholders, members, partners or other equity holders, (b) to a repurchase of Transfer Stock from an Investor by the Company at a price no greater than that originally paid by such Investor for such Transfer Stock and pursuant to an agreement containing vesting and/or repurchase provisions approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, (c) to a pledge of Transfer Stock that creates a mere security interest in the pledged Transfer Stock, provided that the pledgee thereof agrees in writing in advance to be bound by and comply with all applicable provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if it were the Investor making such pledge, (d) in the case of an Investor that is a natural person, upon a transfer of Transfer Stock by such Investor made for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her spouse, child (natural or adopted), or any other direct lineal descendant of such Investor (or his or her spouse) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to as “family members”), or to any family or other charitable foundation or organization controlled by such Investor or such Investor’s shareholders, partners or owners, or any other person approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, or any custodian or trustee of any trust, partnership or limited liability company for the benefit of, or the ownership interests of which are owned wholly by, such Investor or any such family members, or (e) upon a transfer approved by the Company; provided that, the Investor shall deliver prior written notice to the Company of such pledge, gift or transfer and such shares of Transfer Stock shall at all times remain subject to the terms and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and such transferee shall, as a condition to such issuance, deliver a counterpart signature page to this Agreement as confirmation that such transferee shall be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement as an Investor (but only with respect to the securities so transferred to the transferee), including the obligations of an Investor with respect to Proposed Investor Transfers of such Transfer Stock pursuant to Section 2 ; and provided, further, that, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (a) or (d) above, that such transfer is made pursuant to a transaction in which there is no consideration actually paid for such transfer.
 
 
9

 
 
3.2.           Exempted Offerings . Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of Section 2 shall not apply to the sale of any Transfer Stock (a) to the public in an offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (b) pursuant to a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).
 
4.            Legend . Each certificate representing shares of Transfer Stock held by the Investors or issued to any permitted transferee in connection with a transfer permitted by Section  3.1 hereof shall be endorsed with the following legend:
 
THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO, AND IN CERTAIN CASES PROHIBITED BY, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN INVESTOR AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE STOCKHOLDER, THE CORPORATION AND CERTAIN OTHER HOLDERS OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.
 
Each Investor agrees that the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose transfer restrictions on the shares represented by certificates bearing the legend referred to in this Section 4 above to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, and the Company agrees to promptly do so. The legend shall be removed upon termination of this Agreement at the request of the holder.
 
5.            Miscellaneous .
 
5.1.           Term . This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier of (a) immediately prior to the consummation of the Company’s IPO (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) and (b) the consummation of a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).
 
 
10

 
 
5.2.           Stock Split . All references to numbers of shares in this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, split, combination or other recapitalization affecting the Capital Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement.
 
5.3.           Ownership . Each Investor represents and warrants that such Investor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the shares of Capital Stock subject to this Agreement and that no other person or entity has any interest in such shares (other than a community property interest as to which the holder thereof has acknowledged and agreed in writing to the restrictions and obligations hereunder).
 
5.4.           Dispute Resolution . The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts situated in Houston, Texas and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Sothern District of Texas for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in state courts situated in Houston, Texas or the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.
 
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL:   EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
 
 
11

 
 
5.5.           Notices . All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or: (a) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s 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) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next business day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their address as set forth on Schedule A hereof, as the case may be, or to such email address, facsimile number or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 5.5 . If notice is given to the Company, it shall be sent to Aly Energy Services, Inc., 1200 Post Oak Blvd., #1912, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention:   Munawar H. Hidayatallah; and a copy (which shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent to John Geddes, Baker Botts L.L.P., 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002, Fax No: (713) 229-2713.
 
5.6.           Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties are expressly canceled.
 
5.7.           Delays or Omissions . No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
 
5.8.           Amendment; Waiver and Termination . This Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated (other than pursuant to Section 5.1 above) and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument executed by (a) the Company and (b) the Investors holding at least 66.67% of the shares of Transfer Stock then held by all of the Investors. Any amendment, modification, termination or waiver so effected shall be binding upon the Company and the Investors and all of their respective successors and permitted assigns whether or not such party, assignee or other shareholder entered into or approved such amendment, modification, termination or waiver. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) this Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term hereunder may not be waived with respect to any Investor or Investor without the written consent of such Investor or Investor unless such amendment, modification, termination or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion and (ii) Schedule A hereto may be amended by the Company from time to time to add information regarding Additional Investors without the consent of the other parties hereto. The Company shall give prompt written notice of any amendment, modification or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, modification, termination or waiver. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition or provision.
 
 
12

 
 
5.9.           Assignment of Rights .
 
(a)             The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
 
(b)             Any successor or permitted assignee of any Investor, including any Prospective Transferee who purchases shares of Transfer Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, shall deliver to the Company and the Investors, as a condition to any transfer or assignment, a counterpart signature page hereto pursuant to which such successor or permitted assignee shall confirm their agreement to be subject to and bound by all of the provisions set forth in this Agreement that were applicable to the predecessor or assignor of such successor or permitted assignee.
 
(c)             The rights of the Investors hereunder are not assignable without the Company’s written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), except (i) by an Investor to any Affiliate of such Investor or (ii) to an assignee or transferee pursuant to a transfer according to the terms of this Agreement, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such assignment, including an assignment contemplated by the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) shall be subject to and conditioned upon any such assignee’s delivery to the Company and the other Investors of a counterpart signature page hereto pursuant to which such assignee shall confirm their agreement to be subject to and bound by all of the provisions set forth in this Agreement that were applicable to the assignor of such assignee.
 
(d)             Except in connection with an assignment by the Company by operation of law to the acquirer of the Company, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned under any circumstances.
 
5.10.           Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.
 
5.11.           Additional Investors . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company issues additional shares of Capital Stock after the date hereof, any purchaser of such shares of Capital Stock may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Agreement and thereafter shall be deemed an “Investor” for all purposes hereunder.
 
5.12.           Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. All disputes shall be resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Texas. Each party hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action, claim or other proceeding arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement. Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative of any other party has represented to such party, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of any action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 5.12 .
 
 
13

 
 
5.13.           Titles and Subtitles . The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
 
5.14.           Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) 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.
 
5.15.           Specific Performance . In addition to any and all other remedies that may be available at law in the event of any breach of this Agreement, each Investor shall be entitled to specific performance of the agreements and obligations of the Company and the Investors hereunder and to such other injunction or other equitable relief as may be granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
5.16.           Additional Investors . In the event that after the date of this Agreement, the Company issues shares of Common Stock, or options to purchase Common Stock, to any employee or consultant, the Company shall, as a condition to such issuance, cause such employee or consultant to execute a counterpart signature page hereto as an Investor, and such person shall thereby be bound by, and subject to, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement applicable to an Investor.
 
5.17.           Consent of Spouse .   If any Investor is married on the date of this Agreement, such Investor’s spouse shall execute and deliver to the Company a consent of spouse in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a “ Consent of Spouse ”), effective on the date hereof. Notwithstanding the execution and delivery thereof, such consent shall not be deemed to confer or convey to the spouse any rights in such Investor’s shares of Transfer Stock that do not otherwise exist by operation of law or the agreement of the parties. If any Investor should marry or remarry subsequent to the date of this Agreement, such Investor shall within thirty (30) days thereafter obtain his/her new spouse’s acknowledgement of and consent to the existence and binding effect of all restrictions contained in this Agreement by causing such spouse to execute and deliver a Consent of Spouse acknowledging the restrictions and obligations contained in this Agreement and agreeing and consenting to the same.
 
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
 
 
14

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.,  
       
 
By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Name:
Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
  Title:
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
Signature Page to Investor Agreement
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Howard Lorch
 
  Name:  Howard Loarch as President of General Partner  
    Chilton Global Management Partners, Ltd.  
 
 
Schedule A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Kouros Sariri  
  Signature: /s/ Mariana Sariri  
  Name:  Kouros and Mariana Sariri  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Armand Neff  
  Signature: /s/ Christoph Luthy  
  Name:
Makini Enterprises S.A., St. Vincent
 
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Nadine C. Smith  
  Name: Nadine C. Smith  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature: /s/ Nezam Afdhal  
  Name: Nezam Afdhal  

 
Exhibit A
 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Saeed Sheikh  
  Name:  Saeed Sheikh  

 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Zane Tankel  
  Name: Zane Tankel  
 
 
Exhibit A
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Avrind Sanger  
  Name: Avrind Sanger  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Muhsin Afdal  
  Name: Muhsin Afdal  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Laily Shirazi   
  Name: Laily Shirazi  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Steven Emerson  
  Name: Steven Emerson  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
     
  Freebird Partners LP  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Curtis Huff  
  Name: Curtis Huff  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
     
 
Ironman PI Fund II (QP), L.P.
 
       
 
Signature:
/s/ G. Bryan Dutt   
  Name: G. Bryan Dutt, Managing Director  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ James Crystal  
  Name: James Crystal  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ John D. Long  
  Name: John D. Long  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
 
  INVESTOR:  
       
 
Signature:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Name: Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE A
INVESTORS
 
Principal
Record Holder / Address
Amount
Shares
Micki Hidayatallah
Micki Hidayatallah
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
Houston, TX 77056
$1,625,000
500,000
Ali Afdhal
Cydas Investments Limited
PO Box 437
13 Castle Street
St. Heller
Jersey JE4 0ZE
Channel Islands
$2,500,000
625,000
J. Steven Emerson
Emerson Partners
1522 Ensley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
$240,000
60,000
 
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC
as Custodian, Rollover Account II
1999 Ave of the Starts #2530
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention: Jennifer Sun
$1,000,000
250,000
 
IRA FBO J. Steven Emerson, Pershing LLC as Custodian, Roth Account
1999 Ave of the Starts #2530
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention: Jennifer Sun
$1,000,000
250,000
 
J. Steven Emerson
1522 Ensley Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
$240,000
60,000
Nezam Afdhal
Nezam Afdhal
59 Pier 7
Charlestown, MA 020129
$1,250,000
312,500
Armand Neff and Christoph Luthy
Makini Enterprises S.A., St. Vincent
c/o Prisma International Ltd.
Bahnhofstrasse, PO Box 1055
CH-6304 Zug, Switzerland
1,200,000
300,000
Zane Tankel
Zane Tankel
181 East 65th St.
New York, NY 10065
$1,000,000
250,000
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
Principal
Record Holder / Address
Amount
Shares
Bryan Dutt
Ironman PI Fund II (QP), L.P.
2211 Norfolk, Suite 611
Houston, TX 77098
$500,000
125,000
Curtis Huff
Freebird Partners, LP
2800 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 2000
Houston, Texas 77056
$500,000
125,000
Kouros and Mariana Sariri
 
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian
Kouros Sariri, Account # 407193
P.O. Box 20608, Waco TX 76702-20608
Tax ID#: 05-0552743
$164,056.81
41,014
 
Equity Trust Company, DBA Sterling Trust, Custodian
Mariana Gharai, Account # 407194
P.O. Box 20608, Waco TX 76702-20608
Tax ID#: 05-0552743
$110,617.83
27,654
 
Kouros and Mariana Sariri
16630 Calneva Dr.
Encino, CA 91436
$225,325.36
56,332
Nadine C. Smith
Nadine C. Smith
1616 Standford Lane
Sarasota, FL 34231
$250,000
62,500
John D. Long
John D. Long
1616 Standford Lane
Sarasota, FL 34231
$250,000
62,500
Saeed M. Sheikh
Saeed M. Sheikh
1050 17th St. NW #450
Washington DC 20036
$425,000
106,250
Howard Lorch
Chilton Global Management Partners, Ltd.
909 Fannin St., Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77010
$300,000
75,000
Arvind Sanger
Arvind Sanger
170 East End Ave., PHIB
New York, NY 10128
$250,000
62,500
James W. Crystal
James W. Crystal
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
$250,000
62,500
 
Exhibit A
 
 

 
 
EXHIBIT A
 
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
 
I, ____________________, spouse of ______________, acknowledge that I have read the Aly Energy Services Inc. Investor Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2012, as amended, to which this Consent is attached as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”), and that I know the contents of the Agreement. I am aware that the Agreement contains provisions regarding certain rights to certain other holders of Capital Stock of the Company upon a Proposed Investor Transfer of shares of Transfer Stock of the Company which my spouse may own including any interest I might have therein.
 
I hereby agree that my interest, if any, in any shares of Transfer Stock of the Company subject to the Agreement shall be irrevocably bound by the Agreement and further understand and agree that any community property interest I may have in such shares of Transfer Stock of the Company shall be similarly bound by the Agreement.
 
I am aware that the legal, financial and related matters contained in the Agreement are complex and that I am free to seek independent professional guidance or counsel with respect to this Consent. I have either sought such guidance or counsel or determined after reviewing the Agreement carefully that I will waive such right.
 
 
Dated as of the __ day of __________, _____.      
       
    Signature  
       
       
    Print Name  
 
 
Exhibit A

EXHIBIT 10.1
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into this 7 day of May, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Micki Hidayatallah (the “ Employee ”).
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
 
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below.
 
1.1    Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
1.2    Cause ” shall mean that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from the Company confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
1.3    CEO ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
 
1.4    Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.5    Date of Termination ” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination relating to termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.
 
1.6    Good Reason ” shall mean without the prior consent of Employee: (a) a relocation of Employee or the Company principal executives to a location outside the Houston, Texas metropolitan area, (b) there is a material reduction by the Company in Employee’s responsibilities, duties, authority, title, or reporting relationship or (c) the Company acts in any way that would reduce Employee’s Base Salary (except where such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally) or the Company adversely affects Employee’s participation in or materially reduces Employee’s benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which Employee is participating.
 
 
1

 
 
1.7    Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Company or Employee to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the Date of Termination that sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.
 
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
 
2.1    Employment; Effective Date . The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Effective Date and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
2.2    Position . From and after the Effective Date, Employee shall serve in the position of Chairman of the Board and CEO or in such other position or positions as the parties mutually may agree and shall report to the Board.
 
2.3    Duties and Services . Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 hereof and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the usual and customary duties and services appertaining to such positions, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such positions which the Company and Employee mutually may agree upon from time to time. Employee’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees, as such policies may be amended from time to time.
 
2.4    Other Interests . Employee agrees, during the Term, to devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments, (b) engage in charitable and civic activities, and (c) engage in such other activities that the Company and Employee mutually agree to; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or materially interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.
 
2.5    Duty of Loyalty . Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Business (as defined below) and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.
 
 
2

 
 
ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
3.1    Term . Subject to the remaining terms of this Article III, this Agreement shall be for a term that begins on the Effective Date and continues in effect through December 31, 2016 (the “ Term ”). Subject to Section 9.13, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Term and Employee shall continue as an at-will employee of the Company.
 
3.2    Company’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:
 
(a)    for Cause; or
 
(b)    for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
 
3.3    Employee’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1:
 
(a)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, provided, however, that termination for Good Reason by the Employee shall not be permitted unless (x) Employee has given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that he has a basis for a termination for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason, (y) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason within such 30-day period (the “ Cure Period ”) and (z) Employee actually terminates Employee’s employment within 30 days following the end of the Cure Period.
 
(b)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for any reason other than Good Reason, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b), the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).
 
3.4    Deemed Resignations . Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors of the Company (if applicable), from the board of directors or similar governing body of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
 
3.5    Meaning of Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.
 
 
3

 
 
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
4.1    Base Salary . During the Term, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $300,000.00 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s Base Salary shall be increased to $420,000 as of the earlier of (i) March 15, 2013 or (ii) the closing date of the acquisition by the Company of all or substantially all of the outstanding capital stock or assets of a company for a purchase price in excess of $25 million other than Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. following the date of the execution of this Agreement. The Board may reduce Employee’s Base Salary in its sole discretion, including due to economic or market conditions, and such reduction shall not constitute a Good Reason condition if such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally. Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.
 
4.2    Bonuses . For 2013 through 2016, Employee shall be entitled to an annual bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) of 120% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA ”) in such year is at least 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 100% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 100% and less than 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 80% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 90% and less than 100% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year and no Annual Bonus if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is less than 90% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year. Any acquisitions by the Company following Board approval of forecasted EBITDA shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA for such year. Any Annual Bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4.2 will be paid to Employee no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided Employee is employed by the Company on such date of payment.
 
4.3    Equity . Employee shall be awarded 170,000 stock options at an exercise price of $4.00 per share under a Management Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) that is currently being prepared. The stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions in the Plan and any applicable award agreement related to such stock options.
 
4.4    Benefits . During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in such group life, health, accident, disability or hospitalization insurance plans and retirement plans as the Company may make available to its other similarly situated executive employees as a group, subject to the terms and conditions of any such plans. Employee’s participation in all such plans shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and responsibilities at the Company. The Company shall reimburse Employee for (i) Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and (ii) Anthem Blue Cross supplemental premiums paid by Employee on behalf of Employee and Employee’s spouse.
 
 
4

 
 
4.5    Vacation and Leave . Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation but Employee will not take more than two (2) weeks consecutive vacation. Unused vacation days in one calendar year shall not carry over to the following calendar year. Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to its employees generally.
 
4.6    Expenses . The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is one year after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company. The Company shall lease an automobile for the exclusive business use of Employee, with such monthly lease cost not to exceed $600. The Company shall pay all fuel costs and all maintenance costs necessary for the upkeep of the automobile.
 
ARTICLE V
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
 
5.1    Disclosure to and Property of the Company . For purposes of this Article V, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director, manager and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee individually or in conjunction with others during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
 
 
5

 
 
5.2    Disclosure to Employee . The Company shall disclose to Employee, or place Employee in a position to have access to or develop, Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company; and shall entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company; and shall place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company.
 
5.3    No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure . Employee agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and of all Work Product containing Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to obligate all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent (a) such Confidential Information has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee or (b) disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article V. As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, confidential information or work product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
 
5.4    Ownership by the Company . If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
 
 
6

 
 
5.5    Assistance by Employee . During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall reasonably assist the Company and its nominee, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods and for reasonable compensation, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
 
5.6    Remedies . Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article V by Employee, and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article V by specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article V but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
ARTICLE VI
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
6.1    Statements . Each of the Employer and Employee will refrain, both during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and after the termination thereof, from publishing any oral or written statements about the other party, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information (other than Confidential Information that has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee) of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the other party, any of the Company’s affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the parties hereby under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing shall prevent any party from testifying in any legal proceeding pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
 
 
7

 
 
ARTICLE VII
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION
 
7.1    Effect of Termination of Employment on Compensation .
 
(a)    Benefit Obligation and Accrued Obligation Defined . For purposes of this Agreement, payment of the “ Benefit Obligation ” shall mean payment by the Company to Employee (or his designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan document, of all vested benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of the employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements in which Employee is a participant as of the Date of Termination. “ Accrued Obligation ” means the sum of (1) Employee’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (2) any accrued but unused vacation pay earned by Employee, and (3) any incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.6, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid.
 
(b)    Termination of Employee for Any Reason other than by the Company Without Cause . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever other than by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination. Following such payment, the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee other than as may be required by law or the terms of an employee benefit plan of the Company. The Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
(c)    Termination of Employee by the Company Without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason, then Employee shall receive the following benefits and compensation from the Company:
 
(i)            the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the date of Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(ii)           the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months, with such amount payable in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the 60th day following Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
 
8

 
 
(iii)           for twenty-four (24) months following Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that Employee elects and timely pays the premiums for continuation of the Company’s group health insurance pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse Employee for such premiums within 30 days of each payment. If Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage prior to the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of Employee’s Date of Termination, the Company shall pay on a monthly basis to Employee a lump-sum amount equal to the monthly COBRA premiums that would be charged to a similarly situated former employee; and
 
(iv)         the Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Employee, nor his estate, shall be permitted to specify the taxable year in which a payment described in this Section 7.1(c) shall be paid.
 
(d)    General Release of Claims . Payments to Employee under this Article VII (other than Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations) are contingent upon Employee’s execution of a release, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within fifty (50) days of Employee’s Date of Termination that is not revoked by Employee during any applicable revocation period provided in such release (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, managers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company or its affiliates or the termination of such employment). Nothing in this Section 7.1(d) shall be construed to require Employee to execute a release in any form if Employee does not accept payments described in this Section 7.1 other than the Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations.
 
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS AGAINST COMPETITION
 
8.1    Definitions . As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)    Business ” means (i) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (ii) the provision of products or services provided by the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3) year period prior to the Date of Termination.
 
(b)    Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(c)    Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
 
9

 
 
(d)    Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following Employee’s Date of Termination.
 
(e)    Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business during the Prohibited Period. With respect to the Business of an affiliate of Company, the term “Restricted Area” means the trade area of the affiliate existing on the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.
 
8.2    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . Employee presently has specialized knowledge of the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the Company, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that were among the assets of the Company prior to the Effective Date. Employee acknowledges his expertise and specialized knowledge of research and development, and other Confidential Information of the Company. Employee will continue to obtain and develop specialized knowledge of Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates and the business of the Company through his continued involvement in the business of the Company, including his employment under this Agreement. The Company’s promise to provide Employee with this Confidential Information is an essential part of the Company’s agreement to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
 
In consideration of the Company’s promises and undertakings in this Agreement, including the promise to provide specialized training and knowledge, the promise to provide Employee access to and control of Confidential Information that the Company and its affiliates will continue to develop and/or receive and that Employee will have access to through the Term, and to ensure the protection of the Company’s and its affiliates’ Confidential Information during Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Company and Employee agree and covenant that during the Prohibited Period:
 
(a)    Employee shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any person or persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business for the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Employee works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and
 
(b)    Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
 
10

 
 
8.3    Relief . Employee and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 hereof are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Employee and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments then owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise and to seek in a court of competent jurisdiction specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, however, that such termination of payments owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise may not occur in the absence of a breach of this Article VIII by Employee. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
8.4    Reasonableness; Enforcement . Employee hereby represents to the Company that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII. Employee acknowledges that the duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature of the operations of the Company’s Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Company’s Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, and (c) the amount of compensation, trade secrets and Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable. It is specifically agreed that the period specified in Section 8.2 shall be computed by excluding from that computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of Section 8.2.
 
8.5    Reformation . The Company and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Employee expressly represents that enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article VIII will not impose an undue hardship upon Employee or any person or entity affiliated with Employee. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.
 
 
11

 
 
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
9.1    Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:
 
If to Employee, addressed to:
Micki Hidayatallah
 
[Address]
[City, State Zip]
   
If to the Company, addressed to: Aly Energy Services Inc.
 
3 Riverway Suite 920
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 832-454-7394
Fax: 310-459-8500
Attention: Board of Directors
 
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
 
9.2    Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
(a)    This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
(b)    With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Texas.
 
9.3    Litigation . Employee agrees to cooperate, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, with the Company and its attorneys, both during and after the termination of his employment, in connection with any litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which Employee was involved prior to the termination of his employment to the extent the Company pays all expenses Employee incurs in connection with such cooperation and to the extent such cooperation does not unduly interfere (as determined by Employee in good faith) with Employee’s personal or professional schedule.
 
9.4    Dispute Resolution . Except as provided otherwise in Sections 5.6, 6.1 and 8.3, all claims, demands, causes of action, disputes, controversies or other matters in question (“ Claims ”) arising out of this Agreement or Employee’s service (or termination from service) with the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute, equity or common law, that the Company may have against Employee or that Employee may have against the Company, or its parents or subsidiaries, or against each of the foregoing entities’ respective officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.4(a) and (b). Claims covered by this Section 9.4 include, without limitation, claims by Employee for breach of this Agreement, wrongful termination, discrimination (based on age, race, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other factor), harassment and retaliation.
 
 
12

 
 
(a)    Agreement to Negotiate . First, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Claims promptly by negotiations between Employee and executives or directors of the Company or its affiliates who have authority to settle the Claims. Either party may give the other disputing party written notice of any Claim not resolved in the normal course of business. Within five days after the effective date of that notice, Employee and such executives or directors of the Company shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to meet and shall meet at that time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Claim. The first of those meetings shall take place within 30 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice. If the Claim has not been resolved within 60 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and place for an initial meeting within five days of that notice, either party may elect to undertake arbitration in accordance with Section 9.4(b).
 
(b)    Agreement to Arbitrate . If a Claim is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to Section 9.4(a), such Claim must be resolved through arbitration regardless of whether the Claim involves claims that the Agreement is unlawful, unenforceable, void, or voidable or involves claims under statutory, civil or common law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). If a party refuses to honor its obligations under this Section 9.4(b), the other party may compel arbitration any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law, or both as applicable to the Claims asserted. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or enforceability or formation of this Agreement (including this Section 9.4), including any claim that all or part of the Agreement is void or voidable and any Claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The results of arbitration will be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto. Any arbitrator’s award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon will be final and unappealable. The seat of arbitration shall be in Harris County in the State of Texas, and unless agreed otherwise by the parties, all hearings shall take place at the seat. Any and all of the arbitrator’s orders, decisions and awards may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and entered by any federal or state court having jurisdiction. All evidentiary privileges under applicable state and federal law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. The decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. Arbitrations will be conducted in such a manner that the final decision of the arbitrator will be made and provided to Employee and the Company no later than 120 days after a matter is submitted to arbitration. All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrators, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Each party shall pay its own attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs of arbitration. The arbitrator’s fees shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or by such party or parties as the arbitrator shall determine. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR A COURT TRIAL OF ANY SERVICE RELATED CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.
 
 
13

 
 
9.5           No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
 
9.6           Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 
9.7           Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 
9.8           Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions . The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
 
9.9           Headings . The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
 
9.10          Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
 
9.11          Affiliate . As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.
 
9.12    Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.
 
9.13          Term .  Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
 
 
14

 
 
9.14          Entire Agreement . Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Employee, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Employee by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.
 
9.15          Modification; Waiver . Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement; provided that the Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend this Agreement at any time (to the extent Employee is not adversely affected by such amendment), if determined to be reasonably necessary to comply with administrative guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
9.16          Compliance with Section 409A of the Code . Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance benefits under Article VII would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, and Employee constitutes a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any such payments that Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following Employee’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
 
 
15

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Mark Patterson  
  Name: Mark Patterson  
  Title:
President and Chief Operating Officer
 
       
       
  MICKI HIDAYATALLAH  
       
  By: /s/ Micki Hidayatallah  
 
 
 
 
 
Signature Page to
Micki Hidayatallah Employment Agreement
 
 
 

 
 
Exhibit A
 
Form of Waiver and Release Agreement
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc. has offered to pay me certain benefits (the “Benefits”) pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of my employment agreement with Aly Energy Services, Inc., dated as of _____________, 20___ (the “Employment Agreement”), which were offered to me in exchange for my agreement, among other things, to waive all of my claims against and release Aly Energy Services, Inc. and its predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively referred to as the “Company”), all of the affiliates (including parents and subsidiaries) of the Company (collectively referred to as the “Affiliates”) and the Company’s and Affiliates’ directors and officers, employees and agents, insurers, employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively, with the Company and Affiliates, referred to as the “Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates; provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to (1) any existing right I have to indemnification, contribution and a defense, (2) any directors and officers and general liability insurance coverage, (3) any rights I may have as a shareholder of the Company, (4) any rights I have to the Benefits, and (5) any rights which cannot be waived or released as a matter of law.
 
I understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release and has given me at least 21 days from the day I received a copy of this Waiver and Release to sign it.
 
In exchange for the payment to me of Benefits, I, among other things, (1) agree not to sue in any local, state and/or federal court regarding or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates, (2) knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates and (3) waive any rights that I may have under any of the Company’s involuntary severance benefit plans, except to the extent that my rights are vested under the terms of employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company or the Affiliates and except with respect to such rights or claims as may arise after the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“ADEA”); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”); the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5851; the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; claims in connection with workers’ compensation or “whistle blower” statutes; and/or contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law. Further, I expressly represent that no promise or agreement which is not expressed in the Employment Agreement has been made to me in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am relying on my own judgment in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am not relying on any statement or representation of the Company, any of the Affiliates or any other member of the Corporate Group or any of their agents. I agree that this Waiver and Release is valid, fair, adequate and reasonable, is entered into with my full knowledge and consent, was not procured through fraud, duress or mistake and has not had the effect of misleading, misinforming or failing to inform me.
 
 
A-1

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Waiver and Release is intended to prohibit or restrict me in any way from (1) bringing a lawsuit against the Company to enforce the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (2) making any disclosure of information required by law; (3) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal, compliance or human resources officers; (4) testifying or participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (5) filing any claims that are not permitted to be waived or released under applicable law (although my ability to recover damages or other relief is still waived and released to the extent permitted by law).
 
Should any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to be invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, it is agreed that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions of this Waiver and Release. I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Employment Agreement set forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group. I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following the date that I sign this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer, provided that my written statement of revocation is received on or before that seventh day by [Name], Aly Energy Services, Inc., [Address], [City, State Zip], facsimile number: _______________________, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the Company shall have no obligation to provide me Benefits. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of the offer within 7 calendar days from the date I sign this Waiver and Release will result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
 
I acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity to ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation, discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, or disability and any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and Release. By execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts, omissions, or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group which occur after the date of the execution of this Waiver and Release.
 
 
Munawar H. Hidayatallah   Mark Peterson  
Employee’s Printed Name   Company Representative  
       
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah   May 7, 2013  
Employee’s Signature   Company’s Execution Date  
       
May 7, 2013   [omitted]  
Employee’s Signature Date   Employee’s Social Security Number  
       
    /s/ Mark Peterson  
 
 
A-2

EXHIBIT 10.2
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into this 12th day of February, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Mark Patterson (the “ Employee ”).
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
 
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below.
 
1.1    Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
1.2    Cause ” shall mean that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from the Company confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
1.3    CEO ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
 
1.4    Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.5    Date of Termination ” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination relating to termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.
 
1.6    Good Reason ” shall mean without the prior consent of Employee: (a) a relocation of Employee or the Company principal executives to a location outside the Houston, Texas metropolitan area, (b) there is a material reduction by the Company in Employee’s responsibilities, duties, authority, title, or reporting relationship or (c) the Company acts in any way that would reduce Employee’s Base Salary (except where such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally) or the Company adversely affects Employee’s participation in or materially reduces Employee’s benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which Employee is participating.
 
 
1

 
 
1.7    Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Company or Employee to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the Date of Termination that sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.
 
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
 
2.1    Employment; Effective Date . The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Effective Date and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
2.2    Position . From and after the Effective Date, Employee shall serve in the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company or in such other position or positions as the parties mutually may agree and shall report to the CEO.
 
2.3    Duties and Services . Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 hereof and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the usual and customary duties and services appertaining to such positions, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such positions which the Company and Employee mutually may agree upon from time to time. Employee’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees, as such policies may be amended from time to time.
 
2.4    Other Interests . Employee agrees, during the Term, to devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments, (b) engage in charitable and civic activities, and (c) engage in such other activities that the Company and Employee mutually agree to; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or materially interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.
 
2.5    Duty of Loyalty . Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Business (as defined below) and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.
 
 
2

 
 
ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
3.1    Term . Subject to the remaining terms of this Article III, this Agreement shall be for a term that begins on the Effective Date and continues in effect through December 31, 2016 (the “ Term ”). Subject to Section 9.13, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Term and Employee shall continue as an at-will employee of the Company.
 
3.2    Company’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:
 
(a)    for Cause; or
 
(b)    for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
 
3.3    Employee’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1:
 
(a)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, provided, however, that termination for Good Reason by the Employee shall not be permitted unless (x) Employee has given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that he has a basis for a termination for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason, (y) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason within such 30-day period (the “ Cure Period ”) and (z) Employee actually terminates Employee’s employment within 30 days following the end of the Cure Period.
 
(b)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for any reason other than Good Reason, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b), the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).
 
3.4    Deemed Resignations . Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors of the Company (if applicable), from the board of directors or similar governing body of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
 
3.5    Meaning of Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.
 
 
3

 
 
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
4.1    Base Salary . During the Term, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $180,000.00 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s Base Salary shall be increased to $210,000 as of the earlier of (i) March 15, 2013 or (ii) the closing date of the acquisition by the Company of all or substantially all of the outstanding capital stock or assets of a company for a purchase price in excess of $25 million other than Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. following the date of the execution of this Agreement. Effective, January 1, 2014, Employee’s Base Salary shall be increased to $250,000. The Board may reduce Employee’s Base Salary in its sole discretion, including due to economic or market conditions, and such reduction shall not constitute a Good Reason condition if such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally. Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.
 
4.2    Bonuses . For 2013, Employee shall be eligible to receive a bonus of $100,000 if the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is at least the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of 2013 (the “ Annual Bonus ”). For 2014 through 2016, Employee shall be entitled to an Annual Bonus of 80% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 60% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 100% and less than 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 40% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 90% and less than 100% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year and no Annual Bonus if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is less than 90% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year. Any acquisitions by the Company following Board approval of forecasted EBITDA shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA for such year. Any Annual Bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4.2 will be paid to Employee no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided Employee is employed by the Company on such date of payment.
 
4.3    Equity .
 
(a)    Equity Grant . Employee shall be granted 1,000 shares of common stock of the Company on the fifteenth day of each month beginning on March 15, 2013 and continuing through and including December 15, 2013. Common stock acquired by Employee pursuant to this equity grant shall be subject to transfer restrictions as determined by the Board.
 
(b)    Stock Options . Employee shall be awarded [ 20% of stock allocated to the management team ] stock options at an exercise price of $4.00 per share under a Management Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) that is currently being prepared. The stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions in the Plan and any applicable award agreement related to such stock options.
 
 
4

 
 
4.4    Benefits . During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in such group life, health, accident, disability or hospitalization insurance plans and retirement plans as the Company may make available to its other similarly situated executive employees as a group, subject to the terms and conditions of any such plans. Employee’s participation in all such plans shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and responsibilities at the Company.
 
4.5    Vacation and Leave . Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation but Employee will not take more than two (2) weeks consecutive vacation. Unused vacation days in one calendar year shall not carry over to the following calendar year. Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to its employees generally.
 
4.6    Expenses . The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is one year after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company. The Company shall lease an automobile for the exclusive business use of Employee, with such monthly lease cost not to exceed $600. The Company shall pay all fuel costs and all maintenance costs necessary for the upkeep of the automobile.
 
ARTICLE V
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
 
5.1            Disclosure to and Property of the Company . For purposes of this Article V, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director, manager and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee individually or in conjunction with others during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
 
 
5

 
 
5.2    Disclosure to Employee . The Company shall disclose to Employee, or place Employee in a position to have access to or develop, Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company; and shall entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company; and shall place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company.
 
5.3    No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure . Employee agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and of all Work Product containing Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to obligate all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent (a) such Confidential Information has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee or (b) disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article V. As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, confidential information or work product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
 
 
6

 
 
5.4    Ownership by the Company . If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
 
5.5    Assistance by Employee . During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall reasonably assist the Company and its nominee, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods and for reasonable compensation, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
 
5.6    Remedies . Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article V by Employee, and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article V by specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article V but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
 
7

 
 
ARTICLE VI
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
6.1    Statements . Each of the Employer and Employee will refrain, both during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and after the termination thereof, from publishing any oral or written statements about the other party, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information (other than Confidential Information that has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee) of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the other party, any of the Company’s affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the parties hereby under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing shall prevent any party from testifying in any legal proceeding pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
 
ARTICLE VII
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION
 
7.1    Effect of Termination of Employment on Compensation .
 
(a)    Benefit Obligation and Accrued Obligation Defined . For purposes of this Agreement, payment of the “ Benefit Obligation ” shall mean payment by the Company to Employee (or his designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan document, of all vested benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of the employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements in which Employee is a participant as of the Date of Termination. “ Accrued Obligation ” means the sum of (1) Employee’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (2) any accrued but unused vacation pay earned by Employee, and (3) any incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.6, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid.
 
(b)    Termination of Employee for Any Reason other than by the Company Without Cause . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever other than by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination. Following such payment, the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee other than as may be required by law or the terms of an employee benefit plan of the Company. The Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
 
8

 
 
(c)    Termination of Employee by the Company Without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason, then Employee shall receive the following benefits and compensation from the Company:
 
(i)           the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the date of Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(ii)          the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months, with such amount payable in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the 60th day following Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(iii)         for twenty-four (24) months following Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that Employee elects and timely pays the premiums for continuation of the Company’s group health insurance pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse Employee for such premiums within 30 days of each payment. If Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage prior to the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of Employee’s Date of Termination, the Company shall pay on a monthly basis to Employee a lump-sum amount equal to the monthly COBRA premiums that would be charged to a similarly situated former employee; and
 
(iv)          the Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Employee, nor his estate, shall be permitted to specify the taxable year in which a payment described in this Section 7.1(c) shall be paid.
 
(d)    General Release of Claims . Payments to Employee under this Article VII (other than Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations) are contingent upon Employee’s execution of a release, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within fifty (50) days of Employee’s Date of Termination that is not revoked by Employee during any applicable revocation period provided in such release (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, managers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company or its affiliates or the termination of such employment). Nothing in this Section 7.1(d) shall be construed to require Employee to execute a release in any form if Employee does not accept payments described in this Section 7.1 other than the Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations.
 
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS AGAINST COMPETITION
 
8.1    Definitions . As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)    Business ” means (i) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (ii) the provision of products or services provided by the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3) year period prior to the Date of Termination.
 
 
9

 
 
(b)    Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(c)    Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
(d)    Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following Employee’s Date of Termination.
 
(e)    Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business during the Prohibited Period. With respect to the Business of an affiliate of Company, the term “Restricted Area” means the trade area of the affiliate existing on the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.
 
8.2    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . Employee presently has specialized knowledge of the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the Company, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that were among the assets of the Company prior to the Effective Date. Employee acknowledges his expertise and specialized knowledge of research and development, and other Confidential Information of the Company. Employee will continue to obtain and develop specialized knowledge of Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates and the business of the Company through his continued involvement in the business of the Company, including his employment under this Agreement. The Company’s promise to provide Employee with this Confidential Information is an essential part of the Company’s agreement to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
 
In consideration of the Company’s promises and undertakings in this Agreement, including the promise to provide specialized training and knowledge, the promise to provide Employee access to and control of Confidential Information that the Company and its affiliates will continue to develop and/or receive and that Employee will have access to through the Term, and to ensure the protection of the Company’s and its affiliates’ Confidential Information during Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Company and Employee agree and covenant that during the Prohibited Period:
 
(a)    Employee shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any person or persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business for the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Employee works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and
 
 
10

 
 
(b)    Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
8.3    Relief . Employee and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 hereof are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Employee and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments then owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise and to seek in a court of competent jurisdiction specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, however, that such termination of payments owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise may not occur in the absence of a breach of this Article VIII by Employee. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
8.4    Reasonableness; Enforcement . Employee hereby represents to the Company that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII. Employee acknowledges that the duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature of the operations of the Company’s Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Company’s Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, and (c) the amount of compensation, trade secrets and Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable. It is specifically agreed that the period specified in Section 8.2 shall be computed by excluding from that computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of Section 8.2.
 
 
11

 
 
8.5    Reformation . The Company and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Employee expressly represents that enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article VIII will not impose an undue hardship upon Employee or any person or entity affiliated with Employee. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
9.1    Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:
 
If to Employee, addressed to: Mark Patterson
  [Address]
[City, State Zip]
   
If to the Company, addressed to: Aly Energy Services Inc.
 
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 832-454-7394
Fax: 310-459-8500
Attention: Micki Hidayatallah
 
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
 
9.2    Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
(a)    This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
(b)    With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Texas.
 
 
12

 
 
9.3    Litigation . Employee agrees to cooperate, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, with the Company and its attorneys, both during and after the termination of his employment, in connection with any litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which Employee was involved prior to the termination of his employment to the extent the Company pays all expenses Employee incurs in connection with such cooperation and to the extent such cooperation does not unduly interfere (as determined by Employee in good faith) with Employee’s personal or professional schedule.
 
9.4    Dispute Resolution . Except as provided otherwise in Sections 5.6, 6.1 and 8.3, all claims, demands, causes of action, disputes, controversies or other matters in question (“ Claims ”) arising out of this Agreement or Employee’s service (or termination from service) with the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute, equity or common law, that the Company may have against Employee or that Employee may have against the Company, or its parents or subsidiaries, or against each of the foregoing entities’ respective officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.4(a) and (b). Claims covered by this Section 9.4 include, without limitation, claims by Employee for breach of this Agreement, wrongful termination, discrimination (based on age, race, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other factor), harassment and retaliation.
 
(a)    Agreement to Negotiate . First, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Claims promptly by negotiations between Employee and executives or directors of the Company or its affiliates who have authority to settle the Claims. Either party may give the other disputing party written notice of any Claim not resolved in the normal course of business. Within five days after the effective date of that notice, Employee and such executives or directors of the Company shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to meet and shall meet at that time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Claim. The first of those meetings shall take place within 30 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice. If the Claim has not been resolved within 60 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and place for an initial meeting within five days of that notice, either party may elect to undertake arbitration in accordance with Section 9.4(b).
 
 
13

 
 
(b)    Agreement to Arbitrate . If a Claim is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to Section 9.4(a), such Claim must be resolved through arbitration regardless of whether the Claim involves claims that the Agreement is unlawful, unenforceable, void, or voidable or involves claims under statutory, civil or common law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). If a party refuses to honor its obligations under this Section 9.4(b), the other party may compel arbitration any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law, or both as applicable to the Claims asserted. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or enforceability or formation of this Agreement (including this Section 9.4), including any claim that all or part of the Agreement is void or voidable and any Claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The results of arbitration will be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto. Any arbitrator’s award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon will be final and unappealable. The seat of arbitration shall be in Harris County in the State of Texas, and unless agreed otherwise by the parties, all hearings shall take place at the seat. Any and all of the arbitrator’s orders, decisions and awards may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and entered by any federal or state court having jurisdiction. All evidentiary privileges under applicable state and federal law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. The decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. Arbitrations will be conducted in such a manner that the final decision of the arbitrator will be made and provided to Employee and the Company no later than 120 days after a matter is submitted to arbitration. All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrators, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Each party shall pay its own attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs of arbitration. The arbitrator’s fees shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or by such party or parties as the arbitrator shall determine. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR A COURT TRIAL OF ANY SERVICE RELATED CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.
 
9.5    No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
 
9.6    Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 
9.7    Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 
9.8    Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions . The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
 
9.9    Headings . The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
 
 
14

 
 
9.10         Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
 
9.11         Affiliate . As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.
 
9.12         Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.
 
9.13         Term . Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
 
9.14         Entire Agreement . Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Employee, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Employee by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.
 
9.15         Modification; Waiver . Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement; provided that the Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend this Agreement at any time (to the extent Employee is not adversely affected by such amendment), if determined to be reasonably necessary to comply with administrative guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
9.16         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code . Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance benefits under Article VII would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, and Employee constitutes a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any such payments that Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following Employee’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
 
 
15

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
 
  ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Name: Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Title:
Chairman of the Board,
 
   
Chief Executive Officer and
 
   
Chief Financial Officer
 
       
       
  MARK PATTERSON  
       
  By:
/s/ Mark Patterson
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signature Page to
Mark Patterson Employment Agreement
 
 
 

 
 
Exhibit A
 
Form of Waiver and Release Agreement
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc. has offered to pay me certain benefits (the “Benefits”) pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of my employment agreement with Aly Energy Services, Inc., dated as of _____________, 2012 (the “Employment Agreement”), which were offered to me in exchange for my agreement, among other things, to waive all of my claims against and release Aly Energy Services, Inc. and its predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively referred to as the “Company”), all of the affiliates (including parents and subsidiaries) of the Company (collectively referred to as the “Affiliates”) and the Company’s and Affiliates’ directors and officers, employees and agents, insurers, employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively, with the Company and Affiliates, referred to as the “Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates; provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to (1) any existing right I have to indemnification, contribution and a defense, (2) any directors and officers and general liability insurance coverage, (3) any rights I may have as a shareholder of the Company, (4) any rights I have to the Benefits, and (5) any rights which cannot be waived or released as a matter of law.
 
I understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release and has given me at least 21 days from the day I received a copy of this Waiver and Release to sign it.
 
In exchange for the payment to me of Benefits, I, among other things, (1) agree not to sue in any local, state and/or federal court regarding or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates, (2) knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates and (3) waive any rights that I may have under any of the Company’s involuntary severance benefit plans, except to the extent that my rights are vested under the terms of employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company or the Affiliates and except with respect to such rights or claims as may arise after the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“ADEA”); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”); the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5851; the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; claims in connection with workers’ compensation or “whistle blower” statutes; and/or contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law. Further, I expressly represent that no promise or agreement which is not expressed in the Employment Agreement has been made to me in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am relying on my own judgment in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am not relying on any statement or representation of the Company, any of the Affiliates or any other member of the Corporate Group or any of their agents. I agree that this Waiver and Release is valid, fair, adequate and reasonable, is entered into with my full knowledge and consent, was not procured through fraud, duress or mistake and has not had the effect of misleading, misinforming or failing to inform me.
 
 
A-1

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Waiver and Release is intended to prohibit or restrict me in any way from (1) bringing a lawsuit against the Company to enforce the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (2) making any disclosure of information required by law; (3) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal, compliance or human resources officers; (4) testifying or participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (5) filing any claims that are not permitted to be waived or released under applicable law (although my ability to recover damages or other relief is still waived and released to the extent permitted by law).
 
Should any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to be invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, it is agreed that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions of this Waiver and Release. I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Employment Agreement set forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group. I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following the date that I sign this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer, provided that my written statement of revocation is received on or before that seventh day by [Name], Aly Energy Services, Inc., [Address], [City, State Zip], facsimile number: _______________________, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the Company shall have no obligation to provide me Benefits. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of the offer within 7 calendar days from the date I sign this Waiver and Release will result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
 
I acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity to ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation, discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, or disability and any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and Release. By execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts, omissions, or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group which occur after the date of the execution of this Waiver and Release.
 
Munawar H. Hidayatallah   Mark Peterson  
Employee’s Printed Name   Company Representative  
       
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah   7 May 2013  
Employee’s Signature   Company’s Execution Date  
       
7 May 2013   [omitted]  
Employee’s Signature Date
  Employee’s Social Security Number  
       
    /s/ Mark Peterson  
       
 
 
A-2

EXHIBIT 10.3
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into this 12th day of February, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Alya Hidayatallah (the “ Employee ”).
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
 
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below.
 
1.1    Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
1.2    Cause ” shall mean that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from the Company confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
1.3    CEO ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
 
1.4    Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.5    Date of Termination ” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination relating to termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.
 
1.6    Good Reason ” shall mean without the prior consent of Employee: (a) a relocation of Employee or the Company principal executives to a location outside the Houston, Texas metropolitan area, (b) there is a material reduction by the Company in Employee’s responsibilities, duties, authority, title, or reporting relationship or (c) the Company acts in any way that would reduce Employee’s Base Salary (except where such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally) or the Company adversely affects Employee’s participation in or materially reduces Employee’s benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which Employee is participating.
 
 
1

 
 
1.7    Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Company or Employee to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the Date of Termination that sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.
 
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
 
2.1    Employment; Effective Date . The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Effective Date and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
2.2    Position . From and after the Effective Date, Employee shall serve in the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company or in such other position or positions as the parties mutually may agree and shall report to the CEO.
 
2.3    Duties and Services . Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 hereof and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the usual and customary duties and services appertaining to such positions, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such positions which the Company and Employee mutually may agree upon from time to time. Employee’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees, as such policies may be amended from time to time.
 
2.4    Other Interests . Employee agrees, during the Term, to devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments, (b) engage in charitable and civic activities, and (c) engage in such other activities that the Company and Employee mutually agree to; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or materially interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.
 
2.5    Duty of Loyalty . Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Business (as defined below) and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.
 
ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
3.1    Term . Subject to the remaining terms of this Article III, this Agreement shall be for a term that begins on the Effective Date and continues in effect through December 31, 2016 (the “ Term ”). Subject to Section 9.13, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Term and Employee shall continue as an at-will employee of the Company.
 
 
2

 
 
3.2    Company’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:
 
(a)    for Cause; or
 
(b)    for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
 
3.3    Employee’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1:
 
(a)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, provided, however, that termination for Good Reason by the Employee shall not be permitted unless (x) Employee has given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that he has a basis for a termination for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason, (y) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason within such 30-day period (the “ Cure Period ”) and (z) Employee actually terminates Employee’s employment within 30 days following the end of the Cure Period.
 
(b)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for any reason other than Good Reason, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b), the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).
 
3.4    Deemed Resignations . Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors of the Company (if applicable), from the board of directors or similar governing body of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
 
3.5    Meaning of Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.
 
 
3

 
 
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
4.1    Base Salary . During the Term, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $175,000.00 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s Base Salary shall be increased to $200,000 as of the earlier of (i) March 15, 2013 or (ii) the closing date of the acquisition by the Company of all or substantially all of the outstanding capital stock or assets of a company for a purchase price in excess of $25 million other than Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. following the date of the execution of this Agreement. The Board may reduce Employee’s Base Salary in its sole discretion, including due to economic or market conditions, and such reduction shall not constitute a Good Reason condition if such reduction is applicable to the officers of the Company generally. Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.
 
4.2    Bonuses . For 2013 through 2016, Employee shall be entitled to an annual bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) of 80% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA ”) in such year is at least 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 60% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 100% and less than 110% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year, 40% of Employee’s Base Salary if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is at least 90% and less than 100% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year and no Annual Bonus if the Company’s EBITDA in such year is less than 90% of the forecasted EBITDA approved by the Board at the beginning of such year. Any acquisitions by the Company following Board approval of forecasted EBITDA shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA for such year. Any Annual Bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4.2 will be paid to Employee no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided Employee is employed by the Company on such date of payment.
 
4.3    Equity . Employee shall be awarded [ 5% of stock allocated to the management team ] stock options at an exercise price of $4.00 per share under a Management Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) that is currently being prepared. The stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions in the Plan and any applicable award agreement related to such stock options.
 
4.4    Benefits . During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in such group life, health, accident, disability or hospitalization insurance plans and retirement plans as the Company may make available to its other similarly situated executive employees as a group, subject to the terms and conditions of any such plans. Employee’s participation in all such plans shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and responsibilities at the Company. During calendar year 2013, the Company shall reimburse Employee for costs actually incurred by Employee to obtain continued medical coverage under Section 4980B of the Code (“ COBRA ”) under the medical plan provided by Employee’s previous employer.
 
 
4

 
 
4.5    Vacation and Leave . Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation but Employee will not take more than two (2) weeks consecutive vacation. Unused vacation days in one calendar year shall not carry over to the following calendar year. Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to its employees generally.
 
4.6    Expenses . The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is one year after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company. The Company shall reimburse Employee for Employee’s business use of Employee’s personal automobile at the reimbursement rate per mile set by the Internal Revenue Service (currently 55.5 cents per mile).
 
ARTICLE V
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
 
5.1    Disclosure to and Property of the Company . For purposes of this Article V, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director, manager and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee individually or in conjunction with others during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
 
 
5

 
 
5.2    Disclosure to Employee . The Company shall disclose to Employee, or place Employee in a position to have access to or develop, Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company; and shall entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company; and shall place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company.
 
5.3    No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure . Employee agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and of all Work Product containing Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to obligate all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent (a) such Confidential Information has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee or (b) disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article V. As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, confidential information or work product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
 
5.4    Ownership by the Company . If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
 
5.5    Assistance by Employee . During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall reasonably assist the Company and its nominee, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods and for reasonable compensation, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
 
 
6

 
 
5.6    Remedies . Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article V by Employee, and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article V by specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article V but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
ARTICLE VI
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
6.1    Statements . Each of the Employer and Employee will refrain, both during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and after the termination thereof, from publishing any oral or written statements about the other party, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information (other than Confidential Information that has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee) of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the other party, any of the Company’s affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the parties hereby under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing shall prevent any party from testifying in any legal proceeding pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
 
ARTICLE VII
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION
 
7.1    Effect of Termination of Employment on Compensation .
 
(a)    Benefit Obligation and Accrued Obligation Defined . For purposes of this Agreement, payment of the “ Benefit Obligation ” shall mean payment by the Company to Employee (or his designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan document, of all vested benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of the employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements in which Employee is a participant as of the Date of Termination. “ Accrued Obligation ” means the sum of (1) Employee’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (2) any accrued but unused vacation pay earned by Employee, and (3) any incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.6, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid.
 
(b)    Termination of Employee for Any Reason other than by the Company Without Cause . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever other than by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination. Following such payment, the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee other than as may be required by law or the terms of an employee benefit plan of the Company. The Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
 
7

 
 
(c)    Termination of Employee by the Company Without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason, then Employee shall receive the following benefits and compensation from the Company:
 
(i)         the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the date of Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(ii)         the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary for twenty-four (24) months, with such amount payable in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the 60th day following Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(iii)        for twenty-four (24) months following Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that Employee elects and timely pays the premiums for continuation of the Company’s group health insurance pursuant to COBRA, the Company shall reimburse Employee for such premiums within 30 days of each payment. If Employee ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage prior to the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of Employee’s Date of Termination, the Company shall pay on a monthly basis to Employee a lump-sum amount equal to the monthly COBRA premiums that would be charged to a similarly situated former employee; and
 
(iv)       the Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Employee, nor his estate, shall be permitted to specify the taxable year in which a payment described in this Section 7.1(c) shall be paid.
 
(d)    General Release of Claims . Payments to Employee under this Article VII (other than Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations) are contingent upon Employee’s execution of a release, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within fifty (50) days of Employee’s Date of Termination that is not revoked by Employee during any applicable revocation period provided in such release (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, managers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company or its affiliates or the termination of such employment). Nothing in this Section 7.1(d) shall be construed to require Employee to execute a release in any form if Employee does not accept payments described in this Section 7.1 other than the Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations.
 
 
8

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS AGAINST COMPETITION
 
8.1    Definitions . As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)    Business ” means (i) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (ii) the provision of products or services provided by the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3) year period prior to the Date of Termination.
 
(b)    Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(c)    Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
(d)    Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following Employee’s Date of Termination.
 
(e)    Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business during the Prohibited Period. With respect to the Business of an affiliate of Company, the term “Restricted Area” means the trade area of the affiliate existing on the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.
 
8.2    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . Employee presently has specialized knowledge of the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the Company, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that were among the assets of the Company prior to the Effective Date. Employee acknowledges his expertise and specialized knowledge of research and development, and other Confidential Information of the Company. Employee will continue to obtain and develop specialized knowledge of Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates and the business of the Company through his continued involvement in the business of the Company, including his employment under this Agreement. The Company’s promise to provide Employee with this Confidential Information is an essential part of the Company’s agreement to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
 
In consideration of the Company’s promises and undertakings in this Agreement, including the promise to provide specialized training and knowledge, the promise to provide Employee access to and control of Confidential Information that the Company and its affiliates will continue to develop and/or receive and that Employee will have access to through the Term, and to ensure the protection of the Company’s and its affiliates’ Confidential Information during Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Company and Employee agree and covenant that during the Prohibited Period:
 
 
9

 
 
(a)    Employee shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any person or persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business for the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Employee works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and
 
(b)    Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
8.3    Relief . Employee and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 hereof are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Employee and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments then owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise and to seek in a court of competent jurisdiction specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, however, that such termination of payments owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise may not occur in the absence of a breach of this Article VIII by Employee. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
8.4    Reasonableness; Enforcement . Employee hereby represents to the Company that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII. Employee acknowledges that the duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature of the operations of the Company’s Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Company’s Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, and (c) the amount of compensation, trade secrets and Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable. It is specifically agreed that the period specified in Section 8.2 shall be computed by excluding from that computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of Section 8.2.
 
8.5    Reformation . The Company and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Employee expressly represents that enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article VIII will not impose an undue hardship upon Employee or any person or entity affiliated with Employee. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.
 
 
10

 
 
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
9.1    Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:
 
  If to Employee, addressed to: 
Alya Hidayatallah
[Address]
[City, State Zip]
 
       
  If to the Company, addressed to:  
Aly Energy Services Inc.
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 832-454-7394
Fax: 310-459-8500
Attention: Micki Hidayatallah
 
 
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
 
9.2    Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
(a)    This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
(b)    With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Texas.
 
9.3    Litigation . Employee agrees to cooperate, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, with the Company and its attorneys, both during and after the termination of his employment, in connection with any litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which Employee was involved prior to the termination of his employment to the extent the Company pays all expenses Employee incurs in connection with such cooperation and to the extent such cooperation does not unduly interfere (as determined by Employee in good faith) with Employee’s personal or professional schedule.
 
9.4    Dispute Resolution . Except as provided otherwise in Sections 5.6, 6.1 and 8.3, all claims, demands, causes of action, disputes, controversies or other matters in question (“ Claims ”) arising out of this Agreement or Employee’s service (or termination from service) with the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute, equity or common law, that the Company may have against Employee or that Employee may have against the Company, or its parents or subsidiaries, or against each of the foregoing entities’ respective officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.4(a) and (b). Claims covered by this Section 9.4 include, without limitation, claims by Employee for breach of this Agreement, wrongful termination, discrimination (based on age, race, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other factor), harassment and retaliation.
 
 
11

 
 
(a)    Agreement to Negotiate . First, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Claims promptly by negotiations between Employee and executives or directors of the Company or its affiliates who have authority to settle the Claims. Either party may give the other disputing party written notice of any Claim not resolved in the normal course of business. Within five days after the effective date of that notice, Employee and such executives or directors of the Company shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to meet and shall meet at that time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Claim. The first of those meetings shall take place within 30 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice. If the Claim has not been resolved within 60 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and place for an initial meeting within five days of that notice, either party may elect to undertake arbitration in accordance with Section 9.4(b).
 
(b)    Agreement to Arbitrate . If a Claim is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to Section 9.4(a), such Claim must be resolved through arbitration regardless of whether the Claim involves claims that the Agreement is unlawful, unenforceable, void, or voidable or involves claims under statutory, civil or common law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). If a party refuses to honor its obligations under this Section 9.4(b), the other party may compel arbitration any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law, or both as applicable to the Claims asserted. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or enforceability or formation of this Agreement (including this Section 9.4), including any claim that all or part of the Agreement is void or voidable and any Claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The results of arbitration will be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto. Any arbitrator’s award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon will be final and unappealable. The seat of arbitration shall be in Harris County in the State of Texas, and unless agreed otherwise by the parties, all hearings shall take place at the seat. Any and all of the arbitrator’s orders, decisions and awards may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and entered by any federal or state court having jurisdiction. All evidentiary privileges under applicable state and federal law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. The decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. Arbitrations will be conducted in such a manner that the final decision of the arbitrator will be made and provided to Employee and the Company no later than 120 days after a matter is submitted to arbitration. All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrators, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Each party shall pay its own attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs of arbitration. The arbitrator’s fees shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or by such party or parties as the arbitrator shall determine. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR A COURT TRIAL OF ANY SERVICE RELATED CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.
 
9.5    No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
 
9.6    Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 
 
12

 
 
9.7    Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 
9.8    Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions . The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
 
9.9    Headings . The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
 
9.10          Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
 
9.11          Affiliate . As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.
 
9.12          Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.
 
9.13          Term . Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
 
9.14          Entire Agreement . Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Employee, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Employee by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.
 
 
13

 
 
9.15          Modification; Waiver . Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement; provided that the Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend this Agreement at any time (to the extent Employee is not adversely affected by such amendment), if determined to be reasonably necessary to comply with administrative guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
9.16          Compliance with Section 409A of the Code . Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance benefits under Article VII would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, and Employee constitutes a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any such payments that Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following Employee’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
 
 
14

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
 
       
  By: /s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Name: Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
  Title: Chairman and CEO  
       
       
 
ALYA HIDAYATALLAH
 
       
    /s/ Alya Hidayatallah  
 
 
 
Signature Page to
Alya Hidayatallah Employment Agreement
 
 

 
 
Exhibit A
 
Form of Waiver and Release Agreement
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc. has offered to pay me certain benefits (the “Benefits”) pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of my employment agreement with Aly Energy Services, Inc., dated as of _____________, 20___ (the “Employment Agreement”), which were offered to me in exchange for my agreement, among other things, to waive all of my claims against and release Aly Energy Services, Inc. and its predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively referred to as the “Company”), all of the affiliates (including parents and subsidiaries) of the Company (collectively referred to as the “Affiliates”) and the Company’s and Affiliates’ directors and officers, employees and agents, insurers, employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively, with the Company and Affiliates, referred to as the “Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates; provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to (1) any existing right I have to indemnification, contribution and a defense, (2) any directors and officers and general liability insurance coverage, (3) any rights I may have as a shareholder of the Company, (4) any rights I have to the Benefits, and (5) any rights which cannot be waived or released as a matter of law.
 
I understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release and has given me at least 21 days from the day I received a copy of this Waiver and Release to sign it.
 
In exchange for the payment to me of Benefits, I, among other things, (1) agree not to sue in any local, state and/or federal court regarding or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates, (2) knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates and (3) waive any rights that I may have under any of the Company’s involuntary severance benefit plans, except to the extent that my rights are vested under the terms of employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company or the Affiliates and except with respect to such rights or claims as may arise after the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“ADEA”); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”); the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5851; the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; claims in connection with workers’ compensation or “whistle blower” statutes; and/or contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law. Further, I expressly represent that no promise or agreement which is not expressed in the Employment Agreement has been made to me in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am relying on my own judgment in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am not relying on any statement or representation of the Company, any of the Affiliates or any other member of the Corporate Group or any of their agents. I agree that this Waiver and Release is valid, fair, adequate and reasonable, is entered into with my full knowledge and consent, was not procured through fraud, duress or mistake and has not had the effect of misleading, misinforming or failing to inform me.
 
 
A-1

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Waiver and Release is intended to prohibit or restrict me in any way from (1) bringing a lawsuit against the Company to enforce the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (2) making any disclosure of information required by law; (3) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal, compliance or human resources officers; (4) testifying or participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (5) filing any claims that are not permitted to be waived or released under applicable law (although my ability to recover damages or other relief is still waived and released to the extent permitted by law).
 
Should any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to be invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, it is agreed that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions of this Waiver and Release. I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Employment Agreement set forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group. I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following the date that I sign this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer, provided that my written statement of revocation is received on or before that seventh day by [Name], Aly Energy Services, Inc., [Address], [City, State Zip], facsimile number: _______________________, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the Company shall have no obligation to provide me Benefits. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of the offer within 7 calendar days from the date I sign this Waiver and Release will result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
 
I acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity to ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation, discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, or disability and any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and Release. By execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts, omissions, or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group which occur after the date of the execution of this Waiver and Release.
 
 
       
Employee’s Printed Name   Company Representative  
       
       
Employee’s Signature
 
Company’s Execution Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee’s Signature Date   Employee’s Social Security Number  
 
 
A-2
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT 10.4
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into this 26th day of October, 2012, by and between Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., a Texas corporation (the “ Company ”), and Kurt Chew (the “ Employee ”).
 
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the equity interests of the Company are being acquired by Aly Energy Services Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”), under that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 27, 2012 governing that transaction (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). Therefore, the Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee accepts employment with the Company, on the following terms and conditions:
 
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
 
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement.
 
1.1    Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Purchaser.
 
1.2    Cause ” shall mean that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has refused without proper legal reason to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has breached any provision of Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement, (d) has materially breached any provision of any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates (and as amended from time to time), (e) has engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (f) has disclosed without specific authorization from the Company confidential information of the Company or any of its affiliates that is injurious to any such entity, (g) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates or (h) has been convicted of (or pleaded no contest to) a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony.
 
1.3    CEO ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Purchaser.
 
1.4    COO ” shall mean the Chief Operating Officer of the Purchaser.
 
1.5    Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
1.6    Date of Termination ” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination relating to termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.3.
 
 
1

 
 
1.7    Good Reason ” shall mean without the prior consent of Employee: (a) a relocation of Employee or the Company principal executives to a location outside the Austin, Texas metropolitan area, (b) there is a material reduction by the Company in Employee’s responsibilities, duties, authority, title, or reporting relationship or (c) the Company acts in any way that would reduce Employee’s Base Salary or if the Company adversely affects Employee’s participation in or materially reduces Employee’s benefit under any benefit plan of the Company in which Employee is participating.
 
1.8    Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Company or Employee to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the Date of Termination that sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.
 
ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES
 
2.1    Employment; Effective Date . The Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Closing Date (the “ Effective Date ”) and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Purchase Agreement is terminated, this Agreement shall be void ab initio and Employee and Company shall have no rights under this Agreement.
 
2.2    Position . From and after the Effective Date, Employee shall serve in the position of President of the Company or in such other position or positions as the parties mutually may agree and shall report to the CEO and the COO.
 
2.3    Duties and Services . Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 hereof and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the usual and customary duties and services appertaining to such positions, as well as such additional duties and services appropriate to such positions which the Company and Employee mutually may agree upon from time to time. Employee’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees, as such policies may be amended from time to time.
 
2.4    Other Interests . Employee agrees, during the Term, to devote his full time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments, (b) engage in charitable and civic activities, and (c) engage in such other activities that the Company and Employee mutually agree to; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or materially interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, Employee may continue his membership in, and continue to perform any duties or responsibilities incidental thereto, Worldwide Deepwater Solutions, LLC and its affiliates.
 
 
2

 
 
2.5    Duty of Loyalty . Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Business (as defined below) and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.
 
ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
3.1    Term . Subject to the remaining terms of this Article III, this Agreement shall be for a term that begins on the Effective Date and continues in effect through the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Term ”). Subject to Section 9.13, this Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Term and Employee shall continue as an at-will employee of the Company.
 
3.2    Company’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:
 
(a)    for Cause; or
 
(b)    for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
 
3.3    Employee’s Right to Terminate . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1:
 
(a)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination, provided, however, that termination for Good Reason by the Employee shall not be permitted unless (x) Employee has given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice that he has a basis for a termination for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason and (y) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting a basis for termination for Good Reason within such 30-day period.
 
(b)    Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for any reason other than Good Reason, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3(b), the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).
 
3.4    Deemed Resignations . Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors of the Company (if applicable), from the board of directors or similar governing body of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
 
 
3

 
 
3.5    Meaning of Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.
 
ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
 
4.1    Base Salary . During the Term, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $220,000.00 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.
 
4.2    Bonuses . Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual, calendar-year bonus based on criteria determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Annual Bonus ”) with a discretionary target between 40% and 100% of Employee’s Base Salary. If Employee has not been employed by the Company since January 1 of the year that includes the Effective Date, then the Annual Bonus for such year shall be prorated based on the ratio of the number of days during such calendar year that Employee was employed by the Company to the number of days in such calendar year. Any Annual Bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4.2 will be paid to Employee no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided Employee is employed by the Company on such date of payment.
 
4.3    Benefits . During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to participate in such group life, health, accident, disability or hospitalization insurance plans and retirement plans as the Company may make available to its other similarly situated executive employees as a group, subject to the terms and conditions of any such plans. Employee’s participation in all such plans shall be at a level, and on terms and conditions, that are commensurate with his positions and responsibilities at the Company.
 
4.4    Vacation and Leave . Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks paid vacation but Employee will not take more than two (2) weeks consecutive vacation. Employee shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the Company to its employees generally.
 
4.5    Expenses . The Company shall promptly reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is one year after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company. Employee will be paid $750.00 per month plus fuel as an automobile allowance and Employee will continue to use his personal 2012 Tahoe in connection with Company business. Employee will pay all maintenance costs necessary for the upkeep of the vehicle. Employee will retain his current cellular telephone number and provider contract and the Company will reimburse Employee for all expenses relating to such telephone.
 
 
4

 
 
ARTICLE V
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
 
5.1    Disclosure to and Property of the Company . For purposes of this Article V, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director, manager and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, product specification, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be retained for and, to the extent practicable, disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, architectural renditions and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by Employee individually or in conjunction with others during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s business, trade secrets, products or services (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
 
5.2    Disclosure to Employee . The Company shall disclose to Employee, or place Employee in a position to have access to or develop, Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company; and shall entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company; and shall place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company.
 
5.3    No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure . Employee agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and of all Work Product containing Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates. Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to obligate all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent (a) such Confidential Information has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee or (b) disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article V. As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, confidential information or work product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to use reasonable efforts to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
 
 
5

 
 
5.4    Ownership by the Company . If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
 
5.5    Assistance by Employee . During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Employee’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall reasonably assist the Company and its nominee, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods and for reasonable compensation, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
 
5.6    Remedies . Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article V by Employee, and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article V by specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article V but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
ARTICLE VI
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
6.1    Statements . Each of the Employer and Employee will refrain, both during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and after the termination thereof, from publishing any oral or written statements about the other party, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information (other than Confidential Information that has become publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by Employee) of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, investors, stockholders, partners, directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the other party, any of the Company’s affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the parties hereby under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing shall prevent any party from testifying in any legal proceeding pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
 
 
6

 
 
ARTICLE VII
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION
 
7.1    Effect of Termination of Employment on Compensation .
 
(a)    Benefit Obligation and Accrued Obligation Defined . For purposes of this Agreement, payment of the “ Benefit Obligation ” shall mean payment by the Company to Employee (or his designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan document, of all vested benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of the employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements in which Employee is a participant as of the Date of Termination. “ Accrued Obligation ” means the sum of (1) Employee’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (2) any accrued vacation pay earned by Employee, and (3) any incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.5, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid.
 
(b)    Termination of Employee for Any Reason other than by the Company Without Cause . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever other than by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination. Following such payment, the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee other than as may be required by law or the terms of an employee benefit plan of the Company. The Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
(c)    Termination of Employee by the Company Without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason . If during the Term Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason, then Employee shall receive the following benefits and compensation from the Company:
 
(i)          the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Obligation within thirty (30) days following the date of Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(ii)          the Company shall pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary for twelve (12) months, with such amount payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the 60th day following Employee’s Date of Termination;
 
(iii)         the Company shall pay Employee the Benefit Obligation at the times specified in and in accordance with the terms of the applicable employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Employee, nor his estate, shall be permitted to specify the taxable year in which a payment described in this Section 7.1(c) shall be paid.
 
(d)    General Release of Claims . Payments to Employee under this Article VII (other than Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations) are contingent upon Employee’s execution of a release, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, within fifty (50) days of Employee’s Date of Termination that is not revoked by Employee during any applicable revocation period provided in such release (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, and their officers, directors, managers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company or its affiliates or the termination of such employment). Nothing in this Section 7.1(d) shall be construed to require Employee to execute a release in any form if Employee does not accept payments described in this Section 7.1 other than the Accrued Obligations and Benefit Obligations.
 
 
7

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS AGAINST COMPETITION
 
8.1    Definitions . As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)    Business ” means (i) the manufacture, lease or sale of any oilfield services equipment or products, and (ii) the provision of products or services provided by the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3) year period prior to the Date of Termination. In the event Employee proposes to invest in an entity that would meet the definition of Business only because of the activities of an affiliate of the Company, Employee may request a waiver of the provisions of this Article VIII in writing and the Company many not unreasonably withhold its consent to such waivers if Employee had only immaterial access to the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the affiliate, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that are among the assets of the affiliate.
 
(b)    Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
 
(c)    Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
 
(d)    Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following Employee’s Date of Termination.
 
(e)    Restricted Area ” means the United States of America and any other jurisdiction in which the Company has performed services or otherwise engaged in activities for the purpose of performing services during the three (3) year period prior to the Closing Date and any country or subdivision thereof in which the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business during the Prohibited Period. With respect to the Business of an affiliate of Company, the term “Restricted Area” means the trade area of the affiliate existing on the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.
 
8.2    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . Employee presently has specialized knowledge of the market analyses, marketing practices, technology, clients and prospective clients of the Company, and other confidential information, goodwill and trade secrets that were among the assets of the Company prior to the closing of the Purchase Agreement. Employee acknowledges his expertise and specialized knowledge of research and development, and other Confidential Information of the Company. Employee will continue to obtain and develop specialized knowledge of Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates and the business of the Company through his continued involvement in the business of the Company, including his employment under this Agreement. The Company’s promise to provide Employee with this Confidential Information is an essential part of the Company’s agreement to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
 
 
8

 
 
To induce the Purchaser to carry out the Purchase Agreement, and in consideration of the Company’s promises and undertakings in this Agreement, including the promise to provide specialized training and knowledge, the promise to provide Employee access to and control of Confidential Information that the Company and its affiliates will continue to develop and/or receive and that Employee will have access to through the Term, and to ensure the protection of the Company’s and its affiliates’ Confidential Information during Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Company and Employee agree and covenant that during the Prohibited Period:
 
(a)    Employee shall not, for whatever reason and with or without cause, either individually or in partnership or jointly or in conjunction with any Person or Persons as principal, agent, employee, stockholder, owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever (other than a holding of shares listed on a United States stock exchange or automated quotation system that does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares so listed), owner, investor, partner or in any other manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (A) engage in the Business or otherwise compete with the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business in the Restricted Area, (B) solicit business from, or provide services to, any of the customers or accounts of the Company or any of its affiliates in the Business for the Restricted Area, or (C) become the employee of, or otherwise render services to or on behalf of, any enterprise where the division or department in which Employee works competes with such Business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and
 
(b)    Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or any other person, (A) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates, (B) in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, (C) employ, or otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates, or (D) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or any of its affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any customer, supplier, licensee or business relation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
8.3    Relief . Employee and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 hereof are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Employee and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments then owing to Employee under this Agreement or otherwise and to seek in a court of competent jurisdiction specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, however, that such termination of payments owing to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise may not occur in the absence of a breach of this Article VIII by Employee. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents.
 
8.4    Reasonableness; Enforcement . Employee hereby represents to the Company that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII. Employee acknowledges that the duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature of the operations of the Company’s Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Company’s Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, and (c) the amount of compensation, trade secrets and Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable. It is specifically agreed that the period specified in Section 8.2 shall be computed by excluding from that computation any time during which Employee is in violation of any provision of Section 8.2.
 
 
9

 
 
8.5    Reformation . The Company and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Employee expressly represents that enforcement of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article VIII will not impose an undue hardship upon Employee or any person or entity affiliated with Employee. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
 
9.1    Notices . For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:
 
If to Employee, addressed to:
Kurt Chew
11409 Cezanne Court
Austin, TX 78726
 
     
If to the Company, addressed to:
Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp.
c/o Aly Energy Services Inc.
1200 Post Oak Blvd, #1912
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 832-454-7394
Fax: 310-459-8500
Attention: Micki Hidayatallah
 
 
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
 
9.2    Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
(a)    This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
 
(b)    With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Texas.
 
 
10

 
 
9.3    Litigation . Employee agrees to cooperate, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, with the Company and its attorneys, both during and after the termination of his employment, in connection with any litigation or other proceeding arising out of or relating to matters in which Employee was involved prior to the termination of his employment to the extent the Company pays all expenses Employee incurs in connection with such cooperation and to the extent such cooperation does not unduly interfere (as determined by Employee in good faith) with Employee’s personal or professional schedule.
 
9.4    Dispute Resolution . Except as provided otherwise in Sections 5.6, 6.1 and 8.3, all claims, demands, causes of action, disputes, controversies or other matters in question (“ Claims ”) arising out of this Agreement or Employee’s service (or termination from service) with the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise and whether provided by statute, equity or common law, that the Company may have against Employee or that Employee may have against the Company, or its parents or subsidiaries, or against each of the foregoing entities’ respective officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.4(a) and (b). Claims covered by this Section 9.4 include, without limitation, claims by Employee for breach of this Agreement, wrongful termination, discrimination (based on age, race, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other factor), harassment and retaliation.
 
(a)    Agreement to Negotiate . First, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any Claims promptly by negotiations between Employee and executives or directors of the Company or its affiliates who have authority to settle the Claims. Either party may give the other disputing party written notice of any Claim not resolved in the normal course of business. Within five days after the effective date of that notice, Employee and such executives or directors of the Company shall agree upon a mutually acceptable time and place to meet and shall meet at that time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange relevant information and to attempt to resolve the Claim. The first of those meetings shall take place within 30 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice. If the Claim has not been resolved within 60 days of the date of the disputing party’s notice, or if the parties fail to agree on a time and place for an initial meeting within five days of that notice, either party may elect to undertake arbitration in accordance with Section 9.4(b).
 
(b)    Agreement to Arbitrate . If a Claim is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to Section 9.4(a), such Claim must be resolved through arbitration regardless of whether the Claim involves claims that the Agreement is unlawful, unenforceable, void, or voidable or involves claims under statutory, civil or common law. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”). If a party refuses to honor its obligations under this Section 9.4(b), the other party may compel arbitration any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law, or both as applicable to the Claims asserted. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability or enforceability or formation of this Agreement (including this Section 9.4), including any claim that all or part of the Agreement is void or voidable and any Claim that an issue is not subject to arbitration. The results of arbitration will be binding and conclusive on the parties hereto. Any arbitrator’s award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon will be final and unappealable. The seat of arbitration shall be in Harris County in the State of Texas, and unless agreed otherwise by the parties, all hearings shall take place at the seat. Any and all of the arbitrator’s orders, decisions and awards may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and entered by any federal or state court having jurisdiction. All evidentiary privileges under applicable state and federal law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. The decision of the arbitrator will be binding on all parties. Arbitrations will be conducted in such a manner that the final decision of the arbitrator will be made and provided to Employee and the Company no later than 120 days after a matter is submitted to arbitration. All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrators, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Each party shall pay its own attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs of arbitration. The arbitrator’s fees shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or by such party or parties as the arbitrator shall determine. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR A COURT TRIAL OF ANY SERVICE RELATED CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.
 
 
11

 
 
9.5    No Waiver . No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
 
9.6    Severability . If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 
9.7    Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
 
9.8    Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions . The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
 
9.9    Headings . The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
 
9.10          Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
 
9.11          Affiliate . As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.
 
9.12          Successors . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.
 
9.13          Term . Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
 
 
12

 
 
9.14          Entire Agreement . Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Executive, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Executive by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.
 
9.15          Modification; Waiver . Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement; provided that the Company may, with prospective or retroactive effect, amend this Agreement at any time (to the extent Employee is not adversely affected by such amendment), if determined to be reasonably necessary to comply with administrative guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
9.16          Compliance with Section 409A of the Code . Each payment under this Agreement, including each payment in a series of installment payments, is intended to be a separate payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b), and is intended to be: (i) exempt from Section 409A of the Code, the regulations and other binding guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”), including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exemption as specified in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and the involuntary separation pay exception within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or (ii) in compliance with Section 409A, including, but not limited to, being paid pursuant to a fixed schedule or specified date pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(a) and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, if the payment of any severance compensation or severance benefits under Article VII would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, and Employee constitutes a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any such payments that Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following Employee’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code shall be accumulated and paid on the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service (or if such payment date does not fall on a business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company), or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.
 
 
13

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
 
  AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.  
       
  By:
Aly Energy Services, its sole shareholder
 
       
  By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
  Name:
Munawar H. Hidayatallah
 
  Title:
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer
 
       
  KURT CHEW  
       
    /s/ Kurt Chew  
 
 
 
Signature Page to
Kurt Chew Employment Agreement
 
 

 
 
Exhibit A
 
Form of Waiver and Release Agreement
 
Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. has offered to pay me certain benefits (the “Benefits”) pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of my employment agreement with   Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., dated as of _____________, 2012 (the “Employment Agreement”), which were offered to me in exchange for my agreement, among other things, to waive all of my claims against and release Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. and its predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively referred to as the “Company”), all of the affiliates (including parents and subsidiaries) of the Company (collectively referred to as the “Affiliates”) and the Company’s and Affiliates’ directors and officers, employees and agents, insurers, employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively, with the Company and Affiliates, referred to as the “Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates; provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to (1) any existing right I have to indemnification, contribution and a defense, (2) any directors and officers and general liability insurance coverage, (3) any rights I may have as a shareholder of the Company, (4) any rights I have to the Benefits, and (5) any rights which cannot be waived or released as a matter of law.
 
I understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release and has given me at least 21 days from the day I received a copy of this Waiver and Release to sign it.
 
In exchange for the payment to me of Benefits, I, among other things, (1) agree not to sue in any local, state and/or federal court regarding or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates, (2) knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with or separation from the Company or the Affiliates and (3) waive any rights that I may have under any of the Company’s involuntary severance benefit plans, except to the extent that my rights are vested under the terms of employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company or the Affiliates and except with respect to such rights or claims as may arise after the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“ADEA”); the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”); the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5851; the Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; claims in connection with workers’ compensation or “whistle blower” statutes; and/or contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law. Further, I expressly represent that no promise or agreement which is not expressed in the Employment Agreement has been made to me in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am relying on my own judgment in executing this Waiver and Release, and that I am not relying on any statement or representation of the Company, any of the Affiliates or any other member of the Corporate Group or any of their agents. I agree that this Waiver and Release is valid, fair, adequate and reasonable, is entered into with my full knowledge and consent, was not procured through fraud, duress or mistake and has not had the effect of misleading, misinforming or failing to inform me.
 
 
A-1

 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Waiver and Release is intended to prohibit or restrict me in any way from (1) bringing a lawsuit against the Company to enforce the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (2) making any disclosure of information required by law; (3) providing information to, or testifying or otherwise assisting in any investigation or proceeding brought by, any federal regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body, any self-regulatory organization, or the Company’s legal, compliance or human resources officers; (4) testifying or participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to an alleged violation of any federal, state or municipal law relating to fraud or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any self-regulatory organization; or (5) filing any claims that are not permitted to be waived or released under applicable law (although my ability to recover damages or other relief is still waived and released to the extent permitted by law).
 
Should any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to be invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, it is agreed that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions of this Waiver and Release. I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Employment Agreement set forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group. I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following the date that I sign this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer, provided that my written statement of revocation is received on or before that seventh day by [Name], Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp., [Address], [City, State Zip], facsimile number: _______________________, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the Company shall have no obligation to provide me Benefits. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of the offer within 7 calendar days from the date I sign this Waiver and Release will result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
 
I acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity to ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation, discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, or disability and any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and Release. By execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts, omissions, or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group which occur after the date of the execution of this Waiver and Release.
 
       
Employee’s Printed Name   Company Representative  
       
       
Employee’s Signature
 
Company’s Execution Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee’s Signature Date   Employee’s Social Security Number  
 
 
A-2
 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
EXHIBIT 10.5
 
 
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT
 
BETWEEN
 
KURT CHEW, LLC
 
Lessor
 
AND
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.
 
Lessee
 
Date: October 25, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
1

 
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT
 
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT (this “ Lease ”) is made as of the 25th day of October, 2012 (“ Effective Date ”) by and between KURT CHEW, LLC , a Texas limited liability company, with offices at P.O. Box 155, Giddings, Texas 78942 (“ Lessor ”), and AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP., a Texas corporation, with offices at P.O. Box 1110, Giddings, Texas 78942 (“ Lessee ”).
 
RECITALS:
 
A.
Lessor and Lessee entered into that certain Lease Agreement (the “ Original Lease ”) dated January 1, 2012 with respect to the Property (as defined below).

B.
Lessor and Lessee desire to amend and restate the Original Lease in its entirety so that after this Lease is executed by Lessor and Lessee, only this Lease shall continue in full force and effect.

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Lessor and Lessee hereby agree that from and after the Effective Date of this Lease, this Lease amends and restates the Original Lease in its entirety and this Lease alone shall govern the rights and obligations of Lessor and Lessee with respect to Lessee’s leasing of the Property.
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
ARTICLE 1
 
Demised Property and Term.
 
1.01.       Lessor, for and in consideration of the rents, covenants and agreements hereinafter reserved, mentioned and contained on the part of the Lessee, its successors and assigns, to be paid, kept and performed, has leased, rented, let and demised, and by these presents does lease, rent, let and demise unto Lessee, and Lessee does hereby take and hire, upon and subject to the covenants, agreements, provisions, limitations and conditions hereinafter expressed, that certain parcel of real property located in Lee County, Texas and more particularly described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto (the “ Land ”) and the office building and apartment (“ Office Building ”) and the shop (“ Shop ”) currently located on the Land (collectively, the “ Buildings ”, and together with the Land, the “ Property ”), to be used and occupied pursuant to all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of Texas pertaining thereto as to which Lessor, Lessee and the Property may be bound. The term “Property” shall not include the 0.689 acre tract of land described on Exhibit “B” attached hereto (“ Excluded Property ”).
 
1.02.        Lessee shall enjoy the tenancy of the Property subject to the provisions hereof, for a term (as may be extended as provided in this Lease, the “ Term ”) commencing on January 1, 2012 (“ Commencement Date ”) and expiring on December 31, 2014 (“ Expiration Date ”), subject to the renewal option set forth in Section 1.03 below.
 
 
2

 
 
1.03.       Upon the expiration of the initial Term of this Lease, Lessee shall have the right, privilege and option (the “ Extension Option ”) to extend the Term of this Lease for one (1) period of three (3) years (the “ Extension Term ”) under the same terms and conditions of this Lease then in effect, except that the Net Rent (as hereinafter defined) payable during the Extension Term shall be $5,750.00 per month. Lessee, if it elects to exercise its Extension Option, shall do so by giving Lessor written notice of such exercise at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial Term of this Lease.
 
1.04.       Lessee represents and warrants to Lessor that (i) except as set forth in this Lease, neither Lessor nor any agent, officer, partner, joint venturer, employee, or representative of Lessor has made any representation whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Lease or any part thereof, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) representations as to the applicable zoning, the physical nature or condition of the Property (including, without limitation, any latent defect) or operating expenses or carrying charges affecting the Property, and (ii) except as set forth in this Lease, Lessee, in executing, delivering and performing this Lease, does not rely upon any statement, information, or representation to whomsoever made or given, whether to Lessee or others, and whether directly or indirectly, verbally or in writing, made by any person, firm or corporation. Without limiting the foregoing, but in addition thereto, Lessee agrees to accept the Property in its “as is” condition on the Commencement Date subject to the existing state of title (without express or implied warranty of Lessor with respect to the condition, quality, repair or fitness of the Property for a particular use or title thereto), all such warranties being hereby waived and renounced by Lessee. The foregoing, however, is not intended to release Lessor from any and all obligations and/or liability that Lessor may have under applicable law, nor be a waiver of any rights Lessee may have under applicable law, relating to Hazardous Materials at, on or under the Property. Any diminution or shutting off of light, air or view by any structure which may hereafter be erected (whether or not constructed by Lessor) shall in no way affect this Lease or impose any liability on Lessor
 
1.05.       During the Term of this Lease including any renewals, Lessor and Lessee acknowledge that (i) Kurt Chew shall have exclusive use of the office he currently occupies, along with the apartment that is attached to said office, and the area shown on Exhibit “C” attached hereto (collectively, the “ Kurt Chew Area ”) and (ii) Lessee acknowledges that Lessor owns the personal property described on Exhibit “D” attached hereto (“ Lessor’s Personal Property ”) and that at no time may Lessee remove any of Lessor’s Personal Property. During the Lease, in the event Lessor removes any of Lessor’s Personal Property which are fixtures and attached to the Buildings, Lessor will replace such fixtures with commercially reasonable substitutes for the items removed.
 
1.06.       Lessor retains the right to pump and sell the water from the water well that is not currently being used. In the event that Lessor does sell the water from this water well, Lessor will use its best efforts to keep any interference with Lessee’s use of the Property to a minimum.
 
 
3

 
 
ARTICLE 2
 
Use of Property.
 
2.01.       The Property shall be used, and Lessee covenants and agrees to continuously at all times during the Term of this Lease to use the Property, for general office and industrial purposes and for no other use without the prior written consent of the Lessor (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Neither Lessor nor Lessee will (a) use or occupy or allow the Property or any part thereof to be used or occupied for any illegal, unlawful, disreputable or hazardous purpose or use or in violation of any certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance or certificate of need covering or affecting the use of the Property or any part thereof or in any manner which would cause structural injury to the Property or any part thereof, (b) take any action or omit to take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the value or usefulness of the Property or any part thereof to diminish, or (c) suffer any act to be done or cause any condition to exist on the Property or any part thereof, or any action to be brought thereon, which may be dangerous or which may constitute a nuisance, public or private, or waste, or which may make it impossible to obtain the insurance provided for herein or which may increase the cost of such insurance. Lessee shall not use, suffer or permit the Property or any part thereof to be used by Lessee, any third party or the public without restriction or in such manner as would reasonably be expected to impair Lessor’s title to the Property, or in such manner as would reasonably be expected to make possible a claim or claims of adverse usage or adverse possession or implied dedication of the Property or any part thereof by the public or third parties. Except as otherwise provided in this Lease, no action by Lessor shall be construed to mean that Lessor has granted to Lessee any authority to do any act or make any agreement that may create any such third party or public right, title, interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance upon the estate of the Lessor in the Property.
 
ARTICLE 3
 
Rent.
 
3.01.       Lessee covenants and agrees to pay in advance on the first day of each and every calendar month to Lessor, in lawful money of the United States, at the address specified above or such other place as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee, beginning on the Commencement Date and ending December 31, 2012, a fixed rent at the monthly rate of FOUR THOUSAND and NO/100 DOLLARS ($4,000.00) per month and beginning on January 1, 2013 and ending December 31, 2014, a fixed rent at the monthly rate of FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY and NO/100 DOLLARS ($4,750.00) per month (“ Net Rent ”).
 
3.02.       It is the intention of Lessor and Lessee that the Net Rent payable by Lessee to Lessor during the entire Term of this Lease shall be net of the property taxes more specifically described in ARTICLE 4 herein and all costs and expenses incurred in connection with or relating to the Property, including, without limitation, in connection with or relating to the management, operation, maintenance and repair of the Property in accordance with this Lease. Lessor shall have no obligations or liabilities whatsoever in connection with or relating to the Property or the management, operation, maintenance or repair of the Property during the term of this Lease, and Lessee shall be responsible for all obligations of every kind and nature whatsoever in connection with or relating to the Property or any part thereof, including, without limitation, the management, operation, maintenance and repair of the Property in accordance with this Lease and Lessee shall pay all costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith before such costs or expenses become delinquent.
 
 
4

 
 
3.03.       The Net Rent shall be paid to Lessor promptly when due without notice or demand therefor, and without any abatement, deduction, set-off, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever.
 
3.04.       Lessee will also pay to Lessor promptly when due, in lawful money of the United States, at the address specified above or such other place as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee, without notice or demand therefor and without any abatement, deduction, setoff, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever, as additional rent (the “ Additional Rent ”), the Impositions (as defined in ARTICLE 4 hereof) which shall become due and payable from Lessee to Lessor under this Lease, and, in the event of any non-payment thereof (beyond all applicable notice, grace and cure periods set forth in this Lease), Lessor shall have (in addition to all other rights and remedies which Lessor may have hereunder) all the rights and remedies provided for herein or by law or equity in the case of non-payment of the Net Rent (beyond all applicable notice, grace and cure periods set forth in this Lease). Net Rent, Additional Rent and all other payments due by Lessee under this Lease are collectively referred to in this Lease as “Rent”.
 
3.05.       In the event any monthly installment of Net Rent or any payment of Additional Rent is not received by the Lessor on the day when due, a late fee of five percent (5%) of the amount due shall be due and payable, provided, however, that Lessee shall have a 5-day grace period once every 12 months during the Term, and if the amount due is paid during such 5-day grace period, no late fee shall be assessed. In no event shall such late fee be deemed to grant to Lessee a grace period or extension of time within which to pay any Rent or prevent Lessor from exercising any right or enforcing any remedy available to Lessor upon Lessee’s failure to pay all Net Rent or Additional Rent due and as required under this Lease, including, without limitation, the right to terminate this Lease (after giving effect to all applicable notice, grace and cure periods). All amounts of money payable by Lessee to Lessor hereunder, if not paid when due, shall bear Interest (as hereinafter defined) from the due date until paid.
 
3.06.       If the Commencement Date occurs on a day other than the first day of a calendar month, the Net Rent for such partial calendar month shall be prorated and paid on the Commencement Date. Any apportionments or prorations of Net Rent or Additional Rent to be made under this Lease shall be computed on the basis of a 365-day year.
 
3.07.       No payment by Lessee or receipt or acceptance by Lessor of a lesser amount than the correct Net Rent or Additional Rent shall be deemed to be other than a payment on account, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or any letter accompanying any check or payment be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Lessor may accept such check or payment without prejudice to Lessor’s right to recover the balance or pursue any other remedy in this Lease or at law or equity provided.
 
3.08.       Lessee shall pay Net Rent and Additional Rent as above and as herein provided, by good and sufficient check drawn on a bank which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or a successor thereto.
 
 
5

 
 
3.09.       On the Commencement Date, Lessee shall pay Lessor the first month’s Net Rent and deposit with Lessor Net Rent for the last month of the Term of this Lease to be held by Lessor as a credit for the final Net Rent payment.
 
3.10.       On the Commencement Date, Lessee shall deposit with Lessor $4,000.00 (the “ Security Deposit ”), which shall be held by Lessor, without obligation for interest, to secure Lessee’s obligations under this Lease; however, the Security Deposit is not an advance rental deposit or a measure of Lessor’s damages for an Event of Default (defined below). Lessor may use any portion of the Security Deposit to satisfy Lessee’s unperformed obligations hereunder, without prejudice to any of Lessor’s other remedies. If so used, Lessee shall pay Lessor an amount that will restore the Security Deposit to its original amount upon request. In connection with any waiver of a Lessee default or modification of this Lease, Lessor may require that Lessee provide Lessor with an additional amount to be held as part of the Security Deposit. The unused portion of the Security Deposit will be returned to Lessee within a reasonable time after the end of the Term, provided that Lessee has fully and timely performed its obligations hereunder throughout the Term. In the event Lessor conveys the Land and assigns this Lease, the new owner shall reimburse Lessor for the Security Deposit upon the execution of the assignment of this Lease.
 
ARTICLE 4
 
Payment of Taxes, Assessments, Etc.
 
4.01.       Except as hereinafter provided in Section 4.02 or unless Lessee is then making deposits therefor pursuant to Section 4.03, Lessee covenants and agrees to pay, not later than fifteen (15) days before the first day on which any interest or penalty will accrue or be assessed for the non-payment thereof (“ Due Date ”), all of the following items applicable to or affecting the Property, or any part thereof accruing or payable from and after the Commencement Date and during the Term of this Lease or applicable thereto: (i) all real estate taxes and assessments (including, without limitation, assessments for special business improvement or assessment districts), (ii) personal property taxes, (iii) occupancy and rent taxes, (iv) water and sewer rents, rates and charges, and vault taxes, (v) county real estate taxes and charges, (vi) charges for public utilities, (vii) license and permit fees, and (viii) any taxes, assessments or governmental levies, general and special, ordinary and extraordinary, foreseen and unforeseen, of any kind and nature whatsoever which at any time during or applicable to the Term of this Lease or any part thereof may be assessed, levied, confirmed, or imposed upon, or grow or accrue or become due and payable out of, or charged with respect to, or become a lien on, the Property or any part thereof, or the sidewalks or streets in front of or adjoining the Property, or any vault, passageway or space in, over or under such sidewalk or street, or any other appurtenances to the Property, or any personal property, equipment or other facility used in the operation thereof, or the income received therefrom, or any use or occupation of the Property, or the Net Rent and Additional Rent payable hereunder, or any document to which Lessee is a party creating or transferring an interest or estate in the Property (all such items aforesaid being hereinafter collectively referred to as “ Impositions ”, and any of the same being hereinafter individually referred to as an “ Imposition ”); provided, however, that
 
 
6

 
 
(a)    if, by law, any Imposition which is an assessment not related to general real estate taxes may at the option of the taxpayer be paid in installments (whether or not interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of such Imposition), Lessee may exercise the option to pay the same (and any accrued interest on the unpaid balance of such Imposition) in installments and, in such event, shall pay such installments plus interest as may become due during the Term of this Lease, provided that all such payments shall be made before any fine, penalty, further interest or other charge for non-payment of any installment may be added thereto and provided further that all such installments for any such Imposition imposed or becoming a lien during the Term of this Lease shall be paid in full on or before the Expiration Date subject to apportionment as provided in Paragraph (b) below.
 
(b)    any Imposition (including, without limitation, those Impositions which have been converted into installment payments by Lessee as referred to in Section 4.01(a)) relating to a fiscal period of the taxing authority, a part of which period is included within the Term of this Lease and a part of which is included in a period of time before the commencement or after the expiration or earlier termination of the Term of this Lease, shall (whether or not such Imposition shall be assessed, levied, confirmed, imposed upon or in respect of or become a lien upon the Property, or shall become payable, during the Term of this Lease) be adjusted between Lessor and Lessee as of the commencement and expiration or earlier termination of the Term of this Lease, as the case may be, so that Lessor shall pay that portion of such Imposition which that part of such fiscal period included in the period of time after the expiration or earlier termination and prior to the commencement of the Term of this Lease bears to such fiscal period, and Lessee shall pay the remainder thereof.
 
Lessee shall exhibit to Lessor paid receipts, if available, or other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to Lessor for all of the above items in this Section 4.01 within ten (10) days after Lessee’s receipt of written request by Lessor.
 
4.02.       Nothing herein contained shall require Lessee to pay municipal, state or federal income, excess profits, capital levy, estate, succession, inheritance, transfer or gift taxes of Lessor, any corporate franchise tax imposed upon Lessor, any tax imposed because of the nature of the business entity of Lessor, or any taxes applicable to the Excluded Property or the Kurt Chew Area; provided, however, that if, at any time during the Term of this Lease, the method of taxation prevailing at the Commencement Date shall be altered so that any new tax, assessment, levy (including, but not limited to, any municipal, state or federal levy), imposition or charge, or any part thereof, shall be measured by or be based in whole or in part upon the Property or any part thereof and shall be imposed upon Lessor, then all such new taxes, assessments, levies, impositions or charges, or the part thereof, shall be deemed to be included within the term “Impositions” to the extent that such Impositions would be payable if the Property were the only property of Lessor subject to such Impositions, and Lessee shall pay and discharge the same as herein provided in respect of the payment of Impositions.
 
 
7

 
 
4.03.  
 
(a)    In order to ensure the payment of all Impositions, Lessee agrees to deposit with any fee mortgagee requiring payment of Impositions to it in escrow on the first day of each and every month during the Term of this Lease, one-twelfth (1/12) of all Impositions for the current Lease Year (as defined below) as reasonably estimated in writing by Lessor based on current bills for same (or, if unavailable, based on the previous Lease Year’s actual Impositions). Lessee shall deposit, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date for any Imposition, such additional amounts as may be necessary so that there shall be sufficient funds in such deposit account to pay each such Imposition at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the Due Date thereof. On or prior to April 30th of each Lease Year or as soon thereafter as administratively available, Lessor shall send to Lessee a statement of actual Impositions incurred for the prior Lease Year. If the amount prepaid or escrowed by Lessee exceeds the amount that was actually due then Lessor shall issue a credit to Lessee in an amount equal to the over charge, which credit Lessee may apply to future payments on account of Impositions until Lessee has been fully credited with the over charge. If the credit due to Lessee is more than the aggregate total of future rental payments, Lessor shall pay to Lessee the difference between the credit and such aggregate total within twenty (20) days of the computation of such credit. If Lessor has undercharged Lessee, then Lessor shall send Lessee an invoice with the additional amount due, which amount shall be paid in full by Lessee within twenty (20) days of receipt.
 
Within ninety (90) days following Lessee’s receipt of Lessor’s statement of actual Impositions for the prior Lease Year delivered in accordance with this Section 4.03(a), either an employee of Lessee or an accountant or other consultant retained by Lessee with experience in auditing books and records of similar real estate properties, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, and upon reasonable prior written notice delivered to Lessor and in a manner so as to not unreasonably interfere with Lessor’s business, may examine or audit Lessor’s accounting records relating to the calculation of Impositions for such Lease Year. In the event Lessee’s audit reflects that the amount prepaid or escrowed by Lessee exceeds the amount that was actually due then Lessor shall issue a credit to Lessee in an amount equal to the over charge, which credit Lessee may apply to future payments on account of Impositions until Lessee has been fully credited with the over charge. If the credit due to Lessee is more than the aggregate total of future rental payments, Lessor shall pay to Lessee the difference between the credit and such aggregate total within twenty (20) days of the computation of such credit. If Lessee’s audit reveals that Lessor’s calculation of Impositions was overstated by three percent (3%) or more, Lessor shall pay for the reasonable and actual cost of such examination or audit. If the audit reveals that Lessor has undercharged Lessee for Impositions, then Lessor shall send Lessee an invoice with the additional amount due, which amount shall be paid in full by Lessee within twenty (20) days of receipt.
 
(b)    If at any time the amount of any Imposition is increased or Lessor or such fee mortgagee receives written notice indicating that such Imposition will be increased, and if the monthly deposits then being made by Lessee for this purpose would not make up a fund sufficient to pay such Imposition fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date of such Imposition, said monthly deposits shall thereupon be increased after notice in writing to Lessee and Lessee shall deposit immediately with Lessor (or with any such fee mortgagee, as the case may be) sufficient moneys so that the moneys then on hand for the payment of said Imposition plus the increased one-twelfth (1/12) payments shall be sufficient to pay such Imposition at least fifteen (15) days before the Due Date of such Imposition.
 
 
8

 
 
(c)    For the purpose of determining whether Lessor (or any such fee mortgagee, as the case may be) has on hand sufficient moneys to pay any particular Imposition at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Due Date therefor, deposits for each category of Imposition shall be treated separately, it being the intention of the parties hereto that moneys deposited for the payment of an item not yet due and payable shall not be used for the payment of an item that is due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Lessee fails to make any deposit required hereunder, Lessor (or such fee mortgagee) may use deposits for one item for the payment of another item then due and payable.
 
(d)    Upon the Expiration Date or earlier termination of this Lease, all such deposits then held shall be applied on account of any and all sums due to Lessor under this Lease and Lessee shall forthwith pay the resulting deficiency. The excess, if any, shall be returned to Lessee. Lessee shall not be entitled to any interest on such funds so deposited with Lessor or any fee mortgagee.
 
4.04.        If permitted by applicable law, and provided no Event of Default (hereinafter defined) is then in existence, Lessee shall have the right, at its own expense, to contest the amount or validity, in whole or in part, of any Imposition by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted in good faith, but only after payment of such Imposition (which payment may be made under protest, at Lessee’s option), unless such payment would operate as a bar to such contest or interfere materially with the prosecution thereof, in which event, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4.01 or 4.03, Lessee may postpone or defer payment of such Imposition, if and only if:
 
(a)    neither the Property (nor any other premises owed by Lessor) nor any part thereof would by reason of such postponement or deferment be, in the judgment of Lessor (exercised in good faith), in danger of being forfeited or lost; and no criminal liability could be, in the judgment of Lessor (exercised in good faith), imposed on Lessor by reason of such postponement or deferment, and
 
(b)    Lessee shall have deposited with Lessor or the assessing body (i) the amount so contested and unpaid, together with all interest and penalties as reasonably estimated by Lessor in connection therewith and all charges as reasonably estimated by Lessor that may or might be assessed against or become a lien or charge on the Property or any part thereof in such proceedings, or (ii) at Lessor’s option, such other security (in the form of a surety company bond or otherwise) reasonably required by Lessor or the assessing body.
 
Upon the termination of any such proceedings, Lessee shall pay the amount of such Imposition or part thereof as finally determined as due in such proceedings, the payment of which may have been deferred during the prosecution of such proceedings, together with any costs, fees, interest, penalties or other liabilities in connection therewith, and, upon such payment, Lessor shall, provided an Event of Default is not then in existence, return, without interest, any amount still on deposit with it with respect to such Imposition as aforesaid. If at any time during the continuance of such proceedings Lessor or the assessing body shall reasonably deem the amount deposited or the undertaking insufficient, Lessee shall, upon receipt of twenty (20) days’ prior written notice, make an additional undertaking or deposit with Lessor or the assessing body as Lessor or the assessing body reasonably may request, and upon failure of Lessee so to do, the amount theretofore deposited shall be applied by Lessor or the assessing body to the payment, removal and discharge of such Imposition and the interest and penalties in connection therewith and any costs, fees (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) or other liability accruing in any such proceedings, and the balance, if any, shall be returned to Lessee or the deficiency, if any, shall be paid by Lessee immediately on written demand of Lessor to the taxing authority to which such Imposition is payable. Nothing contained in this Section 4.04 or elsewhere in this Lease shall be deemed to limit Lessee’s obligation to make the deposits provided for in Section 4.03 hereof.
 
 
9

 
 
Either Lessor or Lessee may, if it shall so desire, endeavor at any time or times to obtain a lowering of the assessed valuation upon the Property, or any part thereof, for the purpose of reducing taxes thereon, and in such event, the other party will cooperate in effecting such reduction.
 
4.05.       Lessor shall reasonably cooperate with Lessee in connection with any proceedings referred to in Section 4.04 but Lessor shall not be required to join in any such proceedings unless the provisions of any law, rule or regulation at that time in effect shall require that such proceedings be brought by and/or in the name of Lessor or any owner of the Property, in which event, Lessor shall join in such proceedings or permit the same to be brought in its name. Lessor shall not be subject to any liability for the payment of any costs or expenses in connection with any such proceedings, and Lessee will indemnify and save harmless Lessor from and against any such costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, and from any liability resulting from such proceeding. Lessee shall be entitled to any refund with respect to any Imposition and penalties or interest thereon which have been paid by Lessee (whether directly or through escrowed funds), or which have been paid by Lessor but previously reimbursed in full to Lessor by Lessee.
 
4.06.       The certificate, advice or bill of the appropriate official designated by law to make or issue the same or to receive payment of any Imposition, or of non-payment of such Imposition, shall be prima facie evidence that such Imposition is due and unpaid at the time of the making or issuance of such certificate, advice or bill.
 
4.07.       Unless escrowed as provided in Section 4.03, Lessor appoints Lessee the attorney-in-fact of Lessor for the purpose of making all payments to be made by Lessee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Lease to persons or entities other than Lessor. In case any person or entity to whom any sum is directly payable by Lessee under any of the provisions of this ARTICLE 4 shall refuse to accept payment of such sum from Lessee, Lessee shall thereupon give written notice of such fact to Lessor and shall pay such sum directly to Lessor at the address specified in Section 19.01 hereof, and Lessor shall promptly pay such sum to such person or entity.
 
4.08.       Unless escrowed as provided in Section 4.03, and except as otherwise provided in Section 4.07, Lessee shall make all payments of Impositions directly to the appropriate taxing authorities.
 
4.09.       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereinabove set forth, in the event any fee mortgagee requires any Imposition to be escrowed, Lessee shall comply with such mortgagee’s escrow requirements delivered to Lessee in writing.
 
 
10

 
 
ARTICLE 5
 
Insurance.
 
5.01.       At all times during the Term of this Lease, Lessee, at its own cost and expense, shall carry and maintain insurance coverage set forth below in the name of Lessor, Lessee and the holder of any fee mortgage (provided Lessee receives written notice of the identity of any such fee mortgagee) as their respective interests may appear.
 
(a)    Property Insurance .
 
(i)    Insurance on the Property (including, without limitation, the Buildings and all improvements thereto hereafter made by Lessee) and all fixtures, equipment and personal property at the Property under an “All Risks of Physical Loss” policy (hereinafter referred to as “ All Risks ”), including, without limitation, coverage for loss or damage by water, flood, subsidence and sprinkler damage and, when and to the extent obtainable from the United States government or any agency thereof at commercially reasonable rates, war risks; such insurance to be written with full replacement coverage (the “ Replacement Value ”), i.e., in an amount equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the full costs of replacement of the Property and such fixtures, equipment and personal property (less the cost of excavations, foundations and footings below the basement floor) or (2) an amount sufficient to prevent Lessee from becoming a co-insurer of any loss under the applicable policy. The insurance company’s determination of the amount of coverage required in clause (1) above shall be binding and conclusive on Lessor and Lessee for purposes of the coverage required by clause (1). A stipulated value or agreed amount endorsement deleting the co-insurance provision of the policy shall be provided with such insurance. If not otherwise included within the “All Risks” coverage specified above, Lessee shall carry or cause to be carried, by endorsement to such “All Risks” policy, coverage against damage due to water and sprinkler leakage, flood and collapse and shall be written with limits of coverage reasonably required by Lessor.
 
(ii)    The Replacement Value shall include the cost of debris removal and the value of grading, paving, landscaping, architects, and development fees.
 
(b)    Liability Insurance . Comprehensive general liability insurance with respect to the Property and the operations related thereto, whether conducted on or off the Property, against liability for personal injury, including bodily injury and death, and property damage. Such comprehensive general liability insurance shall be on an occurrence basis and specifically shall include:
 
(i)    Contractual Liability to cover Lessee’s obligation to indemnify Lessor as required hereunder; and
 
(ii)    Water damage and sprinkler leakage legal liability.
 
 
11

 
 
All such insurance against liability for personal injury, including bodily injury and death, and property damage as specified above shall be written for a combined single limit which is in accordance with Lessee’s current liability policies or which Lessee is then maintaining for the Property or such greater amount as may be determined by Lessee. Such limit shall be subject to reasonable increase (as reasonably determined by Lessor and Lessee) from time to time in accordance with the limits then being customarily carried on buildings of similar age and construction and similarly situated as the Property.
 
(c)    Miscellaneous Insurance . Such other insurance in such amounts as from time to time reasonably may be required by Lessor or any mortgagee of the fee of the Property.
 
5.02.       Lessee further covenants and agrees, at its sole cost and expense, to take out and maintain at all times during the Term of this Lease all necessary worker’s compensation insurance in compliance with applicable law covering all persons employed by Lessee in and about the Property.
 
In addition to the insurance carried by Lessee, during the course of any alteration or repair work undertaken by a contractor hired by or for Lessee, Lessee shall require such contractor to carry public liability insurance in limits of not less than the amounts herein specified for Lessee or such other amounts reasonably approved by Lessor.
 
5.03.       All insurance provided for in this ARTICLE 5 shall be in such form and shall be issued by such responsible insurance companies licensed to do business in the State of Texas as are reasonably approved by Lessor. Upon the execution of this Lease, and, thereafter, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration dates of the expiring policies required pursuant to this ARTICLE 5, originals of the policies or renewal certificates, as the case may be, bearing notations evidencing the payment of premiums or accompanied by other evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lessor of such payment, shall be delivered by Lessee to Lessor.
 
5.04.       All policies of insurance provided for in Sections 5.01 and 5.02 shall name any mortgagee of the fee of the Property (provided Lessee receives written notice of the identity of any such fee mortgagee), Lessor and Lessee as the insureds as their respective interests may appear.
 
5.05.       Neither Lessor nor Lessee shall violate or permit to be violated any of the conditions, provisions or requirements of any insurance policy required by this ARTICLE 5, and Lessee shall perform, satisfy and comply with, or cause to be performed, satisfied and complied with, the conditions, provisions and requirements of the insurance policies and the companies writing such policies so that, at all times during the Term of this Lease, companies reasonably acceptable to Lessor provide the insurance required by this ARTICLE 5.
 
5.06.       Each policy of insurance required to be carried pursuant to the provisions of ARTICLE 5 shall contain (i) a provision that no act or omission of Lessor or Lessee shall affect or limit the obligation of the insurance company to pay the amount of any loss sustained, (ii) an agreement by the insurer that such policy shall not be cancelled, modified or denied renewal without at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor, (iii) an agreement that if cancellation is due to nonpayment of premiums, the insurer will so specify in the notice given in (ii) above and will reinstate the policy upon payment of the premiums by Lessor or a fee mortgagee, and (iv) a waiver of subrogation by the insurer.
 
 
12

 
 
5.07.       If, by reason of changed economic conditions, the insurance amounts referred to in this Lease become inadequate, upon Lessor’s request, the limits shall be reasonably increased by Lessor from time to time to meet changed circumstances including but not limited to changes in purchasing power of the dollar and changes indicated by the course of plaintiffs’ verdicts in personal injury actions in the District Court, Lee County, State of Texas.
 
ARTICLE 6
 
Damage or Destruction.
 
If at any time during the Term of this Lease the Property or any part thereof shall be damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty (including any casualty for which insurance coverage was required by this Lease but not obtained) of any kind or nature, provided there are adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee for such purposes under the policies of insurance required by this Lease, or there would have been adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee if Lessee carried the policies of insurance required by this Lease, Lessee shall rebuild the same to substantially the condition which existed prior to such damage or destruction and this Lease shall continue in full force and effect. If there are not adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee under the policies of insurance required by this Lease, and there would not have been adequate insurance proceeds available to Lessee if Lessee carried the policies of insurance required by this Lease, then Lessee may elect within ninety (90) days of such casualty by written notice to Lessor, to either (a) rebuild the same to substantially the condition which existed prior to such damage or destruction (or with such modifications as are reasonably approved by Lessor) in which event this Lease shall continue in full force and effect and Lessee shall pay any cost of rebuilding the Improvements not covered by such policies of insurance, or (b) provided Lessee is not then in default hereunder beyond any curative period provided herein, remove all improvements from the Land, at Lessee’s cost and expense, in which event this Lease shall terminate effective as of the date of the removal of such improvements and delivery of the Property to Lessor in accordance with the terms of this Lease. All insurance money paid on account of such damage or destruction of the Property under the policies of insurance provided for in Section 5.01(a) above (herein sometimes referred to as the " Casualty   Insurance   Proceeds ") shall, unless an Event of Default by Lessee then exists hereunder, be available for the payment of the costs of rebuilding or removing the improvements, including temporary repairs for the protection of other property, to the extent such Casualty Insurance Proceeds shall be sufficient for such purpose and, unless an Event of Default by Lessee then exists hereunder, Lessor shall have no claim thereto; provided, however, should Lessee elect to remove all improvements from the Land and terminate this Lease as permitted above, all such insurance proceeds attributable to the improvements that are in excess of the cost of removing the improvements shall be paid to Lessor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a reasonable and equitable abatement of Rent for any period(s) in which Lessee is not reasonably able to operate its business from the Property due to casualty and/or restoration efforts for the portion of the Property that is rendered untenantable.
 
 
13

 
 
ARTICLE 7
 
Condemnation.
 
7.01.       In the event of a taking of the entire Property, this Lease shall terminate upon the date that Lessee surrenders possession to the condemning authority (the “ Taking Date ”), at which time Rent shall be apportioned and the parties shall be released from liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease. In the event of a taking of a substantial portion as would render the balance of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use, this Lease shall terminate, at Lessee’s option, such option to be exercised by Lessee giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor at which time the parties shall be released from further liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease. The loss or material change of any of the rights of parking or access, ingress or egress to and from the Property existing as of the Effective Date shall be deemed such a substantial taking as would render the use of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use.
 
7.02.       In the event of a taking of less than the entire Property or less than a substantial portion as would render the balance of the Property not suitable for Lessee’s then current use, Rent shall be abated fairly and equitably in accordance with the portion taken. If such taking occurs within the last Lease Year of the Term and has a material impact on Lessee’s ability to do business, this Lease shall terminate, at Lessee’s option, such option to be exercised by Lessee giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lessor at which time the parties shall be released from further liability hereunder except as otherwise set forth in this Lease.
 
7.03.       In the event of a taking of any portion of the Property as would materially adversely affect Lessee’s ability to do business at the Property for a period of ninety (90) days or less, the Term shall toll and Rent shall abate from the Taking Date and recommence when possession is restored to Lessee. If such taking shall extend beyond ninety (90) days, the taking shall, at the option of Lessee, be considered permanent, entitling Lessee to its rights set forth in Section 7.01 above.
 
7.04.       Upon a taking, all sums awarded for the Property shall be apportioned between Lessor and Lessee in accordance with their interests in the Property. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to give Lessor any interest in, or to require Lessee to assign to Lessor, any award made to Lessee for the taking of any of Lessee’s property, Lessee’s relocation costs or Lessee’s business damages. Lessor shall not agree to any settlement in lieu of condemnation with the condemning authority without Lessee’s prior written consent.
 
 
14

 
 
ARTICLE 8
 
Repairs and Maintenance; Services
 
8.01.       Lessee shall, at its own cost and expense, keep and maintain all the Property in good condition and repair and make all necessary repairs and replacements to the Property, whether structural or non-structural, including, but not limited to, road maintenance, the pipes, water, sewage and septic system, heating system, plumbing system, window glass, fixtures, and all other appliances and their appurtenances and all equipment and personal property used in connection with the Property so that the Property is in at least the same condition as when received by Lessee, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. Such repairs and replacements, interior and exterior, structural and non-structural, shall be made promptly, as and when necessary so that the Property is in at least the same condition as when received by Lessee, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. All repairs and replacements shall be in quality and class at least equal to the original work. Upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default by Lessee in making such repairs or replacements, Lessor may, but shall not be required to, make such repairs and replacements for Lessee’s account, and the expense thereof together with Interest thereon until paid shall constitute and be collectible as Additional Rent. Lessee shall maintain at its sole cost and expense all portions of the Property in a clean and orderly condition, free of dirt, rubbish, snow, ice and unlawful obstructions. Periodically, J & P Services, Inc., or another company reasonably acceptable to Lessor providing the same service, will maintain the access roadway to the Property and will invoice Lessor for its 1/5 pro rata share of the road maintenance (“ Road Maintenance Costs ”). Lessee is obligated to timely pay the Road Maintenance Costs upon receipt of the invoice from Lessor. In the event Lessor receives the invoice for the Road Maintenance Costs, Lessor will promptly forward the invoice to Lessee for payment (and Lessor shall ensure that such invoice is delivered to Lessee in a manner that allows Lessee sufficient time to process the payment of the Road Maintenance Costs before the due date therefor).
 
8.02.       Neither Lessor nor Lessee will suffer any waste or damage, disfigurement or injury to the Property or any part thereof.
 
8.03.       Subject to Section 8.01, unless resulting from any act or omission of Lessor or any of its employees, agents, contractors, representatives, licensees or invitees, it is intended by Lessee and Lessor that Lessor shall have no obligation, in any manner whatsoever, to repair or maintain the Property (or any equipment therein), whether structural or nonstructural, all of which obligations are intended, as between Lessor and Lessee, to be those of Lessee. Except as provided above in this Section 8.03, Lessee expressly waives the benefit of any statute now or in the future in effect which would otherwise afford Lessee the right to make repairs at Lessor’s expense or to terminate this Lease because of Lessor’s failure to keep the Property in good order, condition and repair.
 
8.04.       Lessee shall, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, supply the Property with electricity, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, water, natural gas, lighting, replacement for all lights, restroom supplies, telephone service and disposal services, and such other services as Lessee determines to furnish to the Property. Unless resulting from any act or omission of Lessor or any of its employees, agents, contractors, representatives, licensees or invitees, Lessor shall not be in default hereunder or be liable for any damage or loss directly or indirectly resulting from, nor shall the Net Rent or Additional Rent be abated or a constructive or other eviction be deemed to have occurred by reason of, the installation, use or interruption of use of any equipment in connection with the furnishing of any of the foregoing services, any failure to furnish or delay in furnishing any such services, whether such failure or delay is caused by accident or any condition beyond the control of Lessor or Lessee or by the making of repairs or improvements to the Property or otherwise, or any limitation, curtailment, rationing or restriction on use of water, electricity, gas or any form of energy serving the Property, whether such results from mandatory governmental restriction or voluntary compliance with governmental guidelines or otherwise. Lessee shall pay as Additional Rent the full cost of any and all of the foregoing services that Lessee is not paying directly to the provider of such service, provided that Lessee shall receive any invoices and other documentation reasonably required by Lessee to evidence the cost of such services.
 
 
15

 
 
ARTICLE 9
 
Alterations and Improvements by Lessee.
 
9.01.       Unless required by law or any governmental authority, Lessee shall not make any alterations or improvements (except restorations, repairs and maintenance pursuant to ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8, as applicable, and the removal and replacement of equipment from the Buildings as set forth in ARTICLE 16) to the Property or any part thereof without the prior written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Lessee need not seek the consent of Lessor, and such consent shall not be required, with respect to alterations or improvements aggregating TWENTY THOUSAND and NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000.00) or less in value or cost (whichever is higher) to be commenced or performed in any Lease Year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall Lessee make any alterations or improvements which would affect the structure or structural integrity of the Buildings or the facade of the Buildings, without obtaining the prior written consent of Lessor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. In no event shall Lessee be permitted to install underground storage tanks or underground fuel systems on the Property. Lessor’s refusal to consent to the installation of an underground tank or underground fuel system shall be conclusively presumed to be reasonable. Any such alterations or improvements in or to the Property requiring the approval of Lessor shall be subject, however, in all cases to the following:
 
(a)    Any improvement or alteration shall be made with at least fifteen (15) days prior notice to the Lessor, unless a governmental authority requires otherwise or except in the case of an emergency, in which case, Lessee shall give Lessor as much notice as is practicable, accompanied by a copy of the proposed plans and specifications in detail reasonably sufficient for Lessor to review same, the identity of the contractor and any subcontractors, and a copy of all contracts with respect to the improvement or alteration, and shall be made promptly at the sole cost and expense of the Lessee and in a good and workmanlike manner and in compliance in all respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, permits and authorizations promulgated or issued by any governmental authority having jurisdiction thereof. Upon Lessor’s request, to be made not more frequently than once per Lease Year, Lessee shall deliver to Lessor “as-built” plans and specifications for any work theretofore completed.
 
(b)    The Property shall at all times be free of liens for labor and materials supplied or claimed to have been supplied to the Property.
 
(c)    Notice is hereby given that Lessor shall not be liable for any labor or materials furnished to or for the Lessee. Furthermore, notice is hereby given to Lessee and Lessee’s mechanics, laborers and materialmen with respect to the Property that no mechanic’s, materialman’s or laborer’s lien shall attach to or affect the reversion or other interest of Lessor in or to the Property.
 
(d)    Worker’s compensation and general liability insurance with respect to the alterations and improvements as required by Section 5.02 shall be maintained and/or provided.
 
 
16

 
 
(e)    All fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or permanent equipment installed or made by Lessee, or at Lessee’s expense, upon or in the Property shall be the property of Lessor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lessor shall have the right and privilege to serve notice upon Lessee , at the time of Lessor’s approval of any such fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or permanent equipment, that any such fixtures, work, alterations, additions, improvements or equipment shall be removed, in which event, Lessee shall, at its own cost and expense and prior to the expiration of the Term of this Lease, remove same in accordance with such request, and restore the Property to its original condition, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted. If Lessee fails to so remove and restore, Lessor shall have the right to remove such property and to dispose of the same and to restore the Property without accountability to Lessee, and at the sole cost and expense of Lessee. In the event of any damage to the Property as a result of the removal of such property, Lessee shall immediately repair such damage or, in the Event of Default with respect to such obligation, shall immediately upon receipt of written request from Lessor reimburse Lessor for Lessor’s reasonable costs and expenses in repairing such damage, and the provisions of this sentence shall survive the expiration of the Term of this Lease. All personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee upon or in the Property shall remain the property of Lessee unless Lessee fails to remove such personal property or equipment upon termination of this Lease or surrender by Lessee of the Property to Lessor all in accordance with the provisions set forth above with respect to removals at Lessor’s request. All interior alterations and improvements in the Office Building must be consistent with the current finish.
 
ARTICLE 10
 
Discharge of Liens.
 
10.01.       Except as provided in ARTICLE 18, Lessee shall not create or permit to be created any lien, encumbrance or charge upon the Property or any part thereof, and Lessee shall not suffer any other matter or thing whereby the estate, rights and/or interest of Lessee and/or Lessor (or any part thereof) in the Property or any part thereof might be encumbered by any such lien, encumbrance or charge.
 
10.02.       If any mechanic’s, laborer’s or materialman’s lien shall at any time be filed against the Property or any part thereof, Lessee, within twenty (20) days after receipt of notice of the filing thereof, will cause the same to be discharged of record by payment, deposit, bond, order of a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise. If Lessee shall fail to cause such lien to be discharged within the period aforesaid, then, in addition to any other right or remedy Lessor may have hereunder or at law or equity, Lessor may, but shall not be obligated to, discharge the same and Lessor shall be entitled, if Lessor so elects, to compel the prosecution of an action for the foreclosure of such lien by the lienor and to pay the amount of the judgment in favor of the lienor with interest, costs and allowances. Any amount so paid by Lessor and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by Lessor in connection with the discharge of the lien and/or the prosecution of such action, together with Interest thereon from the respective dates of Lessor’s making of the payment or incurring of the cost and expense to the date Lessee reimburses Lessor for such amount shall constitute Additional Rent payable by Lessee under this Lease and shall be paid by Lessee to Lessor immediately upon Lessee’s receipt of demand therefor in writing.
 
10.03.     Nothing in this Lease contained shall be deemed or construed in any way as constituting the consent or request of Lessor, expressed or implied, by inference or otherwise, to any contractor, subcontractor, laborer or materialman for the performance of any labor or the furnishing of any materials for any specific improvement, alteration to or repair of the Property or any part thereof.
 
 
17

 
 
ARTICLE 11
 
Compliance with Laws, Ordinances, Etc.
 
11.01.     Throughout the Term of this Lease, Lessee, at its sole cost and expense, will promptly comply in all material respects with all present and future laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and requirements of all federal, state and municipal governments, departments, commissions, boards and officers (including, without limitation, all environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and requirements), and all orders, rules and regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or any other body or bodies exercising similar functions, foreseen or unforeseen, ordinary, as well as extraordinary, which may be applicable to the Property or any part thereof and the sidewalks, alleyways, passageways, curbs and vaults adjoining the Property or to the use or manner of use of the Property or the tenants or occupants thereof, whether or not such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement shall necessitate structural changes or improvements or other work or interfere with the use and enjoyment of the Property.
 
11.02.     Lessee shall likewise observe and comply in all material respects with the requirements of all policies of public liability, fire and all other policies of insurance at any time in force with respect to the Property and the improvements thereon, and Lessee shall, in the event of any violation or any attempted violation of the provisions of this Section 11.02, take steps immediately upon obtaining knowledge of such violation or attempted violation to remedy or prevent the same, as the case may be.
 
11.03.      Provided no Event of Default is then in existence, Lessee shall have the right, after prior written notice to Lessor, to contest by appropriate legal proceedings diligently conducted in good faith, in the name of Lessee or Lessor or both, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense and without cost or expense to Lessor, the validity or application of any law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of the nature referred to in Section 11.01 and defer compliance therewith during the pendency of such contest, subject to the following:
 
(a)    If compliance therewith, pending the prosecution of any such proceeding, may legally be delayed without the incurrence of any lien, charge or liability of any kind against the Property or any part thereof and without subjecting Lessor to any liability, civil or criminal, or fine or forfeiture, for failure so to comply therewith during such period, then Lessee may delay compliance therewith until the final determination of such proceeding.
 
(b)    If any lien, charge or civil liability would be incurred by reason of any such delay, Lessee, nevertheless, may contest as aforesaid and delay as aforesaid, provided that such delay would not subject Lessor to criminal liability, fine or forfeiture, or the Property to a lien, and Lessee, prior to instituting any such proceedings, furnishes to Lessor a letter of credit or bond or undertaking by a surety company or cash deposit or other security reasonably satisfactory to Lessor (such choice of security to be at Lessor’s sole option) securing compliance with the contested law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement and payment of all interest, penalties, fines, fees and expenses in connection therewith.
 
(c)    Any such proceeding instituted by Lessee shall be begun as soon as is reasonably possible after the passage or issuance of any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement and the application thereof to Lessee or to the Property and shall be prosecuted to final adjudication with dispatch and due diligence.
 
(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Lessee shall promptly comply with any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement being contested and compliance shall not be deferred if at any time the Property or any part thereof shall be in danger of being forfeited or lost or if Lessor shall be in danger of being subjected to criminal liability or penalty by reason of noncompliance therewith.
 
 
18

 
 
(e)    Lessee agrees to indemnify and hold Lessor, the partners of Lessor and Lessor’s employees, agents and representatives harmless from and against any and all claims, causes of action, judgments, damages, fines, forfeitures, costs, and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of or in connection with Lessee’s failure to comply with and/or contesting any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.03.
 
Lessor will execute and deliver any appropriate papers which may be reasonably necessary or proper, and otherwise reasonably cooperate with Lessee, to permit Lessee to contest the validity or application of any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement.
 
ARTICLE 12
 
Lessor’s Right to Perform Lessee’s Covenants.
 
12.01.      If, after any applicable cure, grace and/or notice period, but without cure, notice or grace in the case of an emergency, Lessee shall at any time fail to pay any Imposition in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE 4 hereof or to take out, pay for, maintain or deliver any of the insurance policies provided for in ARTICLE 5 or ARTICLE 9 hereof, or shall fail to make any other payment or perform in any material respect any other act on its part to be made or performed under this Lease, or shall default in the performance in any material respect of any of its obligations under this Lease (“ Breaches ”), then Lessor, or any fee mortgagee, without thereby waiving such Breach or releasing Lessee from any obligation contained in this Lease, may (but shall not be obligated to) perform the same for the account of and with the expense thereof to be paid by Lessee, and may (but shall be under no obligation to) enter upon the Property for any such purpose and take all such action thereon, as may be necessary therefor.
 
12.02.      All sums so paid by Lessor or any fee mortgagee pursuant to Section 12.01 above and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all reasonable legal fees and disbursements incurred by Lessor or any fee mortgagee in connection with the performance of any such act pursuant to Section 12.01 above, together with Interest thereon from the respective dates of Lessor’s or such fee mortgagee’s making of each such payment or incurring of each such cost and expense to the date paid by Lessee to Lessor or such fee mortgagee shall constitute Additional Rent payable by Lessee under this Lease and shall be paid by Lessee to Lessor or such fee mortgagee immediately upon Lessee’s receipt of written demand therefore.
 
ARTICLE 13
 
Entry On Property By Lessor.
 
13.01.      Lessee will permit Lessor and its authorized representatives to enter the Property at all reasonable times and hours upon reasonable written notice to Lessee for the purpose of (i) inspecting the same, and (ii) making any necessary repairs thereto and performing any work therein that Lessor may be entitled to make or perform, respectively, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.01 hereof; provided, however, Lessor and its authorized representatives shall not cause any unreasonable interference with Lessee’s business operations on the Property as a result of any such entry. Nothing herein shall imply any duty upon the part of Lessor to do any such work, and performance thereof by Lessor shall not constitute a waiver of Lessee’s Event of Default in failing to perform the same.
 
 
19

 
 
ARTICLE 14
 
Indemnification of Lessor.
 
14.01.      Lessee will indemnify and save harmless Lessor and any partner of Lessor against and from all liabilities, suits, obligations, fines, damages, penalties, claims, costs, charges and expenses, judgments and causes of action, including, without limitation, reasonable architects’ and attorneys’ fees and disbursements, which may be imposed upon or incurred by or asserted against Lessor and/or any such partner by reason of any of the following occurring during the Term of this Lease:
 
(a)    any work or thing done in, on or about the Property or any part thereof at the direction or with the consent of Lessee;
 
(b)    any negligence on the part of Lessee or any of its agents, contractors, servants, employees, sublessees, licensees or invitees;
 
(c)    any accident, injury (including, without limitation, death) or damage to any person or entity or property (other than Lessor’s Personal Property) occurring in, on or about the Property;
 
(d)    any material failure on the part of Lessee to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements, terms, provisions, conditions or limitations contained in this Lease on its part to be performed or complied with;
 
(e)    any lien or claim which may be alleged to have arisen against or on the Property under any law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations or requirements;
 
(f)    any failure on the part of Lessee to keep, observe and perform in any material respects any of the terms, covenants, agreements, provisions, conditions or limitations contained in any occupancy agreements, concession agreements or other contracts and agreements affecting the Property, on Lessee’s part to be kept, observed or performed;
 
(g)    any tax or fee attributable to the execution or recording of this Lease or any memorandum thereof charged by any governmental authority; or
 
(h)    any contest permitted pursuant to the provisions of any Article of this Lease.
 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, LESSEE’S INDEMNIFICATION SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE NEGLIGENCE AND/OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF LESSOR, ITS AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES.
 
In the event of loss or damage to Lessor’s Personal Property, to the extent Lessor recovers such loss or damage from insurance proceeds Lessor hereby waives and releases Lessee from any and all right of recovery, claim, or action for such loss or damage to the extent of Lessor’s recovery from insurance proceeds, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE OR ORIGIN, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OF LESSEE OR ITS AGENTS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. Provided, however, the foregoing waiver and release does not include the gross negligence or intentional misconduct by Lessee or any loss or damage in excess of insurance recovery.
 
 
20

 
 
The obligations of Lessee under this ARTICLE 14 shall not in any way be affected by the absence or presence in any case of covering insurance or by the failure or refusal of any insurance carrier to perform any obligation on its part under insurance policies affecting the Property.
 
In case any claim, action or proceeding is made or brought against Lessor by reason of any of the foregoing events to which reference is made in this Section 14.01, then Lessee will, upon receipt of written notice from Lessor, at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, resist or defend such claim, action or proceeding, in Lessor’s name, if necessary, by counsel reasonably approved in writing by Lessor, such approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lessor may engage its own counsel, at Lessor’s expense, to defend it or to assist in its defense.
 
14.02.     The provisions of Section 14.01 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Lease with respect to any action occurring during the Term of the Lease.
 
ARTICLE 15
 
Assignments, Subletting, Mortgages.
 
15.01.     Lessee expressly covenants that it shall not, without Lessor’s prior written consent, assign all or any part of this Lease or suffer or permit the Property or any part thereof to be used by others or sublet all or any part of the Property, nor shall Lessee mortgage, hypothecate, assign, pledge, grant a security interest in or encumber the Property or any part thereof, this Lease and/or the leasehold estate created hereby, nor shall Lessee assign, pledge, hypothecate and/or give a security interest in, any personal property included within this Lease and/or the income, receipts, revenues and profits of the Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that Lessor will not withhold, condition or delay consent to any assignment of this Lease or any subletting of all or any part of the Property so long as (i) the proposed assignee or sublessee is engaged in a business using the Property for the uses permitted under this Lease and such use is in keeping with the then applicable standards of the Property, (ii) Lessee shall remain primarily liable under this Lease; and (iii) the credit standing of such proposed assignee or sublessee is acceptable to Lessor in Lessor’s reasonable judgment; and (v) the term of any proposed sublease (together with all extensions or renewals thereof) shall terminate on or before the end of the Term of this Lease.
 
If Lessee desires at any time to assign this Lease or sublet all or a portion of the Property, it shall first notify Lessor of its desire to do so and shall submit in writing to Lessor (a) the name of the proposed assignee, (b) the nature of the proposed assignee’s business to be carried on in the Property, (c) a copy of the proposed assignment and any other applicable agreement, (d) such financial information as Lessor may reasonably request concerning the proposed assignee, including, without limitation, current financial statements of any prospective guarantor and (e) such other information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate (a) through (e) above. To the extent Lessor’s consent is required as a condition to the effectiveness of any such assignment or sublease, Lessor hereby reserves the right to condition any such consent upon Lessor’s reasonable determination that (1) the proposed assignee is financially responsible as a sole lessee, (2) the proposed assignee or sublessee is likely to conduct a business on the Property of a type and quality substantially similar to that conducted by Lessee, and (3) the proposed use by the assignee is compatible with any existing or future use by Lessee. Lessor agrees to advise Lessee in writing within thirty (30) days after Lessor’s receipt of Lessee’s notice as provided above as to whether or not a proposed assignee or sublessee is acceptable. Except as otherwise permitted by this Lease, any attempted assignment, transfer, mortgage or other encumbrance of Lessee’s interest in this Lease of the Property or subletting or permissive use in occupancy of the Property without Lessor’s written consent shall be null and void and have no force and effect whatsoever and shall constitute a breach of this Lease.
 
 
21

 
 
15.02.     Notwithstanding anything contained in this ARTICLE 15 or elsewhere in this Lease to the contrary, Lessee may assign all or any part of this Lease, sublet all or any part of the Property or otherwise transfer all or any part of its interest in this Lease and the Property to any Permitted Transferee. The term “Permitted Transferee” means (i) any affiliate of Lessee, (ii) the purchaser of all or substantially all of Lessee’s assets, or (iii) any corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or other business entity in which, with which or to which Lessee, or its corporate successors or assigns, is merged, consolidated or sold (provided such sale is of all or substantially all of the assets of Lessee) in accordance with applicable statutory provisions and other laws governing merger, consolidation and sale of business entities, or (iv) any Leasehold Mortgagee (as hereinafter defined) succeeding to Lessee’s interest in this Lease by virtue of foreclosure (or transfer in lieu of foreclosure) of the Leasehold Mortgage (as hereinafter defined).
 
15.03.     Lessee shall at all times and from time to time have the right, without Lessor’s consent, to encumber by mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or security agreement (the “ Leasehold Mortgage ”) Lessee’s leasehold estate in the Property created by this Lease, together with Lessee’s rights and interests in all of Lessee’s fixtures, equipment, personalty and improvements situated thereon and all rents, issues, profits, revenues and other income to be derived by Lessee therefrom, to secure such loans from time to time made by any lender (defined below) (“ Leasehold Mortgagee ”) to Lessee or any affiliate of Lessee; provided, however, that such Leasehold Mortgage shall in no event encumber Lessor’s fee title and interest in the Property.
 
If Lessor has received notice from Lessee or Leasehold Mortgagee notifying Lessor of the existence of a Leasehold Mortgage, together with the name and address of Leasehold Mortgagee, Lessor shall deliver to the Leasehold Mortgagee notice of any default by Lessee hereunder, and no notice of default shall be deemed effective against a Leasehold Mortgagee who has notified Lessor of the existence of its Leasehold Mortgage until the notice of default is so delivered to Leasehold Mortgagee. If there exists at any one time more than one Leasehold Mortgage, Lessor shall deliver a copy of notice of default only to the Leasehold Mortgagee that is identified by notice to Lessor as holding the first priority Leasehold Mortgage or, if no Leasehold Mortgagee has been so identified, then Lessor may deliver a copy of notice of default to either Leasehold Mortgagee. Leasehold Mortgagee shall have the right to correct or cure any such default within the same period of time after receipt of such notice as is given to Lessee under this Lease to correct or cure defaults, plus an additional period of ten (10) days thereafter for a monetary default and an additional period of forty-five (45) days in the event of a nonmonetary default. Lessor will accept Leasehold Mortgagee’s performance of any covenant, condition or agreement on Lessee’s part to be performed hereunder with the same force and effect as though performed by Lessee if, at the time of such performance, Leasehold Mortgagee delivers to Lessor evidence of its interest in this Lease. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Lease under which Lessor may declare a default and terminate or cancel this Lease or any of Lessee’s rights or interests hereunder, no notice of default given by Lessor to Lessee or other action by Lessor to declare a default (other than notice of a default that can be corrected or cured by the payment of money or of a default that is within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure within the time permitted hereunder) shall be effective to terminate this Lease if and so long as Leasehold Mortgagee shall promptly commence the enforcement of and diligently pursue all rights and remedies legally available to it to correct or cure all defaults that are within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure and, with respect to defaults that are not within Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to correct or cure, if Leasehold Mortgagee shall promptly commence the enforcement of and diligently pursue all rights and remedies legally available to it to acquire the leasehold estate hereunder, and upon acquisition thereof, perform all of the covenants and provisions on Lessee’s part to be performed during the period of its ownership of the leasehold estate. If this Lease terminates by reason of the happening of any Event of Default, or because of a disaffirmance of this Lease by a receiver, liquidator or trustee for Lessee’s property, or by any department of the city, state or federal government that had taken possession of Lessee’s business or property because of Lessee’s insolvency or alleged insolvency, and if, at the time of such termination, the Leasehold Mortgage constitutes a first lien upon Lessee’s leasehold estate (a “ First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee ”), Lessor shall give notice thereof to the First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee. Upon First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s written request made within thirty (30) business days after delivery of such notice to First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee, and upon payment to Lessor of all Rent and other monies due under this Lease to such date and unpaid by Lessee, as well as all sums that would have become payable hereunder by Lessee to Lessor to the date of execution and delivery of the new lease hereinafter mentioned, had this Lease not been terminated, together with reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses in connection therewith and in connection with the removal of Lessee from the Property, and the curing of all Events of Default hereunder that are within First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to cure, and the performance of all of the covenants and provisions hereunder that are within First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s power to perform up to the date of the execution and delivery of the new lease hereinafter mentioned, giving credit, however, for any net income actually collected by Lessor from the Property, Lessor shall enter into a new lease of the Property with First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee for the remainder of the Term, including the exercised or unexercised Extension Option, at the same Rent and on the same terms and conditions as contained in this Lease and dated as of the date of termination of this Lease. First Lien Leasehold Mortgagee’s estate, as tenant under the new lease, shall have priority equal to Lessee’s estate hereunder (that is, there shall be no charge, lien or burden upon the Property prior to or superior to the estate granted by such new lease that was not prior to or superior to Lessee’s estate under this Lease as of the date immediately preceding the date of the Event of Default, except, however, any charge, lien or burden that should not have been permitted and/or should have been discharged by Lessee under the terms of this Lease). Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to impose any obligation upon Lessor to deliver physical possession of the Property to any Leasehold Mortgagee until such Leasehold Mortgagee has entered into a new lease of the Property with Lessor.
 
 
22

 
 
Leasehold Mortgagee or any purchaser in foreclosure proceedings, including any person formed by Leasehold Mortgagee or the holder of the note or other obligations secured by the Leasehold Mortgage, may become the legal owner and holder of this Lease and the equipment, fixtures and other property assigned as additional security for such Leasehold Mortgage by foreclosure of the Leasehold Mortgage or as a result of assignment or conveyance in lieu of foreclosure.
 
ARTICLE 16
 
Surrender.
 
16.01.     Lessee shall on the last day of the Term hereof, or upon any earlier termination of this Lease, or upon any re-entry by Lessor upon the Property pursuant to ARTICLE 17 hereof, surrender and deliver up the Property (except personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee and except as Lessor instructs pursuant to ARTICLE 9) and all fixtures, equipment and other personal property now or hereafter at the Property into the possession and use of Lessor in the same condition as received, reasonable wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and free and clear of any liens created by Lessee or resulting from the acts or omissions of Lessee. Lessee shall at no time during the Term of this Lease remove any fixtures, equipment or other personal property from the Property (except personal property and moveable equipment owned by Lessee and except as Lessor instructs pursuant to ARTICLE 9) except Lessee may remove from the Property any equipment or other personal property which is obsolete or unfit for use or which is no longer useful in the operation of the Property. Nothing in this ARTICLE 16 shall in any way be deemed to affect any of Lessee’s obligations as to the use of the Property set forth in ARTICLE 2 of this Lease.
 
16.02.     If the Property is not surrendered as above set forth, Lessee shall indemnify, defend and hold Lessor harmless from and against loss or liability resulting from the delay by Lessee in so surrendering the Property, including, without limitation, any claim made by any succeeding occupant founded on such delay. Lessee’s obligation to observe or perform this covenant shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Lease. In addition to the foregoing, and in addition to the Additional Rent, Lessee shall pay to Lessor a sum equal to 150% of the Net Rent payable as of the expiration or termination of this Lease during each month or portion thereof for which Lessee shall remain in possession of the Property or any part thereof after the expiration or termination of the Term or of Lessee’s rights of possession, whether by lapse of time or otherwise. The provisions of this Paragraph 16.02 shall not be deemed to limit or constitute a waiver of any other rights or remedies of Lessor provided herein, at law or at equity.
 
16.03.     Except for surrender upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term hereof, no surrender to Lessor of this Lease or of the Property shall be valid or effective unless agreed to and accepted in writing by Lessor.
 
 
23

 
 
ARTICLE 17
 
Default Provisions.
 
17.01.      Each of the following events shall be an “ Event of Default ” hereunder:
 
(a)    Default by Lessee in paying any installment of Net Rent or Additional Rent or in making any deposit required pursuant to ARTICLE 4 and the continuance of such default for five (5) days after Lessee’s receipt of written notice of such default from Lessor;
 
(b)    If Lessee shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or shall be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall file any petition or answer seeking any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under present or any future bankruptcy act or any other present or future applicable federal, state or other statute or law or other law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, or shall seek or consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of Lessee or of all or any substantial part of its properties or of Lessee’s leasehold estate with respect to the Property;
 
(c)    If within sixty (60) days after the commencement of any proceeding against Lessee seeking any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under the present or any future federal bankruptcy act or any other present or future applicable federal, state or other statute or law or other law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement of any governmental authority, such proceeding shall not have been dismissed, or if, within sixty (60) days after the appointment, without the consent or acquiescence of Lessee, of any trustee, receiver or liquidator of Lessee or of all or any substantial part of its properties or of Lessee’s leasehold estate with respect to the Property, such appointment shall not have been vacated or stayed on appeal or otherwise, or if, within thirty (30) days after the expiration of any such stay, such appointment shall not have been vacated;
 
(d)    If a material levy under execution or attachment shall be made against Lessee or a material portion of its property and such execution or attachment shall not be vacated or removed by court order, bonding or otherwise within a period of thirty (30) days;
 
(e)    If the Property becomes vacant or is deserted or abandoned;
 
(f)    If the Property is used for other than the use permitted under this Lease;
 
(g)    If Lessee fails to take possession of the Property within 30 days of when possession is given to Lessee by Lessor;
 
 
24

 
 
(h)     Default by Lessee in observing or performing one or more of the other material terms, conditions, covenants or agreements of this Lease and the continuance of such default for a period of twenty (20) days after Lessee’s receipt of written notice by Lessor specifying such default (unless such default requires work to be performed, acts to be done, or conditions to be removed which cannot by their nature reasonably be performed, done or removed, as the case may be, within such twenty (20) day period, in which case no such Event of Default shall be deemed to exist so long as Lessee shall have commenced curing such default within such twenty (20) day period and shall diligently and continuously prosecute the same to completion, provided, however, that in any event such an Event of Default shall be deemed to exist if such cure of such default has not been completed within 90 days after Lessee’s receipt of Lessor’s written notice to Lessee as described above); or
 
(i)    If, without Lessor’s consent, Lessee shall reorganize, consolidate, merge, spin off an entity or otherwise enter into any restructure plan (a “ Reorganization ”) whereby, as a result of such Reorganization, the net value of Lessee or Lessee’s assets after the Reorganization is significantly and materially less than the value thereof prior to the Reorganization.
 
17.02.     If an Event of Default shall exist, Lessor may, at its option, give written notice to Lessee stating that this Lease and the Term of this Lease shall expire and terminate on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be not less than three (3) days from the date of such notice, and upon the expiration of the date specified in such notice, this Lease and the Term of this Lease and all rights of the Lessee under this Lease shall expire and terminate as if that date were the Expiration Date, and Lessee shall quit and surrender the Property and all other property as required hereunder to Lessor but Lessee shall remain liable as hereinafter provided.
 
17.03.     If any Event of Default shall exist, or if this Lease shall be terminated as provided in Section 17.02 hereof or by summary proceedings or otherwise, then, and in any of such events, Lessor may without notice, re-enter the Property either by force or otherwise, and dispossess Lessee and the legal representative of Lessee or other occupant of the Property by summary proceedings or otherwise, and remove their effects and hold the Property as if this Lease had not been made, and Lessee hereby waives the service of notice of intention to re-enter or to institute legal or other proceedings to that end. The terms “enter,” “re-enter,” “entry,” or “re-entry,” as used in this Lease, are not restricted to their technical legal meaning.
 
17.04.     In the event of any termination of this Lease under the provisions of this Article or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions herein, or in the event this Lease is otherwise terminated due to an Event of Default by Lessee hereunder, or in the event of re-entry by or under any summary dispossession or other proceedings or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessee shall thereupon pay to the Lessor the Net Rent and Additional Rent payable by Lessee to Lessor up to the time of such termination of this Lease, or of such recovery of possession of the Property by the Lessor, as the case may be, and shall also pay to Lessor damages as hereinafter provided.
 
17.05.     In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by Lessee of any of its obligations under this Lease, Lessor shall also have the right of injunction. The special remedies to which Lessor may resort in this Article are cumulative and not intended to be exclusive of any other remedies or means of redress to which Lessor may lawfully be entitled at any time and Lessor may invoke any remedy allowed at law or in equity as if specific remedies were not provided for herein.
 
 
25

 
 
17.06.     Subject to applicable law, if this Lease shall terminate under the provisions of Section 17.02, or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions of Section 17.03 or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or re-entry, by or under any summary dispossession or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessor shall be entitled to retain all monies, if any, paid by Lessee to Lessor, whether as advance Rent, security or otherwise, but such monies shall be credited by Lessor against any Net Rent or Additional Rent due from Lessee at the time of such termination or re-entry or, at Lessor’s option, against any damages payable by Lessee under this Article or pursuant to law or equity.
 
17.07.     If this Lease is terminated or if Lessor shall re-enter the Property under the provisions of this Article, or in the event of the termination of this Lease, or of re-entry, by or under any summary dispossession or other proceeding or action or any provision of law by reason of an Event of Default hereunder on the part of the Lessee, Lessee shall pay to Lessor as damages, at the election of Lessor, sums equal to the Net Rent and the Additional Rent payable hereunder throughout the stated term of this Lease which would have been payable by Lessee had this Lease not so terminated, or had Lessor not so re-entered the Property, payable upon the due date therefor specified herein following such termination or such re-entry.
 
17.08.  
 
(a)    In the event Lessor terminates this Lease under this Article, Lessor shall credit Lessee with the net rents received by Lessor from any re-letting of the Property during what would have been the balance of Lessee’s stated lease Term, such net rents to be determined by first deducting from the gross rents as and when received by Lessor from such re-letting, the expenses incurred or paid by Lessor in terminating this Lease or in re-entering the Property and in securing possession thereof (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and amounts for which Lessee indemnifies Lessor under Section 14.01(c) of this Lease incurred by Lessor in connection with an Event of Default by Lessee resulting in such termination), as well as the expenses of re-letting, including, without limitation, altering, repairing and preparing the Property for new tenants, brokers’ commissions and other expenses sustained in securing any new tenants or other occupants, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and all other expenses properly chargeable against the Property and the rental thereof (including, without limitation, the cost and expense of Lessor in maintaining and operating the Property), and any other liability of Lessee to Lessor, it being understood that any such re-letting may be for a period shorter or longer than the remaining Term of this Lease, but in no event shall Lessee be entitled to receive any excess of such net rents over the sums payable by Lessee to Lessor hereunder, or shall Lessee be entitled in any suit for the collection of damages pursuant to this Section to a credit in respect of any net rents from a re-letting, except to the extent that such net rents are actually received by Lessor. No re-entry by Lessor, whether had or taken under summary proceedings or otherwise, shall absolve or discharge Lessee from liability hereunder. Lessor in no way shall be responsible or liable for any failure to re-let the Property or any part thereof, or for any failure to collect any rent due on any such re-letting; provided, however, that neither the foregoing nor anything else contained in this Article shall relieve Lessor from any obligation under Texas law to mitigate the damages of Lessor arising as a result of an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease and shall not be construed in any way as a provision or provisions which purports/purport to waive a right of Lessee to require that Lessor mitigate, or to exempt Lessor from a duty to mitigate (or from liability for its failure to satisfy such duty), Lessor’s damages arising due to an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease.
 
(b)    If the Property or any part thereof be re-let by Lessor for the unexpired portion of the Term of this Lease, or any part thereof, before presentation of proof of such damages to any court, commission or tribunal, the amount of rent reserved upon such reletting shall, prima facie, be the fair and reasonable rental value for the Property, or part thereof, so re-let during the term of the re-letting.
 
 
26

 
 
17.09.     Suit or suits for the recovery of damages or deficiencies, or any installments thereof, may be brought by Lessor from time to time at its election, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require Lessor to postpone suit until the date when the Term of this Lease would have expired if it had not been so terminated hereunder, or under any provision of law, or had Lessor not re-entered the Property. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or preclude recovery by Lessor against Lessee of any sums or damages to which, in addition to the damages particularly provided above, Lessor may lawfully be entitled by reason of any Event of Default hereunder on the part of Lessee. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or prejudice the right of Lessor to obtain as damages by reason of the termination of this Lease or re-entry of the Property for an Event of Default of Lessee under this Lease an amount equal to the maximum allowed by any statute or rule of law in effect at the time when, and governing the proceedings in which, such damages are to be proved whether or not such amount be greater, equal to, or less than any of the sums referred to in Section 17.07.
 
17.10.     Lessee hereby expressly waives any and all rights of redemption granted by or under any present or future laws in the event of Lessee being evicted or dispossessed, or in the event of Lessor obtaining possession of the Property, as a result of an Event of Default by Lessee under this Lease.
 
17.11.     Lessee waives the right to trial by jury with respect to any action arising out of this Lease. Lessee further waives its rights to interpose any offset in any summary proceeding instituted by Lessor based upon non-payment of Net Rent or Additional Rent.
 
17.12.     All amounts payable by Lessee hereunder and each and every installment thereof, and all costs, attorneys’ fees, disbursements and other expenses which may be incurred by Lessor in enforcing the provisions of this Lease or on account of any delinquency of Lessee in carrying out the provisions of this Lease, shall be and they hereby are declared to constitute a valid lien upon the Lessee’s leasehold with respect to the Property to the extent permitted by law.
 
17.13.     No receipt of moneys by Lessor from Lessee after termination of this Lease, or after the giving of any notice of termination of this Lease, shall reinstate, continue or extend the Term of this Lease or affect any notice theretofore given Lessee, or operate as a waiver of the right of Lessor to enforce the payment of Net Rent and Additional Rent payable by Lessee hereunder or thereafter falling due, or operate as a waiver of the right of Lessor to recover possession of the Property, it being agreed that after the service of notice to terminate this Lease or the commencement of suit or summary proceedings, or after final order or judgment for the possession of the Property, or after possession of the Property by re-entry by summary proceedings or otherwise, Lessor may demand, receive and collect any moneys due or thereafter falling due without in any manner affecting such notice, proceeding, order, suit or judgment, all such moneys collected being deemed payments on account of the use and occupation of the Property or, at the election of Lessor, on account of Lessee’s liability hereunder.
 
 
27

 
 
17.14.     No failure of Lessor to exercise any right or remedy available during the continuance of an Event of Default, and no acceptance of full or partial Net Rent or Additional Rent by Lessor during the continuance of any such Event of Default, shall constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default. No covenant, agreement, term or condition of this Lease to be performed or complied with by either party, and no Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, with respect thereto, shall be waived, altered or modified except by a written instrument executed by that party. No waiver of any Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, shall affect or alter this Lease, but each and every covenant, agreement, term and condition of this Lease shall continue in full force and effect with respect to any other then existing or subsequent Event of Default or Lessor default, as applicable, thereof.
 
17.15.     Each right and remedy of Lessor provided for in this Lease shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other right or remedy provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Lessor of any one or more of the rights or remedies provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by Lessor of any or all other rights or remedies provided for in this Lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.
 
17.16.     Lessee shall pay to Lessor all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by Lessor in enforcing any of the covenants and provisions of this Lease and/or incurred by Lessor in any action brought on account of the provisions hereof, and all such costs and expenses may be included in and form a part of any judgment entered in any action or proceeding against Lessee.
 
17.17.     While an Event of Default is in existence, this Lease shall continue in effect for so long as Lessor does not terminate Lessee’s right to possession, and Lessor shall have the right to enforce all its rights and remedies under this Lease, including, without limitation, the right to recover all Net Rent and Additional Rent as it becomes due under this Lease. Acts of maintenance or preservation or efforts to relet the Property or the appointment of a receiver upon initiative of Lessor to protect Lessor’s interest under this Lease shall not constitute a termination of Lessee’s right to possession unless written notice of termination is given by Lessor to Lessee.
 
17.18.     Except as otherwise provided in this Lease, all agreements and covenants to be performed or observed by Lessee under this Lease shall be at Lessee’s sole cost and expense and without any abatement of Net Rent or Additional Rent.
 
 
28

 
 
17.19.     Lessor Default
 
(a)    If Lessor fails to perform or observe any of its obligations under this Lease and such failure continues for more than twenty (20) days after Lessee has delivered written notice thereof to Lessor, such failure will constitute a default under this Lease unless Lessor disputes the claimed default in good faith by written notice to Lessee within such twenty (20) day period; provided, however, that if the nature of Lessor’s obligation is such that more than twenty (20) days are required for performance, then Lessor will not be in default if Lessor commences performance within such twenty (20) day period and thereafter diligently prosecutes the same to completion; provided, however, that such additional period will in no event be longer than sixty (60) days after Lessor’s receipt of Lessee’s written notice to Lessor as described above. Lessee will identify the Lease provisions containing the Lessor’s obligations that are the subject of Lessee’s complaint and specify in reasonable detail the nature and extent of Lessor’s failure with respect thereto. If Lessor fails to cure any default within the applicable cure period, Lessee will have all rights and remedies available in this Lease and at law or in equity.
 
(b)    If Lessor fails to commence performance of an unperformed material obligation (as reasonably determined by Lessee) (a “ Material Obligation ”) within twenty (20) days after written notice from Lessee specifying such failure (subject to extension for cure as provided in Section 17.19(a)), then Lessee may perform such Material Obligation and Lessor shall reimburse Lessee all actual and reasonable third-party, out-of-pocket costs incurred by Lessee in connection therewith within thirty (30) days after Lessee delivers to Lessor written demand therefor, accompanied by invoices substantiating Lessee’s claim (provided, if the costs would constitute Additional Rent had Lessor performed such work, then such costs paid by Lessee shall be treated as Additional Rent, whereupon Lessee shall receive a credit therefor against Additional Rent next due, and Lessor shall not be responsible for reimbursing Lessee for such costs). If Lessor fails to pay such amount within such thirty (30)-day period, then Lessee may deliver a written notice to Lessor requesting reimbursement, and if Lessor fails to pay such amount within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, then Lessee may offset such costs (as well as any other amounts owing to Lessee from Lessor, whether or not arising out of this Lease) against its obligation to pay Rent, unless Lessor is in good faith disputing such claim, in which case, Lessee may offset the amount of such claim that is not in dispute.
 
ARTICLE 18
 
Subordination.
 
18.01.     This Lease is subject and subordinate to all present and future ground or underlying leases and to all present and future mortgages which may now or hereafter affect such leases or the Property (or any part thereof) or Lessor’s fee interest in the Property, and to all renewals, modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions thereof, but only on the condition that Lessor has secured and delivered to Lessee, in recordable form, a Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement (an “ SNDA ”) executed and acknowledged by each such lessor and mortgagee, whereby each such lessor or mortgagee has agreed to attorn to this Lease and not disturb Lessor’s use of the Property and Lessee has subordinated its rights hereunder to such lessor or mortgagee, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lessee. Lessee’s obligations under this Lease are expressly contingent and conditioned upon Lessee’s receipt of an SNDA from each lessor and mortgagee as provided above. Except as provided above in this Section 18.01, the provisions of this Section 18.01 shall be self-operative and no further instrument of subordination shall be required. In confirmation of such subordination, Lessee shall promptly execute and deliver at its own cost and expense any instrument, in recordable form, if required, that Lessor, or the holder of any such Lease or mortgage or any of their respective successors in interest may request to evidence such subordination, and Lessee hereby constitutes and appoints Lessor or its successors in interest to be Lessee’s attorney-in-fact, irrevocably and coupled with an interest, to execute and deliver any such instrument for or on behalf of Lessee. Nothing contained in this Lease shall limit or curtail Lessor’s right to sell, mortgage or otherwise deal with its fee interest in the Property, or affect Lessor’s right to assign the Net Rent and/or Additional Rent payable under this Lease either as further collateral security under a fee mortgage or otherwise, and any such assignment of Rent shall be honored by Lessee; provided, however, in the event of any foreclosure proceeding which is prosecuted or completed or any transfer of the Property or Lessor’s interest therein by foreclosure, by deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, the leasehold estate granted to Lessee under this Lease shall not be terminated or disturbed so long as no Event of Default by Lessee shall exist under this Lease and Lessee shall pay all sums due under this Lease and shall fully perform and comply with all of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease on the part of Lessee to be performed and/or complied with.
 
 
29

 
 
18.02.     In the event of any act or omission of Lessor constituting a default by Lessor hereunder beyond any applicable notice period, Lessee shall not exercise any remedy until Lessee has given all fee mortgagees of the Property (provided such fees mortgagees have been made known to Lessee in writing) written notice of such act or omission, and unless and until a reasonable period of time (not to exceed thirty (30) days) to allow such mortgagees to remedy such act or omission shall have elapsed following receipt of such notice. However, if such act or omission cannot, with due diligence and in good faith, be remedied within such period or cannot be cured simply by the payment of money, such mortgagees shall be allowed such further period of time as may be reasonably necessary provided that such mortgagees commence remedying the same with due diligence and in good faith and thereafter diligently prosecute such cure to completion (and if such mortgagees require possession of the Property to commence curing any such default, such mortgagees shall also be entitled to such further periods of time as may be reasonably required to obtain possession of the Property). Nothing herein contained shall be construed or interpreted as requiring any mortgagee receiving such notice to remedy such act or omission.
 
ARTICLE 19
 
Bills and Notices.
 
19.01.     Except as otherwise in this Lease provided, a bill, statement, notice or communication which Lessor may desire or be required to give to Lessee shall be deemed sufficiently given or rendered if, in writing, delivered to Lessee personally by hand or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Lessee at PO Box 1110, Giddings, TX 78942 or at such other address as Lessee may designate by written notice from time to time to Lessor, and the time of the rendition of such bill or statement and of the giving of such notice or communication shall be deemed to be the time when the same is delivered to Lessee personally or delivered to Lessee by overnight courier or five days after mailed as herein provided. Any notice by Lessee to Lessor must be served personally by hand or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Lessor at the address first hereinabove given or at such other address as Lessor shall designate by written notice to Lessee from time to time during the Term hereof, and the time of the rendition of such notice shall be deemed to be the time when the same is delivered to Lessor personally or delivered to Lessor by overnight courier or five days after mailed as herein provided.
 
ARTICLE 20
 
Quiet Enjoyment.
 
20.01.     Lessor covenants and agrees with Lessee that upon Lessee paying the Net Rent and Additional Rent and observing and performing all the material terms, covenants and conditions on Lessee’s part to be observed and performed hereunder, Lessee may peaceably and quietly enjoy the Property hereby demised for the duration of the Term of this Lease.
 
 
30

 
 
ARTICLE 21
 
Covenants To Bind And Benefit Respective Parties.
 
21.01.     The covenants and agreements herein contained shall bind and inure to the benefit of Lessor and Lessee and their respective successors and (except as otherwise provided herein) assigns, and cannot be changed, modified or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties.
 
ARTICLE 22
 
Definitions.
 
22.01.     Interest ” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) eight percent (8%), (ii) the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, or (iii) the maximum applicable legal rate, if any.
 
22.02.     Lessor ” as used in this Lease means only the owner, or the mortgagee in possession, for the time being of the Property, so that in the event of any transfer of title of said Property, the said transferor or Lessor, as applicable, shall be and hereby is entirely freed and relieved of all future covenants, obligations and liabilities of Lessor hereunder, provided such transferee of the Property agrees to assume in writing such covenants, obligations and liabilities of said transferor or Lessor, as applicable, under this Lease. The obligations contained in this Lease to be performed by Lessor shall, subject as aforesaid, be binding on Lessor’s successors and assigns only during their respective periods of ownership.
 
22.03.     Lessee ” as used in this Lease, shall include more than one person if more than one person is Lessee and if, at any time, the term “Lessee” shall include more than one person, the obligations of all such persons under this Lease shall be joint and several.
 
22.04.     Lease Year ” shall mean a period of twelve consecutive calendar months. The first Lease Year shall commence on the Commencement Date and each succeeding Lease Year shall commence on the anniversary date of the first Lease Year.
 
22.05.     Unavoidable Delays ” shall mean delays caused by strikes, lockouts, acts of God, inability to obtain labor or materials, governmental restrictions, enemy action, civil commotion, fire, terrorist action, epidemic, public utility failure, unavoidable casualty, moratorium or similar laws prohibiting performance or severe weather conditions or any other similar matter which shall be beyond the reasonable control of Lessee or Lessor, as the case may be, but the lack or insufficiency of funds shall not constitute an Unavoidable Delay.
 
 
31

 
 
ARTICLE 23
 
Net Lease; Non-Terminability.
 
23.01.     This is a net lease and the Net Rent, Additional Rent and all other sums payable hereunder by Lessee shall be paid without notice or demand therefor and, except as otherwise provided in this Lease, without any abatement, deduction, set-off, suspension or defense for any reason whatsoever except as provided herein.
 
23.02.     Except as provided herein including, without limitation, ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, this Lease shall not terminate, nor shall Lessee have any right to terminate this Lease, nor shall Lessee be entitled to any abatement or reduction of Net Rent or Additional Rent hereunder, nor shall the obligations of Lessee under this Lease be affected, by reason of (i) subject to ARTICLE 6 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, any damage to or destruction of all or any part of the Property from whatever cause, (ii) subject to ARTICLE 7 of this Lease, the taking of the Property or any portion thereof by condemnation, requisition or otherwise, or (iii) subject to ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7 and ARTICLE 8 of this Lease, the prohibition, limitation or restriction of Lessee’s use of all or any part of the Property, or any interference with such use, unless caused by Lessor or any employee, agent, contractor, representative, licensee or invitee of Lessor.
 
ARTICLE 24
 
Hazardous Material.
 
24.01.     Lessee (i) shall comply, and cause the Property to comply, in all material respects, with all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined) applicable to the Property (including, without limitation, the making of all submissions to governmental authorities required by Environmental Laws and the carrying out of any remediation program specified by such authority), (ii) shall prohibit the use of the Property for the generation, manufacture, refinement, production, or processing of any Hazardous Material (as hereinafter defined) or for the storage, handling, transfer or transportation of any Hazardous Material, (iii) shall not permit to remain, install or permit the installation on the Property of any surface impoundments, underground storage tanks, or asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, and (iv) shall cause any alterations of the Property to be done in a way so as to not expose in an unsafe manner the persons working on or visiting the Property to Hazardous Materials, and in connection with any such alterations, shall remove, in compliance with Environmental Laws, any Hazardous Materials present upon the Property which are not in compliance with Environmental Laws or which present a danger to persons working on or visiting the Property.
 
24.02.     Environmental Laws ” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§6901, et. seq. (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§9601 et. seq. (CERCLA), the Toxic Substance Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§2601 et. seq. , the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136 et. seq. , and all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations, as any of the foregoing may have been or may be from time to time amended, supplemented or supplanted, and any other federal, state or local laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations, now or hereafter existing relating to regulations or control of Hazardous Materials. The term “ Hazardous Materials ” as used in this Lease shall mean substances defined as “hazardous substances”, “hazardous materials”, “hazardous wastes” or “toxic substances” in any applicable federal, state or local statute, rule, regulation or determination, including the Environmental Laws, and asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive substances, methane, volatile hydrocarbons, petroleum or petroleum-derived substances or wastes, radon, industrial solvents or any other material as may be specified in applicable law or regulations; provided, however, Hazardous Materials shall not include, and nothing contained in this Lease will be deemed to prohibit the use of, normal quantities of office supplies, household cleaners and other products customarily used in the conduct of general office, business or industrial uses similar to the uses of the Property permitted under this Lease.
 
 
32

 
 
24.03.     Lessee shall pay, indemnify and save harmless Lessor, from all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses and other reasonable expenses and costs of every kind and description to which Lessor is subjected as a result of the discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which occurs after the Term commences, and as the direct result of a discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials by Lessee or its agents or employees; provided, however, that such indemnification shall not be applicable to the extent of matters for which Lessor indemnifies Lessee pursuant to Section 24.04.
 
24.04.      Lessor shall pay, indemnify and save harmless Lessee from all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses and other reasonable expenses and costs of every kind and description to which Lessee is subjected as a result of the discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which either (a) occurs after the Term commences, and as the direct result of a discharge or release onto the Property of Hazardous Materials which is due to an act of Lessor or its agents or employees, or (b) for any discharge or release of Hazardous Materials onto the Property, or any other conditions of the Property existing prior to commencement of the Term.
 
ARTICLE 25
 
Miscellaneous.
 
25.01.      Lessor and Lessee hereby warrant and represent to each other that there are no broker or finder fees or any real estate commissions claiming by or through Lessor or Lessee due any broker, agent, or other party in connection with the negotiation or execution of this Lease, and Lessee hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Lessor harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, liabilities, causes of action, claims or suits in connection with compensation, commissions, fees, or other sums claimed to be due or owing to any party (other than the Brokers) with respect to the negotiation or execution of this Lease, claiming by or through Lessee. Similarly, Lessor agrees to indemnify and hold Lessee harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, liabilities, causes of action, claims or suits in connection with compensation, commissions, fees, or other sums claimed to be due or owing to any party (including the Brokers) with respect to the negotiation or execution of this Lease claiming by or through the Lessor. The indemnification provisions of this Section 25.01 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.
 
25.02.      If any term or provision of this Lease shall to any extent be held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions of this Lease shall not be affected thereby, but each term and provision shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
25.03.      Each party agrees at any time, and from time to time, upon not less than ten (10) days’ prior written request from the other party, to execute, acknowledge and deliver to the other party a statement in writing, certifying (if true) that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect as modified, and stating the modifications), the dates to which the Net Rent and Additional Rent have been paid and whether or not to the best knowledge of the party executing such statement an Event of Default exists under this Lease or whether any events have occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, could constitute an Event of Default hereunder, it being intended that any such statement delivered pursuant to this Section may be relied upon by the party which requested the statement to be executed and by any prospective transferee or assignee of this Lease from Lessor or Lessee, any fee mortgagee or purchaser of the fee interest in the Property and any Leasehold Mortgagee.
 
 
33

 
 
25.04.      Promptly upon the request of either party, either party may record a memorandum of this Lease and any amendments thereto. If a memorandum is to be recorded, the parties shall execute, acknowledge and deliver a memorandum hereof in recordable form, prepared by Lessee, the form and substance of which shall conform to applicable law, but may contain such other provisions of this Lease or the substance thereof, as either party may reasonably require, excepting rental provisions. The foregoing shall also apply with respect to each modification of this Lease.
 
25.05.      Whenever in this Lease Lessor covenants not to unreasonably withhold or delay its consent or approval, if Lessor shall refuse such consent or approval, then Lessee’s sole remedy shall be for specific performance of any such covenant and in no event shall Lessee be entitled to any money damages for a breach of such covenant.
 
25.06.     Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Lease, whether express or implied, it is agreed that Lessee will look only to Lessor’s fee interest in and to the Property for the collection of any judgment (or other judicial process) requiring the payment of money by Lessor in the event of a breach or default under this Lease by Lessor, and no other property or assets of Lessor or its directors, officers, shareholders, partners, joint venturers or other principals (disclosed or undisclosed) shall be subject to suit or to levy, execution or other enforcement procedures for the satisfaction of any such judgment (or other judicial process).
 
25.07.     Lessee shall at all times keep and maintain full and correct records and books of account of the operations of the Property in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and shall accurately record and preserve the records of such operations. During the existence of an Event of Default, Lessee shall permit Lessor and Lessor’s accountants and fee mortgagees access thereto, with the right to make copies and excerpts therefrom at Lessor’s and such accountants’ and fee mortgagees’ sole cost and expense; provided, however, any such access shall only be provided at reasonable times and hours and only upon reasonable written notice to Lessee for such purposes, and Lessor and Lessor’s accountants and fee mortgagees shall not cause any unreasonable interference with Lessee’s business operations on the Property as a result of any such access.
 
25.08.     The captions of this Lease are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of this Lease or of any provisions thereof, or in any way affect this Lease.
 
25.09.     The use herein of (i) the singular shall include the plural, and (ii) the neuter pronoun in any reference to Lessor or Lessee shall be deemed to include any individual Lessor or Lessee.
 
25.10.     This Lease shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas in all respects including, without limitation, the validity, construction and performance thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Lease shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party causing this Lease to be drafted.
 
25.11.     There shall be no merger of the leasehold estate created hereby by reason of the fact that the same person or entity may own directly or indirectly, (1) the leasehold estate created hereby or any interest in this Lease or such leasehold estate and (2) the fee estate in the Property. Notwithstanding any such combined ownership, this Lease shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by an instrument executed by both Lessor and Lessee and consented to by any fee mortgagee(s).
 
25.12.     Should either party employ attorneys to enforce any of the provisions of this Lease, the non-prevailing party in any final judgment agrees to pay the prevailing party all reasonable costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expended or incurred in connection therewith, including pretrial, trial and all appellate levels. All references in this Lease to the attorneys’ fees will also be deemed to include fees of all legal assistants, fees of the in-house legal staff of Lessor, Lessee and either party’s affiliates, as applicable, and will include all fees incurred through all post-judgment and appellate levels.
 
 
[SIGNATURES FOLLOW]
 
 
34

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lessor and Lessee have caused this Lease to be executed as of the Effective Date.
 
 
LESSOR:
 
       
 
KURT CHEW, LLC,
a Texas limited liability company
 
       
  By:
/s/ Kurt Chew
 
  Name:
Kurt Chew, LLC
 
  Title:
Member
 
 
 
LESSEE:
 
     
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES CORP.,
a Texas corporation
 
       
  By: /s/ Kurt Chew  
       
  By: /s/ Munawar Hidayatallah  
  Name:
Munawar Hidayatallah
 
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  
 
 
 
 
Signature Page to
Amended and Restated
Lease Agreement
 
 
 

 
 
EXHIBIT “A”
 
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND
 
TRACT ONE:  2.50 acres of land, more or less, out of the Jesse Barker Survey, Abstract Number 32, Lee County, Texas, being more particularly described in Exhibit “A-1” attached hereto and made a part hereof.
 
TRACT TWO:  2.50 acres of land, more or less, out of the Jesse Barker Survey, Abstract Number 32, Lee County, Texas, being more particularly described in Exhibit “A-2” attached hereto and made a part hereof.
 
TRACT THREE:  2.50 acres of land, more or less, out of the Jesse Barker Survey, Abstract Number 32, Lee County, Texas, being more particularly described in Exhibit “A-3” attached hereto and made a part hereof.
 
TRACTS ONE, TWO AND THREE are shown on the survey attached hereto at Exhibit “A-4” .
 
 

 
Exhibit 10.6
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
 
1.   Plan .
 
  This Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) was adopted by Aly Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”) to attract and retain key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to attract and retain qualified directors of the Company, to encourage the sense of proprietorship of such employees and directors and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  These objectives are to be accomplished by making Awards under this Plan and thereby providing Participants with a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
2.   Definitions .
 
  As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the following respective meanings:
 
“Award” means the grant, by the Company pursuant to this Plan, of any Option, SAR or Stock Award, whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of this Plan.
 
“Award Agreement” means any agreement issued for and on behalf of the Company setting forth, in writing, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Award.
 
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
“Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred when:
 
(a)   any Person makes an acquisition (through purchase, merger or any other transaction) of Outstanding Voting Stock and is, immediately thereafter, the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the then Outstanding Voting Stock, unless, immediately following such acquisition, individuals and entities that were beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Stock immediately before such acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company; or
 
(b)   Consummation of a Major Asset Disposition unless, immediately following such Major Asset Disposition, individuals and entities that were beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Stock immediately before such Major Asset Disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (if it continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock of such acquiring entity).
 
 
1

 
 
(c)   For purposes of the definition of a “Change of Control”,
 
(i)   “Major Asset Disposition” means the sale or other disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions of 50% or more of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; and any specified percentage or portion of the assets of the Company will be based on fair market value, as determined by a majority of the Incumbent Directors.
 
(ii)   “Outstanding Voting Stock” means outstanding voting securities of the Company (or any successor or resulting entity following the transaction) entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and any specified percentage or portion of the Outstanding Voting Stock (or of other voting stock) is determined based on the combined voting power of such securities.
 
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
 
“Committee” means the Board or such committee of the Board as is designated by the Board to administer this Plan.
 
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
 
“Company” means Aly Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
 
“Director” means an individual serving as a member of the Board.
 
“Disability” means (i) if the Participant is an Employee (whether or not the Participant is also a Director), a disability that entitles the Employee to benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan, as may be in effect from time to time, as determined by the plan administrator of the long-term disability plan or (ii) if the Participant is a Nonemployee Director, a disability whereby the Director is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award is subject to Code Section 409A and the date of distribution may be determined based on “Disability”, the definition of Disability shall conform to the requirements of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i).
 
“Dividend Equivalents” means an amount equal to dividends and other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) that are payable to stockholders of record on a like number of shares of Common Stock.
 
“Effective Date” means the date the stockholders of the Company approve this Plan.
 
“Employee” means an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
 
 
2

 
 
“Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock means, as of a particular date, the net amount that, in an arm’s length transaction, a willing purchaser would pay for the share of Common Stock to a willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to purchase or sell, respectively, with both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.  The determination of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be made by the Committee in its discretion acting in good faith without regard to discounts for lack of marketability or minority interests, and the Participants shall be notified of such determination.  Following the closing of an Initial Public Offering, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall mean the closing price per share of Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange or other market in which trading in shares of Common Stock occurs on the applicable date (or if there is no trading in the shares of Common Stock on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by the Committee).
 
“Holder” means, with respect to an Award, the Person holding such Award, including the Participant or any transferee of such Award pursuant to Section 14.
 
“Incentive Option” means an Option that is intended to comply with the requirements set forth in Code Section 422.
 
“Initial Public Offering” means an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, covering the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock of the Company to the public.
 
“Liquidity Event” means an Initial Public Offering or Change in Control of the Company.
 
“Option” means a right, granted by the Company pursuant to this Plan, to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified price.
 
“Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
“Nonqualified Option” means an Option that is not intended to comply with the requirements set forth in Code Section 422.
 
“Participant” means an Employee or Nonemployee Director to whom an Award has been made under this Plan.
 
“Performance Award” means an Award to a Participant which is subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Goals.
 
“Performance Goal” means a standard established by the Committee, the satisfaction of which shall determine in whole or in part whether a Performance Award shall be earned.
 
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), association or other “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, and the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
 
3

 
 
“Plan” means the Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
 
“Restricted Stock” means any Common Stock that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.
 
“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award in the form of Restricted Stock.
 
“Restricted Stock Unit” means a unit that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions evidencing the right to receive one share of Common Stock or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock.
 
“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an Award in the form of Restricted Stock Units.
 
“SAR” means a right, granted by the Company pursuant to this Plan, to receive a payment, in cash or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
 
“Section 409A” means Code Section 409A, and related regulations and Treasury pronouncements.
 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
 
“Stock Award” means an award, granted by the Company pursuant to this Plan, in the form of shares of Common Stock or units denominated in shares of Common Stock, and includes Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  Stock Awards do not include Options or SARs.
 
“Subsidiary” means (i) in the case of a corporation, any corporation of which the Company directly or indirectly owns shares representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the shares of all classes or series of capital stock of such corporation which have the right to vote generally on matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of such corporation, and (ii) in the case of a partnership or other business entity not organized as a corporation, any such business entity of which the Company directly or indirectly owns 50% or more of the voting, capital or profits interests (whether in the form of partnership interests, membership interests or otherwise).
 
3.   Eligibility .
 
(a)   Employees .  Employees eligible for Awards under this Plan are those who hold positions of responsibility and whose performance, in the judgment of the Committee, can have a significant effect on the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
(b)   Directors .  Directors eligible for Awards under this Plan are those who are Nonemployee Directors.
 
 
4

 
 
4.   Common Stock Available for Awards; Plan Limitations.
 
(a)   Common Stock Available Under this Plan .  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Awards under this Plan shall be 340,000 shares (the “Maximum Share Limit”).  The number of shares of Common Stock that are the subject of Awards under this Plan that are cancelled, terminated, forfeited, redeemed or expire unexercised shall again immediately become available for Awards hereunder as if such shares had never been the subject of an Award.
 
Awards settled in cash shall not reduce the Maximum Share Limit under this Plan.  If an Award expires or is terminated, cancelled or forfeited, the shares of Common Stock associated with the expired, terminated, cancelled or forfeited Awards shall again be available for Awards under this Plan.  The following shares of Common Stock shall also again be available for Awards under this Plan:
 
(i)   shares of Common Stock that are tendered by a Participant or withheld as full or partial payment of minimum withholding taxes or as payment for the exercise price of an Award; and
 
(ii)   shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon grant of an SAR, to the extent the number of reserved shares of Common Stock exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued upon exercise or settlement of such SAR.
 
(b)   Plan Limitations .  All shares of Common Stock available under this Plan shall be available for Incentive Options and Stock Awards.  The Committee shall adopt separate rules for tracking the Maximum Share Limit for Incentive Options consistent with rules under Code Section 422, including, without limitation, providing that shares of Common Stock repurchased from a vested Participant shall not again become available for grant as Incentive Options.
 
(c)   Adjustments .  The limitations set forth in this section are subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 15 hereof.
 
(d)   Other Actions .  The Committee may from time to time adopt and observe such procedures concerning the counting of shares against the Plan maximum as it may deem appropriate.  The Board, the Committee and the officers of the Company shall from time to time take whatever actions are necessary to file any required documents with governmental authorities, stock exchanges and transaction reporting systems to ensure that shares of Common Stock are available for issuance pursuant to Awards.
 
 
5

 
 
5.   Administration .
 
(a)   Authority of the Committee .  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the provisions hereof, the Committee shall have full and exclusive power and authority to administer this Plan and to take all actions that are specifically contemplated hereby or are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration hereof.  The Committee shall also have full and exclusive power to interpret this Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for carrying out this Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the best interests of the Company and in keeping with the objectives of this Plan.  Subject to Section 5(c) and Section 19 hereof, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the extension of the exercisability of an Award, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction or other provision of this Plan or an Award or otherwise amend or modify an Award in any manner that is (i) not adverse to the Participant to whom such Award was granted, (ii) consented to by such Participant or (iii) authorized by Section 15(c) hereof; provided, however, that no such action shall (1) permit the term of any Option or SAR to be greater than ten years from the applicable grant date or (2) permit the extension of the term of any outstanding Option or SAR such that the resulting term is greater than ten years from the applicable grant date.  The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsis­tency in this Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to further the purposes of this Plan.  Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of this Plan shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.
 
(b)   Indemnity.   No member of the Board or the Committee or officer of the Company to whom the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him, by any member of the Board or the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.
 
6.   Delegation .
 
   The Committee may delegate to one or more subcommittees of the Committee, another committee of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or to other senior officers of the Company its authority or duties under this Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish; provided, however, the Committee may not delegate to any officer of the Company its authority to make Awards to any officer of the Company.  Any such delegation hereunder shall only be made to the extent permitted by applicable law.
 
7.   Awards .
 
  Except as otherwise provided in Section 8 hereof pertaining to Awards to Directors, the Committee shall determine the type or types of Awards to be made under this Plan and shall designate from time to time the Participants who are to be the recipients of such Awards.  Each Award shall be embodied in an Award Agreement in such form as the Committee determines, which shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including any treatment upon death, Disability or a Change of Control, and shall be issued for and on behalf of the Company.  Awards may consist of those listed in this Section 7 and may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem.  Awards may also be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, grants or rights under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including this Plan of any acquired entity.  All or part of an Award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, which may include, but are not limited to, continuous service with the Company and its Subsidiaries, achievement of specific business objectives, increases in specified indices, attainment of specified growth rates and other measurements of performance.  Upon the termination of employment by a Participant who is an Employee, any unexercised, deferred, unvested or unpaid Awards shall be treated as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
 
6

 
 
(a)   Option .  An Award may be in the form of an Option.  An Option awarded pursuant to this Plan may consist of an Incentive Option or a Nonqualified Option.  The price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  The term of an Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Options awarded pursuant to this Plan, including the term of any Options and the date or dates upon which such Options become exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.
 
(b)   Stock Appreciation Right .  An Award may be in the form of a SAR.  The strike price for a SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date on which the SAR is granted.  The term of a SAR shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  Subject to the foregoing limitations, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any SARs awarded pursuant to this Plan, including the term of any SARs and the date or dates upon which such SARs become exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.  As of the date of grant of a SAR, the Committee may specifically designate that the Award will be paid (i) only in cash, (ii) only in Common Stock, or (iii) in such other form or combination of forms as the Committee may elect or permit at the time of exercise.
 
(c)   Stock Award .  An Award may be in the form of a Stock Award.  The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Stock Awards granted pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee.
 
(d)   Performance Award.   Without limiting the type or number of Awards that may be made under the other provisions of this Plan, an Award may be in the form of a Performance Award.  The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Performance Awards granted to Participants pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall set Performance Goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which such Performance Goals are met, will determine the value and/or amount of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Participant and/or the portion of an Award that may be exercised.
 
8.   Awards to Directors .  The Committee may grant a Nonemployee Director of the Company one or more Awards, with the exception of Incentive Stock Options, and establish the terms thereof in accordance with Section 7 and consistent with the provisions therein for the granting of Awards to Employees.  Any such Award shall be subject to the applicable terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.  Upon the termination of service by a Participant who is a Nonemployee Director, any unexercised, deferred, unvested or unpaid Awards shall be treated as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
 
7

 
 
9.   Award Payment; Dividends and Dividend Equivalents; Voting .
 
(a)   General .  Payment of Awards may be made in the form of cash or Common Stock, or a combination thereof, and may include such restrictions as the Committee shall determine, including, but not limited to, in the case of Common Stock, restrictions on transfer and forfeiture provisions.  Subject to Section 19, payment of Awards may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis.  For a Restricted Stock Award, the certificates evidencing the shares of such Restricted Stock (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) shall contain appropriate legends and restrictions that describe the terms and conditions of the restrictions applicable thereto.  For a Restricted Stock Unit Award that may be settled in shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued shall be evidenced by book entry registration or in such other manner as the Committee may determine.
 
(b)   Dividends and Dividend Equivalents .  Rights to (i) dividends will be extended to and made part of any Restricted Stock Award and (ii) Dividend Equivalents may be extended to and made part of any Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject in each case to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee may establish.  Dividends and/or Dividend Equivalents shall not be made part of any Options or SARs.
 
(c)   Voting .  Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, during the period in which Stock Awards are subject to vesting provisions, the Participant shall not have the right to vote the shares of Common Stock underlying such Stock Award.
 
10.   Special Limitations on Incentive Options
 
.  An Incentive Option may be granted only to an individual who is employed by the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Code Section 424) of the Company at the time the Option is granted.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Option is granted) of stock with respect to which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Options.  The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations, and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Participant’s Incentive Options will not constitute Incentive Options because of such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination.  No Incentive Option shall be granted to an individual if, at the time the Option is granted, such individual owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of Code Section 422(b)(6), unless (i) at the time such Option is granted, the option price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.  Except as otherwise provided in Code Sections 421 or 422, an Incentive Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
 
 
8

 
 
11.   Stock Option Exercise .
 
  The exercise price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise in cash or, if permitted by the Committee and elected by the Participant, the Participant may purchase such shares by means of the Company withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable on exercise of the Award or tendering Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or any combination thereof.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine acceptable methods for Participants to tender Common Stock or other Awards.  The Committee may provide for procedures to permit the exercise or purchase of such Awards by use of the proceeds to be received from the sale of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an Award (including cashless exercise procedures approved by the Committee involving a broker or dealer approved by the Committee).  The Committee may adopt additional rules and procedures regarding the exercise of Options from time to time, provided that such rules and procedures are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 11.
 
12.   Taxes .
 
  The Company shall have the right to deduct applicable taxes from any Award payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of cash or shares of Common Stock under this Plan, an appropriate amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof for payment of required withholding taxes or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes; provided, however , that the number of shares of Common Stock withheld for payment of required withholding taxes must equal in value no more than the required minimum withholding taxes.  The Committee may also permit withholding to be satisfied by the transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock theretofore owned by the holder of the Award with respect to which withholding is required.  If shares of Common Stock are used to satisfy tax withholding, such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the tax withholding is required to be made.
 
13.   Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination .
 
  The Board may amend, modify, suspend or terminate this Plan (and the Committee may amend or modify an Award Agreement) for the purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in legal requirements or for any other purpose permitted by applicable law, except that (i) no amendment or alteration that would adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted to such Participant shall be made without the consent of such Participant and (ii) no amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to its approval by the  stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is otherwise required by applicable legal requirements.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, this Plan shall not be amended or terminated in such manner that would cause this Plan or any amounts or benefits payable hereunder to fail to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, and any such amendment or termination that may reasonably be expected to result in such failure shall be of no force or effect.
 
14.   Assignability .
 
  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the Award Agreement, no Award or any other benefit under this Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable.  Any attempted assignment of an Award or any other benefit under this Plan in violation of this Section 14 shall be null and void.
 
 
9

 
 
15.   Adjustments .
 
(a)   The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital stock of the Company or its busi­ness or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, deben­tures, preferred or prior pre­ference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with or junior to the Common Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of the acts or proceedings enumerated above.
 
(b)   In the event of any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding shares of Common Stock, declaration of a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or other stock split, then (i) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to specific types of Awards as described in Section 4, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price or other price in respect of such Awards, (iv) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (v) any other limitations contained within this Plan shall each be proportionately adjusted by the Committee as appropriate to reflect such transaction.  In the event of any other recapitalization or capital reorganization of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Company of any plan of exchange affecting the Common Stock or any distribution to holders of Common Stock of securities or property (other than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock), the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments to (1) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to specific types of Awards as described in Section 4, (2) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards, (3) the exercise price or other price in respect of such Awards, (4) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (5) any other limitations contained within this Plan; provided that such adjustments shall only be such as are necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the holders of the Awards and preserve, without exceeding, the value of such Awards.
 
(c)   In the event of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, plan of exchange, reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustments to Awards or other provisions for the disposition of Awards as it deems equitable, and shall be authorized, in its discretion, to (i) provide for the substitution of a new Award or other arrangement (which, if applicable, may be exercisable for such property or stock as the Committee determines) for an Award or the assumption of the Award (and for awards not granted under this Plan), regardless of whether in a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) applies, (ii) provide, prior to the transaction, for the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of, or lapse of restrictions with respect to, the Award and, if the transaction is a cash merger, provide for the termination of any portion of the Award that remains unexercised at the time of such transaction, (iii) provide for the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of an Award and the cancellation thereof in exchange for such payment as the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines is a reasonable approximation of the value thereof, (iv) cancel any Awards and direct the Company to deliver to the Participants who are the holders of such Awards cash in an amount that the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion is equal to the Fair Market Value of such Awards as of the date of such event, which, in the case of any Option, shall be the amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share as of such date over the per-share exercise price for such Option (for the avoidance of doubt, if such exercise price is less than such Fair Market Value, the Option may be canceled for no consideration), or (v) cancel Awards that are Options and give the Participants who are the holders of such Awards notice and opportunity to exercise prior to such cancellation.
 
 
10

 
 
(d)   No adjustment authorized by this Section 15 shall be made in such manner that would result in this Plan or any amounts or benefits payable hereunder to fail to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, and any such adjustment that may reasonably be expected to result in such failure shall be of no force or effect.
 
16.   Representations; Purchase for Investment .
 
  Each person receiving Awards pursuant to this Plan may be required by the Company to give a representation in writing in form and substance satisfactory to the Company to the effect that, among other things, he is acquiring such Awards for his own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of such Awards or any part thereof.  No form of payment shall be issued with respect to any Award, and no Award may be transferred or assigned, unless the Company shall be satisfied in its sole discretion that such issuance, transfer or assignment will be in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.  Each Participant represents that he is an employee, director, general partner or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
 
17.   Restrictions .
 
  No Common Stock or other form of payment shall be issued or made with respect to any Award unless the Company shall be satisfied based on the advice of its counsel that such issuance or other payment will be in compliance with all appli­cable federal and state securities laws.  Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation and any applicable federal or state securities law.  The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
 
18.   Unfunded Plan .
 
  This Plan is unfunded.  Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Participants who are entitled to cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan, any such accounts shall be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience.  The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by cash, Common Stock or rights thereto, nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company, the Board or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any cash, Common Stock or rights thereto to be granted under this Plan.  Any liability or obligation of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award of cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Award Agreement, and no such liability or obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Company.  None of the Company, the Board or the Committee shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be created by this Plan.  With respect to this Plan and any Awards granted hereunder, Participants are general and unsecured creditors of the Company and have no rights or claims except as otherwise provided in this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement.
 
 
11

 
 
19.   Section 409A .
 
(a)   Awards made under this Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A, and ambiguous provisions hereof, if any, shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.  No payment, benefit or consideration shall be substituted for an Award if such action would result in the imposition of taxes under Code Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any Plan provision or Award under this Plan would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Code Section 409A, that Plan provision or Award shall be reformed, to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A, to avoid imposition of the additional tax, and no such action shall be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award.
 
(b)   Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Restricted Stock Unit Award (or portion thereof if the Restricted Stock Unit Award is subject to a vesting schedule) shall be settled no later than the 15th day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which the Award (or such portion thereof) is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  If the Committee determines that a Restricted Stock Unit Award is intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the applicable Award Agreement shall include terms that are designed to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.
 
(c)   If the Participant is identified by the Company as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” (other than due to death) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h), any Award payable or settled on account of a separation from service that is deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid or settled on the earliest of (i) the first business day following the expiration of six months from the Participant’s separation from service, (ii) the date of the Participant’s death, or (iii) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.
 
20.   Governing Law .
 
  This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
 
21.   Right to Continued Service or Employment .
 
  Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the capacity in which he is employed or otherwise serves the Company or its Subsidiaries.
 
22.   Usage .
 
  Words used in this Plan in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural the singular, and the gender of words used shall be construed to include whichever may be appropriate under any particular circumstances of the masculine, feminine or neuter genders.
 
 
12

 
 
23.   Headings .
 
  The headings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan.
 
24.   Effectiveness.
 
  This Plan, as approved by the Board on May 2, 2013, shall be effective as of the Effective Date.  This Plan shall continue in effect for a term of 10 years commencing on the Effective Date, unless earlier terminated by action of the Board.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the adoption of this Plan is expressly conditioned upon the approval by the holders of a majority of shares of voting common stock on or before May 2, 2014.  If the stockholders of the Company should fail to so approve this Plan on or before such date, (i) this Plan shall not be of any force or effect, and (ii) any grants of Awards hereunder shall be null and void.
 
[ Next Page is Signature Page ]
 
 
13

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aly Energy Services, Inc. has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized officer, effective as provided herein.
 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Munawar H. Hidayatallah  
    Title: Chairman CEO           
       
       
 
 
14

 
 
                   
 
EXHIBIT  10.7
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES, INC. OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
 
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
 
THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made as of the ____ day of _____, 20___ (the “Grant Date”), by and between Aly Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ________________________ (the “Participant”).
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, as established effective May 2, 2013, and as such plan may be thereafter amended (the “Plan”), the Committee, which administers the Plan, has determined to grant a Stock Option Award to the Participant upon the terms set forth below;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Participant agree as follows:
 
1.   Grant of Option . Subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Company grants to the Participant during the period commencing on ______________________ and expiring at 5 p.m. Houston, Texas time (“Close of Business”) on __________________ (the “Option Term”), subject to earlier termination pursuant to paragraph 6 below, an option to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (the “Option Price”), the number of shares of Company Common Stock (“Common Stock”) set forth on said Schedule 1 (the “Option Shares”). The Option Price and Option Shares are subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph 9 below. This option is a “Nonqualified Stock Option” and is hereinafter referred to as the “Option.”
 
2.   Conditions of Exercise . The Option is exercisable only in accordance with the conditions stated in this paragraph.
 
(a)   The Option may only be exercised to the extent the Option Shares have become available for purchase following a Liquidity Event in accordance with the following schedule:
 
Liquidity Event Per Share Price
Percentage of Option Shares Available for Purchase
Less than $8 per share of Common Stock
0%
At least $8 per share of Common Stock
100%
 
(1)   If the first Liquidity Event to occur is a Change in Control, the Option Shares that do not become exercisable in accordance with the table above upon the date of such Liquidity Event shall be forfeited. For this paragraph 2(a)(1), the definition of the Liquidity Event Per Share Price shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion based on the aggregate net consideration received by the selling shareholders in connection with the Liquidity Event.
 
 
1

 
 
(2)   If the first Liquidity Event to occur is an Initial Public Offering, then the number of Option Shares that become exercisable on the date of such Liquidity Event shall be determined in accordance with the table above. Further, until the date that is six months following the occurrence of such Liquidity Event, if the Option Shares did not become exercisable on the date of such Liquidity Event, such Option Shares shall become exercisable in accordance with the table above if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock satisfies the exercisability threshold in the table above. Any Option Shares that do not become exercisable pursuant to the terms of this paragraph 2(a)(2) shall be forfeited on the six-month anniversary of the Liquidity Event. For this paragraph 2(a)(2), the definition of the Liquidity Event Per Share Price shall be the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at any time during such six month period.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the provisions of any applicable written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, no additional Option Shares shall become available for purchase if Participant has not remained in the continuous employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries through the date of the occurrence of an Initial Public Offering. A change of employment is continuous employment within the meaning of this paragraph 2 provided that, after giving effect to such change, the Participant continues to be an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
(b)   To the extent the Option becomes exercisable, such Option may be exercised in whole or in part (at any time or from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein) until expiration of the Option Term or earlier termination thereof.
 
3.   Manner of Exercise . The Option shall be considered exercised (as to the number of Option Shares specified in the notice referred to in subparagraph (a) below) on the latest of (i) the date of exercise designated in the written notice referred to in subparagraph (a) below, (ii) if the date so designated is not a business day, the first business day following such date or (iii) the earliest business day by which the Company has received all of the following:
 
(a)   Written notice, in such form as the Committee may require, designating, among other things, the date of exercise and the number of Option Shares to be purchased;
 
(b)   If the Option is to be exercised, payment of the Option Price for each Option Share to be purchased in cash, Common Stock or in such other form (or combination of forms) of payment contemplated by Section 11 of the Plan as the Committee or the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan may permit;
 
(c)   Any other documentation that the Committee may reasonably require.
 
 
2

 
 
4.   Mandatory Withholding for Taxes . Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall deduct from the cash and/or shares of Common Stock otherwise payable or deliverable upon exercise of the Option an amount of cash and/or number of shares of Common Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company upon such exercise, as determined by the Committee.
 
5.   Delivery by the Company . As soon as practicable after receipt of all items referred to in paragraph 3, and subject to the withholding referred to in paragraph 4, the Company shall deliver to the Participant certificates issued in Participant’s name for the number of Option Shares purchased by exercise of the Option. If delivery is by mail, delivery of shares of Common Stock shall be deemed effected for all purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited the certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Participant, and any cash payment shall be deemed effected when a Company check, payable to Participant and in an amount equal to the amount of the cash payment, shall have been deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the Participant.
 
6.   Termination of Employment . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Option shall terminate, prior to the expiration of the Option Term, at the time specified below:
 
(a)   If Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated for any reason other by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause (as defined below), then the Option shall terminate at the Close of Business on the first business day following the expiration of the 90 day period which began on the date of termination of Participant’s employment; or
 
(b)   If Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause, then the Option shall terminate immediately upon termination of Participant’s employment.
 
In any event in which the Option remains exercisable for a period of time following the date of termination of Participant’s employment, the Option may be exercised during such period of time only to the extent it is or becomes exercisable as provided in paragraph 2. Notwithstanding any period of time referenced in this paragraph 6 or any other provision of this paragraph that may be construed to the contrary, the Option shall in any event terminate upon the expiration of the Option Term.
 
“Cause” for purposes of the Agreement shall mean cause as defined in any written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary in effect at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment or, in the absence of any such employment agreement, any of the following: (a) conviction of the Participant by a court of competent jurisdiction of any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (b) the Participant’s knowing failure or refusal to follow reasonable instructions of the Board or reasonable policies, standards and regulations of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (c) the Participant’s continued failure or refusal to faithfully and diligently perform the usual, customary duties of his employment with the Company or a Subsidiary; (d) the Participant continuously conducting himself in an unprofessional, unethical, immoral or fraudulent manner; or (e) the Participant’s conduct discredits the Company or a Subsidiary or is detrimental to the reputation, character and standing of the Company or a Subsidiary.
 
 
3

 
 
7.   Nontransferability of Option . During Participant’s lifetime, the Option is not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than pursuant to a domestic relations order and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a domestic relations order, is exercisable only by the Participant or Participant’s court appointed legal representative. The Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the Option shall pass upon Participant’s death and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Committee on the form annexed hereto as Schedule 2 or such other form as may be prescribed by the Committee, provided that no such designation shall be effective unless so filed prior to the death of Participant. If no such designation is made or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Participant’s death, the Option shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following Participant’s death, the Option, if otherwise exercisable, may be exercised by the person to whom such option passes according to the foregoing and such person shall be deemed the Participant for purposes of any applicable provisions of this Agreement.
 
8.   No Stockholder Rights . The Participant shall not be deemed for any purpose to be, or to have any of the rights of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock as to which this Agreement relates until such shares shall have been issued to Participant by the Company. Furthermore, the existence of this Agreement shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to accomplish any corporate act, including, without limitation, the acts referred to in Section 13 or Section 15 of the Plan.
 
9.   Adjustments . As provided in Section 15 of the Plan, certain adjustments may be made to the Option upon the occurrence of events or circumstances described in Section 15 of the Plan.
 
10.   Restrictions Imposed by Law . Without limiting the generality of Section 17 of the Plan, the Participant agrees that Participant will not exercise the Option and that the Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock, if counsel to the Company determines that such exercise, or delivery would violate any applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange or association upon which the Common Stock is listed or quoted. The Company shall in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the Option or the resulting delivery of shares of Common Stock to comply with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement.
 
11.   Notice . Unless the Company notifies the Participant in writing of a different procedure, any notice or other communication to the Company with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (a) delivered personally to the following address:
 
 
4

 
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
3 Riverway, Suite 920
Houston, TX 77056
 
or (b) sent by first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as follows:
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
3 Riverway, Suite 920
Houston, TX 77056
Attention: ______________________
 
Any notice or other communication to the Participant with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, or shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to Participant’s address as listed in the records of the Company on the Grant Date, unless the Company has received written notification from the Participant of a change of address.
 
12.   Amendment . Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Committee as contemplated by Section 13 of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of the Participant,
 
(a)   this Agreement may be amended or supplemented (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of Participant or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, subject , however , to any required approval of the Company’s stockholders and, provided , in each case, that such changes or corrections shall not adversely affect the rights of Participant with respect to the Award evidenced hereby without the Participant’s consent, or (iii) to make such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of, or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities laws; and
 
(b)   subject to Section 13 of the Plan and any required approval of the Company’s stockholders, the Award evidenced by this Agreement may be canceled by the Committee and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted shall satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made and no such action shall adversely affect the Option to the extent then exercisable without the Participant’s consent.
 
13.   Participant Employment . Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company or the Committee with respect hereto, shall confer or be construed to confer on the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Subsidiary to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time, with or without cause; subject , however , to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
 
5

 
 
14.   Regulation D Representations . The Participant hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Participant must as a condition to exercise at the date of any exercise of any Option again make the same representations to the Company (and shall be deemed to have made such representations, appropriately amended for any changes in Regulation D under the Securities Act, upon such exercise):
 
(a)   Experience; Status.
 
(1)   The Participant has experience in analyzing and investing in companies like the Company and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. To the extent necessary, the Participant has retained, at its own expense, and relied upon, appropriate professional advice regarding the investment, tax and legal merits and consequences of the Option and the exercise thereof, it being understood that the Company has not retained legal or financial advisors on behalf of the Participant.
 
(2)   The Participant is an Accredited Investor (as such term is used in Rule 501 under the Securities Act), is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Company and has sufficient net worth to sustain a loss of its entire investment in the Company without economic hardship if such loss should occur. The Questionnaire attached hereto as Schedule 3 and completed by the Participant is true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(b)   Access to Company Information.
 
(1)   The Participant has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with the members of the Company’s management and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s facilities. The Participant has also had an opportunity to ask questions of the officers of the Company, which questions were answered to its satisfaction. The Participant acknowledges that he is familiar with all aspects of the Company’s business.
 
(2)   The Participant has received no representations or warranties from the Company, or its employees, affiliates, attorneys, accountants or agents.
 
(3)   The Participant understands that an investment in the Company involves numerous risks.
 
 
6

 
 
(c)   Investment Purposes; Rule 144.
 
(1)   The Participant is acquiring the Option and any securities to be received in respect thereof solely for investment for its own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The Participant understands that the Option has not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state and other securities laws by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act and applicable state and other securities laws, the availability of which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Participant’s representations as expressed herein. The Participant understands that the Company is relying, in part, upon the representations and warranties contained in this agreement for the purpose of determining whether this transaction meets the requirements for such exemptions.
 
(2)   The Participant acknowledges and understands that it must bear the economic risk of its investment in the Option and any securities to be received in respect thereof for an indefinite period of time because the Option is not transferable except in very limited circumstances and must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act and applicable state and other securities laws or unless an exemption from such registration is available. The Participant understands that the Company has not agreed to and does not plan to file a registration statement to register the resale of the Option and any securities to be received in respect thereof under the Securities Act.
 
(3)   The Participant is aware of the current provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act which permit resale of securities purchased in a private placement subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, among other things, the availability of certain current public information about the issuer of the securities and the resale occurring not less than one year after a party has purchased from an issuer or its affiliate and paid the full purchase price for the securities to be sold. The Participant understands that if the Company otherwise agrees to a transfer of the Option and any securities to be received in respect thereto, the Company will not transfer and any transfer agent of the Company will be issued stop-transfer instructions with respect to such Option and any securities to be received in respect thereof unless such transfer is subsequently registered under the Securities Act and applicable state and other securities laws or unless an exemption from such registration is available.
 
15.   Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Texas.
 
16.   Construction . References in this Agreement to “this Agreement” and the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and similar terms include all Schedules appended hereto, including the Plan. This Agreement is entered into, and the Award evidenced hereby is granted, pursuant to the Plan and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Plan and the administrative interpretations adopted by the Committee thereunder. All decisions of the Committee upon questions regarding the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
 
 
7

 
 
17.   Duplicate Originals . The Company and the Participant may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
 
18.   Rules by Committee . The rights of the Participant and obligations of the Company hereunder shall be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt from time to time hereafter.
 
19.   Entire Agreement . Subject to the provisions of any applicable written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, Participant and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Option and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements, oral or written, between Participant and the Company regarding the Option.
 
20.   Participant Acceptance . Participant shall signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company.
 
ATTEST:      Aly Energy Services, Inc.  
       
    By:      
Secretary           
      Name:    
      Title:    
         
    ACCEPTED:  
 
 
8

 
 
Schedule 1 to Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan
 
 
Participant:   ___________________________________
   
Grant Date:  ___________________________________
   
Option Price:  $4.00 per share
   
Option Shares: _________________shares of Common Stock.
 
 
9

 
 
Schedule 2 to Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan
 
Designation of Beneficiary
 
I, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (the “Participant”), hereby declare

 
that upon my death ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ (the “Beneficiary”) of
                                                           Name
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________,
            Street Address                                                                           City                                                       State                                             Zip Code

who is my ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________, shall be entitled to the
                                                                                         Relationship to Participant

 
Option and all other rights accorded the Participant by the above-referenced agreement (the “Agreement”).
 
It is understood that this Designation of Beneficiary is made pursuant to the Agreement and is subject to the conditions stated herein, including the Beneficiary’s survival of the Participant’s death. If any such condition is not satisfied, such rights shall devolve according to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution.
 
It is further understood that all prior designations of beneficiary under the Agreement are hereby revoked and that this Designation of Beneficiary may only be revoked in writing, signed by the Participant, and filed with the Company prior to the Participant’s death.
 
     
Date     Participant
     
 
 
10

 

Schedule 3 to Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
 
QUESTIONNAIRE
 
The undersigned represents and warrants that it comes within each category marked below, and that for any category marked, it has truthfully set forth the factual basis or reason the undersigned comes within that category. The undersigned agrees to furnish any additional information which Aly Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”) deems necessary in order to verify the answers set forth below.
 
 
0
(a)
The undersigned is an individual (not a partnership, corporation, etc.) whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with its spouse, presently exceeds $1,000,000.
 
Explanation . In calculating net worth you may include equity in personal property and real estate (other than your primary residence) cash, short-term investments, stock and securities. Equity in personal property and real estate should be based on the fair market value of such property less debt secured by such property. You must exclude from the calculation the value of your primary residence, and the related amount of indebtedness up to the fair market value of the residence may also be excluded. Indebtedness secured by the residence in excess of its fair market value must be deducted from your net worth.
 
 
0
(b)
The undersigned is an individual (not a partnership, corporation, etc.) who had an income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with their spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years (in each case including foreign income, tax exempt income and full amount of capital gains and loses but excluding any income of other family members and any unrealized capital appreciation) and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.
 
 
0
(c)
The undersigned is a director or executive officer of the Company, which is issuing and selling the Option.
 
 
0
(d)
The undersigned is not within any of the categories above and is therefore a nonaccredited investor.
 
THE UNDERSIGNED IS INFORMED OF THE SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMPANY OF THE FOREGOING REPRESENTATIONS, AND THEY ARE MADE WITH THE INTENTION THAT THE COMPANY WILL RELY ON THEM.
 
 
11

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed the Questionnaire on _____________, ____.
 
 
       
    (Signature)  
       
       
    (Title for Entity)  
 
 
 
12

EXHIBIT 21.1
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Corp. – a Delaware corporation
Aly Operating, Inc. – a Delaware corporation
EXHIBIT 23.1
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the inclusion in Form 8-K of Aly Energy Services, Inc. of our report dated April 9, 2013, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Aly Energy Services Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2012, and for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012.
 
/s/ UHY LLP  
   
Houston, Texas  
May 14, 2013  
EXHIBIT 23.2
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the inclusion in Form 8-K of Aly Energy Services, Inc. of our report dated April 9, 2013, with respect to the financial statements of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc. as of December 31, 2012, and for the period from October 27, 2012, through December 31, 2012, and for its Predecessor as of December 31, 2011, and for the period from January 1, 2012, through October 26, 2012, and the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
/s/ UHY LLP  
   
Houston, Texas  
May 14, 2013  
EXHIBIT 99.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.


CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
C O N T E N T S
 
    Page  
       
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 
    3  
         
Consolidated Balance Sheet 
    4  
         
Consolidated Statement of Income 
    5  
         
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity 
    6  
         
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
    7  
         
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
    8 - 15  
 
 
2

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aly Energy Services, Inc.:


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Aly Energy Services, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statement of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012.  These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2012, and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 
/s/ UHY LLP
Houston, Texas
April 9, 2013

 
3

 

ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
ASSETS
     
       
CURRENT ASSETS
     
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,659,521  
Accounts receivable
    4,492,292  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    298,175  
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    6,449,988  
         
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
    13,847,212  
         
GOODWILL
    8,243,392  
         
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net
    4,642,588  
         
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
    519,997  
         
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 33,703,177  
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
       
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES
       
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 2,062,500  
Accounts payable
    631,855  
Accrued expenses
    766,969  
Related party payable
    519,687  
Federal income taxes payable
    303,764  
Deferred tax liabilities
    280,563  
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    4,565,338  
         
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion
    6,187,500  
         
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
    6,067,693  
         
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    1,942,672  
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    18,763,203  
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
       
         
PREFERRED STOCK
    1,942,672  
         
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
       
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 authorized shares;
       
3,413,750 issued and outstanding
    34,138  
Additional paid-in capital
    12,411,049  
Retained earnings
    552,115  
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
    12,997,302  
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
  $ 33,703,177  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
4

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
PERIOD FROM INCEPTION (JULY 17, 2012) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
REVENUES
  $ 3,509,697  
         
COST OF REVENUES
    1,061,018  
         
GROSS PROFIT
    2,448,679  
         
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
    1,542,572  
         
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    906,107  
         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
       
Interest income
    135  
Interest expense
    (81,151 )
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE
    (81,016 )
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    825,091  
         
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    227,632  
         
NET INCOME
    597,459  
         
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
    (36,112 )
         
ACCRETION OF PREFERRED STOCK
    (9,932 )
         
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
  $ 551,415  
         
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 0.34  
         
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
    1,644,564  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
PERIOD FROM INCEPTION (JULY 17, 2012) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
               
Additional
             
   
Common
   
Common
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
       
   
Shares
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Total
 
                               
Issuance of common stock
    3,413,750     $ 34,138     $ 13,120,862     $ -     $ 13,155,000  
                                         
Cost of issuing common stock
    -       -       (709,813 )     -       (709,813 )
                                         
Preferred stock dividends
    -       -       -       (36,112 )     (36,112 )
                                         
Preferred stock accretion
    -       -       -       (9,232 )     (9,232 )
                                         
Net income
    -       -       -       597,459       597,459  
                                         
Balance at December 31, 2012
    3,413,750     $ 34,138     $ 12,411,049     $ 552,115     $ 12,997,302  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
6

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
PERIOD FROM INCEPTION (JULY 17, 2012) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
     
Net income
  $ 597,459  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in
       
 operating activities:
       
Depreciation and amortization
    458,627  
Amortization of deferred financing fees
    22,261  
Deferred tax benefit
    (101,131 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net effects of
       
 business acquisition:
       
Accounts receivable
    (927,778 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (249,097 )
Accounts payable
    (461,839 )
Accrued expenses
    211,458  
Federal income taxes payable
    303,764  
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    (146,276 )
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
       
Cash paid for acquisition of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services,
       
net of cash acquired
    (17,891,799 )
Capital expenditures
    (455,333 )
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (18,347,132 )
         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
       
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    13,155,000  
Cash paid for stock issuance costs
    (709,813 )
Cash paid for financing costs
    (542,258 )
Proceeds from long-term debt
    8,250,000  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    20,152,929  
         
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    1,659,521  
         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
    -  
         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
  $ 1,659,521  
         
         
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES
       
Issuance of preferred stock in connection with acquisition of
       
Austin Chalk
  $ 3,840,000  
         
Accretion of preferred stock liquidation preference
  $ 9,232  
         
Paid-in-kind dividends on preferred stock
  $ 36,112  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
7

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE A - NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
Aly Energy Services Inc. (“Aly”) was incorporated in Delaware on July 17, 2012, for the purpose of creating a worldwide oilfield manufacturing, distribution and services company that services exploration and production companies from well planning to plug and abandonment.
 
On October 26, 2012, the Company acquired all the stock of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Inc. (“ACPS”). ACPS is a provider of high performance explosion resistant rental equipment and quality assurance services for land-based horizontal drilling. In addition ACPS offers an inventory of surface rental equipment as well as roustabout services which are responsible for delivery of equipment and rig-up on well sides.
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation : The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of Aly and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
 
Revenue Recognition : The Company provides rental equipment, oilfield services and drilling services to its customers at per-day contractual rates. Revenue is recognized when it is realized or realizable and earned.
 
Financial Instruments : Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and payable, and debt. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable and payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents : For purposes of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash is defined as cash on-hand and balances in operating bank accounts, amounts due from depository institutions, interest-bearing and deposits in other banks, and money market accounts. The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
Property, Plant and Equipment : Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the life of the related assets, are charged to expense when incurred. Refurbishments and renewals are capitalized when the value of the equipment is enhanced for an extended period. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the asset account and related accumulated depreciation account are relieved, and any gain or loss is included in operating income.
 
 
8

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 

NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The cost of property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from seven to 39 years.  Depreciation expense was approximately $372,000 for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012. Major classifications of property, plant and equipment and their respective useful lives are as follows:

 
Estimated
 
December 31,
 
 
Useful Lives
 
2012
 
         
Building and leasehold improvements
10-39 years
  $ 443,514  
Vehicles and trailers
5-7 years
    1,335,007  
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment
5-7 years
    14,888  
Machinery and equipment
7 years
    12,345,662  
        14,139,071  
Less:  accumulated depreciation
      (371,615 )
        13,767,456  
Assets not yet placed in service
      79,756  
           
Property, plant and equipment, net
    $ 13,847,212  
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts :  Accounts receivable are stated at the amount billed to customers and are ordinarily due upon receipt.  The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions.  Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded when it is deemed probable that the customer will not make the required payments at either the contractual due dates or in the future.  At December 31, 2012, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts.

Use of Estimates :  The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Amortization :  Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is analyzed on a qualitative basis for indicators of impairment at least annually.  To the extent it is determined that the probability of the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit exceeding the carrying value of the reporting unit is 50% or lower (“more-likely-than-not” threshold), then the Company would proceed to the two-step impairment test as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other , as amended in September 2011.  For the year ended December 31, 2012, based on a qualitative analysis, the Company determined that the fair value of its reporting units more-likely-than-not exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit and therefore, the two-step impairment test was not performed.
 
 
9

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized.

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 
Amortization
 
December 31,
 
 
Period
 
2012
   
2011
 
               
Customer relationships
10 years
  $ 3,141,000     $ -  
Trade name
10 years
    1,097,500          
Non-compete
5 years
    491,100          
        4,729,600       -  
Less:  accumulated amortization
      (87,012 )        
                   
Intangible assets, net
    $ 4,642,588     $ -  
 
Total amortization expense for the period ended December 31, 2012 totaled $87,012.

Estimated amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

Year Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 522,070  
2014
    522,070  
2015
    522,070  
2016
    522,070  
2017
    505,700  
Thereafter
    2,048,608  
         
    $ 4,642,588  
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets :  Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying amount is not recoverable. The determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, excluding interest expense.  The impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value with the carrying value of the related assets.  For the period ended December 31, 2012, no impairment write-down was deemed necessary.
 
 
10

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Deferred Financing Costs : Costs incurred to obtain financing are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the loan, which approximates the effective interest method. These costs are classified within interest expense on the accompanying consolidated statements of income and are approximately $22,000 for the period ended December 31, 2012.  Estimated future amortization expense relating to deferred financing costs is as follows:

Year Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 135,565  
2014
    135,565  
2015
    135,565  
2016
    113,302  
         
    $ 519,997  
 
Concentrations of Credit Risk :  Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.  The Company maintains cash with one financial institution which, at times, exceed federally insured limits.  The Company monitors the financial condition of the banks and has experienced no losses associated with the accounts.  The Company is not party to any financial instruments which would have off-balance sheet credit or interest rate risk.

Income Taxes :  Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.

The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on balance sheet classification of the items on which those temporary differences arose.  Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company is subject to the Texas Margin Tax, which is determined by applying a tax rate to a base that considers both revenue and expenses and therefore has the characteristics of an income tax.
 
 
11

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The Company follows guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.  This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold an income tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and applies to all income tax positions.  Each income tax position is assessed using a two-step process.  A determination is first made as to whether it is more likely than not that the income tax position will be sustained, based upon technical merits, upon examination by the taxing authorities.  If the income tax position is expected to meet the more likely than not criteria, the benefit recorded in the financial statements equals the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon its ultimate settlement.  The Company had no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2012.

The Company records income tax related interest and penalties, if applicable, as a component of the provision for income tax expense.  However, there were no amounts recognized relating to interest and penalties in the statement of income for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012.  None of the Company’s federal or state income tax returns are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or state authorities.  However, fiscal year 2012 and later remain subject to examination by the IRS and respective states.  The Company believes that there are no tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would significantly increase or decrease unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of the reporting date.

The Company files a consolidated tax return.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements :  In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment .  This ASU states that an entity has the option first to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired.  If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then the entity is not required to take further action.  However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying amount in accordance with Codification Subtopic 350-30, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .

Under the guidance in this ASU, an entity also has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any indefinite-lived intangible asset in any period and proceed directly to performing the quantitative impairment test.  An entity will be able to resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period.

The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 and early adoption is permitted.  The Company elected to early adopt this ASU for the year ending December 31, 2012.  The adoption of this update did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events :  The Company evaluated all activity through April 9, 2013, the date the consolidated financial statements were available for issuance, and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the consolidated financial statements or disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements other than those already disclosed within the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
12

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE C - ACQUISITION

On October 27, 2012, the Company acquired all the stock of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Inc. (“ACPS”). The results of ACPS operations since the date of acquisition have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  Total consideration amounted to approximately $21.7 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $58,000.  Total consideration included $17.9 million in cash and issuance of 4.0 million shares of Series A Preferred Stock determined to have a value of approximately $3.8 million.  The Company funded the acquisition through initial cash contributions by shareholders and through its $8.3 million Credit Facility.

The acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  The purchase price was allocated to the net assets acquired upon their estimated fair values, as follows:

Current assets
  $ 3,671,793  
Property and equipment
    13,763,494  
Goodwill
    8,243,392  
Other intangible assets
    4,729,600  
   Total assets acquired
    30,408,279  
         
Current liabilities
    2,168,892  
Deferred tax liabilities
    6,449,387  
   Total liabilities assumed
    8,618,279  
         
Net assets acquired
  $ 21,790,000  
 
Other intangible assets have a total value of $4.7 million with a weighted average amortization period of 9 years.  Other intangible assets consist of customer relationships of $3.1 million, amortizable over 10 years, trade name of $1.1 million, amortizable over 10 years, and a non-compete agreement of $0.5 million, amortizable over 5 years.  The amount allocated to goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired.
 
NOTE D - LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2012 consists of the following:

Term loan to a bank with quarterly installment of $412,500 plus interest at prime at LIBOR plus 3.5%, maturing October 26, 2016.  Certain property of the Company serves as collateral for the term loan.
  $ 8,250,000  
         
Revolving credit facility with a bank yielding an interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.5%, maturing October 26, 2016.  Certain property of the Company serves as collateral for the term loan.
    -  
      8,250,000  
Less:  current portion
    (2,062,500 )
         
Long-term debt
  $ 6,187,500  
 
 
13

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE D - LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued)

The Company is subject to various restrictive covenants associated with its borrowings including, but not limited to, leverage ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio, and annual capital expenditure limits.  As of December 31, 2012, the Company was not in compliance with its covenant relating to submission of its audited financial statements 90 days after year end, for which it received a waiver from its bank.

Future maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2012 are as follows:

Year Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 2,062,500  
2014
    1,650,000  
2015
    1,650,000  
2016
    2,887,500  
         
    $ 8,250,000  
 
NOTE E - INCOME TAXES

For the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012, the provision for income tax expense consists of the following:

Current provision:
     
   Federal
  $ 303,763  
   State
    25,000  
     Total current provision
    328,763  
         
Deferred benefit:
       
   Federal
    (101,131 )
     Total deferred benefit
    (101,131 )
         
Provision for income taxes
  $ 227,632  
 
The following table reconciles the statutory tax rates to the Company’s effective tax rate for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012:

Federal statutory rate
    34.00 %
State taxes, net of federal benefit
    2.00 %
Permanent differences
    (8.40 %)
         
Effective income tax rate
    27.60 %
 
 
14

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE E - INCOME TAXES (Continued)

As of December 31, 2012, the significant components of deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

Deferred tax liability - current
  $ 280,563  
         
Deferred tax liability - long-term
    6,067,693  
         
Total
  $ 6,348,256  
 
The Company’s deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2012 consist of the following:

Deferred tax liabilities:
     
   Property, plant and equipment
  $ 4,130,845  
   Intangible assets
    1,578,480  
   Cash to accrual adjustment
    537,552  
   Prepaid assets
    101,379  
         
Total deferred tax liabilities
  $ 6,348,256  
 
NOTE F - PREFERRED STOCK

As part of the acquisition of ACPS, the Company agreed to issue up to 4 million shares of Series A Preferred Stock ( the “preferred stock”), with a par value of $0.01, to the seller.  The shares will be issued in two tranches.  The first tranche of 2 million shares was issued on December 31, 2012 and the second tranche of 2 million shares was issued on March 31, 2013.

The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to a cumulative dividend of 5% per year on its liquidation preference, compounded quarterly.  The liquidation preference was $4.0 million on the closing date and will increase by the amount of dividends paid in kind.  The Company is not required to pay cash dividends.

The holder of the preferred stock and the Company have the option to redeem the preferred stock for cash, at either’s option, on the fourth anniversary of the closing date of the sale or October 26, 2016. There is no requirement for either party to redeem the preferred stock.

The preferred stock agreement also provides guidance of conversion or redemption should the Company transact a liquidity event, as defined in the agreement, or if the Company transacts an initial public offering.

The Series A Preferred Stock is classified outside of permanent equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet because the settlement provisions provide the holder the option to require the Company to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at the liquidation price plus any accrued dividends.  The value associated with the second tranche of preferred stock is classified in other long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 and will be reported as preferred stock when the shares are issued in March 2013.
 
 
15

 
 
ALY ENERGY SERVICES INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012
 
 
NOTE G - SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
 
During the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012, a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue was derived from two customers with revenues totaling approximately $2,544,000.  Amounts due from these customers included in accounts receivable in the balance sheet at December 31, 2012 are approximately $3,262,000.
 
NOTE H - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company leases land and other facilities from an affiliate and leases equipment from non-affiliates, which expire through 2014.  Future minimum payments under all non-cancelable operating leases greater than one year as of December 31, 2012 are as follows:

Year Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 71,000  
2014
    59,000  
         
    $ 130,000  
 
Rent expense for the period from inception (July 17, 2012) through December 31, 2012 totaled approximately $72,000, of which approximately $8,000 was paid to an affiliate.

The Company has a related party payable to the previous owner of ACPS in the amount of $519,687 as of December 31, 2012.

The Company is subject to certain claims arising in the ordinary course of business.  Management does not believe that any claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
 
16

 
EXHIBIT 99.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
C O N T E N T S
 
    Page  
       
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 
    3  
         
Balance Sheets 
    4  
         
Statements of Income 
    5  
         
Statements of Stockholder’s Equity 
    6  
         
Statements of Cash Flows 
    7  
         
Notes to Financial Statements 
    8 - 15  
 
 

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc.:
 
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2012, and of its Predecessor (as defined in Note A to the financial statements) as of December 31, 2011, and the related statements of income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows of the Company for the period from October 27, 2012 through December 31, 2012, and of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2012 through October 26, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2012 and of its Predecessor as of December 31, 2011, and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the period from October 27, 2012 through December 31, 2012 and of its predecessor for the period from January 1, 2012 through October 26, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 
/s/ UHY LLP
Houston, Texas
April 9, 2013

 
3

 

AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS

   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
         
Predecessor
 
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 89,656     $ 1,768,938  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
               
accounts of $12,686 at December 31, 2012 and 2011
    4,490,906       2,269,448  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    298,174       43,826  
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    4,878,736       4,082,212  
                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
    13,843,141       3,511,793  
                 
GOODWILL
    8,243,392       -  
                 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net
    4,642,588       -  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 31,607,857     $ 7,594,005  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ -     $ 151,000  
Accounts payable
    599,630       63,619  
Accounts payable - affiliates
    1,386,490       -  
Accrued expenses
    679,077       324,912  
Income taxes payable
    -       504,490  
Deferred income tax liability
    280,563       -  
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    2,945,760       1,044,021  
                 
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion
    -       284,226  
                 
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITY
    6,067,693       -  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    9,013,453       1,328,247  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
               
Common stock
    1,000       1,000  
Additional paid-in capital
    21,789,000       -  
Retained earnings
    804,404       6,264,758  
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
    22,594,404       6,265,758  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
  $ 31,607,857     $ 7,594,005  
 
 
4

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF INCOME

         
Predecessor
 
   
October 27
   
January 1
       
   
through
   
through
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
October 26,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2012
   
2011
 
                   
REVENUE
  $ 3,509,697     $ 12,436,406     $ 7,380,381  
                         
COST OF REVENUES
    1,061,018       2,646,784       1,554,663  
                         
GROSS PROFIT
    2,448,679       9,789,622       5,825,718  
                         
SELLING, GENERAL AND  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
    1,190,360       4,316,318       3,166,327  
                         
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    1,258,319       5,473,304       2,659,391  
                         
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
                       
Interest income
    -       1,555       2,305  
Interest expense
    -       (29,802 )     (926 )
Other income
    (123 )     49,138       -  
TOTAL OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
    (123 )     20,891       1,379  
                         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    1,258,196       5,494,195       2,660,770  
                         
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    453,792       -       -  
                         
NET INCOME
  $ 804,404     $ 5,494,195     $ 2,660,770  

 
 
5

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 27 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2012, PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1
THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2012, AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 (Predecessor)
 
         
Additional
             
   
Common
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
       
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Total
 
                         
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 1,000     $ -     $ 3,846,665     $ 3,847,665  
                                 
Distributions
    -       -       (242,677 )     (242,677 )
                                 
Net income
    -       -       2,660,770       2,660,770  
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2011
    1,000       -       6,264,758       6,265,758  
                                 
Distributions
    -       -       (3,565,325 )     (3,565,325 )
                                 
Net income
    -       -       5,494,195       5,494,195  
                                 
Balance at October 26, 2012
    1,000       -       8,193,628       8,194,628  
                                 
Change in control
    (1,000 )     -       (8,193,628 )     (8,194,628 )
                                 
Effect of change in control
    1,000       21,789,000       -       21,790,000  
                                 
Net income
    -       -       804,404       804,404  
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2012
  $ 1,000     $ 21,789,000     $ 804,404     $ 22,594,404  
 
 
6

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
         
Predecessor
 
   
October 27
   
January 1
       
   
through
   
through
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
October 26,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2012
   
2011
 
                   
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
             
Net income
  $ 804,404     $ 5,494,195     $ 2,660,770  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    458,627       805,307       538,499  
Deferred tax benefit
    (101,131 )     -       -  
Bad debt expense
    -       -       (39,173 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (926,390 )     (1,924,635 )     (986,680 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (249,098 )     (5,254 )     21,556  
Accounts payable
    (494,064 )     775,346       37,519  
Accounts payable - affiliates
    866,803       -       -  
Accrued expenses
    123,566       310,211       151,570  
Income taxes payable
    -       (504,490 )     -  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING
                       
ACTIVITIES
    482,717       4,950,680       2,384,061  
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                 
Capital expenditures
    (451,262 )     (2,660,866 )     (2,237,045 )
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING
                       
ACTIVITIES
    (451,262 )     (2,660,866 )     (2,237,045 )
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                 
Proceeds from long-term debt
    -       -       765,147  
Repayments of long-term debt
    -       (435,226 )     (329,921 )
Distribution to stockholder
    -       (3,565,325 )     (158,463 )
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY
                       
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    -       (4,000,551 )     276,763  
                         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
                       
CASH EQUIVALENTS
    31,455       (1,710,737 )     423,779  
                         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
                       
beginning of period
    58,201       1,768,938       1,345,159  
                         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
                       
end of period
  $ 89,656     $ 58,201     $ 1,768,938  
                         
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
                 
Interest paid
  $ -     $ 29,802     $ 5,124  
                         
Taxes paid
  $ -     $ 504,490     $ -  
                         
Shareholder receivable converted to a distribution
  $ -     $ -     $ 84,214  
                         
NON-CASH INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
                       
Net assets acquired in change in control transaction
  $ 21,790,000     $ -     $ -  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
 
7

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
NOTE A - NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Austin Chalk Petroleum Services Inc. (“ACPS” or the “Company”), a Texas C Corporation, is a provider of high performance explosion resistant rental equipment and quality assurance services for land-based horizontal drilling.  In addition ACPS offers an inventory of surface rental equipment as well as roustabout services which are responsible for delivery of equipment and rig-up on well sides.

On October 26, 2012, the Company was acquired by Aly Energy Services Inc. (“Aly” or the “parent”).  See further discussion on the acquisition in Note C.  At the time of acquisition, the Company converted from an S Corporation to a C Corporation.

For the purpose of these financial statements the historical financial position and results of operations, cash flows, and changes in equity have been included and are considered to be that of the Predecessor entity.  Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Company” are intended to mean and included the businesses and operations of the Predecessor for the dates prior to October 26, 2012 and to the business and operations of Austin Chalk Petroleum Services for the dates after to October 26, 2012.
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Revenue Recognition :  The Company provides rental equipment, oilfield services and drilling services to its customers at per-day contractual rates.  Revenue is recognized when it is realized or realizable and earned.

Financial Instruments :  Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and payable, and debt.  The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable and payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Cash and Cash Equivalents :  For purposes of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash is defined as cash on-hand and balances in operating bank accounts, amounts due from depository institutions, interest-bearing and deposits in other banks, and money market accounts.  The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Property, Plant and Equipment :  Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the life of the related assets, are charged to expense when incurred.  Refurbishments and renewals are capitalized when the value of the equipment is enhanced for an extended period. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the asset account and related accumulated depreciation account are relieved, and any gain or loss is included in operating income.
 
 
8

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011

 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

The cost of property and equipment currently in service is depreciated, on a straight-line basis, over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from seven to 39 years.  Major classifications of property, plant and equipment and their respective useful lives are as follows:

           
Predecessor
 
     
As of
   
As of
 
 
Estimated
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
Useful Lives
 
2012
   
2011
 
               
Building and leasehold improvements
10 - 39 years
  $ 443,514     $ 434,595  
Vehicles and trailers
5 - 7 years
    1,335,007       844,163  
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment
5 - 7 years
    10,817       16,804  
Machinery and equipment
7 years
    12,345,662       3,951,356  
        14,135,000       5,246,918  
Less:  accumulated depreciation
      (371,615 )     (1,735,125 )
        13,763,385       3,511,793  
Assets not yet placed in service
      79,756       -  
                   
Property, plant and equipment, net
    $ 13,843,141     $ 3,511,793  
 
Depreciation expense for the period from October 27 through December 31, 2012, the period from January 1 through October 26, 2012, and for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $371,615, $805,307 and $538,499, respectively.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Amortization : Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is analyzed on a qualitative basis for indicators of impairment at least annually. To the extent it is determined that the probability of the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit exceeding the carrying value of the reporting unit is 50% or lower (“more-likely-than-not” threshold), then the Company would proceed to the two-step impairment test as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, as amended in September 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2012, based on a qualitative analysis, the Company determined that the fair value of its reporting units more-likely-than-not exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit and therefore, the two-step impairment test was not performed.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized.
 
 
9

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011

 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 
Amortization
 
As of December 31,
 
 
Period
 
2012
   
2011
 
               
Customer relationships
10 years
  $ 3,141,000     $ -  
Trade name
10 years
    1,097,500       -  
Non-compete
5 years
    491,100       -  
        4,729,600       -  
Less:  accumulated amortization
    (87,012 )     -  
                   
Intangible assets, net
    $ 4,642,588     $ -  
 
Total amortization expense for the period ended December 31, 2012 totaled $87,012.

Estimated amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

Years Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 522,070  
2014
    522,070  
2015
    522,070  
2016
    522,070  
2017
    505,700  
Thereafter
    2,048,608  
         
    $ 4,642,588  
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets : Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets with finite lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying amount is not recoverable. The determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, excluding interest expense. The impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value with the carrying value of the related assets. No impairment loss has been recognized for the period from October 27 through December 31, 2012 the period from January 1 through October 26, 2012, or for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts :  Accounts receivable are stated at the amount billed to customers and are ordinarily due upon receipt.  The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based upon a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions.  Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded when it is deemed probable that the customer will not make the required payments at either the contractual due dates or in the future.  At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $12,686.
 
 
10

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011

 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
 
Concentrations of Credit Risk : Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash with one financial institution which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company monitors the financial condition of the banks and has experienced no losses associated with the accounts. The Company is not party to any financial instruments which would have off-balance sheet credit or interest rate risk.
 
Income Taxes : Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.
 
The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on balance sheet classification of the items on which those temporary differences arose. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company is subject to the Texas Margin Tax, which is determined by applying a tax rate to a base that considers both revenue and expenses and therefore has the characteristics of an income tax.
 
The Company follows guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold an income tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and applies to all income tax positions. Each income tax position is assessed using a two-step process. A determination is first made as to whether it is more likely than not that the income tax position will be sustained, based upon technical merits, upon examination by the taxing authorities. If the income tax position is expected to meet the more likely than not criteria, the benefit recorded in the financial statements equals the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon its ultimate settlement. The Company had no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2012.
The Company records income tax related interest and penalties, if applicable, as a component of the provision for income tax expense. However, there were no amounts recognized relating to interest and penalties in the statement of income for the period from October 27, 2012 through December 31, 2012. None of the Company’s federal or state income tax returns are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or state authorities. However, fiscal year 2009 and later remain subject to examination by the IRS and respective state authorities. The Company believes that there are no tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would significantly increase or decrease unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of the reporting date.
 
The Company is included in the consolidated tax return of Aly.
 
 
11

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
NOTE B - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
 
The Predecessor was an S Corporation and in lieu of corporate income taxes, the shareholders of an S Corporation are taxed on their proportionate share of the company’s taxable income. Therefore, no provision or liability for federal income taxes was has been included in the Predecessor’s financial statements. However, the Predecessor was subject to federal income taxes on the “built-in-gains” recognized on the disposition of assets existing at January 1, 2008, the date the Predecessor elected the S Corporation status. The Predecessor filed an amended 2008 federal income tax return in 2012 prior to the acquisition and paid built-in-gains taxes of $504,490.
 
Use of Estimates : The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements : In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment . This ASU states that an entity has the option first to assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then the entity is not required to take further action. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying amount in accordance with Codification Subtopic 350-30, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - General Intangibles Other than Goodwill .
 
Under the guidance in this ASU, an entity also has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any indefinite-lived intangible asset in any period and proceed directly to performing the quantitative impairment test. An entity will be able to resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period.
 
The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 and early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt this ASU for the year ending December 31, 2012. The adoption of this update did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
Subsequent Events : The Company evaluated all activity through April 9, 2013, the date the financial statements were available for issuance, and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the financial statements or disclosures in the notes to the financial statements.
 
 
12

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
NOTE C - CHANGE IN CONTROL

On October 27, 2012, the Company was acquired by Aly Energy Services Inc. (“Aly”) for total consideration of approximately $21.7 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $58,000. The change in control was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. As a result, at the date of the acquisition the purchase price was allocated to the net assets acquired upon their estimated value, as follows:

Current assets
  $ 3,671,793  
Property and equipment
    13,763,494  
Goodwill
    8,243,392  
Other intangible assets
    4,729,600  
   Total assets acquired
    30,408,279  
         
Current liabilities
    2,168,892  
Deferred tax liabilities
    6,449,387  
   Total liabilities assumed
    8,618,279  
         
Net assets acquired
  $ 21,790,000  
 
Other intangible assets have a total value of $4.7 million with a weighted average amortization period of 9 years. Other intangible assets consist of customer relationships of $3.1 million, amortizable over 10 years, trade name of $1.1 million, amortizable over 10 years, and a non-compete agreement of $0.5 million, amortizable over 5 years. The amount allocated to goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired.
 
NOTE D - LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
         
Predecessor
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Note payable to a bank in monthly installments of  $12,583 plus interest at prime plus 3.43%, maturing November 10, 2014.  Certain property of the Company serves as collateral for the note payable.  The note was repaid early by the Predecessor.
  $ -     $ 435,226  
                 
Line of credit payable to a bank with maximum  borrowings of $250,000, interest payable monthly at prime plus 0.25%, callable at the Lender's discretion. No borrowings were outstanding at December 31, 2011. The line of credit is guaranteed by an affiliate.  The line of credit was cancelled in connection with the change in control.
    -       -  
      -       435,226  
Less:  current portion
    -       151,000  
                 
    $ -     $ 284,226  
 
 
13

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
NOTE E - INCOME TAXES

For the period from October 27 through December 31, 2012, the provision for income tax expense consists of the following:

Current provision:
     
Federal
  $ 529,923  
State
    25,000  
Total current provision
    554,923  
         
Deferred benefit:
       
Federal
    (101,131 )
Total deferred benefit
    (101,131 )
         
Provision for income taxes
  $ 453,792  
 
The following table reconciles the statutory tax rates of the Company’s effective tax rate for the period from October 27, 2012 through December 31, 2012:

Federal statutory rate
    34.00 %
State taxes, net of federal benefit
    1.31 %
Other
    0.76 %
         
Effective income tax rate
    36.07 %
 
As of December 31, 202, the significant components of deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

Deferred tax liability - current
  $ 280,563  
         
Deferred tax liability - long-term
    6,067,693  
         
Total
  $ 6,348,256  
 
The Company’s deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2012 consist of the following:

Property, plant and equipment
  $ 4,130,845  
Intangible assets
    1,578,480  
Cash to accrual adjustment
    537,552  
Prepaid assets
    101,379  
         
Total deferred tax liabilities
  $ 6,348,256  
 
 
14

 
 
AUSTIN CHALK PETROLEUM SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011
 
 
NOTE F - SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012, a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue was derived from two customers with revenues totaling approximately $11.1 million. Amounts due from these customers included in accounts receivable in the balance sheet at December 31, 2012 are approximately $3,262,000.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2011, a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue was derived from one customer with revenues totaling approximately $3,414,000. Amounts due from this customer included in accounts receivable in the balance sheet at December 31, 2011 are approximately $1,180,000.
 
NOTE G - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
The Company leases land and other facilities from an affiliate and leases equipment from non-affiliates, which expire through 2014. Future minimum payments under all non-cancelable operating leases greater than one year as of December 31, 2012 are as follows:

Period Ending December 31,
     
       
2013
  $ 71,000  
2014
    59,000  
         
    $ 130,000  
 
Rent expense for the period from October 27 through December 31, 2012, the period from January 1, 2012 through October 26, 2012, and for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled approximately $72,000, $66,000 and $49,000, respectively, of which approximately $8,000, $40,000 and $24,000 was paid to an affiliate for the period from October 27 through December 31, 2012, the period from January 1, 2012 through October 26, 2012, and for the year ended December 31, 2011, respectively.
 
The Company has related party payables due to Aly in the amount of $866,803 as of December 31, 2012 of which $554,923 relates to federal income taxes payable that will be paid by Aly in its consolidated tax return.
 
The Company has a related party payable to the Predecessor owner in the amount of $519,687 as of December 31, 2012.
 
The Company is subject to certain claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that any claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
 
15

EXHIBIT 99.3
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
December 31, 2012
 
   
Aly Energy
   
Preferred Voice
   
Adjustments
   
Pro Forma
 
Assets:
                       
                         
Current Assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,659,521     $ 318,032     $ -     $ 1,977,553  
Accounts receivable
    4,492,292       6,035               4,498,327  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    298,175       4,485               302,660  
Total Current Assets
    6,449,988       328,552               6,778,540  
                                 
Property and Equipment, net
    13,847,212       -               13,847,212  
                                 
Goodwill
    8,243,392       -               8,243,392  
                                 
Intangible Assets, net
    4,642,588       -               4,642,588  
                                 
Deferred Financing Costs
    519,997       -               519,997  
                                 
Total Assets
  $ 33,703,177     $ 328,552     $ -     $ 34,031,729  
                                 
Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity
                               
                                 
Current Liabilities
                               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 2,062,500       -             $ 2,062,500  
Accounts payable
    631,855       3,830               635,685  
Accrued expenses
    766,969       -               766,969  
Related party payable
    519,687       -               519,687  
Federal income taxes payable
    303,764       -               303,764  
Deferred tax liabilities
    280,563       -               280,563  
Total Current Liabilities
    4,565,338       3,830       -       4,569,168  
                                 
Long-Term Debt, net of current portion
    6,187,500       -               6,187,500  
                                 
Deferred Tax Liabilities
    6,067,693       -               6,067,693  
                                 
Other Long-Term Liabilities
    1,942,672       -               1,942,672  
                                 
Total Liabilities
    18,763,203       3,830       -       18,767,033  
                              -  
Preferred Stock
    1,942,672       -               1,942,672  
                                 
Stockholder's Equity
                               
Common Stock
    34,138       6,130       33,870       74,138  
                                 
Additional paid-in capital
    12,411,049       20,482,085       (20,195,857 )     12,697,277  
Retained earnings
    552,115       (20,161,987 )     20,161,987       552,115  
Treasury Stock
    -       (1,506 )             (1,506 )
Total Stockholder's Equity
    12,997,302       324,722       (0 )     13,322,024  
                              -  
Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity
  $ 33,703,177     $ 328,552     $ (0 )   $ 34,031,729  
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma financial statements
 
 
1

 
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
December 31, 2012
 
   
Aly Energy
                   
   
including
                   
   
Predecessor
   
Preferred Voice
   
Adjustments
   
Pro Forma
 
                         
Revenues
  $ 15,946,103           $ -     $ 15,946,103  
Cost of Revenues                              
Direct  Costs     2,443,868                      2,443,868  
Depreciation     1,176,922       361               1,177,283  
Amortization     87,012       -               87,012  
Gross Profit
    12,238,301       -       -       12,237,938  
                                 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
    5,858,890       103,048               5,961,938  
                                 
Income (Loss) From Operations
    6,379,411       (103,409 )     -       6,276,002  
                                 
Other Income (Expense)
                               
Interest income
    1,690                       1,690  
Interest expense
    (110,953 )                     (110,953 )
Other income (expense)
    49,138       (5,370 )             43,768  
Total Other Expense
    (60,125 )     (5,370 )     -       (65,495 )
                                 
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Expense
    6,319,286       (108,779 )             6,210,507  
                                 
Income Tax Expense
    227,632                       227,632  
                                 
Net Income (Loss)
  $ 6,091,654     $ (108,779 )   $ -     $ 5,982,875  
                                 
Preferred Stock Dividends
    (36,112 )                     (36,112 )
                                 
Accretion of Preferred Stock
    (9,932 )                     (9,932 )
                                 
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders
  $ 6,045,610     $ (108,779 )   $ -     $ 5,936,831  
                                 
Basic Earnings Per Share
    0.09       (0.02 )             0.08  
                                 
Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
    68,007,583       6,125,684               74,133,267  

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma financial statements
 
 
2

 
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note A – Basis of Presentation

On May 14 , 2013, Preferred Voice, Inc. (“Preferred Voice”), Aly Energy Services, Inc. (“Aly Energy”) and the common stockholders of Aly Energy entered into a Share Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which the holders of common stock of Aly Energy surrendered all of their shares in exchange for approximately 68 million newly issued shares of common stock of Preferred Voice (the “Share Exchange”), representing approximately 92% of the outstanding common stock of Preferred Voice after giving effect to the Share Exchange. Shares were exchanged at the ratio of 19.91 shares of Preferred Voice common stock for each one share of Aly Energy common stock. Following the Share Exchange, Aly Energy became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Preferred Voice.   Consequently, for accounting purposes, the transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition, with Aly Energy as the acquirer. Subsequent to the consummation of the transaction, the historical financial statements of Aly Energy will become the historical financial statements of the combined company and the assets and liabilities of Preferred Voice will be accounted for as required under the acquisition method of accounting. The results of operations of Preferred Voice will be included in the consolidated financial statements from the closing date of acquisition.

The purchase price is assumed to be equal to Preferred Voice book value since Preferred Voice had limited assets and operations, and therefore no goodwill is recorded on the transaction. The amount ascribed to the shares issued to the Aly Energy stockholders represents the net book value of Preferred Voice at date of closing.

The accompanying pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements illustrate the effect of Preferred Voices’s reverse acquisition (“Pro Forma”) of Aly Energy. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 is based on the historical balance sheets of Aly Energy and Preferred Voice as of that date and assumes the acquisition took place on that date. The condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012, is based on the historical statements of operations of Aly Energy, its Predecessor Austin Chalk Petroleum Services, Inc. and Preferred Voice for those periods. The pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations assumes the acquisition took place on January 1, 2012.

The pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of the actual results of the acquisition. In particular, the pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements are based on management’s preliminary allocation of the purchase price, the final allocation of which may differ.

The accompanying condensed consolidated pro forma financial statements should be read in connection with the historical financial statements of Aly Energy and Preferred Voice, including the related notes, and other financial information included in the filing.
 
 
3

 
 
Aly Energy Services, Inc.
Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note B – Pro Forma Adjustments

The pro forma adjustment to the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

To reflect the reverse acquisition of Aly Energy equal to the book value of Preferred Voice:

Issuance of 68,007,583 shares of Preferred Voice Stock at its book value
  $ 68,008  
Elimination of Aly Energy capital
    (34,138 )
Elimination of Preferred Voice accumulated deficit
    20,161,987  
Recapitalization adjustment
    (20,195,857 )
         
Cost in excess of net liabilities assumed
  $ -0-  
 
Note C – Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

The unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net income (loss) per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of Preferred Voice common stock outstanding during 2012 and the number of shares of Preferred Voice common stock to be issued in connection with the reverse acquisition of Aly Energy as if they have been issued on January 1, 2012.
 
 
4