Share Sale and Purchase Agreement - SiliconAurora Pty Ltd
Exhibit 10.30
Share Sale and Purchase Agreement - SiliconAurora Pty Ltd |
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1414 Degrees Limited ACN 138 803 620 |
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Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd ACN 660 141 168 |
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Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. ACN 136 258 574 |
DMAW Lawyers Pty Ltd [***] [***] P [***]
ABN 26 169 621194
[***]
Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation |
Contents
Part 1 - Preliminary | 4 | |
1. | Definitions | 4 |
2. | Interpretation | 8 |
Part 2 - Sale and purchase of Sale Shares | 9 | |
3. | Sale and purchase | 9 |
4. | Purchase Price | 9 |
5. | Payment of Purchase Price | 9 |
6. | Property and risk | 9 |
Part 3 - Before Completion | 10 | |
7. | Nomination of Directors | 10 |
8. | Intercompany Payables | 10 |
Part 4 - Completion | 10 | |
9. | Completion | 10 |
10. | Buyer’s obligations at Completion | 10 |
11. | Seller’s obligations at Completion | 10 |
12. | Interdependency | 11 |
Part 5 - Warranties | 11 | |
13. | Warranties | 11 |
14. | Seller’s Warranties | 11 |
15. | Warranty qualifications | 12 |
16. | Buyer’s warranties | 12 |
17. | Xxxxx’s acknowledgements | 13 |
Part 6 - Agreement Claims and limitations | 14 | |
18. | Notice of Agreement Claim | 14 |
19. | General limitations on Agreement Claims | 14 |
20. | Limitation on Agreement Claims | 16 |
21. | Maximum liability of the Parties | 17 |
22. | Limitations do not apply | 17 |
Part 7 - Call Option | 17 | |
23. | Grant of Call Option | 17 |
Part 8 - Security | 19 | |
24. | Dealing with Sale Shares | 19 |
25. | Security | 19 |
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Part 9 - Parent Guarantee | 20 | |
26. | Consideration | 20 |
27. | Guarantee | 21 |
28. | Indemnity | 21 |
29. | Payments | 21 |
30. | Continuing guarantee and indemnity | 21 |
31. | Enforcement against the Guarantor | 22 |
Part 10 - General | 22 | |
32. | Payment | 22 |
33. | Interest on unpaid monies | 22 |
34. | GST | 22 |
35. | Consents and approvals | 23 |
36. | Confidentiality | 23 |
37. | Public announcements and communications | 24 |
38. | Assignment | 24 |
39. | Amendment | 24 |
40. | No waiver | 24 |
41. | Xx xxxxxx | 00 |
42. | Further action | 24 |
43. | Entire agreement | 24 |
44. | Contribution | 25 |
45. | Execution and counterparts | 25 |
46. | Notice | 25 |
47. | Governing law | 26 |
48. | Duty | 26 |
49. | Costs | 26 |
Schedule 1 - Seller’s Warranties | 27 | |
Schedule 2 - Notice of Exercise of Call Option | 30 | |
Schedule 3 - CSP Assets | 31 | |
Annexure - Index to Data Room Materials | 33 |
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Parties
Party 1
1414 Degrees Limited ACN 138 803 620 of [***] (Seller)
Party 2
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd ACN 660 141 168 of [***] (Buyer)
Party 3
Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. ACN 136 258 574 of [***] (Guarantor)
Introduction
A. | The Company was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory on 26 June 2015. |
B. | The Company holds development approval (DA 010/V061/17 V3) (Development Approval) for the greenfield hybrid power plant development known as Aurora Energy Project located 30km north of Port Augusta, South Australia (Project). |
C. | The Seller is the legal and beneficial owner of the Sale Shares. |
D. | The Seller has agreed to sell, and the Buyer has agreed to buy, the Sale Shares on the terms set out in this agreement. |
Operative clauses
Part 1- Preliminary
1. | Definitions |
Unless otherwise specified, in this agreement:
Agreement Claim has the meaning given in clause 18;
Agreement Date means the date of execution of this agreement by all parties;
ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission;
Assets means all assets (tangible and intangible) owned by the Company as at the Agreement Date, including:
(a) | the Company’s interest in the Project; and |
(b) | the assets listed in Schedule 3; |
Authority means:
(a) | a government, whether federal, state, territorial or local; |
(b) | a department, office or minister of a government acting in that capacity; or |
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(c) | a commission, delegate, instrumentality, agency, board or other governmental, semi-governmental, judicial, administrative, monetary or fiscal authority, whether statutory or not; |
Balance Payment means $900,000;
Business Day means any day except a Saturday or a Sunday or other public holiday or bank holiday in South Australia or New South Wales;
Business Records means all financial statements, financial records, documents and other records in respect of the Company and the Assets;
Call Option has the meaning given in clause 23.2;
Claim means any claim, cost, damages, debt, expense, tax, liability, loss, allegation, suit, action, demand, cause of action, proceeding or judgment of any kind;
Company means SiliconAurora Pty Ltd ACN 606 360 169 of [***];
Completion means completion of the sale and purchase of the Sale Shares in accordance with this agreement;
Completion Date means the date that is 10 Business Days after the Agreement Date, or any other date that the parties agree in writing;
Consequential Loss means, in respect of a breach or other act or omission, any loss or damage:
(a) | which does not arise naturally or in the usual course of things from the breach, act or omission; or |
(b) | which constitutes, or arises from or in connection with, a loss of revenue, profit or opportunity, loss of goodwill or loss of business reputation, even if that loss arises naturally or in the usual course of things from that breach, act or omission; |
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
Data Room means the electronic SharePoint data room maintained by the Seller (and to which the Buyer has been provided access) known as “AuroraEnergyProject”, providing information relevant to the transactions the subject of this agreement, and located at:
[***];
Data Room Material means the documents and information disclosed in the Data Room prior to the Agreement Date, an index of which is annexed to this agreement;
Deferred Payment means $1,500,000;
Deferred Payment Date has the meaning given in clause 5.3;
Director means a director of the Company;
Distress Event means the happening of any of the following events in relation to a body corporate:
(a) | the body corporate becomes a Chapter 5 body corporate under the Corporations Act; |
(b) | without limiting paragraph (a), a controller, administrator, receiver, receiver and manager or analogous person is appointed to the body corporate or any of the body corporate’s property or any steps are taken for the appointment of such a person (except where the steps taken are reversed or abandoned within 10 Business Days); |
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(c) | any steps are taken (including, without limitation, the making or passing of an application, order or resolution) with respect to the appointment of a liquidator or provisional liquidator for the winding up of the body corporate (unless those steps are stayed, withdrawn or dismissed within 10 Business Days); |
(d) | the body corporate is taken to have failed to comply with a statutory demand within the meaning of section 459F of the Corporations Act; |
(e) | the body corporate is or becomes, or its directors state that it is, or has become, unable to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable; or |
(f) | any steps are taken to deregister the body corporate under the Corporations Act (except where the steps taken are reversed or abandoned within 10 Business Days); |
Encumbrance means any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, charge or other form of Security Interest or interest in the nature of a Security Interest (but excludes any such interest in favour of the Buyer) (and encumber has a corresponding meaning);
Government Authority means any federal, state, territory, county, municipality, district, local or other jurisdiction of any nature, or any political subdivision thereof, federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government, or government or governmental, quasi-governmental, administrative, fiscal or judicial body, department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency or entity of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality, official, organisation, body or other entity and any court, arbitrator or other tribunal) having jurisdiction or a function in relation to the Company or the Assets or the subject matter of this agreement;
GST has the same meaning as it does in the GST Act;
GST Act means the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth) and associated legislation and regulations;
GST Group has the same meaning as is given to that term in the GST Act;
Immediately Available Funds means bank cheque or telegraphic or other electronic means of transfer of cleared funds into a bank account nominated in advance by the payee;
Initial Payment means $100,000;
Intercompany Payable means:
(a) | any money owing by the Company to the Seller or a related body corporate of the Seller (other than 50% of the amount referred to at SC 7.2 of the Shareholders Agreement); and |
(b) | any money owing by the Seller or a related body corporate of the Seller to the Company; |
Listing Rules means, in respect of a party, the listing rules of a recognised securities exchange, to the extent that party or its related body corporate is bound by those rules;
Loss includes any loss, damage, cost, charge, liability or expense (including legal costs and expenses);
NEL means the National Electricity Law, as set out in the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 (SA);
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NEM Rules means the National Electricity Rules made under the National Electricity Law;
Network Service Provider means a network service provider as defined in the NEL;
PPSR means the ‘register’ as defined in the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth);
Purchase Price means the sum of:
(a) | the Initial Payment plus the Balance Payment; and |
(b) | the Deferred Payment (if it becomes payable in accordance with this agreement); |
Project has the meaning given in paragraph B of the Introduction;
Project Lease has the meaning given in the Tripartite Agreement;
Sale Shares mean the number of shares that comprise 50% of the fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company as at Completion;
Security Interest means:
(a) | any security interest under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth), mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, retention of title arrangement, set-off arrangement or other arrangement having the same or equivalent commercial effect as a grant of security; or |
(b) | any agreement to create or give rise to any interest or arrangement of the type referred to in paragraph (a); |
Shareholders Agreement mean a shareholders agreement in relation to the Company, executed by the parties and the Company on or about the date of this agreement;
Site means the portion of the property comprised in Crown Lease Volume 6181 Folio 119, formerly known as Crown Lease Volume 1436 Folio 40, that is referred to as the ‘Surrender Area’ in the Tripartite Agreement;
Tax means any tax, duty, fee or penalty imposed by any Government Authority, including income tax, gross receipts, licence, employment, severance, occupation, premium, windfall profits, intangible, environmental, capital stock, profits, franchise, withholding, social security, disability, real estate, personal property, fringe benefits tax, capital gains tax, goods and services tax, stamp duty, payroll tax, bank debit tax, sales, use, transfer, value added, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, customs and excise, council rates, land tax, emergency services levy, water and sewerage rates, and/or any other tax or similar governmental charge or any kind including any interest, penalties or additions to tax, whether disputed or not, and any obligation to indemnify, assume or succeed to the liability of any other person in respect of any of the above tax, fee, duty or penalty;
Tax Warranty means the warranties set out at paragraph 9 of Schedule 1;
Title Warranty means the warranties set out at paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 1; and
Transaction Document means:
(a) | this agreement; |
(b) | the Shareholders Agreement; and |
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(c) | any other deed, instrument or document to which the Seller and the Buyer are parties at any time (whether alone or with other parties) which is expressed to be, or is agreed by the parties to that deed, instrument or document to be, a Transaction Document for the purpose of this agreement or any other Transaction Document; |
Tripartite Agreement means the amended and restated tripartite agreement in relation to the Project between the Company, Buckleboo Nominees Pty Ltd as trustee for the Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Family Trust and The Minister for Environment and Water for and on behalf of the Crown in Right of the State of South Australia dated 18 March 2022, as disclosed in the Data Room, as amended from time to time;
Warranties means the warranties given pursuant to Part 5 of this agreement and Warranty means any of them.
2. | Interpretation |
In this agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
2.1 | the Introduction is correct; |
2.2 | headings do not affect interpretation; |
2.3 | singular includes plural and plural includes singular; |
2.4 | words of one gender include any gender; |
2.5 | a reference to time is a reference to Adelaide, Australia time; |
2.6 | a reference to “dollars”, “$A”, “A$” or “$” is a reference to Australian currency; |
2.7 | a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them; |
2.8 | a reference to a clause, paragraph, schedule or annexure is to a clause or paragraph of, or schedule or annexure to, this agreement, and a reference to this agreement includes any schedule or annexure; |
2.9 | reference to a person includes a corporation, body corporate, joint venture, association, government body, firm and any other entity; |
2.10 | a reference to a party is to a party to this agreement, and a reference to a party to an agreement includes the party’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns and substitutes; |
2.11 | a reference to this agreement includes this agreement as varied, supplemented, assigned or novated from time to time; |
2.12 | a provision must not be construed against a party only because that party prepared it; |
2.13 | a provision must be read down to the extent necessary to be valid. If it cannot be read down to that extent, it must be severed; |
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2.14 | the meaning of general words or provisions shall not be limited by references to specific matters that follow them (for example, introduced by words such as “including” or “in particular”) or precede them or are included elsewhere in this agreement; |
2.15 | if a thing is to be done on a day which is not a Business Day, it must be done on the next Business Day; |
2.16 | another grammatical form of a defined expression has a corresponding meaning; and |
2.17 | an expression defined in the Corporations Act has the meaning given by that Act at the date of this agreement. |
Part 2 - Sale and purchase of Sale Shares
3. | Sale and purchase |
The Seller must sell, and the Buyer must buy, the legal and beneficial interest in the Sale Shares, free from Encumbrances, at Completion, on the terms and conditions of this agreement.
4. | Purchase Price |
The consideration for the Sale Shares is the Purchase Price.
5. | Payment of Purchase Price |
5.1 | The Buyer must pay the Initial Payment to the Seller at or before Completion. |
5.2 | The Buyer must pay the Balance Payment to the Seller within 30 days after Completion. |
5.3 | The Buyer must pay the Deferred Payment to the Seller within 30 days (Deferred Payment Date) of the Company (or its Subsidiary) receiving a written offer to connect from the relevant Network Service Provider under clause 5.3.6 of the NEM Rules (Deferred Payment Trigger), and for the sake of clarity, the Deferred Payment will not become payable if the Deferred Payment Trigger is not met and/or both the Buyer and the Seller are satisfied (acting reasonably) that the Deferred Payment Trigger will not in the future be met. |
5.4 | Nothing in this clause 5 precludes the Buyer from paying the Deferred Payment at any time before it becomes payable under clause 5.3 if it chooses to do so in order to release the Security Interest created under clause 25.1, provided the Initial Payment and the Balance Payment have been paid and provided also that if the Deferred Payment Trigger is subsequently not met and/or both the Buyer and the Seller are satisfied (acting reasonably) that the Deferred Payment Trigger will not in the future be met, the Seller shall on written demand refund the Deferred Payment so paid to the Seller. |
6. | Property and risk |
Property and risk in the Sale Shares passes to the Buyer at Completion.
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Part 3 - Before Completion
7. | Nomination of Directors |
No later than the Agreement Date, the Buyer must give written notice to the Seller and the Company of the details of the two persons that the Buyer wishes to appoint as Directors, together with consents to act signed by those persons.
8. | Intercompany Payables |
The Seller must ensure that, before Completion, all Intercompany Payables are repaid, capitalised or otherwise forgiven, released and discharged.
Part 4- Completion
9. | Completion |
Completion will take place at 11:00am (Adelaide time) on the Completion Date at the offices of DMAW Lawyers ([***]) or such other time and place agreed in writing between the parties.
10. | Buyer’s obligations at Completion |
At or before Completion, the Buyer must:
10.1 | pay the Initial Payment to the Seller; |
10.2 | deliver to the Seller, an original counterpart (duly executed by the Buyer) of: |
(a) | this agreement; and |
(b) | the Shareholders Agreement. |
11. | Seller’s obligations at Completion |
At or before Completion, the Seller must:
11.1 | provide evidence to the satisfaction of the Buyer (acting reasonably) that as at Completion, all Intercompany Payables have been fully repaid, forgiven or converted to fully-paid ordinary shares in the Company; |
11.2 | deliver to the Buyer: |
(a) | an original counterpart (duly executed by the Seller) of: |
(i) | this agreement; and |
(ii) | the Shareholders Agreement; |
(b) | share transfer forms in respect of the Sale Shares, in registrable form and in favour of the Buyer, duly executed by the Seller; and |
(c) | an electronic copy of the Data Room Materials (saved on USB device or similar); |
11.3 | deliver to the Company original share certificates for the Sale Shares (or declarations in respect of lost certificates); |
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11.4 | cause the Company to pass resolutions (with effect from Completion) to: |
(a) | approve the registration of the transfer of Sale Shares, subject only to the payment of any applicable duty; |
(b) | approve the cancellation of the share certificate(s) in the name of the Seller in respect of the Sale Shares and approve the issue of new share certificates for the: |
(i) | Sale Shares in the name of the Buyer; and |
(ii) | remaining shares held by the Seller after the transfer of the Sale Shares to Buyer, in the name of the Seller; and |
(c) | approve the appointments of the Buyer-nominated Directors, provided a consent to act has been received by the Company for each such person pursuant to clause 7. |
12. | Interdependency |
12.1 | The parties’ obligations at Completion are interdependent and must be carried out contemporaneously. No delivery or payment will be deemed to have been made until all deliveries and payments under clauses 10 and 11 have been made and all actions under clauses 10 and 11 on Completion will be deemed to take place simultaneously. |
12.2 | If the Seller or the Buyer does not comply with all of their obligations at Completion, the other party may require, upon which each party must: |
(a) | return every thing delivered, and repay every amount paid, to them at Completion; and |
(b) | do all things necessary to reverse any action taken at Completion. |
Part 5 - Warranties
13. | Warranties |
13.1 | Each Warranty is given as at the date or dates specified in relation to that Warranty. |
13.2 | No Warranty is limited by any other Warranty. |
13.3 | Each Warranty is also a representation. |
13.4 | Each party enters into this agreement and will Complete this agreement in reliance on the Warranties. |
13.5 | The Warranties remain in full force and are binding notwithstanding Completion. |
14. | Seller’s Warranties |
The Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer that each warranty set out in Schedule 1 is true and correct and not misleading in any material respect.
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15. | Warranty qualifications |
Each Warranty given by the Seller is subject to and qualified by any fact, matter or circumstance:
15.1 | that was known to the Buyer (or any of its shareholders or officers) as at the Agreement Date or which the Buyer could reasonably be expected to know as at the Agreement Date having regard to the expertise of the Buyer and its representatives and advisers, including in each case as a result of its due diligence investigations; |
15.2 | provided for or disclosed in this agreement; |
15.3 | disclosed in, provided for, or ascertainable from, the Data Room Material; |
15.4 | disclosed in writing to the Buyer or its representatives and advisers by or on behalf of the Seller in connection with the due diligence investigations carried on by the Buyer and its representatives and advisers before the Agreement Date; |
15.5 | that would have been revealed by an inspection or search of: |
(a) | the PPSR, any public register or records kept by ASIC or any other Government Authority; or |
(b) | any information generally available to the public, |
in each case conducted on the Business Day before the Agreement Date, whether or not the Buyer has actual knowledge of those matters,
which is contrary to or inconsistent with the Warranty, and the Seller will not be liable for a breach of the Warranty due to the fact, matter or circumstance contradicting or being inconsistent with the Warranty.
16. | Buyer’s warranties |
The Buyer represents and warrants to the Seller that, as at the Agreement Date and at Completion:
16.1 | it has not entered into this agreement in its capacity as a trustee of any trust; |
16.2 | it is a corporation duly organised and validly existing under the laws of Australia and is in good standing under such laws; |
16.3 | it has the full corporate power and lawful authority to enter into this agreement and to consummate and perform its obligations under this agreement and each document necessary to give effect to this agreement (Completion Documents); |
16.4 | it has taken all necessary action to authorise the execution, deliver and performance of this agreement and the Completion Documents; |
16.5 | the execution, delivery and performance of this agreement by the Buyer does not, and will not in the case of the Completion Documents, violate, breach or result in a contravention of its constituent documents, or any laws by which it is bound, or any authorisation, ruling, judgment or order by any Government Authority by which it is bound, or any other agreement, undertaking or instrument by which it is bound; |
16.6 | this agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation on the Buyer enforceable in accordance with its terms; and |
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16.7 | it is not subject to a Distress Event. |
17. | Xxxxx’s acknowledgements |
The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that:
17.1 | to the maximum extent permitted by law, all representations and warranties implied by law in this agreement are excluded; |
17.2 | except as expressly provided for in this agreement, the Seller does not give any representations or warranties about anything including the completeness of any information provided to the Buyer about the Company, the Sale Shares, the Project or the Assets; |
17.3 | as at the Agreement Date, the Buyer and its shareholders and officers did not have knowledge of any fact, matter or circumstance which they considered (acting reasonably) may result, or give rise, to an Agreement Claim; |
17.4 | it has made and has relied on its own searches, investigations and enquiries in respect of the Company, Sale Shares, Project and Assets, including as part of its due diligence investigations, and has satisfied itself of the results of those searches, investigations and enquiries; |
17.5 | subject to the Warranties, it has not relied on any information supplied by the Seller or any of the Seller’s officers, representatives and agents, except to the extent that such information is expressly included in this agreement; |
17.6 | as part of its due diligence investigations and enquiries in respect of the Company, the Sale Shares, the Project and the Assets, it and its representatives and advisers have had access to all documents and information they have requested from the Seller; |
17.7 | irrespective of whether or not the Buyer’s due diligence was as full or exhaustive as the Buyer would have wished, it has nevertheless independently and without the benefit of any inducement, representations or warranty (other than the Warranties) from the Seller determined to enter into this agreement; |
17.8 | the Seller will not be liable for any Loss of, or Claim by, the Buyer, arising from or relating to any statement, representation, warranty, promise, undertaking or agreement in connection with the sale of the Sale Shares made by or on behalf of the Seller or resulting from or implied by conduct made in the course of communications or negotiations in connection with the sale of the Sale Shares not expressly set out in this agreement; |
17.9 | the Seller gives no representations or warranties whatsoever about future matters, including the future financial position or performance of the Company or the Project; and |
17.10 | any forecast, forward looking statement or other statement as to the future made by or on behalf of the Seller or resulting from or implied by conduct made in the course of communications or negotiations in connection with the sale of the Sale Shares may involve significant elements of subjective judgment and assumption as to future events which may or may not be correct, and there are usually differences between forecasts and actual results because events and actual circumstances frequently do not occur as forecast and these differences may be material. |
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Part 6 - Agreement Claims and limitations
18. | Notice of Agreement Claim |
If a party has any Claim under or in connection with this agreement (Agreement Claim) against the other party, then the first party (Claimant) must give notice in writing to the second party (Respondent) within 10 Business Days of becoming aware of the circumstances giving rise to such Agreement Claim, setting out reasonable particulars to identify the nature and scope of the Agreement Claim and the Claimant’s estimate of the monetary value of the Agreement Claim (Claim Notice).
19. | General limitations on Agreement Claims |
19.1 | The Seller is not liable to the Buyer for any Agreement Claim: |
(a) | if the liability for the Agreement Claim is a contingent liability, unless and until that liability is an actual liability and is due and payable; |
(b) | to the extent that the Loss giving rise to the Agreement Claim is Consequential Loss; |
(c) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim arises from any act or omission of the Buyer or the Company after Completion; |
(d) | to the extent that the Loss in relation to an Agreement Claim results from the Buyer’s failure to use reasonable endeavours to mitigate its Loss; |
(e) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim would not have arisen but for a material restructure of the Company or Project after Completion; |
(f) | to the extent any Loss giving rise to an Agreement Claim or the Agreement Claim is caused or contributed to by any action expressly permitted by this agreement or any document contemplated by or related to it; |
(g) | to the extent the Buyer receives, or is entitled to receive, compensation for the Loss giving rise to the Agreement Claim, whether under an insurance policy, indemnity or otherwise; |
(h) | to the extent that any Loss giving rise to an Agreement Claim or the Agreement Claim is attributable to: |
(i) | the passing of, or any change in any law, decision, administrative practice or policy (including any change in any law, decision, administrative practice or policy, which takes effect retrospectively); or |
(ii) | the change in any interpretation of any law, decision, administrative practice or policy (including any change in interpretation which takes effect retrospectively), |
after the Agreement Date;
(i) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim or Loss arises from the Company taking a position in relation to the application of a Tax law or regulation that is inconsistent with the position taken by the Company before Completion, unless the Company is required to adopt an inconsistent position to comply with a Tax law or regulation; |
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(j) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim arises or is increased as a result of action taken or not taken by the Seller at the request, and with the prior approval, of the Buyer; and |
(k) | if the breach is capable of remedy and has been remedied within 20 Business Days after the Seller receives written notice of the Agreement Claim, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Buyer. |
19.2 | The Buyer is not liable to the Seller for any Agreement Claim (other than Claims for the payment of the Purchase Price): |
(a) | if the liability for the Agreement Claim is a contingent liability, unless and until that liability is an actual liability and is due and payable; |
(b) | to the extent that the Loss giving rise to the Agreement Claim is Consequential Loss; |
(c) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim arises from any act or omission of the Buyer or the Company after Completion; |
(d) | to the extent that the Loss in relation to an Agreement Claim results from the Seller’s failure to use reasonable endeavours to mitigate its Loss; |
(e) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim would not have arisen but for a material restructure of the Company or Project after Completion; |
(f) | to the extent any Loss giving rise to an Agreement Claim or the Agreement Claim is caused or contributed to by any action expressly permitted by this agreement or any document contemplated by or related to it; |
(g) | to the extent the Seller receives, or is entitled to receive, compensation for the Loss giving rise to the Agreement Claim, whether under an insurance policy, indemnity or otherwise; |
(h) | to the extent that any Loss giving rise to an Agreement Claim or the Agreement Claim is attributable to: |
(i) | the passing of, or any change in any law, decision, administrative practice or policy (including any change in any law, decision, administrative practice or policy, which takes effect retrospectively); or |
(ii) | the change in any interpretation of any law, decision, administrative practice or policy (including any change in interpretation which takes effect retrospectively), |
after the Agreement Date;
(i) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim or Loss arises from the Company taking a position in relation to the application of a Tax law or regulation that is inconsistent with the position taken by the Company before Completion, unless the Company is required to adopt an inconsistent position to comply with a Tax law or regulation; |
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(j) | to the extent that the Agreement Claim arises or is increased as a result of action taken or not taken by the Buyer at the request, and with the prior approval, of the Seller; and |
(k) | if the breach is capable of remedy and has been remedied within 20 Business Days after the Buyer receives written notice of the Agreement Claim, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Seller. |
19.3 | If the Seller pays to the Buyer an amount to settle or discharge an Agreement Claim and the Buyer subsequently recovers any amount or receives any benefit which is referrable to that Agreement Claim or any fact, matter or circumstance giving rise to the Agreement Claim then the Buyer must pay to the Seller an amount equal to the lesser of: |
(a) | the amount actually recovered or the value of the tangible benefit received (less all reasonable costs and expenses of recovery); and |
(b) | the amount paid by the Seller to settle or discharge the Agreement Claim. |
20. | Limitation on Agreement Claims |
20.1 | The Respondent is not liable to the Claimant for any Agreement Claim unless: |
(a) | the Claimant has provided to the Respondent a Claim Notice that: |
(i) | meets the requirements of clause 18; and |
(ii) | is given within 12 months after Completion; |
(b) | a proceeding is filed with a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of the Agreement Claim, and validly served on the Respondent, within six (6) months after the later of: |
(i) | the date of receipt by the Respondent of the Claim Notice; and |
(ii) | the date a sufficient number of written notices of Agreement Claims by the Claimant for, or in connection with, Agreement Claims have been received by the Respondent which in aggregate exceed the minimum Agreement Claims threshold referred to in clause 20.1(c); and |
(c) | the amount finally agreed or adjudicated to be payable in respect of that Agreement Claim exceeds $50,000, or the aggregate amount finally agreed or adjudicated to be payable in respect of all Agreement Claims exceeds $100,000. |
20.2 | An Agreement Claim will be taken to be waived or withdrawn and will be barred and unenforceable (if it is not previously satisfied, settled or withdrawn) if the Claimant does not comply with clauses 20.1(a) and 20.1(b). |
20.3 | This clause 20 does not apply in respect of Claims for: |
(a) | payment of the Purchase Price or any portion of it; or |
(b) | breach of Part 7 (Call Option). |
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21. | Maximum liability of the Parties |
21.1 | The Seller’s aggregate liability in respect of: |
(a) | an Agreement Claim in respect of a breach of a Title Warranty or a Tax Warranty, is limited to $1,000,000; or |
(b) | all other Agreement Claims, is limited to $500,000, |
and for the avoidance of doubt the Seller’s maximum aggregate liability for any and all Agreement Claims cannot exceed $1,000,000 when taking into account the claims under clauses 21.1(a) and (b).
21.2 | The Buyer’s aggregate liability in respect of all Agreement Claims other than Claims for the payment of the Purchase Price is limited to $500,000. |
22. | Limitations do not apply |
None of the qualifications or limitations in this Part 6 applies to any Agreement Claim by a Claimant to the extent that it arises out of, or is increased as a result of, any fraud, wilful default or wilful concealment by the Respondent.
Part 7 - Call Option
23. | Grant of Call Option |
23.1 | Shareholder approval |
If Completion has occurred, at its next annual general meeting the Seller:
(a) | must seek shareholder approval: |
(i) | by one or more ordinary resolutions, for all issues and agreements to issue equity securities (which for clarity does not include the Call Option) counted for the purpose of variable ‘C’ in the formula in Listing Rule 7.1 as at the date of the annual general meeting; and |
(ii) | by a special resolution, for the 10% placement facility in listing rule 7.1A, |
(General Approval); and
(b) | may, but is not required to, seek shareholder approval for the grant of the Call Option for the purpose of Listing Rule 7.1 (Specific Approval), |
and the Seller will forthwith provide written notice to the Buyer of the resolution of the shareholders in relation to the approvals sought under clauses 23.1(a) and, if relevant, 23.1(b).
23.2 | Grant of Call Option |
If Completion has occurred, with effect from the next Business Day after the conclusion of the Seller’s next annual general meeting, the Seller grants to the Grantee an option for the Grantee or its nominee (which must be an Australian-registered company) (Nominee) to subscribe for the Option Shares on the terms set out in this clause 23.
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23.3 | Call Option exercise |
The Call Option may be exercised by the Grantee at any time during the Option Period (the commencement of which Option Period will be notified to the Buyer in writing) paying, or causing its Nominee to pay, the Exercise Price to the Seller and delivering to the Seller a Notice of Exercise duly executed by the Grantee (or the Grantee and its Nominee, as the case may be), specifying the number of Shares into which the Call Option is being converted, which number must be no more than the number of Shares calculated as follows:
(a) | if neither General Approval nor Specific Approval are obtained: |
N × 6%
or
(b) | if General Approval or Specific Approval (or both) are obtained: |
N × 9.9%
where N equals the number of Shares on issue immediately prior to the issue of Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Call Option.
23.4 | Issue of Shares |
The Seller will issue the Option Shares within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Seller from the Grantee of a properly executed Notice of Exercise together with payment of the Exercise Price.
23.5 | Call Option expiry |
The Call Option will automatically expire at 11:59pm on the Expiry Date unless it has been exercised before then.
23.6 | Other terms |
(a) | The Grantee may not exercise the Call Option at any time while the Buyer is in material unremedied breach of a Transaction Document. |
(b) | The Call Option is not transferrable other than in accordance with this clause 23. |
(c) | The Call Option may only be exercised once. |
(d) | No certificate or holding statement will be issued in respect of the Call Option. |
(e) | The issued Option Shares will rank in all respects on equal terms with the existing Shares. |
(f) | The Call Option will not entitle the holder to participate in any new issue of securities by the Seller, unless the Call Option has been duly exercised prior to the relevant record date. |
(g) | The Buyer and the Seller acknowledge and agree that the Buyer holds the rights of the Buyer and the Grantee under this Part 7 for the benefit of the Grantee, and the Grantee is entitled to enforce such rights as though it were a party to this agreement. |
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23.7 | Definitions |
In this clause 23:
(a) | Exercise Price means $0.16 multiplied by the number of Option Shares; |
(b) | Expiry Date means the earlier of: |
(i) | end of the Option Period; or |
(ii) | the date that is 18 months after the date of this agreement; |
(c) | Grantee means AGCentral Pty Ltd ACN 053 901 518; |
(d) | Listing Rules means the Listing Rules of ASX Limited; |
(e) | Nominee has the meaning given in clause 23.2; |
(f) | Notice of Exercise means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2; |
(g) | Option Period means the period beginning on the date of execution of a connection agreement by or on behalf of the Company (or its Subsidiary or nominee) and the relevant Network Service Provider (or its Subsidiary or nominee) pursuant to clause 5.3.7 of the NEM Rules in respect of Stage 1 and ending at 11:59pm on the earlier of: |
(i) | 90 days after that date; or |
(ii) | the Expiry Date; |
(h) | Option Shares means the number of Shares notified by the Buyer to the Seller pursuant to the exercise of the Call Option under clause 23.3; and |
(i) | Shares means fully paid ordinary shares in the Seller. |
Part 8 - Security
24. | Dealing with Sale Shares |
Until such time as the security interest under clause 25 is discharged under clause 25.7 or clause 5.4 (as the case may be), the Buyer must not assign, transfer or otherwise deal with the whole or any part of the Sale Shares, without the prior written consent of the Seller (except as required under the Transaction Documents).
25. | Security |
25.1 | As security for the Buyer’s obligation to pay the Balance Payment and the Deferred Payment in accordance with this agreement (if the Deferred Payment is payable), the Buyer grants the Seller a security interest in the Sale Shares (Collateral Shares) until it is discharged under clause 25.7. If for any reason it becomes necessary to determine the nature of the security interest, it is a fixed charge over the Collateral Shares. |
25.2 | The parties acknowledge and agree that the security interest created by this agreement attaches to the Collateral Shares in accordance with the PPSA upon Completion. |
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25.3 | The Buyer must immediately upon acquisition of the Collateral Shares deliver to the Seller the original share certificate for the Collateral Shares and do all things and execute all further documents reasonably requested by the Seller, at the Seller’s cost, to provide the Seller with control over the Collateral Shares in accordance with the PPSA. |
25.4 | The Buyer consents to the Seller perfecting its security interest in the Collateral Shares created by this agreement by registration under the PPSA and agrees to do anything reasonably requested by the Seller, at the Seller’s cost, to enable it to do so. |
25.5 | The Buyer waives its right to receive any notice under the PPSA (including notice of a verification statement) in relation to the registration of the security interest in the Collateral Shares created by this agreement on the Personal Property Securities Register unless the notice is required by the PPSA and cannot be excluded. |
25.6 | Where the Buyer is in default of its obligation to pay either the Balance Payment or the Deferred Payment under this agreement and the Buyer remains in default after the Seller has provided the Buyer with notice of that default and a period of seven days in which to remedy it by making the outstanding payment, the security interest under this clause 25 becomes immediately enforceable and the Seller: |
(a) | may do anything in respect of the Collateral Shares that the Buyer could do; and |
(b) | has all other powers conferred by statute, law, equity and otherwise in respect of the Collateral Shares. |
25.7 | The security interest under this clause 25 is a continuing security. It is discharged only by notice in writing from the Seller to the Buyer. The Seller must provide such notice promptly following the earliest to occur of any of the following events (failing which the notice will be deemed to have been provided upon the earliest of the following events to occur): |
(a) | when the Buyer has paid both the Balance Payment and the Deferred Payment to the Seller in accordance with this agreement; or |
(b) | where both: |
(i) | the Buyer has paid the Balance Payment to the Seller in accordance with this agreement; and |
(ii) | the Deferred Payment has not become payable, and the Deferred Payment cannot to the satisfaction of both parties (acting reasonably) in the future become payable, by the Buyer to the Seller in accordance with this agreement. |
Part 9 - Parent Guarantee
26. | Consideration |
The Guarantor acknowledges that the Seller is acting in reliance on the Guarantor incurring obligations and giving rights under the guarantee given in this Part 9 (Parent Guarantee).
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27. | Guarantee |
27.1 | The Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Seller the performance by the Buyer of all of its obligations under this agreement (Guaranteed Obligations). |
27.2 | If the Buyer fails to perform the Guaranteed Obligations in full and on time in accordance with the terms of this agreement, the Guarantor agrees to comply with the Guaranteed Obligations on demand from the Seller. |
28. | Indemnity |
28.1 | The Guarantor: |
(a) | unconditionally and irrevocably indemnifies the Seller against any loss, liability or claim which may be incurred or sustained by the Seller in connection with any default or delay by the Buyer in the due and punctual performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, including any loss, liability or claim incurred or sustained in connection with the enforcement of the Parent Guarantee; and |
(b) | agrees to pay amounts due under this clause 28 on demand from the Seller. |
28.2 | The Seller need not incur expense or make payment before enforcing this right of indemnity. |
28.3 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, the maximum liability of the Guarantor pursuant to this agreement (including in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations) shall be no greater than the liability of the Buyer to the Seller in respect of any default of the Buyer in the due performance of the Guaranteed Obligations. |
29. | Payments |
The Guarantor agrees to make payments under this Part 9:
29.1 | in full without set-off or counterclaim, and without any deduction in respect of tax except to the extent such deduction is required by law; |
29.2 | in Australian dollars in Immediately Available Funds. |
30. | Continuing guarantee and indemnity |
This Part 9:
30.1 | extends to cover this agreement as amended, varied or replaced, provided that the Guarantor has consented to such amendment, variation or replacement; |
30.2 | is a principal obligation and is not to be treated as ancillary or collateral to another right or obligation; |
30.3 | is independent of and not in substitution for or affected by any other security interest or guarantee or other document or agreement concerning the Guaranteed Obligations; and |
30.4 | is a continuing guarantee and indemnity and remains in full force and effect for so long as the Buyer has any liability or obligation to the Seller with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations and until all of those liabilities or obligations have been fully discharged. |
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31. | Enforcement against the Guarantor |
Except as provided for under this agreement, the Guarantor waives any right it has of first requiring the Seller to commence proceedings or enforce any other right against the Buyer or any other person before claiming from the Guarantor under the Parent Guarantee.
Part 10 - General
32. | Payment |
All payments under this agreement must be made in Immediately Available Funds.
33. | Interest on unpaid monies |
If any monies payable under this agreement are not paid on or before the relevant due date for payment, then interest is payable on the amount due from but excluding that due date to and including the date on which the moneys are paid. The rate of interest is a rate equal to the Cash Rate Target published by the Reserve Bank of Australia from time to time plus 5% per annum. Interest will be calculated on a daily basis and compounded monthly.
34. | GST |
34.1 | This clause applies if a party makes a taxable supply (within the meaning of any law imposing GST) in connection with this agreement for consideration unless such consideration is expressly provided to be “GST inclusive”. |
34.2 | Subject to this clause, the consideration payable by a party represents the value of the taxable supply. |
34.3 | Subject to clause 34.5, the party liable to pay for the taxable supply must also pay, at the same time and in the same manner as the value is otherwise payable, a further amount calculated by multiplying: |
(a) | the amount otherwise payable; by |
(b) | the GST rate for the time being. |
34.4 | If a payment to a party under this agreement is a reimbursement or indemnification, calculated by reference to a loss, cost or expense incurred by that party, then the payment will be reduced by the amount of any input tax credit to which that party is entitled on the acquisition of the supply for which that loss, cost or expense is incurred. The party is assumed to be entitled to full input tax credits unless it demonstrates that its entitlement is otherwise prior to the date on which payment must be made by the other party. |
34.5 | A party’s right to payment under this clause is subject to a valid tax invoice being delivered to the party liable to pay for the taxable supply. |
34.6 | If a person is a member of a GST Group references to GST which the person must pay and to input tax credits to which the person is entitled include GST which the representative member of the GST Group must pay and input tax credits to which the representative member is entitled. |
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35. | Consents and approvals |
35.1 | Unless otherwise provided, a party may give or withhold its determination, consent, agreement, authorisation or approval: |
(a) | in that party’s absolute discretion; |
(b) | with or without conditions and without giving reasons; |
(c) | when that party chooses. |
35.2 | A party’s determination, consent, agreement, authorisation or approval is valid only if it is in writing and signed by that party or its authorised representative. |
36. | Confidentiality |
36.1 | A party (using party) may only use Confidential Information of another party: |
(a) | if necessary to perform the using party’s obligations, or enforce the using party’s rights, under this agreement; or |
(b) | if the other party consents to the use. |
36.2 | A party (disclosing party) may only disclose Confidential Information of another party: |
(a) | to the disclosing party’s professional advisers; |
(b) | if required by law or the Listing Rules; |
(c) | if necessary to perform the disclosing party’s obligations or exercise the disclosing party’s rights under this agreement; |
(d) | if the other party consents to the disclosure; |
(e) | if and to the extent the information is publicly available other than by a breach of the disclosing party of this agreement, or any other agreement; |
(f) | if the information is already in the possession of the disclosing party or comes into the possession of the disclosing party other than by breach of this agreement, or any other agreement; or |
(g) | to the extent reasonably necessary to seek debt finance or equity investment to progress the Project, or in relation to a potential third party acquisition of the whole or part of an interest in the Project or the Company, provided the disclosure is to a person subject to equivalent obligations of confidentiality and the other party has been informed of the disclosure. |
36.3 | In this clause 36, the term “Confidential Information” means: |
(a) | any term of this agreement; |
(b) | trade secrets, know-how, financial data, accounting information, statistics, research, scientific, technical, product, market or pricing information of a party or relating to a party’s systems, business, employees or contractors; |
(c) | any other information belonging to a party that is marked “confidential”; and |
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(d) | any other information belonging to a party which is of a confidential nature. |
37. | Public announcements and communications |
Except if required by law or the Listing Rules, no party may make a public announcement or public communication of any kind (including, but not limited to, media announcements) in connection with, or regarding the existence of, the terms of this agreement or any matter contemplated by this agreement without first consulting the other party.
38. | Assignment |
A party may only assign its rights or obligations under this agreement with the written consent of the other party.
39. | Amendment |
This agreement may only be amended in writing signed by the parties.
40. | No waiver |
40.1 | A party may only waive a breach of this agreement in writing signed by that party or its authorised representative. |
40.2 | A waiver is limited to the instance referred to in the writing (or if no instance is referred to in the writing, to past breaches). |
41. | No merger |
The rights and obligations under this agreement do not merge on completion of any transaction contemplated by this agreement.
42. | Further action |
42.1 | Each party must do all things necessary to carry out this agreement, including: |
(a) | executing documents; and |
(b) | ensuring its employees and agents perform their obligations. |
42.2 | A party must not do anything that will prevent this agreement from being carried out. |
43. | Entire agreement |
43.1 | This document records the entire agreement between the parties about its subject matter. |
43.2 | The parties exclude all terms implied by law, where possible. |
43.3 | Neither party has given any warranty or made any representation to the other party about the subject matter of this agreement, other than those warranties and representations appearing in this document. |
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44. | Contribution |
Damages for any breach of this agreement are reduced to the extent that the claimant caused or contributed to the damage.
45. | Execution and counterparts |
45.1 | Each party agrees that: |
(a) | execution of this agreement by electronic signatures (including other verifiable forms of electronic acceptance) is appropriate in the circumstances and consents to such methods of execution; |
(b) | by its officers applying their electronic signatures (or complying with the requirements of any other verifiable form of electronic acceptance), that party will have indicated its willingness to be bound by the terms of this agreement. |
45.2 | This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. A counterpart may be a scanned PDF format or a document created by any other means of legible electronic production. |
45.3 | Together all counterparts make up one document. |
45.4 | If this agreement is executed in counterparts, it takes effect when each party has received the counterpart executed by each other party, or would be deemed to have received it if a notice. |
46. | Notice |
46.1 | Notice must be in writing and in English, and may be given by an authorised representative of the sender. |
46.2 | Notice may be given to a person: |
(a) | personally; |
(b) | by leaving it at the person’s address last notified; |
(c) | by sending it by pre-paid mail to the person’s address last notified; |
(d) | by sending it by electronic mail to the person’s email address last notified. |
46.3 | In respect of notices given to the Buyer, a copy must also be provided to the Guarantor by electronic mail to the Guarantor’s Chief Executive Officer at email address: [***], or such other person or position holder (and email address) as may be notified by the Guarantor. |
46.4 | Notice is deemed to be received by a person: |
(a) | when left at the person’s address; |
(b) | if sent by pre-paid mail, 5 Business Days after posting; |
(c) | if sent by electronic mail, on the day after the day the message is showing on the sender’s electronic mail system as having been properly transferred or transmitted. |
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However, if the notice is deemed to be received on a day which is not a Business Day, or after 5pm on a Business Day, it is deemed to be received at 9am on the next Business Day.
46.5 | If two or more people comprise a party, notice to one is effective notice to all. |
47. | Governing law |
47.1 | This agreement is governed by the law of South Australia. |
47.2 | The parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Australia and the South Australian division of the Federal Court of Australia, and the courts of appeal from them. |
47.3 | No party may object to the jurisdiction of any of those courts on the ground that it is an inconvenient forum or that it does not have jurisdiction. |
48. | Duty |
48.1 | The Buyer must attend to the stamping of this agreement and any document required by this agreement, within the time permitted by statute. |
48.2 | The Buyer must pay (within the time permitted by statute) any stamp, transaction or registration duty or similar charge that is imposed by any Authority (including any interest, fine, penalty, charge or other amount that is imposed in relation to that duty or charge) in respect of this agreement and any document required by this agreement. |
49. | Costs |
The parties must pay their own cost of preparing this agreement and any document required by this agreement.
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Schedule 1 – Seller’s Warranties
1. | Sale Shares |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion:
1.1 | the Sale Shares are fully paid; |
1.2 | the Sale Shares comprise 50% of the issued capital of the Company; |
1.3 | other than the Seller, no other person: |
(a) | holds any shares or other securities in the Company; |
(b) | has any rights to be issued with any shares in the Company; |
(c) | has any rights or options over the Sale Shares or any shares in the Company; and |
(d) | has any securities that are convertible to, or exercisable for, shares in the Company; |
1.4 | it has legal and beneficial ownership of the Sale Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances; and |
1.5 | the transfer of the Sale Shares held by it in accordance with this agreement does not contravene a provision of the Company’s constitution and is capable of being registered under the Company’s constitution. |
2. | Seller |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion:
2.1 | it has the right to enter into this agreement and to sell the Sale Shares held by it, without the consent of any person; |
2.2 | it is a corporation duly 27rganized and validly existing under the laws of Australia and is in good standing under such laws; |
2.3 | it is not subject to a Distress Event; and |
2.4 | it has power to execute this agreement and to perform its obligations under this agreement. |
3. | Company |
3.1 | The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and the Completion Date: |
(a) | the Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing under the laws of Australia, and is in good standing under such laws; |
(b) | the Company has not been de-registered and is not liable to be de-registered; |
(c) | the Company is not subject to a Distress Event; |
(d) | the Company has full corporate power and lawful authority to own the Assets; and |
(e) | the Company has not received notice of any application or intended application to rectify the register of shareholders or any other register of the Company |
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3.2 | The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion: |
(a) | there is no resolution, agreement or proposal to issue any additional shares, securities convertible into shares, options or other pre-emptive rights to shares, or other interests in the share capital of the Company (other than to the Seller in order to convert Intercompany Payables to equity prior to Completion); |
(b) | it has not entered into any contract or other arrangement about the exercise or variation of rights attaching to the Sale Shares held by it. |
4. | Liabilities |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at Completion, the Company will have no material liabilities except:
4.1 | liabilities arising as a consequence of the Tripartite Agreement; |
4.2 | liabilities arising as a consequence of the Project Lease; |
4.3 | amounts contemplated under SC 7.2 of the Shareholders Agreement; and |
4.4 | liabilities incurred with the prior written consent of the Buyer. |
5. | Employees |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion, the Company has no employees.
6. | Business Records |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion:
6.1 | the Business Records are in the possession or control of the Company; and |
6.2 | the financial records and financial statements of the Company are substantially complete and do not contain or reflect any material inaccuracies. |
7. | Legal proceedings |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date:
7.1 | there are no subsisting Claims and, so far as it is aware, there are no threatened Claims, in respect of the Company or the Assets; |
7.2 | it does not know of any circumstance which may result in any Claim in respect of the Company or the Assets; and |
7.3 | there are no unsatisfied judgments, orders, awards or decisions in respect of the Company or the Assets. |
8. | Insurance |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date:
8.1 | it does not know of any circumstance which may result in any particular insurance claim; and |
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8.2 | it does not know of any circumstance which would make any of those insurances and cover notes unenforceable or which would permit an insurer to cancel any of those insurances. |
9. | Tax |
9.1 | The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion: |
(a) | the Company is not a member of a tax consolidated group; |
(b) | the Company is registered for GST; |
(c) | the Company is not liable for any Tax arising in respect of the period before Completion, other than any Tax: |
(i) | incurred with the prior written consent of the Buyer; or |
(ii) | arising from activities undertaken with the prior written consent of the Buyer; |
(d) | the Company is not involved in a dispute about its liability to lodge a return under a law about Tax, or to pay any Tax; and |
(e) | the Company has not contravened any anti-avoidance provisions of any law relating to Tax. |
9.2 | The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date: |
(a) | it is not aware of any pending or threatened Tax audit in respect of the Company; and |
(b) | the Company has not received any notice, order or direction from any Government Authority within three years before the Agreement Date relating to any actual or suspected breach of any applicable law relating to Tax. |
10. | Information |
The Seller represents and warrants that so far as it is aware as at the Agreement Date the Data Room Material is not misleading or deceptive.
11. | Assets |
The Seller represents and warrants that, as at the Agreement Date and as at Completion:
11.1 | the Company is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the Assets, and the Company and the Seller have not granted any third party rights to the Project; |
11.2 | Development Approval (DA 010/V061/17 V3) is current and valid; |
11.3 | the Company has not granted any option or right of pre-emption or first refusal in respect of any of the assets of the Company to any third party; |
11.4 | no third party has rights or interests (including a mortgage, bill of sale, charge, lien, pledge, trust, encumbrance, power or title retention arrangement, right of set-off, assignment of income, garnishee order, monetary claim, flawed deposit arrangement or any arrangement having a similar effect or a PPS Security Interest as defined under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) over any of the assets of the Company, including the Development Approval. |
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Schedule 2 – Notice of Exercise of Call Option
To: 1414 Degrees Limited CAN 138 803 620 (Seller)
NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF CALL OPTION
NOTICE GIVEN BY AGCentral Pty Ltd CAN 053 901 518 (Grantee) to the Seller that the Grantee irrevocably exercises the Call Option to purchase [number] Option Shares granted to the Grantee by the Seller pursuant to a call option set out in the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated [ ] June 2022.
[The Grantee gives notice that it nominates [insert name of nominee] [CAN] of [insert address] to become the purchaser of the Option Shares in lieu of the Grantee.] [Delete this paragraph if not applicable]
DATED
Executed by the Grantee
[Insert execution block for Grantee]
Executed by the Nominee (if applicable)
[Insert execution block for Nominee]
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Schedule 3 – CSP Assets
• | Two weather stations and associated cleaning records |
• | One minute resolution DNI data from 2015 and one second data from 2019 |
• | All weather data collected relating to the Site |
• | Site survey reports and underlying data |
• | Geotechnical reports and underlying data |
• | Heritage reports for the Site and underlying data |
• | Grid connection reports for the Site, modelling and underlying data |
• | Interests in the following (as disclosed in the Data Room): |
o | Tripartite Agreement |
o | Project Lease |
o | Heritage Agreement between the Company (formerly known as SolarReserve Australia II Pty Ltd) and Bamgarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8603) dated 22 October 2017 |
o | Office of Technical Regulator Approval dated 12 March 2021 in relation to XXXX and TESS |
o | Development Approval (DA 010/V061/17 V3) |
o | Native Vegetation Clearance Permit |
o | Agreements with ElectraNet entities |
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Executed as an agreement on | 2022 |
Executed
by 1414 Degrees Limited in accordance
with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth):
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx |
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx Director 14 June 2022 |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Company Secretary 14 June 2022 |
Executed
by Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd in accordance
with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth):
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx |
/s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx | |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Director 15 June 2022 |
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Company Secretary 15 June 2022 |
Executed
by Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. in accordance
with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth):
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx |
/s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx | |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Director 15 June 2022 |
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Company Secretary 15 June 2022 |
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Annexure - Index to Data Room Materials
33 |
AEP Data Room Index (14.6.2022)
Folder | Description | Format |
01 General | 1414 Degrees overview presentation - May 2022 | |
14D Tender Response - ElectraNet FFR001 | Excel | |
14D Tender Response - ElectraNet FFR001 | ||
Development budget to FID (from Nov 2021) | Excel | |
Development schedule V13 030322 | MS Project | |
Development schedule V13 030322 | ||
EOI - Aurora ARENA Application LSBSF | ||
SiliconAurora Business Name Registration Certificate | ||
SiliconAurora Company Details - ASIC | ||
Solar Reserve Fully Executed SSA 26 Nov 19 | ||
SolarReserve Document Register - 2 April 2019 | Excel | |
02 Finance | Aurora financial summary (as at Nov 2021) | Excel |
14D_Aurora_Future price prediction_09122021 | Powerpoint | |
Balance Sheet - 30 April 22 | Excel | |
XXXX Business Case Inputs | Powerpoint | |
Cornwall - Red Flag Assessement Report March 2022 | ||
Cornwall Insight Australia - Aurora results presentation | ||
Cornwall Insights - Scenario results presentation - 2 May 2022 | ||
ITR Jun 20 SiliconAurora | ||
ITR Jun 21 SiliconAurora | ||
03 Approvals | Project Lease revision (with 14D comments) [Finlaysons review 27.10.21] | Word |
ARTC Private Level Crossing Agreement | ||
ASEP SA Government Development Application Variation Approval - 5 July 2018 (DA 010/V061/17 V1) | ||
ASEP - SA Government Lease Fully Executed - 20 November 2018 | ||
Aurora Water Connection Summary-RPT-GA-15MAY18 | Word | |
BDAC Cultural Heritage Clearance Report | ||
Crown sponsorship variation | ||
Decision Notice_010_V061_17_V3_1414_Degrees_Aurora_Energy_Park | ||
Development Approval Variation - 14D Consultation Response Letter | ||
Development Approval Variation - AEP Project Description | ||
Development Approval Variation - Application - Crown Development - Request for Variation to DA 010/V061/17 V1 | ||
Development Approval Variation - Approval of Time Extension to DA_010_V061_17_V1 | ||
Development Approval Variation - Crown Development application form | ||
Development Approval Variation - GHD Planning Report | ||
Heritage Agreement with BDAC Executed - 25 October 2017 | ||
Native vegetation clearance permit (application) | ||
Native vegetation clearance permit approval (Solar Reserve) | ||
Native vegetation clearance permit variation (Solar Reserve) | ||
Native vegetation extension | ||
OTR Certificate | ||
SA Water Development Agreement - Annexure A | ||
SA Water Development Agreement | ||
Tripartite agreement (revised) | ||
04 Engineering | Stage 1 XXXX Concept Design | Folder |
- P0017-03-RPE-004_A Load Flow Study For Aurora Solar Energy Park Project | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-001 REV_F GENERAL LAYOUT - updated | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-003_REV_D XXXX GENERAL LAYOUT | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-004_D Substation Layout | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-005_A Substations Area Elevation View | ||
- P0017-04-CGR-001_D Grading Plan and Sections | ||
- P0017-04-EBD-001_B Network Architecture | ||
- P0017-04-EPR-001_B 275kV Protection SLD | ||
- P0017-04-ESL-004_B Battery SLD | ||
- P0017-04-ESL-006_E 275kV Substation SLD | ||
AEP General Layout Drawing | ||
ElectraNet ECS Status report/summary | ||
Heritage Location - Stage 1 | ||
Heritage Location - Stage 2 (Solar PV) + Stage 3 (CSP) | ||
Solar PV 70MW AC Single Axis Tracking Performance Results | ||
05 Site studies and reports | Solar data and summary report | Folder |
- ASEP - Solar Monitoring Mule DNI Screenshot for full year - 27 November 2017 | PNG | |
- ASEP - Solargis Site Assessment of Solar Resource Report - 24 September 2017 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2020-09 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2020-10 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2020-11 | ||
- MonthlyReport AUPA2 2020-12 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-01 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-02 | ||
- MonthlyReport AUPA2 2021-03 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-04 | ||
- MonthlyReport AUPA2 2021-05 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-06 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-07 |
1 |
AEP Data Room Index (14.6.2022)
Folder | Description | Format |
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-08 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-09 | ||
- MonthlyReport AUPA2 2021-10 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-11 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2021-12 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2022-01 | ||
- MonthlyReport_AUPA2_2022-02 | ||
- MonthlyReport AUPA2 2022-03 | ||
Flora and Fauna Survey | ||
Native Vegetation Clearance Report | ||
Geotechnical investigation - CSP report | ||
Geotechnical investigation - PV desktop study | ||
Ground Water Report - GHD - 2016 Draft-RPT-GA-2FEB18 | ||
Site aerial and lease area - drawing | ||
Site survey and contours - drawing | ||
06 Transmission Connection | ElectraNet TCA Work Orders and GPS work pack kick off | Folder |
- 20210512 GPS workpack kick off Memo | Word | |
- EG.30947 SiliconAurora - Pre-TCA WO 1 ECS RFT DRAFT(2) | Word | |
- EG30947 SiliconAurora Proposal WO1 and WO2 - Pre split up amount | ||
- FULLY EXECUTED EG.30947 SiliconAurora - Pre-TCA WO 3 GPS FIA 11.05.2022 | ||
- FULLY EXECUTED EG.30947 SiliconAurora - Pre-TCA WO 1 ECA RFT 18122020 | ||
14D - ENet Correspondence | ||
14D - OZ Correspondence | ||
AEMO Intending Participant Confirmation | ||
Consultancy Agreement 14D 09 May 2022 Final_Clean - SiliconAurora-AECOM | Word | |
ElectraNet Monthly Report - EG.30947 - May 2021 | ||
ElectraNet transmission assets drawing | ||
GPS Study - AECOM Proposal | Word | |
GPS Study - Scope of Work | ||
P0017-10-MEM-0003 - GPS Studies Offers - Evaluation | ||
Progress Update - Conversion of Non-Regulated Connection Assets to Dedicated Connection Assets | ||
Substation - Preliminary Single Line Diagram | ||
07 Procurement | XXXX RFP Pack 04032022 | Folder |
- Equipment Supply Agreement (Draft) | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-003 REV F XXXX GENERAL LAYOUT | ||
- P0017-04-CGA-006 B Heritage area location | ||
- P0017-04-ESL-008 A Single Line Diagram | ||
- SiliconAurora - XXXX Technical Specifications & Scope of Work P0017-05-TCS-001 2 | ||
- SiliconAurora XXXX RFP 04032022 Cover Note - Final | ||
- SiliconAurora XXXX RFP Returnable Schedule | Excel | |
Fluence XXXX Proposal | Folder | |
- 220330 Supporting Letter from Fluence 1414 | ||
- Capability Statement_v4 | ||
- Cumulative Global Storage Projects_PE-001-10-EN March 22 | ||
- Fluence Gridstack Safety and Certifications | ||
- Fluence Questions | Excel | |
- Fluence Questions 25032022 Quick update 06042022 | Excel | |
- Gridstack CoreOnly Proposal AU (SA) - SILICON AURORA ENERGY PROJECT 140MW | ||
- OPLM-OAM-FLN-90-002-R00_Fluence Gridstack Operation & Maintenance Manual | ||
- Services Proposal AU (SA) - Silicon Aurora Energy Project 140MW | ||
- SIAN0040DI_PCS_Operating_Models_&_Control_Modes[2] | ||
- SIAN0069AI_Grid_Forming_Applications1 | ||
- Software Propoasl AU (SA) - Silicon Aurora Energy Project 140MW | ||
Honeywell BESS Proposal | Folder | |
- A2_Insurances.zip | Zip | |
- Appendix A_Honeywell Standard Terms and Conditions | zip | |
- Appendix B_SiliconAurora XXXX RFP Returnable Schedule | Excel | |
- Appendix C.1 Typical Project Execution Plan | ||
- Appendix C.2 Honeywell EMS Summary | ||
- C4 Spares | Excel | |
- D1.1&2-BES Block SLD- OPTIONS 1&2 | ||
- D1.10 XXXX Control System | Zip | |
- D1.11_Reference List | Zip | |
- D1.3 XXXX System Architecture | ||
- D1.4-Datasheets and Manuals | Zip | |
- D1.5-PCSK_GEN3_STD | ||
- D1.6&7-PRELIMINARY LAYOUT | ||
- D1.8-20ft Joint Container specification-EN | ||
- D1.9-BMS specifications | Zip | |
- Honeywell BESS Projects Reference List | Excel | |
- Narada Projects Reference List | ||
- O-410637R22R0 1414 Degress Aurora Project | ||
- Power Electronics NEW_ENERGY STORAGE & POWER QUALITY_REFERENCES_JAN_22 (1)_compressed (1) |
2 |
AEP Data Room Index (14.6.2022)
Folder | Description | Format |
1414 Aurora Energy Expression of Interest | ||
VICE Engineering (Xxxxxxx Xx Xxx) capability statement | ||
EOI Attachment 1 Weighted Criteria Evaluation Sheet | Excel | |
EOI Attachment 2 Technical Specs Evaluation | Excel | |
Emanden - AEP - XXXX Supplier - RFP Evaluation | ||
Emanden capability statement 18 11 2021 | ||
EOI XXXX R2 comparison 20210517 | Excel | |
08 Transaction Documents | Compiled Documents (Draft 11.5.22) (clean) Redacted | |
Joint Development Agreement (Draft 11.05.22) (redacted) | Word | |
Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (Draft 11.5.22) (redacted) | Word | |
Shareholders Agreement (Draft 11.5.22) (redacted) | Word |
3 |
Shareholders Agreement | |
SiliconAurora Pty Ltd | |
ACN 606 360 169 | |
1414 Degrees Limited | |
ACN 138 803 620 | |
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd | |
ACN 660 141 168 | |
Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. | |
ACN 136 258 574 |
DMAW Lawyers Pty Ltd [***] [***] P [***]
ABN 26 169 621194
[***]
Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation |
Contents
Part 1 - Preliminary | 6 | |
1. | Definitions | 6 |
2. | Interpretation | 11 |
3. | Special Conditions | 12 |
Part 2 - Objectives and Business | 12 | |
4. | Objectives | 12 |
5. | Obligations of Shareholders | 12 |
6. | Obligations of the Company | 13 |
7. | Relationship of Shareholders | 13 |
8. | Subsidiaries | 13 |
Part 3 - Structure and class of shares | 13 | |
9. | Shares have same rights | 13 |
10. | Issue of shares of different class | 14 |
Part 4 - Board of Directors | 14 | |
11. | Number of Directors | 14 |
12. | Appointment of Directors | 14 |
13. | Alternate Directors | 14 |
14. | Removal and retirement of Directors | 14 |
15. | Written appointments and removals | 15 |
16. | Chairperson | 15 |
17. | Powers of the Board | 15 |
18. | Decisions of Directors | 16 |
19. | Directors’ fees and expenses | 16 |
20. | Appointment of Directors to Subsidiaries | 16 |
Part 5 - Board meetings | 16 | |
21. | Board meetings | 16 |
22. | Circulating resolutions | 17 |
23. | Director votes | 17 |
24. | Quorum for a Board meeting | 17 |
Part 6 - Shareholders’ meetings | 17 | |
25. | Quorum for a Shareholders’ meeting | 17 |
26. | Written resolutions | 17 |
2 |
Part 7 - Decision making | 18 | |
27. | Simple Majority decision | 18 |
28. | Matters requiring Unanimous Resolution of Shareholders | 18 |
29. | Deadlocks | 18 |
Part 8 - Conduct of Business | 19 | |
30. | Conduct of Business | 19 |
Part 9 - Accounts and audit | 20 | |
31. | Accounts and records | 20 |
32. | Access to records | 20 |
33. | Reporting | 20 |
Part 10 - Approved Business Plan and Budget and Funding | 20 | |
34. | Approved Business Plan and Budget | 20 |
35. | Development Period funding | 21 |
36. | Tripartite Guarantee | 21 |
37. | Further funding | 22 |
Part 11 - Distribution policy | 22 | |
38. | Distribution of dividends | 22 |
Part 12 - Restrictions relating to Shares | 22 | |
39. | Permitted Disposal | 22 |
40. | Restriction on Disposal | 22 |
41. | New Shareholders | 23 |
42. | Encumbrances | 23 |
Part 13 - Default | 23 | |
43. | Events of Default | 23 |
44. | Unpaid Monies Default Event | 23 |
45. | Breach Default Event | 24 |
46. | Effect of default | 24 |
47. | Non-limitation | 25 |
48. | Effect of Trigger Event | 25 |
Part 14 - Power of attorney | 25 | |
49. | Power of attorney | 25 |
Part 15 - Dispute resolution | 26 | |
50. | Dispute resolution | 26 |
Part 16 - Constitution | 26 | |
51. | Constitution | 26 |
3 |
Part 17 - Warranties and liabilities | 27 | |
52. | Warranties | 27 |
53. | No consequential loss | 27 |
Part 18 - Confidentiality | 28 | |
54. | Confidentiality | 28 |
55. | Public announcements and communications | 28 |
Part 19 - Intellectual Property Rights | 29 | |
56. | Intellectual Property Rights | 29 |
Part 20 - Parent Guarantee | 29 | |
57. | Consideration | 29 |
58. | Guarantee | 29 |
59. | Indemnity | 29 |
60. | Payments | 30 |
61. | Continuing guarantee and indemnity | 30 |
62. | Enforcement against the Guarantor | 30 |
Part 21 - General | 30 | |
63. | Interest on unpaid monies | 30 |
64. | Duration | 31 |
65. | Notice | 31 |
66. | Time of the essence | 31 |
67. | Severability | 32 |
68. | Entire understanding | 32 |
69. | Variation | 32 |
70. | Waiver | 32 |
71. | Execution and counterparts | 32 |
72. | Costs | 33 |
73. | Governing law | 33 |
Schedule 1 - Matters requiring Unanimous Resolution of Shareholders | 34 | |
Schedule 2 - Dealing with Shares | 35 | |
Xxxxxxxx X - Xxxx of Accession | 40 | |
Annexure B - Special Conditions | 43 | |
Appendix A - FID Development Budget | 55 | |
Appendix B - FID Activity Matrix | 57 |
4 |
Parties
Party 1
SiliconAurora Pty Ltd ACN 606 360 169 of [***] (Company)
Party 2
1414 Degrees Limited ACN 138 803 620 of [***] (14D)
Party 3
Vast Solar Aurora Pty Ltd ACN 660 141 168 of [***] (VSA)
Party 4
Vast Solar Pty. Ltd. ACN 136 258 574 of [***] (Guarantor)
Introduction
A. | The Company holds development approval (DA 010/V061/17 V3) (Development Approval) for the greenfield hybrid power plant development known as Aurora Energy Project located at the Site, 30km north of Port Augusta, South Australia (Project). |
B. | The Company is the legal and beneficial owner of all of the existing assets comprising the Project. |
C. | The Project is intended comprise various stages, including: |
(i) | ‘Stage 1’ (XXXX Project) - the first stage of the Project, being a 140MW/140MWh XXXX (1 hour capacity storage), including 33kV connection to electricity network, as identified in paragraph (e)(1) on page 9 of the Development Approval (being the version lodged on 31 July 2021 and approved on 24 November 2021); |
(ii) | ‘Stage 2’ (CSP Project) - being construction of a concentrated solar power electricity generation plant, as identified in paragraph (e)(7) on page 9 of the Development Approval (being the version lodged on 31 July 2021 and approved on 24 November 2021); |
(iii) | ‘Stage 3’ (Solar PV) - being construction of solar photovoltaic electricity generation facilities, as identified in paragraph (e)(3) on page 9 of the Development Approval (being the version lodged on 31 July 2021 and approved on 24 November 2021); and |
(iv) | ‘Stage 4’ (TESS Project) - being construction of a thermal energy storage solution (TESS) pilot plant, as identified in paragraph (e)(2) on page 9 of the Development Approval (being the version lodged on 31 July 2021 and approved on 24 November 2021). |
D. | Pursuant to a share sale and purchase agreement between 14D and VSA (SSPA), 14D and VSA have agreed that VSA will acquire certain Shares in the Company from 14D at completion under the SSPA. |
5 |
E. | The parties intend that, with effect on and from the date of completion under the SSPA (Commencement Date): |
(i) | the relationship between the Company and the Shareholders (in their capacity as shareholders of the Company); and |
(ii) | the relationship between the Shareholders in connection with the Company, |
will be governed in accordance with this agreement.
Operative clauses
Part 1 - Preliminary
1. | Definitions |
Unless otherwise specified, in this agreement:
Approved Business Plan and Budget means the initial work program and budget for the Company and each subsequent annual business plan and budget prepared and approved (or deemed to have been approved) under clause 34;
Board means the board of directors of the Company as constituted from time to time;
Business means the business of planning, developing, constructing and operating the Project (excluding Stage 2 and Stage 4, which may be undertaken exclusively by VSA and 14D, respectively) in accordance with the Development Approval and the Approved Business Plan and Budget and includes such other business or activity determined by the Board by way of an Approved Business Plan and Budget or by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders;
Business Day means any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, a bank holiday or a public holiday in South Australia;
Chairperson means the chairperson of the Board appointed in accordance with clause 16 from time to time;
Change in Control:
(a) | in relation to 14D, occurs when any person obtains 50% or more of the voting power in 14D; |
(b) | in relation to any other Shareholder, is a change by which a person or persons who Control that Shareholder ceases or cease to have Control of that Shareholder; |
Commencement Date has the meaning given in paragraph E of the Introduction;
Confidential Information has the meaning given in clause 54.3;
Constitution means the constitution of the Company, as amended from time to time;
Control means:
(a) | in relation to any body corporate, the ability of any persons to exercise control (which includes the ability to remove or appoint all or a majority of the directors of that body corporate) over the body corporate by virtue of holding the voting shares in that body corporate or by any other means whatsoever; and |
6 |
(b) | in relation to a trust, the ability of any persons to exercise control (which includes the ability to remove or appoint a trustee of the trust) of the trust; |
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
Deed of Accession has the meaning given in clause 39;
Default Terms means, in respect of a Shareholder Loan, the following minimum terms:
(a) | a loan term of 36 months from the date funds are first advanced under the Shareholder Loan (with principal repayable in full at the expiry of that term); |
(b) | interest-free; and |
(c) | unsecured; |
Defaulting Shareholder means a Shareholder in relation to whom an Event of Default has occurred;
Development Approval has the meaning given in paragraph A of the Introduction and includes any variation or replacement of that approval from time to time;
Development Costs means all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Company’s development activities during the Development Period pursuant to its Approved Business Plan and Budget;
Development Period means the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the date of completion of construction of Stage 1 in accordance with the Development Authorisation, as determined by Unanimous Resolution of the Board (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Development Period includes the FID Development Period);
Director means a director of the Company (and includes the alternate director appointed by that director when acting as such);
Discounted Fair Value means Fair Value less 10%;
Dispose means assign, transfer, otherwise dispose of or grant, or permit or suffer the grant of, any legal or equitable interest (either in whole or in part), whether by sale, lease, declaration or creation of a trust or otherwise;
Dispute means a dispute arising from, or in connection with, this agreement;
Distress Event means the happening of any of the following events in relation to a person:
(a) | where the person is a body corporate: |
(i) | the body corporate becomes a Chapter 5 body corporate under the Corporations Act; |
(ii) | a controller, administrator, receiver, provisional liquidator, trustee for creditors in bankruptcy or analogous person is appointed to the body corporate or any of the body corporate’s property; |
7 |
(iii) | any steps are taken (including, without limitation, the making or passing of an application, order or resolution) with respect to the appointment of a liquidator or provisional liquidator for the winding up of the body corporate (unless those steps are stayed, withdrawn or dismissed within 15 Business Days); |
(iv) | the body corporate is taken to have failed to comply with a statutory demand within the meaning of section 459F of the Corporations Act; |
(v) | the body corporate is or becomes, or its directors state that it is, or has become, unable to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable; |
(vi) | the body corporate is presumed to be insolvent under the Corporations Act; |
(vii) | any steps are taken to deregister the body corporate under the Corporations Act (except where the steps taken are reversed or abandoned within 10 Business Days); or |
(viii) | the body corporate ceases or threatens to cease to carry on its business or any major part of its business; |
(b) | where the person is a natural person: |
(i) | the person authorises a registered trustee or solicitor to call a meeting of his or her creditors or proposes or enters into a deed of assignment or deed of arrangement or a composition with any of his or her creditors; |
(ii) | a person holding a Security Interest in assets of the person enters into possession of or takes control of any of those assets or takes any steps to enter into possession of or take control of any of those assets; |
(iii) | the person commits an act of bankruptcy; |
(iv) | the person has a bankruptcy notice issued against them; |
(v) | a receiver or trustee for creditors or in bankruptcy is appointed to any of the person’s property; |
(vi) | the person becomes an “insolvent under administration” within the meaning of the Corporations Act; or |
(vii) | anything analogous to having a substantially similar effect to any of the above events; |
Due Date means the date on which a call by the Company for Shareholder debt funding under clause 35 is due;
Encumbrance means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, encumbrance, Security Interest, title retention, preferential right, trust arrangement, contractual right of set off or any other security agreement or arrangement in favour of any person;
Escalation Representatives means:
(a) | in the case of VSA, Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx; and |
(b) | in the case of 14D, the board of directors or the chairman of the board of directors of 14D; |
8 |
Event of Default means any of the events or circumstances described in clause 43;
Fair Value means the value determined in accordance with paragraph 12 of Schedule 2;
FID Development Period has the meaning given in Annexure B;
Financial Year means each period of 12 months ending on 30 June;
Heritage Agreement means the heritage agreement between the Company (formerly known as SolarReserve Australia II Pty Ltd) and Bamgarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8603) dated 22 October 2017;
Intellectual Property Rights means all and any patents, patent applications, trade marks, service marks, trade names, registered designs, unregistered design rights, copyright, systems, technology, ideas, concepts, know how, techniques, trade secrets, specifications, blueprints, tracings, diagrams, models, functions, capabilities and designs (including computer software, manufacturing processes or other information embodied in drawings or specifications), rights in confidential information, and all and any other intellectual property rights, whether registered or unregistered, and including all applications and rights to apply for any of the same;
Listing Rules means, in respect of a party, the listing rules of a recognised securities exchange, to the extent that party or its related body corporate is bound by those rules;
Non-Defaulting Shareholder means, in respect of the occurrence of an Event of Default, a Shareholder that is not a Defaulting Shareholder;
Permitted Transferee in relation to a Shareholder means:
(a) | if the Shareholder is a body corporate, a related body corporate of that Shareholder; |
(b) | if the Shareholder is a trustee of a trust (including a superannuation fund), a new or replacement trustee of the trust; |
(c) | where that Shareholder’s Shares are Encumbered in favour of a financier, that financier; |
PPSA means the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth);
Project Lease has the meaning given in the Tripartite Agreement;
Secretary means the secretary of the Company;
Security Interest means:
(a) | in relation to any personal property (as defined in the PPSA), a security interest within the meaning under the PPSA; |
(b) | in relation to any other property to which the PPSA does not apply, any mortgage, charge, hypothecation, assignment by way of security, pledge, lien, title retention arrangement, set-off arrangement, flawed asset arrangement or other arrangement having the same or equivalent commercial effect as a grant of security; or |
(c) | any agreement to create or give rise to any interest or arrangement of the type referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) above; |
Share means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company;
9 |
Shareholder means the registered holder of a Share;
Shareholder Loan means a loan provided by a Shareholder to the Company in accordance with this agreement;
Shareholder Proportion means, in relation to a Shareholder, the proportion which the number of Shares held by that Shareholder at any one time bears to the total number of Shares on issue at that time;
Simple Majority means more than 50% of the votes that are entitled to be cast by persons present (either in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy) in relation to a particular resolution;
Site means the portion of the property described in Crown Lease Volume 6181 Folio 119, formerly known as Crown Lease Volume 1436 Folio 40, that is referred to as the ‘Surrender Area’ in the Tripartite Agreement;
Special Conditions means the special conditions set out in Annexure B;
SSPA has the meaning given in paragraph D of the Introduction;
Stage 1 has the meaning given in the Introduction;
Stage 2 has the meaning given in the Introduction;
Stage 3 has the meaning given in the Introduction;
Stage 4 has the meaning given in the Introduction;
Subsidiary means a subsidiary of the Company as defined by section 9 of the Corporations Act;
Transaction Document means:
(a) | this agreement; |
(b) | the SSPA; and |
(c) | any other deed, instrument or document to which the Shareholders are parties at any time (whether alone or with other parties) which is expressed to be, or is agreed by the parties to that deed, instrument or document to be, a Transaction Document for the purpose of this agreement or any other Transaction Document; |
Trigger Event means an event described in clause 46.6;
Tripartite Agreement means the amended and restated tripartite agreement in relation to the Project between the Company, Buckleboo Nominees Pty Ltd as trustee for the Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Family Trust and The Minister for Environment and Water for and on behalf of the Crown in Right of the State of South Australia dated 18 March 2022, as amended from time to time;
Tripartite Guarantee means the bank guarantee delivered by the Company pursuant to the Tripartite Agreement;
Unanimous Resolution means:
(a) | in the case of Shareholders, a vote or resolution passed by all Shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution; or |
10 |
(b) | in the case of the Board, a vote or resolution passed by all Directors entitled to vote on the resolution; |
Unpaid Monies Default Event has the meaning given in clause 43; and
Valuer means a chartered accountant, a firm of chartered accountants or an investment or merchant banker, independent of the parties, of not less than 10 years’ standing with appropriate skill and experience relevant to the valuation of Shares.
2. | Interpretation |
In this agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
2.1 | the Introduction is correct; |
2.2 | headings do not affect interpretation; |
2.3 | singular includes plural and plural includes singular; |
2.4 | a reference to time is a reference to Adelaide, Australia time; |
2.5 | a reference to “dollars”, “$A”, “A$” or “$” is a reference to Australian currency; |
2.6 | a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them; |
2.7 | a reference to a clause, paragraph, schedule or annexure is to a clause or paragraph of, or schedule or annexure to, this agreement, and a reference to this agreement includes any schedule or annexure; |
2.8 | reference to a person includes a corporation, body corporate, joint venture, association, government body, firm and any other entity; |
2.9 | a reference to a party is to a party to this agreement, and a reference to a party to any agreement (including this agreement) includes the party’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns and substitutes; |
2.10 | a reference to this agreement includes the schedules and the annexures; |
2.11 | a reference to this agreement or any other agreement or document is a reference to this agreement or that agreement or document as amended, novated, supplemented, varied or replaced from time to time, except to the extent prohibited by this agreement; |
2.12 | a provision must not be construed against a party only because that party prepared it; |
2.13 | if a party comprises two or more people: |
(a) | a promise by that party binds each of them individually and all of them jointly; |
(b) | a right given to that party is given to them jointly; |
(c) | a representation, warranty or undertaking by that party is made by each of them individually and all of them jointly; |
2.14 | a provision must be read down to the extent necessary to be valid. If it cannot be read down to that extent, it must be severed; |
11 |
2.15 | the meaning of general words or provisions shall not be limited by references to specific matters that follow them (for example, introduced by words such as “including” or “in particular”) or precede them or are included elsewhere in this agreement; |
2.16 | if a thing is to be done on a day which is not a Business Day, it must be done on the next Business Day; |
2.17 | another grammatical form of a defined expression has a corresponding meaning; and |
2.18 | an expression defined in the Corporation Act has the meaning given by that Act at the date of this agreement. |
3. | Special Conditions |
If there is an inconsistency between a Special Condition set out in Annexure B and another provision of this agreement, the Special Condition prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
Part 2 - Objectives and Business
4. | Objectives |
The objectives of the Shareholders are:
4.1 | to ensure the Company carries on and develops the Business for the benefit of the Shareholders; and |
4.2 | to ensure that the Company and Business is managed to maximise financial returns to Shareholders. |
5. | Obligations of Shareholders |
5.1 | To carry out the objectives referred to in clause 3, each Shareholder must: |
(a) | be just and faithful in its activities and dealings with the other Shareholders and provide full information to the other Shareholders in relation to the affairs and activities of the Company; |
(b) | not use Confidential Information in a way which damages or is reasonably likely to damage the Company or any other Shareholder; |
(c) | do or cause to be done all things necessary or desirable to carry out this agreement; |
(d) | not unreasonably delay any action, approval, direction, determination or decision required of the Shareholder; and |
(e) | make or give approvals, decisions and consents that are required of the Shareholder under this agreement in good faith having regard to the interests of the Company and the carrying on of the Business as a commercial venture. |
5.2 | Without limiting clause 5.1, each Shareholder must, by exercise of its rights: |
(a) | ensure that the Company acts in conformity with this agreement; |
(b) | ensure any Director nominated by the Shareholder does not act inconsistently with this agreement; |
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(c) | ensure that the Company carries on and conducts the Business in a proper and efficient manner and for the benefit of the Company; |
(d) | ensure that the Company maintains, or procures the maintenance of, adequate insurance with a reputable insurer against all risks usually insured against by persons carrying on the same or a similar business as the Business and for the full replacement or reinstatement value of all its insurable assets; and |
(e) | otherwise do or procure to be done all such acts and things as that Shareholder is able to do or procure to be done, to give full effect to the provisions of this agreement. |
6. | Obligations of the Company |
The Company:
6.1 | must do all things necessary or desirable to give effect to the provisions and intentions of this agreement in accordance with its terms; |
6.2 | is bound by all provisions of this agreement that expressly or by implication apply to the Company; and |
6.3 | must make all decisions in accordance with the objectives referred to in clause 4. |
7. | Relationship of Shareholders |
7.1 | Except as otherwise expressly stated in this agreement, this agreement does not create or evidence a partnership, joint venture or the relationship of principal and agent between the parties. |
7.2 | Except as specifically provided in this agreement, no Shareholder has authority to act as agent or representative of or in any way bind or commit another Shareholder to any obligation. |
8. | Subsidiaries |
If the Company has any Subsidiaries then in respect of each such Subsidiary the Shareholders must cause the affairs of same to be administered in accordance with this agreement as if the affairs of the Subsidiary were affairs of the Company and being dealt with under this agreement.
Part 3 - Structure and class of shares
9. | Shares have same rights |
9.1 | The Shares held by each Shareholder will rank equally and have the same rights, including but not limited to voting rights. |
9.2 | The rights attaching to the Shares must not be varied except by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders. |
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10. | Issue of shares of different class |
Nothing in this Part limits the power of the Company to issue shares of a different class to the Shares in accordance with the Constitution and subject to approval by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders.
Part 4 - Board of Directors
11. | Number of Directors |
The Board will consist of:
11.1 | no less than two Directors; and |
11.2 | no more than eight Directors. |
12. | Appointment of Directors |
12.1 | Each Shareholder is entitled to appoint Directors to the Board as follows: |
(a) | if the Shareholder holds less than 15% of the Shares on issue at any time it has no right to appoint a Director; |
(b) | if a Shareholder holds at least 15% but less than 30% of the Shares on issue at any time it has a right to appoint one Director; |
(c) | if a Shareholder holds at least 30% but less than 70% of the Shares on issue at any time it has a right to appoint two Directors; |
(d) | if a Shareholder holds at least 70% but less than 85% of the Shares on issue at any time it has a right to appoint three Directors; and |
(e) | if a Shareholder holds 85% or more of the Shares on issue at any time it has a right to appoint four Directors. |
12.2 | No other Directors may be appointed without approval by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders. |
13. | Alternate Directors |
A Director may appoint an alternate director to act as a Director in his or her absence with the prior approval of the Shareholder that appointed that Director.
14. | Removal and retirement of Directors |
14.1 | A Director appointed by a Shareholder may only be removed by that Shareholder except where that Shareholder ceases to be a Shareholder, in which case that Director must resign as director of the Company and all relevant Subsidiaries and committees of the Board (and may be removed by Simple Majority resolution of the remaining Shareholders). |
14.2 | Where a Director resigns or is removed, the Shareholder who appointed that Director (unless that Shareholder has ceased to be a Shareholder) may, subject to clause 12.1, appoint another Director in his or her place. |
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14.3 | The office of a Director will be vacated if: |
(a) | that Director ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Corporations Act or is prohibited by law from being a Director; |
(b) | that Director: |
(i) | commits any criminal offence which is prejudicial to the Company or the Business (including the reputation of the Company or the Business); |
(ii) | becomes subject to a Distress Event; |
(c) | that Director, in the opinion of two legally qualified medical practitioners, is incapable by reason of mental disorder to discharge his or her duties as a director; |
(d) | that Director dies or resigns from the position of Director; or |
(e) | that Director is removed from office in accordance with clause 14.1. |
15. | Written appointments and removals |
15.1 | A Shareholder making an appointment or removal under this Part must do so by giving written notice of the appointment or removal to the Company. |
15.2 | A Shareholder: |
(a) | must not appoint a Director pursuant to this Part other than on the basis that the appointment is terminable in accordance with this agreement; |
(b) | must not represent to a Director appointed by it that any compensation will be payable by the Company to the Director on termination of their appointment or otherwise; and |
(c) | must remove a Director it has appointed if the Shareholder’s percentage holding of Shares falls below the minimum level required for the number of Directors appointed by that Shareholder in clause 12.1. |
16. | Chairperson |
16.1 | The initial Chairperson will be appointed by the Board. |
16.2 | The Chairperson may only be removed by a resolution of the Board. The Board may appoint a new Chairperson. |
16.3 | If the Chairperson is absent from a meeting of Directors, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present at the meeting may elect one of their number to act as chairperson of the meeting. |
16.4 | The Chairperson does not have a casting vote. |
17. | Powers of the Board |
Except as otherwise specified this agreement, the Constitution or the Corporations Act, the Board will have full power to direct the activities of the Company.
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18. | Decisions of Directors |
A Director appointed by a Shareholder may take into account the interests of that Director’s appointor and may act on the wishes of that appointor in performing any of the Director’s duties or exercising any power, right or discretion as a director in relation to the Company, except in any particular case where no honest and reasonable director could have formed the view that, in so doing, the Director was complying with his fiduciary duties including the duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the Company as a whole.
19. | Directors’ fees and expenses |
Unless the Shareholders otherwise determine by Unanimous Resolution:
19.1 | no Director will be paid director’s fees; and |
19.2 | each Shareholder will be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses in respect of that Shareholder’s nominated Director(s) attending Board meetings (up to a maximum of $1,000 per Board meeting); |
19.3 | no Director will be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the Director in attending meetings of the Board; and |
19.4 | other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Directors will only be reimbursed with the approval of the Board. |
20. | Appointment of Directors to Subsidiaries |
The composition of the board of any Subsidiaries and the governance of any Subsidiaries (including any alternate directors) will be the same as that of the Company.
Part 5 - Board meetings
21. | Board meetings |
The Shareholders agree that:
21.1 | the Board will meet at least once every two months (unless otherwise agreed by the Shareholders); |
21.2 | additional meetings of the Board will be convened at the written request of any Director by that Director providing the other Directors at least five Business Days’ prior written notice of meetings of the Board, together with an agenda, unless otherwise agreed by the Directors; |
21.3 | subject to complying with the other provisions of this Part, the time, date and location of all meetings of the Board must be determined by the Director who called the meeting and must be reasonable in the circumstances; |
21.4 | meetings of the Board may be conducted by telephone conference, video conference or any similar means of audio or audio-visual communication; and |
21.5 | the agenda for Board meetings must be determined by the Chairperson, except for meetings of the Board convened at the request in writing of a Director in which case the agenda may be determined by that Director. |
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22. | Circulating resolutions |
22.1 | The Directors may pass a resolution without a Directors’ meeting being held if all the Directors entitled to vote on the resolution sign a document containing a statement that they are in favour of the resolution set out in the document. Electronic signatures and other forms of verifiable electronic acceptance are acceptable. |
22.2 | Identical copies of the document may be distributed for signing by different Directors and taken together will constitute one and the same document. |
22.3 | The resolution is passed when the last Director signs the document. |
23. | Director votes |
23.1 | Each Director is entitled to one vote. |
23.2 | If a Director has been appointed as an alternate for another Director and the second Director is not present, the first Director has one vote in her or his own right and an additional vote (or votes, as the case may be) in her or his capacity as an alternate Director. |
24. | Quorum for a Board meeting |
24.1 | The quorum for a meeting of the Board will be constituted by the attendance (in person or using technology permitted by this agreement or the Constitution or by alternate) of two Directors entitled to vote, provided there is at least one Director appointed by each Shareholder in attendance. The quorum must be present at all times during the meeting. |
24.2 | If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting stands adjourned to the day that is two Business Days later at the same time and place or to such other later day, time and place as the Directors present determine, at which time the quorum will be constituted by the attendance (in person or using technology permitted by this agreement or the Constitution or by alternate) of two directors, regardless of their appointor(s). |
24.3 | An alternate Director is counted in a quorum at a meeting at which the Director who appointed the alternate is not present, but each person is counted only once for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present, even if that person is in attendance in more than one capacity. |
Part 6 - Shareholders’ meetings
25. | Quorum for a Shareholders’ meeting |
The quorum for a meeting of Shareholders will be two Shareholders, so long as they together hold at least 51% of the total number of Shares on issue in the Company.
26. | Written resolutions |
The Shareholders may pass a resolution without a Shareholders’ meeting being held in accordance with the Corporations Act.
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Part 7 - Decision making
27. | Simple Majority decision |
27.1 | Except as otherwise required by this agreement, the Constitution or the Corporations Act, a resolution considered at a meeting of the Board or of the Shareholders may be passed by a Simple Majority. |
27.2 | Despite any inconsistent requirement in this agreement or the Constitution, the Board may act by Simple Majority resolution in order to respond to circumstances that a Simple Majority of the Board determines as constituting an urgent operational emergency or health and safety risk issue. |
28. | Matters requiring Unanimous Resolution of Shareholders |
The Board must not take any action, pass any resolution or make any decision in respect of the matters listed in Schedule 1, except as approved by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders or other agreement in writing by all Shareholders.
29. | Deadlocks |
29.1 | If, in respect of a resolution formally put forward: |
(a) | the Board or Shareholders (as applicable) are unable to reach: |
(i) | a Simple Majority vote (either for or against) on a matter requiring a Simple Majority decision; or |
(ii) | unanimous agreement (either for or against) on a matter requiring a Unanimous Resolution; and |
(b) | the resolution or motion concerns a decision that is material to the Company or the Business (in the reasonable opinion of any Shareholder), |
then the matter must be dealt with under this clause 29.
29.2 | A deadlock at a Board meeting or Shareholders’ meeting is to be adjourned and escalated within 10 Business Days of the meeting to the Escalation Representatives for further consideration. |
29.3 | A deadlock may be resolved by the Escalation Representatives agreeing to either reject or pass the relevant resolution or motion. |
29.4 | If a deadlock is not resolved by the Escalation Representatives, then at the election of either Shareholder by written notice to the other within 20 Business Days of the Board Meeting or Shareholders’ meeting, the Shareholders will be taken to have resolved to: |
(a) | appoint an independent expert to assist with the resolution of the deadlock (Expert); |
(b) | unless the Shareholders agree upon an Expert, appoint a person nominated by the chair of the Resolution Institute (ABN 69 008 651 232) (or its successor body) to that role; |
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(c) | authorise the Company to engage the Expert as soon as is practicable with instructions to determine whether the motion or resolution should be passed or rejected having regard to what is in the best interests of the Company; |
(d) | authorise the Shareholders to provide the Expert with a briefing paper setting out details of the matter which is the subject of the deadlock (which may be provided separately by each Shareholder or as a joint brief); |
(e) | authorise the Expert to break the deadlock by issuing a direction to the Shareholders to hold a Shareholders’ meeting and to vote for or against the relevant resolution or motion, in which case the Shareholders are bound by, and must comply with, that direction; |
(f) | authorise the Expert, prior to issuing a direction under clause 29.4(e), to seek such further information from the Directors or the Shareholders as the independent expert requires and to make any recommendations to the Shareholders with respect to a proposal for a variation of the resolution or motion which is the subject of the deadlock. |
29.5 | Each Shareholder will use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that any deadlock is resolved as soon as is reasonably practicable in accordance with the procedure set out under clause and in any event within one month of the appointment of an Expert. |
29.6 | The costs of the Expert will be borne by the Company. |
Part 8 - Conduct of Business
30. | Conduct of Business |
30.1 | The Company will conduct the Business in accordance with: |
(a) | the Approved Business Plan and Budget; |
(b) | all applicable laws, regulations, authorisations, approvals, orders and rules; and |
(c) | sound commercial practice. |
30.2 | No Director or Shareholder will have authority to bind the Company (including signing documents on behalf of the Company) nor incur any expenses on behalf of the Company unless: |
(a) | expressly authorised to do so under the terms of this agreement; |
(b) | expressly authorised to do so by formal resolution of the Board; or |
(c) | expressly agreed in writing by the Shareholders. |
30.3 | All material contracts arising in respect of the Business (as determined by the Board) must be signed on behalf of the Company by: |
(a) | two Directors; or |
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(b) | one person nominated by 14D in writing and one person nominated by VSA in writing (and the 14D Parties and VSA must procure that such nominees are granted a limited joint power of attorney for the Company for that purpose only). |
30.4 | The Company may engage other third party consultants, contractors and other service providers in connection with the conduct of the Business, provided that (unless the Shareholders agree otherwise in writing (including by way of this agreement)), all such engagements must be with third parties that are not related entities of either Shareholder and must be on arm’s length commercial terms. |
Part 9 - Accounts and audit
31. | Accounts and records |
The 14D Parties and VSA must procure that the accounts, records and accounting information of the Company are:
31.1 | maintained in accordance with the Corporations Act and all other applicable laws; |
31.2 | audited if requested by a Shareholder; and |
31.3 | reflect generally accepted accounting principles, procedures and practices in Australia which have been consistently applied. |
32. | Access to records |
Each Shareholder and Director is entitled to full access during normal business hours and at its own cost to inspect all the books, accounts and records of the Company. Access may be exercised through an employee of, or consultant or adviser to, the Shareholder or Director (as the case may be), subject to the requirements of confidentiality set out in Part 18 (Confidentiality).
33. | Reporting |
The 14D Parties and VSA must procure that the Board is provided with sufficient management and financial information and reports (as required by the Board or any Director) to allow the Board to monitor the conduct of the Business.
Part 10 - Approved Business Plan and Budget and Funding
34. | Approved Business Plan and Budget |
34.1 | On the Commencement Date, the Board will be deemed to have approved and adopted as the initial Approved Business Plan and Budget for Stage 1 of the Project during the FID Development Period, the FID Development Budget and FID Activity Matrix appearing in Annexure B (as Appendices A and B, respectively). |
34.2 | During the FID Development Period, the Board must determine and approve by Unanimous Resolution an Approved Business Plan and Budget for the Company for that part of the Development Period occurring after the FID Development Period. |
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34.3 | Following expiry of the Development Period, the Board must: |
(a) | within 30 days of the date of expiry of the Development Period (or such other period as the Shareholders agree) determine and approve an Approved Business Plan and Budget for the Company and the conduct of the Business up to 30 June in the then current Financial Year; and |
(b) | at least two months prior to the end of each Financial Year, approve an Approved Business Plan and Budget for the next ensuing Financial Year, |
in each case by Simple Majority resolution.
34.4 | Each Approved Business Plan and Budget must include budgeted capital expenditure and operational expenditure for the relevant period. |
34.5 | An Approved Business Plan and Budget may be varied, updated and replaced from time to time by resolution of the Board. Such resolution must be: |
(a) | in respect of the Approved Business Plan and Budget to apply during the FID Development Period, a Unanimous Resolution; |
(b) | in respect of the Approved Business Plan and Budget to apply during the remainder of the Development Period following the FID Development Period, a Unanimous Resolution; |
(c) | in respect of any other Approved Business Plan and Budget, a Simple Majority resolution. |
35. | Development Period funding |
35.1 | During the Development Period (including the FID Development Period), Shareholders must, in their respective Shareholder Proportions, progressively contribute to the Company the funds required (as and when required) in order for the Company to pay the Development Costs (Development Funding Requirement). The Board may determine the timing of such contributions. Such contributions will comprise debt funding from the Shareholders in accordance with clause 35.2. |
35.2 | The Shareholders must each provide to the Company a Shareholder Loan for an amount equal to its Shareholder Proportion of each Development Funding Requirement within 10 Business Days of notification of the Development Funding Requirement from the Company. Unless otherwise determined by Unanimous Resolution of the Shareholders, the Default Terms will apply to each Shareholder Loan. |
36. | Tripartite Guarantee |
36.1 | As soon as practicable after the Commencement Date, the Shareholders must do all things necessary to procure that 14D is released from any obligations in connection with the Tripartite Guarantee and any security given by 14D in connection with the Tripartite Guarantee and equivalent obligations are assumed by, and equivalent security is provided by, either the Company, or the Shareholders in their respective Shareholder Proportions. |
36.2 | From the Commencement Date until such time as the releases contemplated in clause 36.1 are effected, VSA must indemnify 14D for VSA’s Shareholder Proportion of any loss, liability, cost or expense arising in connection with the Tripartite Guarantee. |
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37. | Further funding |
Other than as set out in this agreement, no Shareholder is under any obligation to provide any financial accommodation, guarantee or other similar commitment or comfort in relation to the Company.
Part 11 - Distribution policy
38. | Distribution of dividends |
38.1 | Subject to clause 38.2, dividends are to be declared and paid half-yearly within 90 days of 30 June and 31 December each year (or at such other time as is agreed by the Shareholders). |
38.2 | The Company: |
(a) | must not declare or pay dividends at any time when any Shareholder Loan remains in existence; |
(b) | will only declare and pay dividends when the Company has sufficient funds to do so having regard to liabilities and financial commitments of the Company and the amount, if any, declared shall be determined by the Board; and |
(c) | may retain profits to assist with any future funding requirements of the Business or taxation liabilities of the Company. |
Part 12 - Restrictions relating to Shares
39. | Permitted Disposal |
A Shareholder must not Dispose of any legal or beneficial interest in its Shares or its rights and interest in any Shareholder Loan, except:
39.1 | to a Permitted Transferee; |
39.2 | with the written consent of all other Shareholders; or |
39.3 | as otherwise required or permitted by Schedule 2 (having followed the procedure required by Schedule 2), |
provided that in any such case the transferee entity (if it is not an existing and continuing Shareholder) must enter into and deliver to each other Shareholder and the Company a deed of accession under which it agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, in the form, or substantially the form, set out in Annexure A (Deed of Accession).
40. | Restriction on Disposal |
In addition to the restrictions in clause 39, a Shareholder must not Dispose of any legal or beneficial interest in its Shares unless any Shareholder Loans in existence between the Shareholder and the Company are assigned or novated (as applicable) to the acquirer of the Shares or otherwise satisfied in full.
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41. | New Shareholders |
The Company must ensure that no person (other than an existing registered Shareholder) is registered as a Shareholder unless that person has first entered into and delivered to each continuing Shareholder and the Company a Deed of Accession.
42. | Encumbrances |
42.1 | Subject to clause 42.2, a Shareholder must not, without the prior written approval of the other Shareholders (which must not be unreasonably withheld), create, or agree or offer to create, or allow to continue, any Encumbrance over any Shares held by that Shareholder. |
42.2 | A Shareholder may grant an Encumbrance over its Shares in favour of a financier if that financier agrees (or terms acceptable to the other Shareholders, acting reasonably), to be bound by this agreement in the event it acquires such Shares by enforcement of such security and in connection with any disposal of such Shares. |
Part 13 - Default
43. | Events of Default |
Each of the following is a default event:
43.1 | a failure by a Shareholder to advance debt funding which is due under clause 35 (Unpaid Monies) by the relevant Due Date, |
(being an Unpaid Monies Default Event); or
43.2 | a Shareholder breaches or fails to comply with any of its material obligations under this agreement (other than an Unpaid Monies Default Event) or any other Transaction Document; |
43.3 | a Shareholder suffers a Change in Control without the prior written consent of the other Shareholders (which must not be unreasonably withheld); or |
43.4 | a Distress Event occurs in respect of a Shareholder, |
(each of the events referred to in clauses 43.2 to 43.4 being a Breach Default Event).
44. | Unpaid Monies Default Event |
44.1 | If an Unpaid Monies Default Event occurs, the Company must promptly give to the Defaulting Shareholder a notice to remedy the default within 14 days (Non-payment Notice). |
44.2 | If the Defaulting Shareholder fails to comply with the Non-payment Notice, the Company must promptly give notice of such failure (Unpaid Monies Default Notice) to the other Shareholders (each a Non-Defaulting Shareholder). |
44.3 | A Non-Defaulting Shareholder who receives an Unpaid Monies Default Notice has the right at any time after receipt of the notice (and before the Unpaid Monies Default Event is remedied) to pay to the Company all or part of Unpaid Monies referred to in the Unpaid Monies Default Notice in place of the Defaulting Shareholder (Paid Monies). A Non-Defaulting Shareholder who makes such a payment of Paid Monies is referred to in this agreement as a Paying Party. If Non-Defaulting Shareholders make such payments in excess of the Unpaid Monies, such payments will be refunded in a manner determined by the Board with the intent that such contributions will not exceed the Unpaid Monies and each Paying Party’s contribution reflects insofar as reasonably practicable its Shareholder Proportion (calculated excluding Shares held by the Defaulting Shareholder). |
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44.4 | Interest payable by a Defaulting Shareholder on Paid Monies will accrue to the Paying Party rather than to the Company. |
44.5 | A Defaulting Shareholder may pay Unpaid Monies to the Company and/or Paid Monies to the relevant Paying Party (as the case may be) at any time and the Company and/or the Paying Parties may pursue recovery of outstanding Unpaid Monies or Paid Monies against the Defaulting Shareholder at any time. |
44.6 | Where a Non-Defaulting Shareholder has an aggregate balance of Paid Monies owed to it by a Defaulting Shareholder equal to or exceeding $2,000,000 (including accrued but unpaid interest) (Debt Balance) in circumstances where there are only two Shareholders: |
(a) | the Non-Defaulting Shareholder may elect by notice in writing to the Company to convert the whole (but not part) of that debt into additional equity in the Company (the effect of which will be to dilute the Defaulting Shareholder’s equity) at Discounted Fair Value (and on such other terms as the Board may reasonably determine); and |
(b) | upon such conversion taking effect, the Debt Balance will be extinguished. |
45. | Breach Default Event |
If a Breach Default Event occurs and the Breach Default Event is capable of remedy, a Non-Defaulting Shareholder may at any time serve a written notice on the Defaulting Shareholder specifying the nature of the Breach Default Event and requiring the Defaulting Shareholder to remedy the default within 45 days of its receipt of the notice of default.
46. | Effect of default |
If:
46.1 | a Breach Default Event occurs in relation to a Shareholder and the Defaulting Shareholder fails to remedy the Breach Default Event in accordance with this agreement; |
46.2 | a Breach Default Event occurs which is incapable of remedy; or |
46.3 | an Unpaid Monies Default Event occurs, which remains unremedied 180 days after the relevant Due Date, |
then despite any other provision of this agreement, the following will be effected:
46.4 | the right of the Defaulting Shareholder to appoint one or more Directors to the Board (if any) and the rights of any Director previously appointed by the Defaulting Shareholder (including the right to attend or vote (or both) at a meeting of the Board) will be suspended until the default is remedied; |
46.5 | without limiting any of the foregoing, all voting rights attaching to the Shares held by the Defaulting Shareholder will be suspended until the default is remedied; and |
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46.6 | a Trigger Event will be deemed to occur in respect of the Defaulting Shareholder. |
47. | Non-limitation |
The rights of any Non-Defaulting Shareholder on the occurrence of an Event of Default by a Defaulting Shareholder under this Part are without limitation to any other rights or remedies that may be available to the Non-Defaulting Shareholder as a result of the Event of Default.
48. | Effect of Trigger Event |
48.1 | If there is a Trigger Event in respect of a Shareholder (Disposing Shareholder) then, unless all of the other Shareholders agree otherwise, the Disposing Shareholder will be deemed to have given a Transfer Notice to the Company under Schedule 2 in respect of all its Shares on the day the Company becomes aware of the Trigger Event and the Sale Price for those Shares for the purpose of Schedule 2 will be the Discounted Fair Value of those Shares. |
48.2 | Where a Transfer Notice is deemed to have been given pursuant to clause 48.1, the provisions of Schedule 2 will apply with all necessary changes to effect a transfer of the relevant Shares at the Discounted Fair Value, except that the Disposing Shareholder is not entitled to withdraw the Transfer Notice following the Valuer’s certification of the Fair Value of those Shares. |
48.3 | Any Director appointed by a Shareholder who is not the subject of a Trigger Event will be permitted to exercise any power granted by the Disposing Shareholder pursuant to clause 49 for the purpose of effecting a transaction contemplated by this clause 48. |
Part 14 - Power of attorney
49. | Power of attorney |
49.1 | The appointment of an attorney under this clause 49: |
(a) | is only for the purposes of any of the transactions contemplated by clause 48 or Schedule 2; and |
(b) | with respect to any Shareholder, takes effect from the date that a Trigger Event is deemed to occur in respect of a Shareholder. |
49.2 | Each Shareholder irrevocably appoints the Directors jointly and severally as its attorney to complete and sign any documents under hand or under seal, on its behalf which the attorney requires to give effect to a transaction under clause 48 or Schedule 2. |
49.3 | Each attorney may exercise or concur in exercising its powers even if the attorney has a conflict of duty in exercising powers or has a direct or personal interest in the means or result of that exercise of powers. |
49.4 | Each appointor agrees to ratify and confirm whatever the attorney lawfully does under the appointment or causes to be done under the appointment. |
49.5 | Each appointor agrees to indemnify the attorney against any claim, arising directly or indirectly from the attorney’s lawful exercise of a power under that appointment. |
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49.6 | Each appointor must give to the Company on demand by the Company any power of attorney, instrument of transfer or other instruments as the Company requires for the purposes of any of the transactions contemplated by clause 48 or Schedule 2. |
Part 15 - Dispute resolution
50. | Dispute resolution |
50.1 | The procedure in this clause 50 does not apply to deadlocks to which the procedure in clause 29 applies. |
50.2 | Subject to clause 50.8, if a dispute arises between the parties in relation to this agreement, a party must not commence any litigation in relation to the dispute unless it has complied with this clause 50. |
50.3 | The parties must attempt to resolve any dispute in relation to this agreement expeditiously by negotiations between a representative of each party who has the authority to settle the dispute. |
50.4 | If any dispute between the parties in relation to this agreement cannot be resolved, the party raising the dispute must: |
(a) | as soon as practicable, give notice of the dispute to the other parties (Dispute Notice); and |
(b) | at the same time as giving the Dispute Notice, or as soon as practicable thereafter, give to the other parties detailed particulars of the matters in issue in the dispute comprising of a statement of the relevant facts and issues, the quantum, and legal basis of any claim. |
50.5 | If a Dispute Notice is given, the parties to the Dispute (Disputing Parties) must within 15 Business Days of the date of the Dispute Notice, convene a meeting of their respective Escalation Representatives to confer in good faith to attempt to resolve the dispute. |
50.6 | If the Disputing Parties cannot agree to how the dispute should be resolved then any of the Disputing Parties may propose voluntary mediation or commence litigation. |
50.7 | Pending resolution of any dispute, the parties will continue to perform their obligations under this agreement or in connection with the Company and the Business without prejudice to their respective rights and remedies under or in relation to this agreement. |
50.8 | Nothing in this Part limits a Disputing Party’s right to seek an injunction or other urgent interlocutory relief in respect of a dispute. |
Part 16 - Constitution
51. | Constitution |
51.1 | If there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this agreement and the provisions of the Constitution, then the provisions of this agreement prevail and the Constitution must be read and construed accordingly. |
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51.2 | If it is necessary to include or amend a provision in the Constitution to ensure that a provision of this agreement is effective in accordance with its terms, the Shareholders must procure that the necessary amendment is made to the Constitution as soon as practicable. |
51.3 | Each Shareholder undertakes with each other Shareholder to: |
(a) | exercise all votes, powers and rights under the Constitution to give effect to the provisions and intentions of this agreement; and |
(b) | observe and comply promptly with any provision of the Constitution that is not inconsistent with this agreement. |
51.4 | Nothing contained in this agreement constitutes an amendment of the Constitution. |
Part 17 - Warranties and liabilities
52. | Warranties |
Each Shareholder warrants to the other Shareholders that:
52.1 | the execution of this agreement has been properly authorised by all necessary corporate or other action by the Shareholder; |
52.2 | the Shareholder has full power and authority (including but not limited to corporate power or statutory power, as the case may be) to execute and deliver this agreement and to perform or cause to be performed the Shareholder’s obligations under this agreement; |
52.3 | this agreement constitutes a full and binding legal obligation upon the Shareholder; and |
52.4 | this agreement does not conflict with or result in the breach of or default under: |
(a) | the provision of the Shareholder’s constitution or other constituent documents (if the Shareholder is a body corporate); or |
(b) | any material term or provision of any agreement or deed or any writ order or injunction, rule, judgment, law, or regulation to which the Shareholder is a party or by which the Shareholder is bound. |
53. | No consequential loss |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, no party has any liability to any other party for any loss or damage arising from a breach of this agreement or otherwise at law or in equity:
53.1 | which does not arise naturally or in the usual course of things from that breach; or |
53.2 | which constitutes, or arises from or in connection with, a loss of revenue, profit or opportunity, loss of goodwill or loss of business reputation, even if that loss arises naturally or in the usual course of things from that breach. |
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Part 18 - Confidentiality
54. | Confidentiality |
54.1 | A party (using party) may only use Confidential Information of another party: |
(a) | if necessary to perform the using party’s obligations, or enforce the using party’s rights, under this agreement; or |
(b) | if the other party consents to the use. |
54.2 | A party (disclosing party) may only disclose Confidential Information of another party: |
(a) | to the disclosing party’s professional advisers; |
(b) | if required by law or the Listing Rules; |
(c) | if necessary to perform the disclosing party’s obligations or exercise the disclosing party’s rights under this agreement; |
(d) | if the other party consents to the disclosure; |
(e) | if and to the extent the information is publicly available other than by a breach of the disclosing party of this agreement, or any other agreement; |
(f) | if the information is already in the possession of the disclosing party or comes into the possession of the disclosing party other than by breach of this agreement, or any other agreement; or |
(g) | to the extent reasonably necessary to seek debt finance or equity investment for or in connection with the Company, or in relation to a potential third party acquisition of the whole or part of a Shareholder’s Shares, provided the disclosure is to a person subject to equivalent obligations of confidentiality and the other Shareholders have been informed of the disclosure. |
54.3 | In this clause 54, the term “Confidential Information” means: |
(a) | any term of this agreement; |
(b) | trade secrets, know-how, financial data, accounting information, statistics, research, scientific, technical, product, market or pricing information of a party or relating to a party’s systems, business, employees or contractors; |
(c) | any other information belonging to a party that is marked “confidential”; and |
(d) | any other information belonging to a party which is of a confidential nature. |
55. | Public announcements and communications |
Except if required by law or the Listing Rules, a Shareholder must not make a public announcement or public communication of any kind (including, but not limited to, media announcements) in connection with, or regarding the existence of, the terms of this agreement or any matter contemplated by this agreement without first consulting the other Shareholders.
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Part 19 - Intellectual Property Rights
56. | Intellectual Property Rights |
56.1 | Each Shareholder retains ownership of its Intellectual Property Rights created independently of the Business and this agreement that are used in connection with the Business (Own IP). |
56.2 | Each Shareholder licenses to the Company such of its Own IP as is necessary to enable the Company to carry out its Business activities. |
56.3 | On creation, all Intellectual Property Rights created in connection with the Business (including Intellectual Property Rights in any reports created in connection with the Company or the Business) (Company IP) vest in the Company. |
56.4 | To the extent the Intellectual Property Rights in or relating to the Business are not capable of being vested in the Company, each Shareholder must use best endeavours to transfer ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights to the Company or obtain an irrevocable licence for the Company to use those Intellectual Property Rights. |
56.5 | All Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company: |
(a) | are, and must remain, the property of the Company; and |
(b) | must not be used by any of the other parties unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company. |
Part 20 - Parent Guarantee
57. | Consideration |
The Guarantor acknowledges that the Company and the other Shareholder are acting in reliance on the Guarantor incurring obligations and giving rights under the guarantee given in this Part 20 (Parent Guarantee).
58. | Guarantee |
58.1 | The Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Company and the other Shareholder the performance by VSA of all of its obligations under this agreement, including the obligation to pay money under Part 10 (Guaranteed Obligations). |
58.2 | If VSA fails to perform the Guaranteed Obligations in full and on time in accordance with the terms of this agreement, the Guarantor agrees to comply with the Guaranteed Obligations on demand from the Company or the other Shareholder. |
59. | Indemnity |
59.1 | The Guarantor: |
(a) | unconditionally and irrevocably indemnifies the Company and the other Shareholder against any loss, liability or claim which may be incurred or sustained by them in connection with any default or delay by VSA in the due and punctual performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, including any loss, liability or claim incurred or sustained in connection with the enforcement of the Parent Guarantee; and |
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(b) | agrees to pay amounts due under this clause 59 on demand from the Company and the other Shareholder. |
59.2 | The Company and the other Shareholder need not incur expense or make payment before enforcing this right of indemnity. |
59.3 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, the maximum liability of the Guarantor pursuant to this agreement (including in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations) shall be no greater than the liability of VSA to the Company and the other Shareholder in respect of any default of VSA in the due performance of the Guaranteed Obligations. |
60. | Payments |
The Guarantor agrees to make payments under this Part 20: