EX-7.B 2 lockupletterfinal.htm LOCK UP AGREEMENT Converted by EDGARwiz

EXECUTION VERSION


January 7, 2010


Dahlman Rose & Company, LLC

As Representative of the several
Underwriters referred to below

142 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019


Golden Minerals Company Lock-Up Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is being delivered pursuant to that certain Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) by and between Golden Minerals Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Sentient Global Resources Fund III, LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and SGRF III Parallel I, LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and relates to the proposed initial public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Stock”).

In order to induce you and the other underwriters for which you will act as representative (the “Underwriters”) to underwrite the Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Dahlman Rose & Company, LLC (the “Lead Manager”), during the period from the date hereof until one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the final prospectus for the Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned (a) will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, agree to offer or sell, solicit offers to purchase, grant any call option or purchase any put option with respect to, pledge, borrow or otherwise dispose of any Relevant Security (as defined below), and (b) will not establish or increase any “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease any “call equivalent position” with respect to any Relevant Security (in each case within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), or otherwise enter into any swap, derivative or other transaction or arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any economic consequence of ownership of a Relevant Security, whether or not such transaction is to be settled by delivery of Relevant Securities, other securities, cash or other consideration. As used herein “Relevant Security” means the Stock, any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any security convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any Stock or other such equity security.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer Relevant Securities by bona fide gift, will or intestate succession, provided, each resulting transferee of Relevant Securities executes and delivers to you an agreement satisfactory to you certifying that such transferee is bound by the terms of this Agreement and has been in compliance with the terms hereof since the date first above written as if it had been an original party hereto.  



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EXECUTION VERSION


Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by the immediately preceding paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Lead Manager waives, in writing, such extension.  The undersigned acknowledges that the Company has agreed in the underwriting agreement for the Offering to provide notice to the undersigned of any event that would result in an extension of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to this paragraph, and the undersigned agrees that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned.

The undersigned hereby authorizes the Company during the Lock-Up Period to cause any transfer agent for the Relevant Securities to decline to transfer, and to note stop transfer restrictions on the stock register and other records relating to, Relevant Securities for which the undersigned is the record holder and, in the case of Relevant Securities for which the undersigned is the beneficial but not the record holder, agrees during the Lock-Up Period to cause the record holder to cause the relevant transfer agent to decline to transfer, and to note stop transfer restrictions on the stock register and other records relating to, such Relevant Securities.  The undersigned hereby further agree that, except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement between Buyers and the Company dated the date hereof, without the prior written consent of the Lead Manager, during the Lock-up Period the undersigned (x) will not file or participate in the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of any registration statement, or circulate or participate in the circulation of any preliminary or final prospectus or other disclosure document with respect to any proposed offering or sale of a Relevant Security and (y) will not exercise any rights the undersigned may have to require registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of any proposed offering or sale of a Relevant Security.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned, enforceable in accordance with its terms.  Upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary in connection with enforcement hereof.  Any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the undersigned from the date first above written.

This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect if the Offering is not completed by March 31, 2010.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.  Delivery of a signed copy of this letter by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of the original hereof.


[Signature follow]



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EXECUTION VERSION


Very truly yours,


Sentient Global Resources Fund III, LP


By:  /s/ Gregory Link

Name: Gregory Link

Title:  Director



SGRF III Parallel I, LP


By:  /s/ Gregory Link

Name: Gregory Link

Title: Director



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Golden Minerals Company Lock-Up Agreement